Bible Verses About Religious Zeal

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.

To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.

After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.

For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.