Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians
1:1Paul, called to be an apostle of
Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 1:2to the assembly of God which is at
Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,
with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place,
both theirs and ours: 1:3Grace to you and peace from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4I always thank my God concerning
you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 1:5that in everything you were
enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge; 1:6even as the
testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 1:7so that you
come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus
Christ; 1:8who will also confirm you until
the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:9God is faithful, through whom you
were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. 1:10Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that
you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but
that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1:11For it has been reported to me
concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe's household, that
there are contentions among you. 1:12Now I mean
this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow
Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow
Christ." 1:13Is Christ divided? Was Paul
crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? 1:14I thank God that I baptized none
of you, except Crispus and Gaius, 1:15so that no
one should say that I had baptized you into my own name. 1:16(I also baptized the household of
Stephanas; besides them, I don't know whether I baptized any other.) 1:17For Christ sent me not to
baptize, but to preach the Gospel--not in wisdom of words, so that the
cross of Christ wouldn't be made void. 1:18For the
word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are
saved it is the power of God. 1:19For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
I will bring the discernment of the
discerning to nothing."
1:20Where is the wise? Where is the
scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the
wisdom of this world? 1:21For seeing that in the wisdom of
God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good
pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who
believe. 1:22For Jews ask for signs, Greeks
seek after wisdom, 1:23but we preach Christ crucified; a
stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 1:24but to
those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and
the wisdom of God. 1:25Because the foolishness of God is
wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1:26For you see your calling,
brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty,
and not many noble; 1:27but God chose the foolish things
of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the
weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are
strong; 1:28and God chose the lowly things of
the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not,
that he might bring to nothing the things that are: 1:29that no
flesh should boast before God. 1:30But of him, you are in Christ
Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and
sanctification, and redemption: 1:31that,
according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the
Lord."
2:1When I came to you, brothers, I
didn't come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the
testimony of God. 2:2For I determined not to know
anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 2:3I was with you in weakness, in
fear, and in much trembling. 2:4My speech and my preaching were
not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power, 2:5that your faith wouldn't stand in
the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 2:6We speak
wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this
world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. 2:7But we speak God's wisdom in a
mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before
the worlds for our glory, 2:8which none of the rulers of this
world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the
Lord of glory. 2:9But as it is written,
"Things which an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear,
Which didn't enter into the heart of
man,
These God has prepared for those who love him."
2:10But to us, God revealed them
through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep
things of God. 2:11For who among men knows the
things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so,
no one knows the things of God, except God's Spirit. 2:12But we
received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God,
that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. 2:13Which things also we speak, not
in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches,
comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. 2:14Now the
natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are
foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. 2:15But he who is spiritual discerns
all things, and he himself is judged by no one. 2:16"For
who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?" But
we have Christ's mind.
3:1Brothers, I couldn't speak to you
as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. 3:2I fed you with milk, not with
meat; for you weren't yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, 3:3for you are still fleshly. For
insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you
fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men? 3:4For when one
says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow
Apollos," aren't you fleshly? 3:5Who then is
Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each
as the Lord gave to him? 3:6I planted. Apollos watered. But
God gave the increase. 3:7So then neither he who plants is
anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 3:8Now he who plants and he who
waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his
own labor. 3:9For we are God's fellow workers.
You are God's farming, God's building. 3:10According
to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid
a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he
builds on it. 3:11For no one can lay any other
foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. 3:12But if anyone builds on the
foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; 3:13each man's work will be revealed.
For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire
itself will test what sort of work each man's work is. 3:14If any man's work remains which
he built on it, he will receive a reward. 3:15If any
man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved,
but as through fire.
3:16Don't you know that you are a
temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you? 3:17If anyone
destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God's temple is
holy, which you are. 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If
anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a
fool, that he may become wise. 3:19For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness with God. For it is written, "He has taken the wise in
their craftiness." 3:20And again, "The Lord knows
the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless." 3:21Therefore let no one boast in
men. For all things are yours, 3:22whether Paul, or Apollos, or
Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to
come. All are yours, 3:23and you are Christ's, and Christ
is God's.
4:1So let a man think of us as
Christ's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries. 4:2Here,
moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful. 4:3But with me it is a very small
thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't
judge my own self. 4:4For I know nothing against myself.
Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the
time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things
of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get
his praise from God.
4:6Now these things, brothers, I have
in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us
you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that
none of you be puffed up against one another. 4:7For who
makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if
you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 4:8You are already filled. You have
already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish
that you did reign, that we also might reign with you. 4:9For, I think that God has
displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For
we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. 4:10We are fools for Christ's sake,
but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have
honor, but we have dishonor. 4:11Even to this present hour we
hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
4:12We toil, working with our own
hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 4:13Being defamed, we entreat. We are
made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.
4:14I don't write these things to
shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 4:15For though you have ten thousand
tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your
father through the Gospel. 4:16I beg you therefore, be imitators
of me. 4:17Because of this I have sent
Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will
remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in
every assembly. 4:18Now some are puffed up, as though
I were not coming to you. 4:19But I will come to you shortly,
if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are
puffed up, but the power. 4:20For the Kingdom of God is not in
word, but in power. 4:21What do you want? Shall I come to
you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
5:1It is actually reported that there
is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even
named among the Gentiles, that one has his father's wife. 5:2You are puffed up, and didn't
rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among
you. 5:3For I most assuredly, as being
absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were
present, judged him who has done this thing. 5:4In the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with
the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:5are to
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
5:6Your boasting is not good. Don't
you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump? 5:7Purge out
the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For
indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place. 5:8Therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but
with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 5:9I wrote to
you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners; 5:10yet not at all meaning with the
sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or
with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world. 5:11But as it is, I wrote to you not
to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner,
or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an
extortioner. Don't even eat with such a person. 5:12For what
have I to do with also judging those who are outside? Don't you judge
those who are within? 5:13But those who are outside, God
judges. "Put away the wicked man from among yourselves."
6:1Dare any of you, having a matter
against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the
saints? 6:2Don't you know that the saints
will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy
to judge the smallest matters? 6:3Don't you know that we will judge
angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 6:4If then, you have to judge things
pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in
the assembly? 6:5I say this to move you to shame.
Isn't there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide
between his brothers? 6:6But brother goes to law with
brother, and that before unbelievers! 6:7Therefore it
is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with
another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 6:8No, but you yourselves do wrong,
and defraud, and that against your brothers. 6:9Or don't you
know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be
deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 6:10nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners,
will inherit the Kingdom of God. 6:11Such were
some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God. 6:12"All things are lawful for
me," but not all things are expedient. "All things are lawful
for me," but I will not be brought under the power of anything. 6:13"Foods for the belly, and
the belly for foods," but God will bring to nothing both it and them.
But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord
for the body. 6:14Now God raised up the Lord, and
will also raise us up by his power. 6:15Don't you
know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members
of Christ, and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 6:16Or don't you know that he who is
joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "The two," says he,
"will become one flesh." 6:17But he who
is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 6:18Flee sexual
immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but
he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 6:19Or don't you know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God?
You are not your own, 6:20for you were bought with a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
7:1Now concerning the things about
which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 7:2But, because of sexual
immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her
own husband. 7:3Let the husband render to his wife
the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 7:4The wife doesn't have authority
over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have
authority over his own body, but the wife. 7:5Don't
deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may
give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that
Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
7:6But this I say by way of
concession, not of commandment. 7:7Yet I wish that all men were like
me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and
another of that kind. 7:8But I say to the unmarried and to
widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am. 7:9But if they don't have
self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn. 7:10But to the married I command--not
I, but the Lord--that the wife not leave her husband 7:11(but if she
departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband),
and that the husband not leave his wife.
7:12But to the rest I--not the
Lord--say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to
live with him, let him not leave her. 7:13The woman
who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let
her not leave her husband. 7:14For the unbelieving husband is
sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the
husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now are they holy.
7:15Yet if the unbeliever departs,
let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in
such cases, but God has called us in peace. 7:16For how do
you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know,
husband, whether you will save your wife? 7:17Only, as
the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him
walk. So I command in all the assemblies.
7:18Was anyone called having been
circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in
uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 7:19Circumcision is nothing, and
uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 7:20Let each man stay in that calling
in which he was called. 7:21Were you called being a
bondservant? Don't let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to
become free, use it. 7:22For he who was called in the Lord
being a bondservant is the Lord's free man. Likewise he who was called
being free is Christ's bondservant. 7:23You were
bought with a price. Don't become bondservants of men. 7:24Brothers, let each man, in
whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.
7:25Now concerning virgins, I have no
commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained
mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. 7:26I think
that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it
is good for a man to be as he is. 7:27Are you
bound to a wife? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't
seek a wife. 7:28But if you marry, you have not
sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have
oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you. 7:29But I say
this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have
wives may be as though they had none; 7:30and those
who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though
they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't possess; 7:31and those who use the world, as
not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away. 7:32But I desire to have you to be
free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the
Lord, how he may please the Lord; 7:33but he who
is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please
his wife. 7:34There is also a difference
between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of
the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is
married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her
husband. 7:35This I say for your own profit;
not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that
you may attend to the Lord without distraction. 7:36But if any
man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she
is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he
desires. He doesn't sin. Let them marry. 7:37But he who
stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his
own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well. 7:38So then
both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn't
give her in marriage does better. 7:39A wife is
bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead,
she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord. 7:40But she is happier if she stays
as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.
8:1Now concerning things sacrificed
to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love
builds up. 8:2But if anyone thinks that he knows
anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know. 8:3But if
anyone loves God, the same is known by him. 8:4Therefore
concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol
is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 8:5For though there are things that
are called "gods," whether in the heavens or on earth; as there
are many "gods" and many "lords;" 8:6yet to us
there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and
one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through
him. 8:7However, that knowledge isn't in
all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a
thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8:8But food will not commend us to
God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are
we the better. 8:9But be careful that by no means
does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak. 8:10For if a man sees you who have
knowledge sitting in an idol's temple, won't his conscience, if he is
weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 8:11And through your knowledge, he
who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 8:12Thus, sinning against the
brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against
Christ. 8:13Therefore, if food causes my
brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I don't cause my
brother to stumble.
9:1Am I not free? Am I not an
apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren't you my work in the
Lord? 9:2If to others I am not an apostle,
yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the
Lord. 9:3My defense to those who examine me
is this. 9:4Have we no right to eat and to
drink? 9:5Have we no right to take along a
wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers
of the Lord, and Cephas? 9:6Or have only Barnabas and I no
right to not work? 9:7What soldier ever serves at his
own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn't eat of its fruit? Or who
feeds a flock, and doesn't drink from the flock's milk? 9:8Do I speak these things according
to the ways of men? Or doesn't the law also say the same thing? 9:9For it is written in the law of
Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the
grain." Is it for the oxen that God cares, 9:10or does he
say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because
he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should
partake of his hope. 9:11If we sowed to you spiritual
things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things? 9:12If others partake of this right
over you, don't we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but
we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Gospel of
Christ. 9:13Don't you know that those who
serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those
who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar? 9:14Even so the Lord ordained that
those who proclaim the Gospel should live from the Gospel. 9:15But I have used none of these
things, and I don't write these things that it may be done so in my case;
for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void. 9:16For if I preach the Gospel, I
have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to
me, if I don't preach the Gospel. 9:17For 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. 9:18What then is my reward? That,
when I preach the Gospel, I may present the Gospel of Christ without
charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Gospel. 9:19For though I was free from all, I
brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. 9:20To 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; 9:21to 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. 9:22To 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. 9:23Now I do this for the Gospel's
sake, that I may be a joint partaker of it. 9:24Don't you
know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run
like that, that you may win. 9:25Every 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. 9:26I therefore
run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the
air, 9:27but I beat my body and bring it
into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I
myself should be rejected.
10:1Now I would not have you
ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all
passed through the sea; 10:2and were all baptized into Moses
in the cloud and in the sea; 10:3and all ate the same spiritual
food; 10:4and all drank the same spiritual
drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock
was Christ. 10:5However with most of them, God
was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 10:6Now these things were our
examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also
lusted. 10:7Neither be idolaters, as some of
them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink,
and rose up to play." 10:8Neither let us commit sexual
immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three
thousand fell. 10:9Neither let us test the Lord, as
some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. 10:10Neither
grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 10:11Now all these things happened to
them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom
the ends of the ages have come. 10:12Therefore
let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.
10:13No temptation has taken you
except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to
be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make
the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 10:14Therefore, my beloved, flee from
idolatry. 10:15I speak as to wise men. Judge
what I say. 10:16The cup of blessing which we
bless, isn't it a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we
break, isn't it a communion of the body of Christ? 10:17Because
we, who are many, are one bread, one body; for we all partake of the one
bread. 10:18Consider Israel after the flesh.
Don't those who eat the sacrifices have communion with the altar?
10:19What am I saying then? That a
thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 10:20But I say that the things which
the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I
don't desire that you would have communion with demons. 10:21You can't both drink the cup of
the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the
Lord, and of the table of demons. 10:22Or do we
provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 10:23"All things are lawful for
me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful
for me," but not all things build up. 10:24Let no one
seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good. 10:25Whatever
is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of
conscience, 10:26for "the earth is the
Lord's, and its fullness." 10:27But if one
of those who don't believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to
go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of
conscience. 10:28But if anyone says to you,
"This was offered to idols," don't eat it for the sake of the
one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is
the Lord's, and all its fullness." 10:29Conscience, I say, not your own,
but the other's conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another
conscience? 10:30If I partake with thankfulness,
why am I denounced for that for which I give thanks? 10:31Whether therefore you eat, or
drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 10:32Give no occasions for stumbling,
either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; 10:33even as I also please all men in
all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that
they may be saved.
11:1Be imitators of me, even as I
also am of Christ. 11:2Now I praise you, brothers, that
you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I
delivered them to you. 11:3But I would have you know that
the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and
the head of Christ is God. 11:4Every man praying or prophesying,
having his head covered, dishonors his head. 11:5But every
woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head.
For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. 11:6For if a woman is not covered,
let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or
shaved, let her be covered. 11:7For a man indeed ought not to
have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the
woman is the glory of the man. 11:8For man is not from woman, but
woman from man; 11:9for neither was man created for
the woman, but woman for the man. 11:10For this
cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels.
11:11Nevertheless, neither is the
woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the
Lord. 11:12For as woman came from man, so a
man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God. 11:13Judge for yourselves. Is it
appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled? 11:14Doesn't
even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor
to him? 11:15But if a woman has long hair, it
is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. 11:16But if any man seems to be
contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God's assemblies.
11:17But in giving you this command,
I don't praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the
worse. 11:18For first of all, when you come
together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I
partly believe it. 11:19For there also must be factions
among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you. 11:20When therefore you assemble
yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord's supper. 11:21For in your eating each one
takes his own supper before others. One is hungry, and another is drunken.
11:22What, don't you have houses to
eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God's assembly, and put them to
shame who don't have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I
don't praise you.
11:23For I received from the Lord
that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in
which he was betrayed took bread. 11:24When he
had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take,
eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of
me." 11:25In the same way he also took the
cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new
covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of
me." 11:26For as often as you eat this
bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 11:27Therefore whoever eats this
bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be
guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 11:28But let a
man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the
cup. 11:29For he who eats and drinks in an
unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn't discern
the Lord's body. 11:30For this cause many among you
are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 11:31For if we
discerned ourselves, we wouldn't be judged. 11:32But when
we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned
with the world. 11:33Therefore, my brothers, when you
come together to eat, wait one for another. 11:34But if
anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for
judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.
12:1Now concerning spiritual things,
brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant. 12:2You know
that when you were heathen, you were led away to those
mute idols, however you might be led. 12:3Therefore I
make known to you that no man speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus
is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the
Holy Spirit. 12:4Now there are various kinds of
gifts, but the same Spirit.
12:5There are various kinds of
service, and the same Lord. 12:6There are various kinds of
workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 12:7But to each one is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 12:8For to one
is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of
knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 12:9to another
faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same
Spirit; 12:10and to another workings of
miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits;
to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation
of languages. 12:11But the one and the same Spirit
works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
12:12For as the body is one, and has
many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body;
so also is Christ. 12:13For in one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and
were all given to drink into one Spirit. 12:14For the
body is not one member, but many. 12:15If the
foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the
body," it is not therefore not part of the body. 12:16If the ear would say,
"Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," it's not
therefore not part of the body. 12:17If the
whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were
hearing, where would the smelling be? 12:18But now
God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he
desired. 12:19If they were all one member,
where would the body be? 12:20But now they are many members,
but one body. 12:21The eye can't tell the hand,
"I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I
have no need for you." 12:22No, much rather, those members
of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 12:23Those
parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow
more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant
propriety; 12:24whereas our presentable parts
have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more
abundant honor to the inferior part, 12:25that there
should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the
same care for one another. 12:26When one member suffers, all the
members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members
rejoice with it.
12:27Now you are the body of Christ,
and members individually. 12:28God has set some in the
assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle
workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of
languages. 12:29Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 12:30Do all have gifts of healings?
Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? 12:31But earnestly desire the best
gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
13:1If I speak with the languages of
men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a
clanging cymbal. 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy,
and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as
to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. 13:3If I dole out all my goods to
feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it
profits me nothing.
13:4Love is patient and is kind; love
doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5doesn't
behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked,
takes no account of evil; 13:6doesn't rejoice in
unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 13:7bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8Love never fails. But where there
are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various
languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away
with. 13:9For we know in part, and we
prophesy in part; 13:10but when that which is complete
has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. 13:11When I was a child, I spoke as a
child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a
man, I have put away childish things. 13:12For now we
see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but
then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. 13:13But now faith, hope, and love
remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.
14:1Follow after love, and earnestly
desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 14:2For he who speaks in another
language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the
Spirit he speaks mysteries. 14:3But he who prophesies speaks to
men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. 14:4He who speaks in another language
edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. 14:5Now I desire to have you all
speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is
greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he
interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
14:6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages,
what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of
revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? 14:7Even things without life, giving
a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the
sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? 14:8For if the trumpet gave an
uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? 14:9So also
you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would
it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air. 14:10There are, it may be, so many
kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 14:11If then I don't know the meaning
of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks
would be a foreigner to me. 14:12So also you, since you are
zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up
of the assembly. 14:13Therefore let him who speaks in
another language pray that he may interpret. 14:14For if I
pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is
unfruitful.
14:15What is it then? I will pray
with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing
with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 14:16Otherwise if you bless with the
spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the
"Amen" at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn't know what you
say? 14:17For you most assuredly give
thanks well, but the other person is not built up. 14:18I thank my
God, I speak with other languages more than you all. 14:19However in the assembly I would
rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct
others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
14:20Brothers, don't be children in
thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. 14:21In the law it is written,
"By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will
speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the
Lord." 14:22Therefore other languages are
for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but
prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who
believe. 14:23If therefore the whole assembly
is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or
unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy? 14:24But if all prophesy, and someone
unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged
by all. 14:25And thus the secrets of his
heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God,
declaring that God is among you indeed.
14:26What is it then, brothers? When
you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a
revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be
done to build each other up. 14:27If any man speaks in another
language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one
interpret. 14:28But if there is no interpreter,
let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to
God. 14:29Let the prophets speak, two or
three, and let the others discern. 14:30But if a
revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. 14:31For you all can prophesy one by
one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted. 14:32The
spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 14:33for God is not a God of
confusion, but of peace.
As in all the assemblies of the saints, 14:34let your
wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for
them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says. 14:35If they desire to learn
anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for
a woman to chatter in the assembly. 14:36What? Was
it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone? 14:37If any man thinks himself to be
a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to
you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. 14:38But if
anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 14:39Therefore,
brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with
other languages. 14:40Let all things be done decently
and in order.
15:1Now I declare to you, brothers,
the Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you
also stand, 15:2by which also you are saved, if
you hold firmly the word which I preached to you--unless you believed in
vain. 15:3For I delivered to you first of
all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to
the Scriptures, 15:4that he was buried, that he was
raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 15:5and that he
appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 15:6Then he
appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until
now, but some have also fallen asleep. 15:7Then he
appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 15:8and last of
all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 15:9For I am the least of the
apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted
the assembly of God. 15:10But by the grace of God I am
what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked
more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
15:11Whether then it is I or they, so
we preach, and so you believed.
15:12Now if Christ is preached, that
he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is
no resurrection of the dead? 15:13But if there is no resurrection
of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. 15:14If Christ
has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is
in vain. 15:15Yes, we are found false
witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ,
whom he didn't raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. 15:16For if the dead aren't raised,
neither has Christ been raised. 15:17If Christ
has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. 15:18Then they also who are fallen
asleep in Christ have perished. 15:19If we have
only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
15:20But now Christ has been raised
from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. 15:21For since death came by man, the
resurrection of the dead also came by man. 15:22For as in
Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 15:23But each in his own order:
Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. 15:24Then the end comes, when he will
deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have
abolished all rule and all authority and power. 15:25For he
must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 15:26The last enemy that will be
abolished is death. 15:27For, "He put all things in
subjection under his feet." But when he says, "All things are
put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected
all things to him. 15:28When all things have been
subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who
subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all. 15:29Or else what will they do who
are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren't raised at all, why then are
they baptized for the dead? 15:30Why do we also stand in jeopardy
every hour? 15:31I affirm, by the boasting in you
which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 15:32If I
fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me?
If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow
we die." 15:33Don't be deceived! "Evil
companionships corrupt good morals." 15:34Wake up
righteously, and don't sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this
to your shame. 15:35But someone will say, "How
are the dead raised?" and, "With what kind of body do they
come?" 15:36You foolish one, that which you
yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. 15:37That which
you sow, you don't sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of
wheat, or of some other kind. 15:38But God gives it a body even as
it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. 15:39All flesh
is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of
animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 15:40There are
also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the
celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. 15:41There is
one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the
stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 15:42So also is the resurrection of
the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. 15:43It is sown in dishonor; it is
raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 15:44It is sown a natural body; it is
raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a
spiritual body.
15:45So also it is written, "The
first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a
life-giving spirit. 15:46However that which is spiritual
isn't first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. 15:47The first man is of the earth,
made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 15:48As is the one made of dust, such
are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they
also that are heavenly. 15:49As we have borne the image of
those made of dust, let's also bear the image of the
heavenly. 15:50Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of
God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.
15:51Behold, I tell you a mystery. We
will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 15:52in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be
changed. 15:53For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 15:54But when this corruptible will
have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality,
then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in
victory."
15:55"Death, where is your sting?
Hades, where is your victory?"
15:56The sting of death is sin, and
the power of sin is the law. 15:57But thanks be to God, who gives
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 15:58Therefore,
my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the
Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
16:1Now concerning the collection for
the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. 16:2On the first day of the week, let
each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when
I come. 16:3When I arrive, I will send
whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.
16:4If it is appropriate for me to go
also, they will go with me. 16:5But I will come to you when I
have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 16:6But with you it may be that I
will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I
go. 16:7For I do not wish to see you now
in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 16:8But I will stay at Ephesus until
Pentecost, 16:9for a great and effective door
has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 16:10Now if
Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work
of the Lord, as I also do. 16:11Therefore let no one despise
him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me;
for I expect him with the brothers.
16:12Now concerning Apollos, the
brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was
not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an
opportunity.
16:13Watch! Stand firm in the faith!
Be courageous! Be strong! 16:14Let all that you do be done in
love.
16:15Now I beg you, brothers (you
know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and
that they have set themselves to minister to the saints), 16:16that you also be in subjection
to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 16:17I rejoice at the coming of
Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your
part, they supplied. 16:18For they refreshed my spirit and
yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.
16:19The assemblies of Asia greet
you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the
assembly that is in their house. 16:20All the
brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
16:21This greeting is by me, Paul,
with my own hand. 16:22If any man doesn't love the Lord
Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Come,
Lord! 16:23The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ be with you. 16:24My love to all of you in Christ
Jesus. Amen.
Notes:
[1] back to
1:10 The word for "brothers" here and where context allows
may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or
"siblings."
[2] back to
12:2 or Gentiles
[3] back to
14:6 The word for "brothers" here and where context allows
may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or
"siblings."
[4] back to
15:49 NU, TR read "we will" instead of
"let's"
[5] back to
15:50 The word for "brothers" here and where context allows
may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or
"siblings."
[6] back to
16:22 Greek: anathema.
[7] back
to 16:22 Aramaic: Maranatha!
[Index]
