"I DO ALL THIS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL"
Key verse: 23
NIV
Paul’s Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free(A) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(B) to win as many as possible.(C) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(D) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(E) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(F) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(G) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(H) I have become all things to all people(I) so that by all possible means I might save some.(J) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
The Need for Self-Discipline
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?(K) Run(L) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown(M) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(N) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(O) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(P) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(Q) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(R)
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : ver 1
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : 2Co 4:5; Gal 5:13
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : Mt 18:15; 1Pe 3:1
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 : Ac 16:3; 21:20-26; Ro 11:14
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 : S Ro 2:12
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : Ro 2:12, 14
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : Gal 6:2
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : S Ro 14:1; S 1Co 2:3
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : 1Co 10:33
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : S Ro 11:14
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 : Php 3:14; Col 2:18
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 : ver 25, 26; Gal 2:2; 5:7; Php 2:16; 2Ti 4:7; Heb 12:1
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 : 2Ti 2:5
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 : 2Ti 4:8; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 5:4; Rev 2:10; 3:11
- 1 Corinthians 9:26 : S ver 24
- 1 Corinthians 9:26 : 1Ti 6:12
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 : Ro 8:13
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 : ver 24
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
19 For (A)though I am free from all, (B)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might (C)win more of them. 20 (D)To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To (E)those outside the law I became (F)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but (G)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 (H)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. (I)I have become all things to all people, that (J)by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, (K)that I may share with them in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives (L)the prize? So (M)run that you may obtain it. 25 Every (N)athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we (O)an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I (P)do not box as one (Q)beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and (R)keep it under control,[a] lest after preaching to others (S)I myself should be (T)disqualified.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 Greek I pummel my body and make it a slave
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : ver. 1; [ch. 10:29]
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : [Gal. 5:13]
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : Matt. 18:15; 1 Pet. 3:1
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 : Acts 16:3; 21:23-26
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : Rom. 2:12, 14
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : [Gal. 2:3; 3:2]
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : See ch. 7:22
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : 2 Cor. 11:29
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : ch. 10:33
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : ch. 7:16; Rom. 11:14
- 1 Corinthians 9:23 : [ch. 10:24]
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 : Phil. 3:14; Col. 2:18
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 : Gal. 2:2; 5:7; Phil. 2:16; Heb. 12:1; [2 Tim. 4:7]
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 : 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:5; 4:7; [Jude 3]
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 : See James 1:12
- 1 Corinthians 9:26 : [Heb. 12:4]
- 1 Corinthians 9:26 : [ch. 14:9]
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 : [Rom. 6:19]
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 : [Song 1:6]
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 : [Jer. 6:30; Rom. 1:28; Heb. 6:8]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. To win people for the gospel (19-23)
The gospel had set Paul free. He belonged to no one. Yet, for the sake of the gospel, he made himself a slave to the gospel. To Paul, this meant that, to the Jews, he became like a Jew. To the Gentiles (those without the law) he became like a Gentile. To those of weak faith, he became like a person of weak faith. He became all things to all people. Why did he make himself like a chameleon? He did so to win people for the gospel. We learn an important lesson from Paul as to how to do ministry. Rather than pushing people to become like us, we should become like them, in order to win them for the gospel.
2. Run to get the prize (24-27)
Paul used an analogy of a race to describe the work of a gospel worker. The goal is to win the prize. The winner of an Olympic race would get a laurel crown. But to those who complete the heavenly race, a crown is given that will last forever (eternal life). Athletes train very hard before a contest. Likewise, we should work diligently for the gospel. When we do, we will be assured of an eternal crown.
Prayer: Father, help me to become all things to all people so as to win them for the gospel.
One Word: Do it all for the sake of the gospel.
