1 Corinthians 9:17-27

17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have been entrusted with a commission.

18What then is my reward? That when I preach, I may present the Good News free of charge, not making use of my right in the Good News.

19For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win over more of them.

20To the Jewish people I identified as a Jew, so that I might win over the Jewish people. To those under Torah I became like one under Torah (though not myself being under Torah), so that I might win over those under Torah;

21to those outside Torah, like one outside Torah (though not being outside God’s Torah but in Messiah’s Torah), so that I might win over those outside Torah.

22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win over the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all means possible I might save some.

23I do it all for the sake of the Good News, so that I might be a fellow partaker of it.

24Don’t you know that in a stadium the runners all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win!

25Every competitor exercises self-control in all respects. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we do it to receive an imperishable one.

26So I run in this way—not aimlessly. So I box in this way—not beating the air.

27Rather, I punish my body and bring it into submission, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.