And everyone who competes exercises self-control [in] all things. Now they [compete] in order that they may receive a perishable crown, but we [compete] [for] an imperishable crown.

Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are naked, and beaten, and homeless.

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both this [stomach] and these [foods]. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Wherefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will by no means eat meat, lest I cause my brother to stumble.

For if you live according to the flesh you shall die; but if by [the] Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live.

but in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God: in much endurance, in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses,

in stripes, in imprisonments, in disturbances, in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings;

in labor and hardship, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--

Therefore put to death your members on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.

Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Beloved, I implore you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from the lusts of the flesh which war against the soul;

And having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

I speak in human terms on account of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to lawlessness [resulting] in [more] lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness [resulting] in sanctification.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become [as] sounding brass or a clashing cymbal.

And though I give away all my possessions to feed [the poor], and though I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

But to the sinner God has said, Why do you declare My ordinances, and take up My covenant in your mouth?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

"And then I will confess to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you who work iniquity!'

But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,

And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not get ready or do according to his will, shall be beaten [with] many [blows].

Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'

But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'

They have left behind the straight way and gone astray, having followed after the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Call them reprobate silver, because the Lord has rejected them.

For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

"to receive the portion in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."

Scrutinize yourselves as to whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you are reprobates?

But I trust that you will know that we are not reprobates.