1Cor.9.19

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people:

1Cor.9.19

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

1Cor.9.19

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

1Cor.9.19

This means I am not bound to obey people just because they pay me, yet I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ.

1Cor.9.20

religious, nonreligious,

1Cor.9.20

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

1Cor.9.20

and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

1Cor.9.20

When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ.

1Cor.9.21

meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists,

1Cor.9.21

To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.

1Cor.9.21

to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

1Cor.9.21

When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

1Cor.9.22

the defeated, the demoralized--whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ--but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.

1Cor.9.22

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

1Cor.9.22

to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

1Cor.9.22

When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.

1Cor.9.23

I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

1Cor.9.23

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1Cor.9.23

Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

1Cor.9.23

I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.

1Cor.9.24

You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win.

1Cor.9.24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

1Cor.9.24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

1Cor.9.24

Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win.

1Cor.9.25

All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

1Cor.9.25

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

1Cor.9.25

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

1Cor.9.25

All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

1Cor.9.26

I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me!

1Cor.9.26

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

1Cor.9.26

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

1Cor.9.26

So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches.

1Cor.9.27

I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. [JC]

1Cor.9.27

No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

1Cor.9.27

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1Cor.9.27

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

1Cor.10.1

Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea.

1Cor.10.1

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

1Cor.10.1

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

1Cor.10.1

I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground.

1Cor.10.2

They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life.

1Cor.10.2

They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

1Cor.10.2

all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

1Cor.10.2

As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea.

1Cor.10.3

They all ate

1Cor.10.3

They all ate the same spiritual food

1Cor.10.3

all ate the same spiritual food,

1Cor.10.3

And all of them ate the same miraculous food,

1Cor.10.4

and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God's fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ.

1Cor.10.4

and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

1Cor.10.4

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

1Cor.10.4

and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

1Cor.10.5

But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much--most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.

1Cor.10.5

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

1Cor.10.5

But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

1Cor.10.5

Yet after all this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.

1Cor.10.6

The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did.

1Cor.10.6

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

1Cor.10.6

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

1Cor.10.6

These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did

1Cor.10.7

And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did--"First the people partied, then they threw a dance."

1Cor.10.7

Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."

1Cor.10.7

And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

1Cor.10.7

or worship idols as some of them did. For the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry."

1Cor.10.8

We must not be sexually promiscuous--they paid for that, remember, with twenty-three thousand deaths in one day!

1Cor.10.8

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

1Cor.10.8

Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

1Cor.10.8

And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

1Cor.10.9

We must never try to get Christ to serve us instead of us serving him; they tried it, and God launched an epidemic of poisonous snakes.

1Cor.10.9

We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes.

1Cor.10.9

nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

1Cor.10.9

Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.

1Cor.10.10

We must be careful not to stir up discontent; discontent destroyed them.

1Cor.10.10

And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.

1Cor.10.10

nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

1Cor.10.10

And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them.

1Cor.10.11

These are all warning markers--DANGER!-in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel--they at the beginning, we at the end--and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were.

1Cor.10.11

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

1Cor.10.11

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

1Cor.10.11

All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.

1Cor.10.12

Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

1Cor.10.12

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

1Cor.10.12

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

1Cor.10.12

If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.

1Cor.10.13

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

1Cor.10.13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1Cor.10.13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1Cor.10.13

But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.