哥林多前书第九章第16—27节，保罗说他传福音不是出于他自己的意志，因为主把传福音的责任已经托付给了他，他传福音是必需的。保罗说他虽是自由的，无人辖管，然而却甘心作了众人的仆人，目的是为要更多的人信福音。因此，保罗向犹太人就作犹太人，向律法以下的人就作律法以下的人，向没有律法的人就作没有律法的人，总之向什么样的人保罗就作什么样的人，目的是要救些人。保罗最后总结说，他攻克己身叫身服我，这样作都是为福音的缘故，这样传福音给别人后，自己就不会被弃绝。

林前9:16 我传福音原没有可夸的．因为我是不得已的．若不传福音、我便有祸了。
For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don't preach the Good News.
林前9:17 我若甘心作这事、就有赏赐．若不甘心、责任却已经托付我了。
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.
林前9:18 既是这样、我的赏赐是甚么呢．就是我传福音的时候、叫人不花钱得福音、免得用尽我传福音的权柄。
What then is my reward? That, when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.
林前9:19 我虽是自由的、无人辖管、然而我甘心作了众人的仆人、为要多得人。
For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
林前9:20 向犹太人、我就作犹太人、为要得犹太人．向律法以下的人、我虽不在律法以下、还是作律法以下的人、为要得律法以下的人。
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;
林前9:21 向没有律法的人、我就作没有律法的人、为要得没有律法的人．其实我在 神面前、不是没有律法、在基督面前、正在律法之下。
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.
林前9:22 向软弱的人、我就作软弱的人、为要得软弱的人．向甚么样的人、我就作甚么样的人．无论如何、总要救些人。
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.
林前9:23 凡我所行的、都是为福音的缘故、为要与人同得这福音的好处。
Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.
林前9:24 岂不知在场上赛跑的都跑、但得奖赏的只有一人．你们也当这样跑、好叫你们得着奖赏。
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.
林前9:25 凡较力争胜的、诸事都有节制．他们不过是要得能坏的冠冕．我们却是要得不能坏的冠冕。
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.
林前9:26 所以我奔跑、不像无定向的．我斗拳、不像打空气的。
I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air,
林前9:27 我是攻克己身、叫身服我．恐怕我传福音给别人、自己反被弃绝了。
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.p