凡所做的都是為福音的緣故 — 哥林多前書讀經隨筆 第9章

哥林多前書第九章第16—27節，保羅說他傳福音不是出於他自己的意誌，因為主把傳福音的責任已經托付給了他，他傳福音是必需的。保羅說他雖是自由的，無人轄管，然而卻甘心作了眾人的仆人，目的是為要更多的人信福音。因此，保羅向猶太人就作猶太人，向律法以下的人就作律法以下的人，向沒有律法的人就作沒有律法的人，總之向什麽樣的人保羅就作什麽樣的人，目的是要救些人。保羅最後總結說，他攻克己身叫身服我，這樣作都是為福音的緣故，這樣傳福音給別人後，自己就不會被棄絕。

林前9:16 我傳福音原沒有可誇的．因為我是不得已的．若不傳福音、我便有禍了。
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 我若甘心作這事、就有賞賜．若不甘心、責任卻已經托付我了。
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 既是這樣、我的賞賜是甚麽呢．就是我傳福音的時候、叫人不花錢得福音、免得用盡我傳福音的權柄。
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 我雖是自由的、無人轄管、然而我甘心作了眾人的仆人、為要多得人。
For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
林前9:20 向猶太人、我就作猶太人、為要得猶太人．向律法以下的人、我雖不在律法以下、還是作律法以下的人、為要得律法以下的人。
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 向沒有律法的人、我就作沒有律法的人、為要得沒有律法的人．其實我在 神麵前、不是沒有律法、在基督麵前、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 向軟弱的人、我就作軟弱的人、為要得軟弱的人．向甚麽樣的人、我就作甚麽樣的人．無論如何、總要救些人。
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、都是為福音的緣故、為要與人同得這福音的好處。
Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.
林前9:24 豈不知在場上賽跑的都跑、但得獎賞的隻有一人．你們也當這樣跑、好叫你們得著獎賞。
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 凡較力爭勝的、諸事都有節製．他們不過是要得能壞的冠冕．我們卻是要得不能壞的冠冕。
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、不像無定向的．我鬥拳、不像打空氣的。
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．恐怕我傳福音給別人、自己反被棄絕了。
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