Bible Verses About Religious Zeal

But I haue vsed none of these things: neither wrote I these things, that it should be so done vnto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my reioycing vaine.

For though I preach the Gospel, I haue nothing to reioyce of: for necessitie is laid vpon me, and woe is vnto me, if I preach not the Gospel.

For if I do it willingly, I haue a reward, but if I do it against my will, notwithstanding the dispensation is committed vnto me.

What is my reward then? verely that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ free, that I abuse not mine authoritie in ye Gospel.

For though I bee free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all men, that I might winne the moe.

And vnto the Iewes, I become as a Iewe, that I may winne the Iewes: to them that are vnder the Lawe, as though I were vnder the Lawe, that I may winne them that are vnder the Lawe:

To them that are without Lawe, as though I were without Lawe, (when I am not without Lawe as pertaining to God, but am in the Lawe through Christ) that I may winne them that are without Lawe:

To the weake I become as weake, that I may winne the weake: I am made all thinges to all men, that I might by all meanes saue some.

And this I doe for the Gospels sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

But I beate downe my body, and bring it into subiection, lest by any meanes after that I haue preached to other, I my selfe should be reproued.

Euen as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine owne profite, but the profite of many, that they might be saued.

Be yee followers of mee, euen as I am of Christ.

Though I speake with the tongues of men and Angels, and haue not loue, I am as sounding brasse, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I feede the poore with all my goods, and though I giue my body, that I be burned, and haue not loue, it profiteth me nothing.

Euen so, forasmuch as ye couet spirituall giftes, seeke that ye may excell vnto the edifying of the Church.

Moreouer brethren, I declare vnto you the Gospel, which I preached vnto you, which ye haue also receiued, and wherein ye continue,

And whereby ye are saued, if ye keepe in memorie, after what maner I preached it vnto you, except ye haue beleeued in vaine.

For first of all, I deliuered vnto you that which I receiued, how that Christ died for our sinnes, according to the Scriptures,

And that he was buried, and that he arose the third day, according to the Scriptures,

And that he was seene of Cephas, then of the twelue.

After that, he was seene of more then fiue hudreth brethren at once: whereof many remaine vnto this present, and some also are asleepe.

After that, he was seene of Iames: then of all the Apostles.

And last of all he was seene also of me, as of one borne out of due time.

For I am the least of the Apostles, which am not meete to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.

But by the grace of God, I am that I am: and his grace which is in me, was not in vaine: but I laboured more aboundantly then they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me.