The First Letter to the Corinthians

The First Letter to the Corinthians addresses a variety of problems and questions within a vibrant but troubled Christian community in a major pagan city. Paul provides essential teachings on the nature of Christian unity and the importance of the cross as the true power of God. We find the famous chapter on love that describes it as the greatest of all virtues and the foundation of every spiritual gift. This letter reminds us that everything we do should be motivated by a desire to build up the body of Christ.

The text provides critical instructions on the proper celebration of the Eucharist and the diversity of gifts within the life of the Church. We see a powerful defense of the reality of the resurrection of the body and our hope for a future life beyond death. Paul encourages us to stand firm and to remain steadfast in the work of the Lord as we wait for His return. The First Letter to the Corinthians invites us to a life of holiness and moral integrity in a world that is often confused about the nature of true freedom.

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Chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Chapter 1

¹Paul, called as an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God; and Sosthenes, a brother: ? ²to the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints with all who are invoking the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place of theirs and of ours. ? ³Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ? ⁴I give thanks to my God continuously for you because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus. ? ⁵By that grace, in all things, you have become wealthy in him, in every word and in all knowledge. ? ⁶And so, the testimony of Christ has been strengthened in you. ? ⁷In this way, nothing is lacking to you in any grace, as you await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. ? ⁸And he, too, will strengthen you, even until the end, without guilt, until the day of the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. ? ⁹God is faithful. Through him, you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ? ¹⁰And so, I beg you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that every one of you speak in the same way, and that there be no schisms among you. So may you become perfect, with the same mind and with the same judgment. ? ¹¹For it has been indicated to me, about you, my brothers, by those who are with Chloes, that there are contentions among you. ? ¹²Now I say this because each of you is saying: �Certainly, I am of Paul;� �But I am of Apollo;� �Truly, I am of Cephas;� as well as: �I am of Christ.� ? ¹³Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ? ¹⁴I give thanks to God that I have baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius, ? ¹⁵lest anyone say that you have been baptized in my name. ? ¹⁶And I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Other than these, I do not recall if I baptized any others. ? ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize: not through the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ become empty. ? ¹⁸For the Word of the Cross is certainly foolishness to those who are perishing. But to those who have been saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God. ? ¹⁹For it has been written: �I will perish the wisdom of the wise, and I will reject the discernment of the prudent.� ? ²⁰Where are the wise? Where are the scribes? Where are the truth-seekers of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of this world into foolishness? ? ²¹For the world did not know God through wisdom, and so, in the wisdom of God, it pleased God to accomplish the salvation of believers, through the foolishness of our preaching. ? ²²For the Jews ask for signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom. ? ²³But we are preaching Christ crucified. Certainly, to the Jews, this is a scandal, and to the Gentiles, this is foolishness. ? ²⁴But to those who have been called, Jews as well as Greeks, the Christ is the virtue of God and the wisdom of God. ? ²⁵For what is foolishness to God is considered wise by men, and that which is weakness to God is considered strong by men. ? ²⁶So take care of your vocation, brothers. For not many are wise according to the flesh, not many are powerful, not many are noble. ? ²⁷But God has chosen the foolish of the world, so that he may confound the wise. And God has chosen the weak of the world, so that he may confound the strong. ? ²⁸And God has chosen the ignoble and contemptible of the world, those who are nothing, so that he may reduce to nothing those who are something. ? ²⁹So then, nothing that is of the flesh should glory in his sight. ? ³⁰But you are of him in Christ Jesus, who was made by God to be our wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption. ? ³¹And so, in the same way, it was written: �Whoever glories, should glory in the Lord.� ?

Chapter 2

¹And so, brothers, when I came to you, announcing to you the testimony of Christ, I did not bring exalted words or lofty wisdom. ? ²For I did not judge myself to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ? ³And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and with much trembling. ? ⁴And my words and preaching were not the persuasive words of human wisdom, but were a manifestation of the Spirit and of virtue, ? ⁵so that your faith would not be based on the wisdom of men, but on the virtue of God. ? ⁶Now, we do speak wisdom among the perfect, yet truly, this is not the wisdom of this age, nor that of the leaders of this age, which shall be reduced to nothing. ? ⁷Instead, we speak of the wisdom of God in a mystery which has been hidden, which God predestined before this age for our glory, ? ⁸something that none of the leaders of this world have known. For if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. ? ⁹But this is just as it has been written: �The eye has not seen, and the ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love him.� ? ¹⁰But God has revealed these things to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. ? ¹¹And who can know the things that are of a man, except the spirit which is within that man? So also, no one knows the things which are of God, except the Spirit of God. ? ¹²But we have not received the spirit of this world, but the Spirit who is of God, so that we may understand the things that have been given to us by God. ? ¹³And we are also speaking of these things, not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, bringing spiritual things together with spiritual things. ? ¹⁴But the animal nature of man does not perceive these things that are of the Spirit of God. For it is foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand it, because it must be examined spiritually. ? ¹⁵But the spiritual nature of man judges all things, and he himself may be judged by no man. ? ¹⁶For who has known the mind of the Lord, so that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. ?

Chapter 3

¹And so, brothers, I was not able to speak to you as if to those who are spiritual, but rather as if to those who are carnal. For you are like infants in Christ. ? ²I gave you milk to drink, not solid food. For you were not yet able. And indeed, even now, you are not able; for you are still carnal. ? ³And since there is still envy and contention among you, are you not carnal, and are you not walking according to man? ? ⁴For if one says, �Certainly, I am of Paul,� while another says, �I am of Apollo,� are you not men? But what is Apollo, and what is Paul? ? ⁵We are only the ministers of him in whom you have believed, just as the Lord has granted to each of you. ? ⁶I planted, Apollo watered, but God provided the growth. ? ⁷And so, neither he who plants, nor he who waters, is anything, but only God, who provides the growth. ? ⁸Now he who plants, and he who waters, are one. But each shall receive his proper reward, according to his labors. ? ⁹For we are God�s assistants. You are God�s cultivation; you are God�s construction. ? ¹⁰According to the grace of God, which has been given to me, I have laid the foundation like a wise architect. But another builds upon it. So then, let each one be careful how he builds upon it. ? ¹¹For no one is able to lay any other foundation, in place of that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus. ? ¹²But if anyone builds upon this foundation, whether gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble, ? ¹³each one�s work shall be made manifest. For the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it will be revealed by fire. And this fire will test each one�s work, as to what kind it is. ? ¹⁴If anyone�s work, which he has built upon it, remains, then he will receive a reward. ? ¹⁵If anyone�s work is burned up, he will suffer its loss, but he himself will still be saved, but only as through fire. ? ¹⁶Do you not know that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives within you? ? ¹⁷But if anyone violates the Temple of God, God will destroy him. For the Temple of God is holy, and you are that Temple. ? ¹⁸Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish, so that he may be truly wise. ? ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. And so it has been written: �I will catch the wise in their own astuteness.� ? ²⁰And again: �The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.� ? ²¹And so, let no one glory in men. ? ²²For all is yours: whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or the future. Yes, all is yours. ? ²³But you are Christ�s, and Christ is God�s. ?

Chapter 4

¹Accordingly, let man consider us to be ministers of Christ and attendants of the mysteries of God. ? ²Here and now, it is required of attendants that each one be found to be faithful. ? ³But as for me, it is such a small thing to be judged by you, or by the age of mankind. And neither do I judge myself. ? ⁴For I have nothing on my conscience. But I am not justified by this. For the Lord is the One who judges me. ? ⁵And so, do not choose to judge before the time, until the Lord returns. He will illuminate the hidden things of the darkness, and he will make manifest the decisions of hearts. And then each one shall have praise from God. ? ⁶And so, brothers, I have presented these things in myself and in Apollo, for your sakes, so that you may learn, through us, that no one should be inflated against one person and for another, not beyond what has been written. ? ⁷For what distinguishes you from another? And what do you have that you have not received? But if you have received it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it? ? ⁸So, now you have been filled, and now you have been made wealthy, as if to reign without us? But I wish that you would reign, so that we, too, might reign with you! ? ⁹For I think that God has presented us as the last Apostles, as those destined for death. For we have been made into a spectacle for the world, and for Angels, and for men. ? ¹⁰So we are fools because of Christ, but you are discerning in Christ? We are weak, but you are strong? You are noble, but we are ignoble? ? ¹¹Even to this very hour, we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and repeatedly beaten, and we are unsteady. ? ¹²And we labor, working with our own hands. We are slandered, and so we bless. We suffer and endure persecution. ? ¹³We are cursed, and so we pray. We have become like the refuse of this world, like the reside of everything, even until now. ? ¹⁴I am not writing these things in order to confound you, but in order to admonish you, as my dearest sons. ? ¹⁵For you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but not so many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, I have begotten you. ? ¹⁶Therefore, I beg you, be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ. ? ¹⁷For this reason, I have sent you Timothy, who is my dearest son, and who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere, in every church. ? ¹⁸Certain persons have become inflated in thinking that I would not return to you. ? ¹⁹But I will return to you soon, if the Lord is willing. And I will consider, not the words of those who are inflated, but the virtue. ? ²⁰For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in virtue. ? ²¹What would you prefer? Should I return to you with a rod, or with charity and a spirit of meekness? ?

Chapter 5

¹Above all else, it is being said that there is fornication among you, even fornication of a such kind that is not among the Gentiles, so that someone would have the wife of his father. ? ²And yet you are inflated, and you have not instead been grieved, so that he who has done this thing would be taken away from your midst. ? ³Certainly, though absent in body, I am present in spirit. Thus, I have already judged, as if I were present, him who has done this. ? ⁴In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have been gathered together with my spirit, in the power of our Lord Jesus, ? ⁵to hand over such a one as this to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ? ⁶It is not good for you to glory. Do you not know that a little leaven corrupts the entire mass? ? ⁷Purge the old leaven, so that you may become the new bread, for you are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover, has now been immolated. ? ⁸And so, let us feast, not with the old leaven, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. ? ⁹As I have written to you in an epistle: �Do not associate with fornicators,� ? ¹⁰certainly not with the fornicators of this world, nor with the greedy, nor with robbers, nor with the servants of idolatry. Otherwise, you ought to depart from this world. ? ¹¹But now I have written to you: do not associate with anyone who is called a brother and yet is a fornicator, or greedy, or a servant of idolatry, or a slanderer, or inebriated, or a robber. With such a one as this, do not even take food. ? ¹²For what have I to do with judging those who are outside? But do not even you yourselves judge those who are inside? ? ¹³For those who are outside, God will judge. But send this evil person away from yourselves. ?

Chapter 6

¹How is it that anyone of you, having a dispute against another, would dare to be judged before the iniquitous, and not before the saints? ? ²Or do you not know that the saints from this age shall judge it? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you unworthy, then, to judge even the smallest matters? ? ³Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more the things of this age? ? ⁴Therefore, if you have matters to judge concerning this age, why not appoint those who are most contemptible in the Church to judge these things! ? ⁵But I am speaking so as to shame you. Is there no one among you wise enough, so that he might be able to judge between his brothers? ? ⁶Instead, brother contends against brother in court, and this before the unfaithful! ? ⁷Now there is certainly an offense among you, beyond everything else, when you have court cases against one another. Should you not accept injury instead? Should you not endure being cheated instead? ? ⁸But you are doing the injuring and the cheating, and this toward brothers! ? ⁹Do you not know that the iniquitous will not possess the kingdom of God? Do not choose to wander astray. For neither fornicators, nor servants of idolatry, nor adulterers, ? ¹⁰nor the effeminate, nor males who sleep with males, nor thieves, nor the avaricious, nor the inebriated, nor slanderers, nor the rapacious shall possess the kingdom of God. ? ¹¹And some of you were like this. But you have been absolved, but you have been sanctified, but you have been justified: all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. ? ¹²All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient. All is lawful to me, but I will not be driven back by the authority of anyone. ? ¹³Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food. But God shall destroy both the stomach and food. And the body is not for fornication, but rather for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body. ? ¹⁴Truly, God has raised up the Lord, and he will raise us up by his power. ? ¹⁵Do you not know that your bodies are a part of Christ? So then, should I take a part of Christ and make it a part of a harlot? Let it not be so! ? ¹⁶And do you not know that whoever is joined to a harlot becomes one body? �For the two,� he said, �shall be as one flesh.� ? ¹⁷But whoever is joined to the Lord is one spirit. ? ¹⁸Flee from fornication. Every sin whatsoever that a man commits is outside of the body, but whoever fornicates, sins against his own body. ? ¹⁹Or do you not know that your bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? ? ²⁰For you have been bought at a great price. Glorify and carry God in your body. ?

Chapter 7

¹Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ? ²But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ? ³A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband. ? ⁴It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body. ? ⁵So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence. ? ⁶But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment. ? ⁷For I would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way. ? ⁸But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am. ? ⁹But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned. ? ¹⁰But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband. ? ¹¹But if she has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife. ? ¹²Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. ? ¹³And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband. ? ¹⁴For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead they are holy. ? ¹⁵But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace. ? ¹⁶And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? ? ¹⁷However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach in all the churches. ? ¹⁸Has any circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? Let him not be circumcised. ? ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; there is only the observance of the commandments of God. ? ²⁰Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called. ? ²¹Are you a servant who has been called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you ever have the ability to be free, make use of it. ? ²²For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord. Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ. ? ²³You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men. ? ²⁴Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God. ? ²⁵Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give counsel, as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord, so as to be faithful. ? ²⁶Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to be such as I am. ? ²⁷Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek a wife. ? ²⁸But if you take a wife, you have not sinned. And if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh. But I would spare you from this. ? ²⁹And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none; ? ³⁰and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they possessed nothing; ? ³¹and those who use the things of this world, as if they were not using them. For the figure of this world is passing away. ? ³²But I would prefer you to be without worry. Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord, as to how he may please God. ? ³³But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world, as to how he may please his wife. And so, he is divided. ? ³⁴And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world, as to how she may please her husband. ? ³⁵Furthermore, I am saying this for your own benefit, not in order to cast a snare over you, but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance, so as to worship the Lord. ? ³⁶But if any man considers himself to seem dishonorable, concerning a virgin who is of adult age, and so it ought to be, he may do as he wills. If he marries her, he does not sin. ? ³⁷But if he has decided firmly in his heart, and he does not have any obligation, but only the power of his free will, and if he has judged this in his heart, to let her remain a virgin, he does well. ? ³⁸And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well, and he who does not join with her does better. ? ³⁹A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free. She may marry whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord. ? ⁴⁰But she will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God. ?

Chapter 8

¹Now concerning those things that are sacrificed to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up. ? ²But if anyone considers himself to know anything, he does not yet know in the way that he ought to know. ? ³For if anyone loves God, he is known by him. ? ⁴But as to the foods that are immolated to idols, we know that an idol in the world is nothing, and that no one is God, except One. ? ⁵For although there are things that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (if one even considers there to be many gods and many lords) ? ⁶yet we know that there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things are, and in whom we are, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and by whom we are. ? ⁷But knowledge is not in everyone. For some persons, even now, with consent to an idol, eat what has been sacrificed to an idol. And their conscience, being infirm, becomes polluted. ? ⁸Yet food does not commend us to God. For if we eat, we will not have more, and if we do not eat, we will not have less. ? ⁹But be careful not to let your liberty become a cause of sin to those who are weak. ? ¹⁰For if anyone sees someone with knowledge sitting down to eat in idolatry, will not his own conscience, being infirm, be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? ? ¹¹And should an infirm brother perish by your knowledge, even though Christ died for him? ? ¹²So when you sin in this way against the brothers, and you harm their weakened conscience, then you sin against Christ. ? ¹³Because of this, if food leads my brother to sin, I will never eat meat, lest I lead my brother to sin. ?

Chapter 9

¹Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Have I not seen Christ Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? ? ²And if I am not an Apostle to others, yet still I am to you. For you are the seal of my Apostleship in the Lord. ? ³My defense with those who question me is this: ? ⁴Do we not have the authority to eat and to drink? ? ⁵Do we not have the authority to travel around with a woman who is a sister, just as do the other Apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? ? ⁶Or is it only myself and Barnabas who do not have the authority to act in this way? ? ⁷Who has ever served as a soldier and paid his own stipend? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat from its produce? Who pastures a flock and does not drink from the milk of the flock? ? ⁸Am I saying these things according to man? Or does the law not also say these things? ? ⁹For it is written in the law of Moses: �You shall not bind the mouth of an ox, while it is treading out the grain.� Is God here concerned with the oxen? ? ¹⁰Or is he saying this, indeed, for our sake? These things were written specifically for us, because he who plows, ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes, too, in hope of receiving the produce. ? ¹¹If we have sown spiritual things in you, is it important if we harvest from your worldly things? ? ¹²If others are sharers in this authority over you, why are we not more entitled? And yet we have not used this authority. Instead, we bear all things, lest we give any hindrance to the Gospel of Christ. ? ¹³Do you not know that those who work in the holy place eat the things that are for the holy place, and that those who serve at the altar also share with the altar? ? ¹⁴So, too, has the Lord ordained that those who announce the Gospel should live by the Gospel. ? ¹⁵Yet I have used none of these things. And I have not written so that these things may be done for me. For it is better for me to die, rather than to let anyone empty out my glory. ? ¹⁶For if I preach the Gospel, it is not glory for me. For an obligation has been laid upon me. And woe to me, if I do not preach the Gospel. ? ¹⁷For if I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if I do this reluctantly, a dispensation is granted to me. ? ¹⁸And what, then, would be my reward? So, when preaching the Gospel, I should give the Gospel without taking, so that I may not misuse my authority in the Gospel. ? ¹⁹For when I was a free man to all, I made myself the servant of all, so that I might gain all the more. ? ²⁰And so, to the Jews, I became like a Jew, so that I might gain the Jews. ? ²¹To those who are under the law, I became as if I were under the law, (though I was not under the law) so that I might gain those who were under the law. To those who were without the law, I became as if I were without the law, (though I was not without the law of God, being in the law of Christ) so that I might gain those who were without the law. ? ²²To the weak, I became weak, so that I might gain the weak. To all, I became all, so that I might save all. ? ²³And I do everything for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may become its partner. ? ²⁴Do you not know that, of those who run in a race, all of them, certainly, are runners, but only one achieves the prize. Similarly, you must run, so that you may achieve. ? ²⁵And one who competes in a contest abstains from all things. And they do this, of course, so that they may achieve a corruptible crown. But we do this, so that we may achieve what is incorruptible. ? ²⁶And so I run, but not with uncertainty. And so I fight, but not by flailing in the air. ? ²⁷Instead, I chastise my body, so as to redirect it into servitude. Otherwise, I might preach to others, but become myself an outcast. ?

Chapter 10

¹For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and they all went across the sea. ? ²And in Moses, they all were baptized, in the cloud and in the sea. ? ³And they all ate of the same spiritual food. ? ⁴And they all drank of the same spiritual drink. And so, they all were drinking of the spiritual rock seeking to obtain them; and that rock was Christ. ? ⁵But with most of them, God was not well-pleased. For they were struck down in the desert. ? ⁶Now these things were done as an example for us, so that we might not desire evil things, just as they desired. ? ⁷And so, do not take part in idolatry, as some of them did, just as it was written: �The people sat down to eat and to drink, and then they rose up to amuse themselves.� ? ⁸And let us not commit fornication, as some of them fornicated, and so twenty-three thousand fell on one day. ? ⁹And let us not tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and so they perished by serpents. ? ¹⁰And you should not murmur, as some of them murmured, and so they perished by the destroyer. ? ¹¹Now all of these things happened to them as an example, and so they have been written for our correction, because the final age has fallen upon us. ? ¹²And so, whosoever considers himself to be standing, let him be careful not to fall. ? ¹³Temptation should not take hold of you, except what is human. For God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your ability. Instead, he will effect his Providence, even during temptation, so that you may be able to bear it. ? ¹⁴Because of this, most beloved of mine, flee from the worship of idols. ? ¹⁵Since I am speaking to those who are prudent, judge what I say for yourselves. ? ¹⁶The cup of benediction that we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of the Lord? ? ¹⁷Through the one bread, we, though many, are one body: all of us who are partakers of the one bread. ? ¹⁸Consider Israel, according to the flesh. Are not those who eat from the sacrifices partakers of the altar? ? ¹⁹What is next? Should I say that what is immolated to idols is anything? Or that the idol is anything? ? ²⁰But the things that the Gentiles immolate, they immolate to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to become partakers with demons. ? ²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and partakers of the table of demons. ? ²²Or should we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient. ? ²³All is lawful to me, but not all is edifying. ? ²⁴Let no one seek for himself, but for others. ? ²⁵Whatever is sold in the market, you may eat, without asking questions for the sake of conscience. ? ²⁶�The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord.� ? ²⁷If you are invited by any unbelievers, and you are willing to go, you may eat whatever is set before you, without asking questions for the sake of conscience. ? ²⁸But if anyone says, �This has been sacrificed to idols,� do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. ? ²⁹But I am referring to the conscience of the other person, not to yours. For why should my liberty be judged by the conscience of another? ? ³⁰If I partake with thanksgiving, why should I be slandered over that for which I give thanks? ? ³¹Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you may do, do everything for the glory of God. ? ³²Be without offense toward the Jews, and toward the Gentiles, and toward the Church of God, ? ³³just as I also, in all things, please everyone, not seeking what is best for myself, but what is best for many others, so that they may be saved. ?

Chapter 11

¹Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ. ? ²Now I praise you, brothers, because you are mindful of me in everything, in such a way as to hold to my precepts as I have handed them down to you. ? ³So I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ. But the head of woman is man. Yet truly, the head of Christ is God. ? ⁴Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered disgraces his head. ? ⁵But every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered disgraces her head. For it is the same as if her head were shaven. ? ⁶So if a woman is not veiled, let her hair be cut off. Truly then, if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off, or to have her head shaven, then she should cover her head. ? ⁷Certainly, a man ought not to cover his head, for he is the image and glory of God. But woman is the glory of man. ? ⁸For man is not of woman, but woman is of man. ? ⁹And indeed, man was not created for woman, but woman was created for man. ? ¹⁰Therefore, a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the Angels. ? ¹¹Yet truly, man would not exist without woman, nor would woman exist without man, in the Lord. ? ¹²For just as woman came into existence from man, so also does man exist through woman. But all things are from God. ? ¹³Judge for yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God unveiled? ? ¹⁴Does not even nature herself teach you that, indeed, if a man grows his hair long, it is a disgrace for him? ? ¹⁵Yet truly, if a woman grows her hair long, it is a glory for her, because her hair has been given to her as a covering. ? ¹⁶But if anyone has a mind to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor does the Church of God. ? ¹⁷Now I caution you, without praising, about this: that you assemble together, and not for better, but for worse. ? ¹⁸First of all, indeed, I hear that when you assemble together in the church, there are schisms among you. And I believe this, in part. ? ¹⁹For there must also be heresies, so that those who have been tested may be made manifest among you. ? ²⁰And so, when you assemble together as one, it is no longer in order to eat the Lord�s supper. ? ²¹For each one first takes his own supper to eat. And as a result, one person is hungry, while another is inebriated. ? ²²Do you not have houses, in which to eat and drink? Or do you have such contempt for the Church of God that you would confound those who do not have such contempt? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I am not praising you in this. ? ²³For I have received from the Lord what I have also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the same night that he was handed over, took bread, ? ²⁴and giving thanks, he broke it, and said: �Take and eat. This is my body, which shall be given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me.� ? ²⁵Similarly also, the cup, after he had eaten supper, saying: �This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.� ? ²⁶For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he returns. ? ²⁷And so, whoever eats this bread, or drinks from the cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be liable of the body and blood of the Lord. ? ²⁸But let a man examine himself, and, in this way, let him eat from that bread, and drink from that cup. ? ²⁹For whoever eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks a sentence against himself, not discerning it to be the body of the Lord. ? ³⁰As a result, many are weak and sick among you, and many have fallen asleep. ? ³¹But if we ourselves were discerning, then certainly we would not be judged. ? ³²Yet when we are judged, we are being corrected by the Lord, so that we might not be condemned along with this world. ? ³³And so, my brothers, when you assemble together to eat, be attentive to one another. ? ³⁴If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you may not assemble together unto judgment. As for the rest, I will set it in order when I arrive. ?

Chapter 12

¹Now concerning spiritual things, I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers. ? ²You know that when you were Gentiles, you approached mute idols, doing what you were led to do. ? ³Because of this, I would have you know that no one speaking in the Spirit of God utters a curse against Jesus. And no one is able to say that Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit. ? ⁴Truly, there are diverse graces, but the same Spirit. ? ⁵And there are diverse ministries, but the same Lord. ? ⁶And there are diverse works, but the same God, who works everything in everyone. ? ⁷However, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one toward what is beneficial. ? ⁸Certainly, to one, through the Spirit, is given words of wisdom; but to another, according to the same Spirit, words of knowledge; ? ⁹to another, in the same Spirit, faith; to another, in the one Spirit, the gift of healing; ? ¹⁰to another, miraculous works; to another, prophecy; to another, the discernment of spirits; to another, different kinds of languages; to another, the interpretation of words. ? ¹¹But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one according to his will. ? ¹²For just as the body is one, and yet has many parts, so all the parts of the body, though they are many, are only one body. So also is Christ. ? ¹³And indeed, in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether servant or free. And we all drank in the one Spirit. ? ¹⁴For the body, too, is not one part, but many. ? ¹⁵If the foot were to say, �Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body,� would it then not be of the body? ? ¹⁶And if the ear were to say, �Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body,� would it then not be of the body? ? ¹⁷If the whole body were the eye, how would it hear? If the whole were hearing, how would it smell? ? ¹⁸But instead, God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body, just as it has pleased him. ? ¹⁹So if they were all one part, how would it be a body? ? ²⁰But instead, there are many parts, indeed, yet one body. ? ²¹And the eye cannot say to the hand, �I have no need for your works.� And again, the head cannot say to the feet, �You are of no use to me.� ? ²²In fact, so much more necessary are those parts of the body which seem to be weaker. ? ²³And though we consider certain parts of the body to be less noble, we surround these with more abundant dignity, and so, those parts which are less presentable end up with more abundant respect. ? ²⁴However, our presentable parts have no such need, since God has tempered the body together, distributing the more abundant honor to that which has the need, ? ²⁵so that there might be no schism in the body, but instead the parts themselves might take care of one another. ? ²⁶And so, if one part suffers anything, all the parts suffer with it. Or, if one part finds glory, all the parts rejoice with it. ? ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and parts like any part. ? ²⁸And indeed, God has established a certain order in the Church: first Apostles, second Prophets, third Teachers, next miracle-workers, and then the grace of healing, of helping others, of governing, of different kinds of languages, and of the interpretation of words. ? ²⁹Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are all Teachers? ? ³⁰Are all workers of miracles? Do all have the grace of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ? ³¹But be zealous for the better charisms. And I reveal to you a yet more excellent way. ?

Chapter 13

¹If I were to speak in the language of men, or of Angels, yet not have charity, I would be like a clanging bell or a crashing cymbal. ? ²And if I have prophecy, and learn every mystery, and obtain all knowledge, and possess all faith, so that I could move mountains, yet not have charity, then I am nothing. ? ³And if I distribute all my goods in order to feed the poor, and if I hand over my body to be burned, yet not have charity, it offers me nothing. ? ⁴Charity is patient, is kind. Charity does not envy, does not act wrongly, is not inflated. ? ⁵Charity is not ambitious, does not seek for itself, is not provoked to anger, devises no evil. ? ⁶Charity does not rejoice over iniquity, but rejoices in truth. ? ⁷Charity suffers all, believes all, hopes all, endures all. ? ⁸Charity is never torn away, even if prophecies pass away, or languages cease, or knowledge is destroyed. ? ⁹For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part. ? ¹⁰But when the perfect arrives, the imperfect passes away. ? ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood like a child, I thought like a child. But when I became a man, I put aside the things of a child. ? ¹²Now we see through a glass darkly. But then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, even as I am known. ? ¹³But for now, these three continue: faith, hope, and charity. And the greatest of these is charity. ?

Chapter 14

¹Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy. ? ²For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries. ? ³But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. ? ⁴Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church. ? ⁵Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more so to prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless perhaps he interprets, so that the Church may receive edification. ? ⁶But now, brothers, if I were to come to you speaking in tongues, how would it benefit you, unless instead I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine? ? ⁷Even those things that are without a soul can make sounds, whether it is a wind or a stringed instrument. But unless they present a distinction within the sounds, how will it be known which is from the pipe and which is from the string? ? ⁸For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle? ? ⁹So it is with you also, for unless you utter with the tongue in plain speech, how will it be known what is said? For then you would be speaking into the air. ? ¹⁰Consider that there are so many different kinds of languages in this world, and yet none is without a voice. ? ¹¹Therefore, if I do not understand the nature of the voice, then I shall be like a foreigner to the one with whom I am speaking; and he who is speaking will be like a foreigner to me. ? ¹²So it is with you also. And since you are zealous for what is spiritual, seek the edification of the Church, so that you may abound. ? ¹³For this reason, too, whoever speaks in tongues, let him pray for the interpretation. ? ¹⁴So, if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit. ? ¹⁵What is next? I should pray with the spirit, and also pray with the mind. I should sing psalms with the spirit, and also recite psalms with the mind. ? ¹⁶Otherwise, if you have blessed only with the spirit, how can someone, in a state of ignorance, add an �Amen� to your blessing? For he does not know what you are saying. ? ¹⁷In this case, certainly, you give thanks well, but the other person is not edified. ? ¹⁸I thank my God that I speak in tongues for all of you. ? ¹⁹But in the Church, I prefer to speak five words from my mind, so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in tongues. ? ²⁰Brothers, do not choose to have the minds of children. Instead, be free of malice like infants, but be mature in your minds. ? ²¹It is written in the law: �I will speak to this people with other tongues and other lips, and even so, they will not heed me, says the Lord.� ? ²²And so, tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; and prophecies are not for unbelievers, but for believers. ? ²³If then, the entire Church were to gather together as one, and if all were to speak in tongues, and then ignorant or unbelieving persons were to enter, would they not say that you were insane? ? ²⁴But if everyone prophesies, and one who is ignorant or unbelieving enters, he may be convinced by it all, because he understands it all. ? ²⁵The secrets of his heart are then made manifest. And so, falling to his face, he would adore God, proclaiming that God is truly among you. ? ²⁶What is next, brothers? When you gather together, each one of you may have a psalm, or a doctrine, or a revelation, or a language, or an interpretation, but let everything be done for edification. ? ²⁷If anyone is speaking in tongues, let there be only two, or at most three, and then in turn, and let someone interpret. ? ²⁸But if there is no one to interpret, he should remain silent in the church, then he may speak when he is alone with God. ? ²⁹And let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern. ? ³⁰But then, if something is revealed to another who is sitting, let the first one become silent. ? ³¹For you are all able to prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ? ³²For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ? ³³And God is not of dissension, but of peace, just as I also teach in all the churches of the saints. ? ³⁴Women should be silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak; but instead, they should be subordinate, as the law also says. ? ³⁵And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. ? ³⁶So now, did the Word of God proceed from you? Or was it sent to you alone? ? ³⁷If anyone seems to be a prophet or a spiritual person, he should understand these things which I am writing to you, that these things are the commandments of the Lord. ? ³⁸If anyone does not recognize these things, he should not be recognized. ? ³⁹And so, brothers, be zealous to prophesy, and do not prohibit speaking in tongues. ? ⁴⁰But let everything be done respectfully and according to proper order. ?

Chapter 15

¹And so I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel that I preached to you, which you also received, and on which you stand. ? ²By the Gospel, too, you are being saved, if you hold to the understanding that I preached to you, lest you believe in vain. ? ³For I handed on to you, first of all, what I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; ? ⁴and that he was buried; and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures; ? ⁵and that he was seen by Cephas, and after that by the eleven. ? ⁶Next he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, many of whom remain, even to the present time, although some have fallen asleep. ? ⁷Next, he was seen by James, then by all the Apostles. ? ⁸And last of all, he was seen also by me, as if I were someone born at the wrong time. ? ⁹For I am the least of the Apostles. I am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. ? ¹⁰But, by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace in me has not been empty, since I have labored more abundantly than all of them. Yet it is not I, but the grace of God within me. ? ¹¹For whether it is I or they: so we preach, and so you have believed. ? ¹²Now if Christ is preached, that he rose again from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ? ¹³For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen. ? ¹⁴And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is useless, and your faith is also useless. ? ¹⁵Then, too, we would be found to be false witnesses of God, because we would have given testimony against God, saying that he had raised up Christ, when he had not raised him up, if, indeed, the dead do not rise again. ? ¹⁶For if the dead do not rise again, then neither has Christ risen again. ? ¹⁷But if Christ has not risen, then your faith is vain; for you would still be in your sins. ? ¹⁸Then, too, those who have fallen asleep in Christ would have perished. ? ¹⁹If we have hope in Christ for this life only, then we are more miserable than all men. ? ²⁰But now Christ has risen again from the dead, as the first-fruits of those who sleep. ? ²¹For certainly, death came through a man. And so, the resurrection of the dead came through a man ? ²²And just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be brought to life, ? ²³but each one in his proper order: Christ, as the first-fruits, and next, those who are of Christ, who have believed in his advent. ? ²⁴Afterwards is the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God the Father, when he will have emptied all principality, and authority, and power. ? ²⁵For it is necessary for him to reign, until he has set all his enemies under his feet. ? ²⁶Lastly, the enemy called death shall be destroyed. For he has subjected all things under his feet. And although he says, ? ²⁷�All things have been subjected to him,� without doubt he does not include the One who has subjected all things to him. ? ²⁸And when all things will have been subjected to him, then even the Son himself will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all. ? ²⁹Otherwise, what will those who are being baptized for the dead do, if the dead do not rise again at all? Why then are they being baptized for them? ? ³⁰Why also do we endure trials every hour? ? ³¹Daily I die, by means of your boasting, brothers: you whom I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. ? ³²If, according to man, I fought with the beasts at Ephesus, how would that benefit me, if the dead do not rise again? �Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.� ? ³³Do not be led astray. Evil communication corrupts good morals. ? ³⁴Be vigilant, you just ones, and do not be willing to sin. For certain persons have an ignorance of God. I say this to you with respect. ? ³⁵But someone may say, �How do the dead rise again?� or, �What type of body do they return with?� ? ³⁶How foolish! What you sow cannot be brought back to life, unless it first dies. ? ³⁷And what you sow is not the body that will be in the future, but a bare grain, such as of wheat, or of some other grain. ? ³⁸For God gives it a body according to his will, and according to each seed�s proper body. ? ³⁹Not all flesh is the same flesh. But one is indeed of men, another truly is of beasts, another is of birds, and another is of fish. ? ⁴⁰Also, there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But while the one, certainly, has the glory of heaven, the other has the glory of earth. ? ⁴¹One has the brightness of the sun, another the brightness of the moon, and another the brightness of the stars. For even star differs from star in brightness. ? ⁴²So it is also with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown in corruption shall rise to incorruption. ? ⁴³What is sown in dishonor shall rise to glory. What is sown in weakness shall rise to power. ? ⁴⁴What is sown with an animal body shall rise with a spiritual body. If there is an animal body, there is also a spiritual one. ? ⁴⁵Just as it was written that the first man, Adam, was made with a living soul, so shall the last Adam be made with a spirit brought back to life. ? ⁴⁶So what is, at first, not spiritual, but animal, next becomes spiritual. ? ⁴⁷The first man, being earthly, was of the earth; the second man, being heavenly, will be of heaven. ? ⁴⁸Such things as are like the earth are earthly; and such things as are like the heavens are heavenly. ? ⁴⁹And so, just as we have carried the image of what is earthly, let us also carry the image of what is heavenly. ? ⁵⁰Now I say this, brothers, because flesh and blood is not able to possess the kingdom of God; neither will what is corrupt possess what is incorrupt. ? ⁵¹Behold, I tell you a mystery. Certainly, we shall all rise again, but we shall not all be transformed: ? ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise up, incorruptible. And we shall be transformed. ? ⁵³Thus, it is necessary for this corruptibility to be clothed with incorruptibility, and for this mortality to be clothed with immortality. ? ⁵⁴And when this mortality has been clothed with immortality, then the word that was written shall occur: �Death is swallowed up in victory.� ? ⁵⁵�O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?� ? ⁵⁶Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ? ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ? ⁵⁸And so, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and unmovable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not useless in the Lord. ?

Chapter 16

¹Now concerning the collections which are made for the saints: just as I have arranged for the churches of Galatia, so should it also be done with you. ? ²On the first day of the week, the Sabbath, let each one of you take from himself, setting aside what will be well-pleasing to him, so that when I arrive, the collections will not have to be made then. ? ³And when I am present, whomever you shall approve through letters, these I shall send to bear your gifts to Jerusalem. ? ⁴And if it is fitting for me to go too, they shall go with me. ? ⁵Now I will visit you after I have passed through Macedonia. For I will pass through Macedonia. ? ⁶And perhaps I will stay with you, and even spend the winter, so that you may lead me on my way, whenever I depart. ? ⁷For I am not willing to see you now only in passing, since I hope that I may remain with you for some length of time, if the Lord permits. ? ⁸But I must remain at Ephesus, even until Pentecost. ? ⁹For a door, great and unavoidable, has opened to me, as well as many adversaries. ? ¹⁰Now if Timothy arrives, see to it that he may be among you without fear. For he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I also do. ? ¹¹Therefore, let no one despise him. Instead, lead him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me. For I am awaiting him with the brothers. ? ¹²But concerning our brother, Apollo, I am letting you know that I pleaded with him greatly to go to you with the brothers, and clearly it was not his will to go at this time. But he will arrive when there is a space of time for him. ? ¹³Be vigilant. Stand with faith. Act manfully and be strengthened. ? ¹⁴Let all that is yours be immersed in charity. ? ¹⁵And I beg you, brothers: You know the house of Stephanus, and of Fortunatus, and of Achaicus, that they are the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have dedicated themselves to the ministry of the saints. ? ¹⁶So you should be subject also to persons such as this, as well as to all who are cooperating and working with them. ? ¹⁷Now I rejoice in the presence of Stephanus and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because what was lacking in you, they have supplied. ? ¹⁸For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore, recognize persons such as this. ? ¹⁹The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you greatly in the Lord, with the church of their household, where I also am a guest. ? ²⁰All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. ? ²¹This is a greeting from my own hand, Paul. ? ²²If anyone does not love our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema! Maran Atha. ? ²³May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. ? ²⁴My charity is with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. ?