15 But I have never used these privileges of mine, and I am not writing this because I want to start now. I would rather die than let someone rob me of the right to take pride in this.
16 I don't have any reason to boast about preaching the good news. Preaching is something God told me to do, and if I don't do it, I am doomed.
17 If I preach because I want to, I will be paid. But even if I don't want to, it is still something God has sent me to do.
18 What pay am I given? It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge and not to use the privileges that are mine because I am a preacher.
19 I am not anyone's slave. But I have become a slave to everyone, so that I can win as many people as possible.
20 When I am with the Jews, I live like a Jew to win Jews. They are ruled by the Law of Moses, and I am not. But I live by the Law to win them.
21 And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ.