15. But I have used none of these things. Now I have not written these things that it should be thus in my case; for it were good for me rather to die than that any one should make vain my boast.
16. For if I announce the glad tidings, I have nothing to boast of; for a necessity is laid upon me; for it is woe to me if I should not announce the glad tidings.
17. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with an administration.
18. What is the reward then that I have? That in announcing the glad tidings I make the glad tidings costless to others, so as not to have made use, as belonging to me, of my right in announcing the glad tidings.
19. For being free from all, I have made myself bondman to all, that I might gain the most possible.
20. And I became to the Jews as a Jew, in order that I might gain the Jews: to those under law, as under law, not being myself under law, in order that I might gain those under law:
21. to those without law, as without law, (not as without law to God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain those without law.
22. I became to the weak, as weak, in order that I might gain the weak. To all I have become all things, in order that at all events I might save some.
23. And I do all things for the sake of the glad tidings, that I may be fellow-partaker with them.
24. Know ye not that they who run in the race-course run all, but one receives the prize? Thus run in order that ye may obtain.
25. But every one that contends for a prize is temperate in all things: they then indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
26. I therefore thus run, as not uncertainly; so I combat, as not beating the air.
27. But I buffet my body, and lead it captive, lest after having preached to others I should be myself rejected.