The Aaron Papers  www.the-aaron-papers.net 

  First Corinthians

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, ²unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours: ³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; ⁵that in everything you were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge; ⁶even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: ⁷so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; ⁸who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you be unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁰Now I beg you, brethren, 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. ¹¹For it has been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. ¹²Now this is what I mean, that each one of you has said, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. ¹³Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

¹⁴I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius; ¹⁵lest any man should say that you were baptized into my name. ¹⁶And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

¹⁷For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, unless the cross of Christ should be made void. ¹⁸For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nothing. ²⁰Where are the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe. ²²Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: ²³but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; ²⁴but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ²⁵Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ²⁶For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: ²⁷but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; ²⁸and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yes and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: ²⁹that no flesh should glory before God. ³⁰But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: ³¹that, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

2 And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. ²For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ³And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. ⁴And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: ⁵that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

⁶We speak wisdom, however, among them that are full-grown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing: ⁷but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: ⁸which none of the rulers of this world has known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: ⁹but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him. ¹⁰But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

¹¹For who among men knows the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the things of God no one knows, save the Spirit of God. ¹²But we received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. ¹³Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Spirit teaches; combining spiritual things with spiritual words. ¹⁴Now the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵But he that is spiritual judges all things, and he himself is judged of no man. ¹⁶For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

3 And I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. ²I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you were not yet able to bear it: no, not even now are you able; ³for you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are you not carnal, and do you not walk after the manner of men? ⁴For when one said, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not men?

⁵What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Ministers through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him. ⁶I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. ⁷So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. ⁸Now he that plants and he that waters are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹For we are God’s fellow-workers: you are God’s husbandry, God’s building. ¹⁰According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another builds thereon. But let each man take heed how he builds thereon.

¹¹For any other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²But if any man builds on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; ¹³each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. ¹⁴If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.

¹⁶Know you not that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷If any man destroys the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are you.

¹⁸Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that takes the wise in their craftiness: ²⁰and again, The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.

²¹Wherefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours; ²²whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; ²³and you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

4 Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. ²Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. ³But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yes, I judge not my own self. ⁴For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord. ⁵Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.

⁶Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us you might learn not to go beyond the things which are written; that none of you be puffed up for the one against the other.

⁷For who makes you to differ? And what have you that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it? ⁸Already are you filled, already you are become rich, you have come to reign without us: yes and I would that you did reign, that we also might reign with you. ⁹For, I think, God has set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men. ¹⁰We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have dishonor. ¹¹Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; ¹²and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.

¹⁴I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ¹⁵For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel. ¹⁶I beg you therefore, be you imitators of me.

¹⁷For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church. ¹⁸Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power. ²⁰For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. ²¹What will you? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

5 It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you has his father’s wife. ²And you are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you. ³For I truly, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that has so worked this thing, ⁴in the name of our Lord Jesus, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, ⁵to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. ⁶Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

⁷Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For our Passover also has been sacrificed, even Christ: ⁸wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

⁹I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; ¹⁰not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must you need to go out of the world: ¹¹but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat. ¹²For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not you judge them that are within? ¹³But them that are without God judges. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.

6 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? ²Or know you not that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest of matters? ³Know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more then, things that pertain to this life? ⁴If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the church? ⁵I say this to move you to shame. What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren, ⁶but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? ⁷Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? ⁸Nay, but you yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

⁹Or know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And such were some of you: but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

¹²All 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 any. ¹³Meats are for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body: ¹⁴and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up as through his power. ¹⁵Know you not that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid! ¹⁶Or know you not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? For, The twain, said he, shall become one flesh. ¹⁷But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. ¹⁸Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. ¹⁹Or know you not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit that is in you, which you have from God? And you are not your own; ²⁰for you were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.

7 Now concerning the things whereof you wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ²But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ³Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. ⁴The wife has not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife. ⁵Defraud not the one or the other, except it be by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your lack of self-control. ⁶But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. ⁷Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man has his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. ⁸But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. ⁹But if they have not self-control, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰But unto the married I give charge, yes not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband ¹¹(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife. ¹²But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. ¹³And the woman that has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. ¹⁴For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. ¹⁵Yet if the unbelieving departs, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us in peace. ¹⁶For how know you, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or how know you, O husband, whether you shall save your wife?

¹⁷Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches. ¹⁸Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has any been called in Uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing, and Uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. ²¹Were you called being a bondservant? Care not for it: no, even if you can become free, use it rather. ²²For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant. ²³You were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men. ²⁴Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

²⁵Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. ²⁶I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is. ²⁷Are you bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. ²⁸But should you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Yet such shall have trouble in the flesh: and I would spare you. ²⁹But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; ³⁰and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; ³¹and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passes away.

³²But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: ³³but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴and is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

³⁶But if any man thinks that he behaves himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so require, let him do what he will; he sins not; let them marry. ³⁷But he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well. ³⁸So then both he that gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well; and he that gives her not in marriage shall do better.

³⁹A wife is bound for so long time as her husband lives; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. ⁴⁰But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

8 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. ²If any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows not yet as he ought to know; ³but if any man loves God, the same is known by him.

⁴Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one. ⁵For though there be those that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; ⁶yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

⁷Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. ⁸But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. ⁹But take heed unless by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. ¹⁰For if a man see you, who have knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? ¹¹For through your knowledge he that is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. ¹²And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. ¹³Wherefore, if meat causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord? 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.

³My defense to them that examine me is this. ⁴Have we no right to eat and to drink? ⁵Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? ⁶Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? ⁷What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and eat not the fruit thereof? Or who feeds a flock, and eat not of the milk of the flock? ⁸Do I speak these things after the manner of men? Or does not the law also say the same? ⁹For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God cares, ¹⁰or said he it assuredly for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written: because he that plows ought to plow in hope, and he that threshes, to thresh in hope of partaking. ¹¹If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? ¹²If others partake of this right over you, do not we even more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we did bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. ¹³Know you not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? ¹⁴Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.

¹⁵But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void. ¹⁶For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. ¹⁷For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. ¹⁸What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.

¹⁹For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. ²⁰And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; ²¹to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under the law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law. ²²To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. ²³And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

²⁴Know you not that they that run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? Even so run; that you may attain. ²⁵And every man that strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. ²⁶I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so I fight, as not beating the air: ²⁷but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: unless by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

10 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; ²and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³and did all eat the same spiritual food; ⁴and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. ⁵Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

⁶Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. ⁷Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. ⁸Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and in one day three-twenty thousand fell. ⁹Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. ¹⁰Neither murmur, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. ¹¹Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. ¹²Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed unless he fall. ¹³There has no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ¹⁴Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

¹⁵I speak as to wise men; judge what I say. ¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷Seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread. ¹⁸Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar? ¹⁹What do I say then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰But I say, that the things that the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that you should have communion with demons. ²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: you cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. ²²Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

²³All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify. ²⁴Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor’s good. ²⁵Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake, ²⁶for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof. ²⁷If one of them that believe not bids you to a feast, and you are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake. ²⁸But if any man say unto you, This has been offered in sacrifice, eat it not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: ²⁹conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s; for why is my liberty judged by another's conscience? ³⁰If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? ³¹Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³²Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: ³³even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

11 Be you imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. ²Now I praise you that you remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. 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. ⁴Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 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 shaven. ⁶For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled. ⁷For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. ⁸For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man: ⁹for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man: ¹⁰for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord. ¹²For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God. ¹³Judge you in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled? ¹⁴Does not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him? ¹⁵But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. ¹⁶But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

¹⁷But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁹For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you. ²⁰When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s supper: ²¹for in your eating each one takes before others his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken. ²²What, have you not houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I praise you not.

²³For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; ²⁴and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁵In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. ²⁶For as often as you eat this bread, and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes. ²⁷Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. ²⁹For he that eat and drink, eat and drink judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. ³⁰For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. ³¹But if we discern ourselves, we should not be judged. ³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. ³³Wherefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait one for another. ³⁴If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. ²You know that when you were Gentiles you were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever you might be led. ³Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God has said, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit. ⁴Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. ⁶And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. ⁷But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. ⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: ⁹to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; ¹⁰and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: ¹¹but all these works the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.

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. ¹³For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. ¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where is the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where is the smelling? ¹⁸But now has God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where is the body? ²⁰But now they are many members, but one body. ²¹And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. ²²No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: ²³and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; ²⁴whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked; ²⁵that there should be no division in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. ²⁶And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. ²⁸And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰Have all gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you.

13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. ²And if 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 have not love, I am nothing. ³And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, ⁵does not behave itself unseemly, seeks  not its own, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; ⁶rejoices not in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; ⁷beares all things, believes all things, hopes in all things, endures all things.

⁸Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. ⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; ¹⁰but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. ¹³But now abides faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

14 Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy. ²For he that speaks in a tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God; for no man understands; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³But he that prophesies speaks unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation. ⁴He that speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church. ⁵Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that you should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

⁶But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? ⁷Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸For if the trumpet gives an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war? ⁹So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification. ¹¹If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks will be a barbarian unto me. ¹²So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound unto the edifying of the church. ¹³Wherefore let him that speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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. ¹⁶Else if you bless with the spirit, how shall he that fills the place of the unlearned say the Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he knows not what you say? ¹⁷For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all: ¹⁹howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. ²⁰Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be babes, but in mind be men.

²¹In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even this will they hear me, said the Lord. ²²Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe. ²³If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that you are mad? ²⁴But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all; ²⁵the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

²⁶What is it then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ²⁷If any man speaks in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret: ²⁸but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ²⁹And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern. ³⁰But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. ³¹For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted; ³²and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; ³³for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

³⁴let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as is also said the law. ³⁵And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

³⁶What? Was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or did it come unto you alone? ³⁷If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. ³⁸But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant. ³⁹Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. ⁴⁰But let all things be done decently and in order.

15 Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you received, wherein also you stand, ²by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except you believed in vain. ³For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴and that he was buried; and that he has been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; ⁵and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve; ⁶then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep; ⁷then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; ⁸and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also. ⁹For I am the least of the apostles, who is 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 which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹Whether then it be I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.

¹²Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised: ¹⁴and if Christ has not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. ¹⁵Yes, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. ¹⁶For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised: ¹⁷and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. ¹⁸Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

²⁰But now has Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep. ²¹For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ’s, at his coming. ²⁴Then comes the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵For he must reign, till he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. ²⁷For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he said, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. ²⁸And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all. ²⁹Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? ³⁰Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? ³¹I protest by that glorifying in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. ³²If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. ³³Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals. ³⁴Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame.

³⁵But some one will say, How are the dead raised? And with what manner of body do they come? ³⁶You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not quickened except it die: ³⁷and that which you sow, you sow not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may by chance be wheat, or of some other kind; ³⁸but God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. ³⁹All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes. ⁴⁰There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. ⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven. ⁴⁸As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

⁵¹Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: ⁵⁷but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.

16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also you should do. ²Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. ³And when I arrive, whomsoever you shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem: ⁴and if it be for me to go also, they shall go with me.

⁵But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia; ⁶but with you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that you may set me forward on my journey wheresoever I go. ⁷For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. ⁸But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost; ⁹for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

¹⁰Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he works the work of the Lord, as I also do: ¹¹let no man therefore despise him. But set him along on his journey in peace, that he may come unto me: for I expect him with the brethren. ¹²But as touching Apollos the brother, I asked him much to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not all his will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity.

¹³Watch, stand fast in the faith, be like men, be strong. ¹⁴Let all that you do be done in love. ¹⁵Now I beg you, brethren (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints), ¹⁶that you also be in subjection unto such, and to every one that helps in the work and labor. ¹⁷And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they supplied. ¹⁸For they refreshed my spirit and yours: acknowledge therefore them that are such.