First Letter to the Corinthians

But I have used none of these things, and I don't write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don't preach the gospel.

For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the gospel.

For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

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

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.

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

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

Don't you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.

Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air,

but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

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

and all ate the same spiritual food;

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

However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

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

Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."