To the Corinthians 1
Greeting
1 Paul, called an apostle of Christ Jesus through the desire of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, after having been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints with all those calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you all and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving
4 I thank my God always for you all, for the grace of God being given to you all in Christ Jesus 5 that in every way you all were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge — 6 as the witness of Christ was confirmed among you all — 7 so you all do not lack in any giftsa while waiting for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ 8 who also will sustain you all until the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful through whom you all were called into fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Divisions in the Church
10 I appeal to you all, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in order that you all agree and there may be no divisions among you all, but you all may be united in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it was reported to me about you all, my brothers, by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you all. 12 And I am saying this that each of you all says, “I, indeed, am of Paul,” and “I am of Apollos,” and “I am of Cephas,” and “I am of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you all?b Or, were you all baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you all except Crispus and Gaius 15 in order that no one may say that you all were baptized into my name. 16 (But I did baptize the household of Stephanus. Besides them, I do not know if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel not in wisdom of words in order that the cross of Christ may not bec neutralizedd.
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the word of the cross to those perishing is indeed foolishness, but to us being saved, it is the power of God. 19 For it has been written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the understanding of the knowledgeable I will thwart.”e
20 Where are the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. 22 And since now, the Jews ask for a sign and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block indeed to the Jews and folly to Gentiles — 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because, the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For take heed of your calling, brothers, that not many were wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish of the world in order to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world in order to shame the strong, 28 and God chose the low and depressed of the world, the things that are not, in order to bring to nothing the things that are 29 so that all flesh may not boastf before God. 30 And from Him, you all are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption 31 in order that, as it has been written, “The one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”g
Proclaiming Christ Crucified
2 And I, after coming to you all, brothers, did not come in lofty speech or wisdom, preaching to you all the mysteries of God. 2 For I did not judge to know anything among you all except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 And I, in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, was with you all, 4 and my speech and my message were not in persuasive words of wisdom but in demonstration of Spirit and power 5 in order that your faith may not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Wisdom from the Spirit
6 But we speak wisdom among the perfect but not wisdom of this age nor the rulers of this age, who are reduced to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in mystery, after having been hid away which God predestined before the ages for our glory 8 which none of the rulers of this age has understood, for if they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it has been written,
“What eye did not see, and ear did not hear,
and the heart of man did not imagine,
what God prepared for those loving Him”h —
10 But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything even the depths of God. 11 For what man knows the thoughts of a man, except the spirit of the man in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 But we did not receive the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God in order that we may know the grace bestowed upon us by God 13 which we also speak in words not taught in human wisdom, but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.i
14 But the natural mind does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually judged. 15 But the spiritual person judges all things but is himself judged by no one. 16 “For who understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?”j But we have the mind of Christ.
Divisions in the Church
3 And I, brothers, am not able to speak to you all as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you all with milk not solid food, for you all were not yet able. But neither now are you all able, 3 for you all are still of the flesh. For where there is envy and strife among you all, are you all not of the flesh and walking according to man? 4 For when someone says, “I, indeed, am of Paul” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you all not being merely human?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you all believed and to each the Lord assigned. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the growth. 8 But he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own wages according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You all are God's field and God's building.
10 According to the grace of God given to me as a wise architect, I laid a foundation, but others are building upon it. And each one take heed how he builds upon it. 11 For no one is able to lay another foundation besides the one being laid which is Christ Jesus. 12 But if someone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw — 13 each one's work will become visible, for the day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will prove what sort of work each one is. 14 If anyone's work will remain which he built, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work will be burned down, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but in this way as through fire.
16 Do you all not know that you all are God's temple, and the Spirit of God dwells in you all? 17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy which is you all.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you all thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool in order that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it has been written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”k 20 and again, ”The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”l 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
The Ministry of Apostles
4 Let man regard us as such, as servantsm of Christ and stewardsn of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required in the stewards that some be found faithful. 3 But with me, it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you all or by a period of man, but neither do I judge myself. 4 For I have known of nothing in myself, but I have not been justified by this. But it is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore, do not judge anything before the time until the Lord comes who will also bring light to the things hidden in darkness and will make manifest the will of the heart. And then each one will receive praise from God.
6 And these things, brothers, I transformed myself into, and Apollos, for you all, that in us you all may learn not to go beyond what has been written in order that no one may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who judges you? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if you also received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
8 Already, you all have been satisfied! Already, you all were wealthy! Without us, you all were kings! And I wished that you all reigned in order that we also might share the rule with you all! 9 For I think God exhibited us apostles last like men sentenced to death because we became a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you all are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you all are strong. You all are held in honor, but we in dishonor. 11 Until the present hour, we hunger and thirst and are poorly dressed and strucko and homeless 12 and we laborp, working with our own hands. While being reviled, we bless; while being persecuted, we endure; 13 while being slandered, we beseech. Like the scum of the world, we became the refuse of all things until now.
14 I do not write these things to shame you all but to admonish you all as my beloved children. 15 For you all have ten thousand guides in Christ but not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus through the gospel, I became one to you all. 16 Therefore, I beseech you all: be imitators of me. 17 For this reason, I sent Timothy to you all who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you all of my ways in Christ Jesus as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 But some are arrogant as if I were not coming to you all. 19 But I will come to you all soon, if the Lord wishes, and I will know not the talk of the arrogant but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you all wish? Should I come to you all with a rod or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church
5 It has been commonly heard there is sexual immorality among you all even a sort of sexual immorality which is not among the Gentiles, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you all are arrogant and did not rather mourn in order that the one who practices this work should be removed from your midst?
3 For indeed I, being absent in body but present in spirit, now have judged, as if present, the one after doing this thing. 4 After being assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you all are to deliver this one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh in order that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you all not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven in order that you all may be a new lump as you all are unleavened. For our Passover lamb, Christ was sacrificed. 8 Therefore, we should celebrate the festivalq, not with the old leaven, nor in the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you all in my letter not to assist with sexually immoral people — 10 not all the sexually immoral of this world or the greedy or the swindlers or the idolaters because then you all would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I wrote to you all not to assist if any brother is named of sexual immorality or greed or is an idolater or is abusive or a drunkard or a swindler — with such do not eat. 12 For what is it to me to judge outsiders? Is it not those inside whom you all judge? 13 But God will judge those on the outside. “Remove the evil person out from among you all.”r
Lawsuits Against Believers
6 Some of you all dare, having a grievance against another, to be judged before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2 Or do you all not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you all, are you all not worthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you all not know we will judge the angels? How much more then matters pertaining to this life! 4 Therefore, if you all have judgment of matters pertaining to this life, do you lay them down to those who are despised in the church? 5 I speak to your shame. So there is no one among you all who is wise who would be able to judge between his brothers? 6 But brother judges against brother and that before unbelievers? 7 Now indeed then, it is a complete failure for you all because you all have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be deprived? 8 But you all wrong and deprive — even your brothers!
9 Or do you all not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceiveds: neither sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminatest, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you all. But you all were washed, but you all were sanctified, but you all were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Flee Sexual Immorality
12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be controlled by anything. 13 “Meat is for the stomach and the stomach for meat” — but God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body. 14 But God also raised the Lord and will raise us up by His power. 15 Or do you all not know that your bodies are limbs of Christ? After taking then the limbs of Christ, should I make them limbs of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you all not know that the one glued to a prostitute is one body? For it says, “The two will become one flesh.”u 17 But he who is glued to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin which a man may do is outside his body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you all not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you all whom you all have from God, and you all are not your own? 20 For you all were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.
Principles for Marriage
7 And concerning what you all wrote, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” 2 But because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each wife have her own husband. 3 Let the husband give to his wife conjugal rightsv and likewise also the wife to the husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise, the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprivew one another except perhaps by consent for a time in order to devote yourselves to prayer and come together again in order that Satan may not tempt you all through your lack of self-control.
6 But I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish all men to be as I am, but each has his own gift from God: one indeed of one kind and one of another.
8 And I say to the unmarried and the widowed, it is good for them to remain as I am, 9 but if they do not exercise self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 And to the married, I command (not I but the Lord): a wife not to be separated from her husband 11 (but if she is separated, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband) and a husband is not to leave his wife.
12 And to the rest, I say (not I, but the Lord), if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, not to leavex her. 13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, not to leavey him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the brotherz. Otherwise, your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates themselves, let them be separated. The brother or sister has not been enslaved in such cases. God has called you all in peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, if you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, if you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17 Except each person, as the Lord assigned each as God has called, walk this way. And this is my command in all the churches. 18 Anyone having been circumcised when called, do not remove the mark of circumcision.aa Anyone who has been called while uncircumcised, do not be circumcised.ab 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the commands of God. 20 Each in the calling which he was called, in this remain. 21 Were you a slave when called? Do not concernac yourselves. (But if you are able to be free, use it rather.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise, the one who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You all were bought with a price, do not be slavesad of men. 24 Each in what he was called, brothers, in this remain with God.
The Unmarried and the Widowed
25 And concerning the virgins, I do not have a command from the Lord, but I give judgment as one having received mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 26 I think therefore, this is good through this present distress that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Have you been bound to a wife? Do not seekae to be free. Have you been freed from a wife? Do not seekaf a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you did not sin, and if the virgin marries, she did not sin. But those will have fleshly trouble, and I spare you all. 29 But I say this, brothers, the time is short. Finally, that those, also having wives, be as though they don't, 30 and those mourning as though they were not mourning, and those rejoicing as though they were not rejoicing, and those buying as though they did not possess, 31 and those using the world as not overusing it. For the external form of this world is passing away.
32 And I wish you all to be without anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he might please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he might please his wife, 34 and he has been divided. And the unmarried and virgin woman is anxious about the things of the Lord that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But the married woman is anxious about the things of the world, how she might please her husband. 35 And I say this to your own advantage not that I place restraint upon you all, but to your good bearing and attention to the Lord without distraction.
36 But if anyone thinks to behave improperly to his virgin, is she may be past her primeag, and thus it must be, what he wishes, let him do. It is no sin; let them marry. 37 But who has been immovably established in his heart, not having necessity, but having authority over his own desire and this he has judged in his own heart to keep her as his virgin, he will do well. 38 Therefore, the one marrying his virgin does well, and the one not marrying does better.
39 A wife has been bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is blessed if she remains as she is, according to my judgment. And I think I also have the Spirit of God.
Food Offered to Idols
8 And concerning food offered to idols: we know that “we have all knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know as it is necessary to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this man has been known by Him.
4 Concerning then the eating of food offered to idols, we know that, “An idol is nothing in the world,” and that, “There is no God except one.” 5 For if perhaps, there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth — as there are many “gods” and many “lords” — 6 but for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 But knowledge is not in everyone. And some, until now by custom of idols, eat food sacrificed to idols, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God. If we do not eatah, we are no worse off, nor if we eat are we better off. 9 But take care how this authority of yours does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you, who has knowledge, reclining at table in an idol's temple, will his conscience, being weak, not be built up to eat food offered to idols? 11 For the weak person is destroyed by your knowledge, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 And so, sinning against the brothers and wounding their weak conscience, you all sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eatai meat in order that I do not make my brother stumble.
Paul Surrenders His Rights
9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you all not my work in the Lord?aj 2 If to others, I am not an apostle, but I am to you all, for you all are my seal of apostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those examining me is this: 4 Do we not have authority to eat and drink?ak 5 Do we not have authority to takeal a sisteram as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?an 6 Or is it only Barnabus and I who do not have authority not to work? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not eat from the milk of the flock?
8 According to man do I say these things?ao Or does the Law not say them? 9 For in the Law of Moses, it has been written, “You will not muzzle an ox while treading out the grain.”ap Does God not care for the oxen?aq 10 Or does He speak entirely for our sake? For our sake, it was written that the one plowing is obligated to plow in hope and the one threshing in hope of sharing. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you all, is it too much if we reap material things from you all? 12 If others share this authority over you all, do we not have even more?
But we did not use this authority, but we endure everything in order that no hindrance may be given to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you all not know those working in the temple eat the things of the temple; those serving the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 And in the same way, the Lord commanded those proclaiming the gospel to live out of the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of those things, nor did I write these things that it should be done unto me. For it is better for me to die than anyone neutralize my boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, it is not to my boasting, for necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I practice this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I still have been committed to a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That while preaching, I may present the gospel free of charge not to abuse my authority in the gospel.
19 For being free from all, I made myself a servant to all in order that I may gain more of them. 20 And I became like a Jew to the Jews in order that I might gain the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law (not myself being under the law) in order that I might gain those under the law. 21 To those without the law, I became like one without the law (not being without the law of God, but subjectar to the law of Christ) in order that I might gain those without the law. 22 To the weak, I became weak in order that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all people in order that by all means I might save some. 23 And I do it all for the sake of the gospel in order that I might be a partaker in it.
24 Do you all not know that those running in a race all indeed run, but one receives the prize? So run in order that you all may obtain it. 25 And every contender exercises self—control in all things. Indeed, they do it in order that they might receive a perishable crown but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore, I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air, 27 but I disciplineas my body and enslave it lest, after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified.
Warning Against Idolatry
10 For I do not wish for you all to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual meat, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were drinking from the spiritual Rock following them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them, God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 But these things were our example that we not lust after evil as they lusted. 7 Do not beat idolaters as some of them were, as it has been written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”au 8 And we should not commit fornication as some of them fornicated, and twenty three thousand fell in one day. 9 And we should not test Christ as some of them tested and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble as some of them grumbled and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as an example, but they were written for our instruction to whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore, the one thinking he has stood: take heed that he should not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you all except what is common to man. But God is faithful who will not permit you all to be tempted beyond your ability, but will make with the temptation also the way of escape that you all will be able to endure.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensibleav people: judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not a fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break is it not a fellowship of the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we, the many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider Israel according to the flesh: are not those eating the sacrifices participants of the altar? 19 What then do I say? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 But that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. 21 You all are not able to drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You all are not able to partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?aw
Do All to the Glory of God
23 All things are lawful, but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. 24 No one seek his own good but the good of his neighbor. 25 Whatever is being sold in the meat market, eat without questioning because of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's and the fullness of it.”ax 27 If any of the unbelievers invites you all to dinner and you all wish to go, whatever is set before you all eat without questioning because of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you all, “This is offered in sacrifice,” do not eatay it because of the one who informed you and conscience —az 29 and conscience I say not of yourself, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blasphemed for that which I give thanks?
31 Whether than you all eat or drink or whatever you all do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to the Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 33 as I please everyone in everything, not seeking my own advantage but that of many in order that they may be saved.
11Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Head Coverings
2 And I commend you all because you all have remembered me in everything and hold the traditions as I delivered them to you all. 3 But I want you all to know that the head of all men is Christ, and the head of a wife is her husbandba, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man, praying or prophesying with his head covered, dishonors his head, 5 but every wife, praying or prophesying with her head uncovered, dishonors her head, for it is one and the same as if she had shaved her head. 6 For if a wife does not cover her head, let her cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave, let her cover her head. 7 For indeed, a man must not cover his head, existing as an image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman but woman from man. 9 For man was not created through the woman but woman through the man. 10 For this reason, the wife must have authority over her head because of the angelsbb. 11 Nevertheless, woman is not separated from man nor man separated from woman in the Lord, 12 for as the woman is from the man, and so the man is through the woman. But all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you all that if a man indeed wears long hair, it is dishonorable for him, 15 but if a woman wears long hair, it is her glory? Because her hair has been given to her as a covering. 16 But if someone thinks to be contentious, we have no such custom nor do the churches of God.
The Lord's Supper
17 But in this command, I do not praise you all because it is not for the better, but for the worse, you all come together. 18 First, indeed, when you all come together in church, I hear there are divisions among you all, and I believe in part, 19 for it is necessary there be sects among you all in order that those approved among you all may be made visible. 20 Therefore, when you all come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you all eat. 21 For each one goes ahead in eating his own meal, and one is hungry, and another is drunk. 22 You all do not have houses to eat and drink in?bc Or do you all despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What should I say to you all? In this, I do not commend you all.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you all that the Lord Jesus, on the night which He was being betrayed, took bread, 24 and after giving thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body which is for you all. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also, He took the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you all drink, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you all eat this bread and drink the cup, you all preach the death of the Lord until He comes.
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of our Lord. 28 But let a person examine himself and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For the one eating and drinking judgment on himself eats and drinks without discerningbd the body. 30 For this reason, many among you all are weak and ill and some fall asleep. 31 But if we were discerning ourselves, none would be judged. 32 But while being judged by the Lord, we are disciplined in order that we may not be condemnedbe with the world.
33 So then, my brothers, while coming together to eat, wait for one another — 34 if anyone is hungry, eat at home — in order that you all do not come together in judgment. And about the other things, when I come, I will give commands.
Spiritual Gifts
12 But concerning the spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not wish you all to be uninformed. 2 You all know that when you all were Gentiles, you all were being led astray to mute idols, however you all were led. 3 Therefore, I make it known to you all that no one speaking in the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed!” and no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, 5 and there are varieties of service but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of works, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common goodbf. 8 For indeed, to one through the Spirit is given words of wisdom, but to another words of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, but to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 but to another, works of power, to another prophecy, to another discernment of spirits, to another diversity of tongues, but to another interpretation of tongues. 11 But all these are empowered by one and the same Spirit who distributes to each individually as He wills.
One Body with Many Members
12 For exactly as the body is one and has many limbs, and all the limbs of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greek or slaves or free, and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one limb but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it, therefore, not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God appointed the limbs, each one of them in the body as He wished. 19 But if all were one limb, where would the body be? 20 But now, indeed, there are many limbs and one body.
21 But the eye is not able to say to the head, “I have no need of you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you all.” 22 But much more: the limbs of the body, seeming to be weaker, are indispensable, 23 and that we think to be less honorable, on those parts of the body, we bestow greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty 24 our more presentable parts do not have need of. But God composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it 25 in order that there may be no division in the body, but the limbs may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one limb suffers, all the limbs suffer together. If one limb is glorified, all the limbs rejoice together.
27 Now you all are the body of Christ and individually limbs of it. 28 And those indeed God appointed in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administration, and diversity of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?bg 31 But be zealous for the greater gifts.
And yet a more excellent way I show you all.
The Way of Love
13 If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or clanging symbol. 2 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all I have and I deliver my body over to be burned, but I do not have love, I profit nothing.bh
4 Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy; love does not boast; it is not arrogant 5 nor rude. It does not seek itself, it is not easily provoked or count up wrongdoing; 6 it does not rejoice at unrighteousness but rejoices with truth. 7 Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never falls to ruin. But prophecies will pass away; tongues will cease; knowledge will pass away. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, reasoned like a child. When I had become a man, I did away with childish ways. 12 For now we see through a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now we know in part, but then I will know completely even as I am completely known. 13 But now remain faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Prophecy and Tongues
14 Pursue love and be zealous for the spiritual gifts especially in order that you all may prophesy. 2 For the one speaking in tongues does not speak to man but to God; for no one hears him, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But the one prophesying speaks to man for their upbuilding and exhortation and consolation. 4 The one speaking in tongues builds himself up, but the one prophesying builds the church up. 5 And I wish you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in tongues except someone interprets in order that the church may receive edification.
6 But now, brothers, if I come to you all speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you all unless I speak to you all in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, whether the flute or harp, do not givebi distinct notes, how will the flute or the harp be known? 8 For also, if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So also you all through your tongue, if you all give unintelligible speech, how will anyone know what is said?bj For you all will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many kinds of languages in the world, and none is meaningless. 11 If, therefore, I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So also you all because you all are zealous for the manifestations of the Spirit, seek to excel for the building up of the church.
13 Therefore, the one speaking in a tongue, pray that it may be interpreted. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.bk 15 What then, am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray also with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will sing also with my mind. 16 Otherwise, if you all give thanks with your spirit, how can the one occupying the place of ignorance say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?bl 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God more than all of you all that I speak in tongues. 19 But in church, I wish to speak five words with my mind in order that I also may instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not bebm children in your thinking but be infants in evil, and in your thinking, be perfect. 21 In the Law it has been written, “By people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me,”bn says the Lord. 22 Thus, the tongues are a sign not to believers but to unbelievers, and prophecy is not to unbelievers but to believers. 23 If therefore, the whole church comes together, and all speak in tongues and unlearned or unbelievers enter, will they not say you all are out of your minds?bo 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or ignorant person enters, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are made known, and so, after falling on his face, he will worship God, announcing that God really is among you all.
Orderly Worship
26 What then, brothers? When you all come together, each one has a psalm, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All things be done for building up. 27 If any man speak in a tongue, let it be according to two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one interpret. 28 But if no one is an interpreter, keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.bp 29 And two or three prophets speak, and the others judge. 30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting there, the first be silent.bq 31 For you all are able to prophesy one by one in order that all may learn, and all may be encouraged, 32 and the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not of confusion but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women in the churches keep silent. For they are not allowed to speak but submit as the Law also says. 35 But if there is anything they wish to learn, ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36 Or was it from you all the word of God came, or did it come to you all only? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, recognize what I write to you all that it is a command of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 So, my brothers, be zealous to prophesy and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But all things be done decently and according to order.
The Resurrection of Christ
15 Now, I make known to you all, brothers, the gospel which I preached to you all which you all also received in which you all also stand, 2 through which you all are also being saved, if you all hold fast to the word I preached to you all — unless you all believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you all as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried, and that He has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some fell asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 And last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles who is not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. But I worked harder than any of them, but not I but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preached, and so you all believed.
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as having been raised from the dead, how do some say among you all that there is no resurrection from the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. 15 And we are also false witnesses of God because we witnessed according to God that He raised Christ whom He did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are all still in your sins. 18 Then those also after falling asleep in Christ, perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead: the firstfruits of those after having fallen asleep. 21 For because through a man came death, also through a man came resurrection from the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive — 23 but each in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, then those who belong to Christ at His coming. 24 Then comes the end when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father when He destroys every rule and authority and power. 25 For it is necessary He reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “He subjects all things under His feet.”br But when it says, “all things have been put in subjection,” it is clear that He is accepted, after putting all things in subjection to Him. 28 But when all things are subjected to Him, then also the Son Himself will be subjected to Him after subjecting all things to Him in order that God may be all in all.
29 Otherwise, what will they do, those being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are they baptized on their behalf? 30 And why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest by my pride in you all, brothers, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily! 32 If according to man, I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what do I gain? If the dead are not raised, “May we eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”bs 33 Do not be deceivedbt: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor as is right, and do not go on sinningbu. For some have no knowledge of God. I speak to your shame.
The Resurrection Body
35 But some will ask, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body you will be, but a naked kernel, perhaps, of wheat or some other kind of grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He wished and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same flesh, but there is one kind for humans, and another flesh for animals, and another flesh for birds, and another flesh for fish. 40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one kind and the earthly another. 41 There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also, it has been written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”bv; the last man, Adam, became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual first but the natural, then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man from heaven. 48 As is the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And as we wore the image of the man of dust, we will also wear the image of the man of heaven.
Mystery and Victory
50 Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood are not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you all a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For it is necessary this perishable body put on the imperishable, and this mortal body put on immortality. 54 And when the perishable puts on imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then will come to pass the saying that has been written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”bw
55 “O death, where is your victory?bx
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But grace be to God who is giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, abounding in the work of the Lord always, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
The Collection for the Saints
16 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I commanded the church of Galatia, so also you all do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you all put aside for himself, treasuring up whatever he may prosper in order that there will not be any collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, whomever you all approved by letter, these I will send to carry your grace to Jerusalem. 4 But if it be suitable for me to go, they will go with me.
Plans for Travel
5 I will visit you all when I pass through Macedonia, for I do pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you all or even spend the winter in order that you all may send me wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you all now just in passing. For I hope to remainby some time with you all if the Lord allows. 8 But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a great and effectual door has been opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 But if Timothy comes, see that he is not fearful with you all, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as am I. 11 Therefore, no one despise him. But send him on in peace in order that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
Final Instructions
12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you all with the brothers, but it was not his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.
13 Be vigilant, stand firm in the faith, act like menbz, be strong. 14 All that you all do, be done in love.
15 Now, I urge you all, brothers, you all know the house of Stephanas that it was the firstfruits in Achaia, and they appointed themselves to the ministry of saints 16 in order that you all may be subject to such as these and every fellow worker and laborer. 17 But I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus because they made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore, acknowledge such men.
Greetings
19 The churches of Asia greet you all. Aquila and Priscilla with the church in their house greet you all abundantly in the Lord. 20 All the brothers greet you all. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursedca. Our Lord, come!cb 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.cc