1st corinthians
TRANSCRIPT
FIRST CORINTHIANS
1st Corinthians1This letter is from Paul, chosen by
the will of God to be an apostle of ChristJesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.2We are writing to the church of God inCorinth, you who have been called byGod to be his own holy people. Hemade you holy by means of ChristJesus, just as he did all Christianseverywhere--whoever calls upon thename of Jesus Christ, our Lord andtheirs.3May God our Father and the LordJesus Christ give you his grace andpeace.4I can never stop thanking God for allthe generous gifts he has given you,now that you belong to Christ Jesus.5He has enriched your church with thegifts of eloquence and every kind ofknowledge.6This shows that what I told you aboutChrist is true.7Now you have every spiritual gift youneed as you eagerly wait for the returnof our Lord Jesus Christ.8He will keep you strong right up to theend, and he will keep you free from allblame on the great day when our LordJesus Christ returns.9God will surely do this for you, for healways does just what he says, and heis the one who invited you into thiswonderful friendship with his Son, JesusChrist our Lord.10Now, dear brothers and sisters, Iappeal to you by the authority of theLord Jesus Christ to stop arguingamong yourselves. Let there be realharmony so there won't be divisions inthe church. I plead with you to be of onemind, united in thought and purpose.11For some members of Chloe'shousehold have told me about yourarguments, dear brothers and sisters.12Some of you are saying, "I am afollower of Paul." Others are saying, "Ifollow Apollos," or "I follow Peter, " or "Ifollow only Christ."13Can Christ be divided into pieces?Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were anyof you baptized in the name of Paul?14I thank God that I did not baptize anyof you except Crispus and Gaius,15for now no one can say they werebaptized in my name.16(Oh yes, I also baptized the household
of Stephanas. I don't rememberbaptizing anyone else.)17For Christ didn't send me to baptize,but to preach the Good News--and notwith clever speeches and high-soundingideas, for fear that the cross of Christwould lose its power.18I know very well how foolish themessage of the cross sounds to thosewho are on the road to destruction. Butwe who are being saved recognize thismessage as the very power of God.19As the Scriptures say, "I will destroyhuman wisdom and discard their mostbrilliant ideas."20So where does this leave thephilosophers, the scholars, and theworld's brilliant debaters? God hasmade them all look foolish and hasshown their wisdom to be uselessnonsense.21Since God in his wisdom saw to it thatthe world would never find him throughhuman wisdom, he has used our foolishpreaching to save all who believe.22God's way seems foolish to the Jewsbecause they want a sign from heavento prove it is true. And it is foolish to theGreeks because they believe only whatagrees with their own wisdom.23So when we preach that Christ wascrucified, the Jews are offended, andthe Gentiles say it's all nonsense.24But to those called by God to salvation,both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is themighty power of God and the wonderfulwisdom of God.25This "foolish" plan of God is far wiserthan the wisest of human plans, andGod's weakness is far stronger than thegreatest of human strength.26Remember, dear brothers and sisters,that few of you were wise in the world'seyes, or powerful, or wealthy when Godcalled you.27Instead, God deliberately chose thingsthe world considers foolish in order toshame those who think they are wise.And he chose those who are powerlessto shame those who are powerful.28God chose things despised by theworld, things counted as nothing at all,and used them to bring to nothing whatthe world considers important,29so that no one can ever boast in thepresence of God.30God alone made it possible for you tobe in Christ Jesus. For our benefit Godmade Christ to be wisdom itself. He is
FIRST CORINTHIANS
the one who made us acceptable to God.He made us pure and holy, and he gavehimself to purchase our freedom.31As the Scriptures say, "The personwho wishes to boast should boast onlyof what the Lord has done."
2Dear brothers and sisters, when I first
came to you I didn't use lofty words andbrilliant ideas to tell you God's message.2For I decided to concentrate only onJesus Christ and his death on the cross.3I came to you in weakness--timid andtrembling.4And my message and my preachingwere very plain. I did not use wise andpersuasive speeches, but the Holy Spiritwas powerful among you.5I did this so that you might trust thepower of God rather than humanwisdom.6Yet when I am among matureChristians, I do speak with words ofwisdom, but not the kind of wisdom thatbelongs to this world, and not the kindthat appeals to the rulers of this world,who are being brought to nothing.7No, the wisdom we speak of is thesecret wisdom of God, which washidden in former times, though he madeit for our benefit before the world began.8But the rulers of this world have notunderstood it; if they had, they wouldnever have crucified our glorious Lord.9That is what the Scriptures mean whenthey say, "No eye has seen, no ear hasheard, and no mind has imagined whatGod has prepared for those who lovehim."10But we know these things becauseGod has revealed them to us by hisSpirit, and his Spirit searches outeverything and shows us even God'sdeep secrets.11No one can know what anyone else isreally thinking except that person alone,and no one can know God's thoughtsexcept God's own Spirit.12And God has actually given us hisSpirit (not the world's spirit) so we canknow the wonderful things God hasfreely given us.13When we tell you this, we do not usewords of human wisdom. We speakwords given to us by the Spirit, using theSpirit's words to explain spiritual truths.14But people who aren't Christians can'tunderstand these truths from God'sSpirit. It all sounds foolish to them
because only those who have the Spiritcan understand what the Spirit means.15We who have the Spirit understandthese things, but others can'tunderstand us at all.16How could they? For, "Who can knowwhat the Lord is thinking? Who can givehim counsel?" But we can understandthese things, for we have the mind ofChrist.
3Dear brothers and sisters, when I
was with you I couldn't talk to you as Iwould to mature Christians. I had to talkas though you belonged to this world oras though you were infants in theChristian life.2I had to feed you with milk and not withsolid food, because you couldn't handleanything stronger. And you still aren'tready,3for you are still controlled by your ownsinful desires. You are jealous of oneanother and quarrel with each other.Doesn't that prove you are controlled byyour own desires? You are acting likepeople who don't belong to the Lord.4When one of you says, "I am a followerof Paul," and another says, "I preferApollos," aren't you acting like thosewho are not Christians?5Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, thatwe should be the cause of suchquarrels? Why, we're only servants.Through us God caused you to believe.Each of us did the work the Lord gaveus.6My job was to plant the seed in yourhearts, and Apollos watered it, but it wasGod, not we, who made it grow.7The ones who do the planting orwatering aren't important, but God isimportant because he is the one whomakes the seed grow.8The one who plants and the one whowaters work as a team with the samepurpose. Yet they will be rewardedindividually, according to their own hardwork.9We work together as partners whobelong to God. You are God's field,God's building--not ours.10Because of God's special favor to me,I have laid the foundation like an expertbuilder. Now others are building on it.But whoever is building on thisfoundation must be very careful.11For no one can lay any otherfoundation than the one we already
FIRST CORINTHIANS
have--Jesus Christ.12Now anyone who builds on thatfoundation may use gold, silver, jewels,wood, hay, or straw.13But there is going to come a time oftesting at the judgment day to see whatkind of work each builder has done.Everyone's work will be put through thefire to see whether or not it keeps itsvalue.14If the work survives the fire, thatbuilder will receive a reward.15But if the work is burned up, thebuilder will suffer great loss. Thebuilders themselves will be saved, butlike someone escaping through a wall offlames.16Don't you realize that all of youtogether are the temple of God and thatthe Spirit of God lives in you?17God will bring ruin upon anyone whoruins this temple. For God's temple isholy, and you Christians are that temple.18Stop fooling yourselves. If you thinkyou are wise by this world's standards,you will have to become a fool so youcan become wise by God's standards.19For the wisdom of this world isfoolishness to God. As the Scripturessay, "God catches those who think theyare wise in their own cleverness."20And again, "The Lord knows thethoughts of the wise, that they areworthless."21So don't take pride in following aparticular leader. Everything belongs toyou:22Paul and Apollos and Peter ; the wholeworld and life and death; the presentand the future. Everything belongs toyou,23and you belong to Christ, and Christbelongs to God.
4So look at Apollos and me as mere
servants of Christ who have been put incharge of explaining God's secrets.2Now, a person who is put in charge asa manager must be faithful.3What about me? Have I been faithful?Well, it matters very little what you oranyone else thinks. I don't even trust myown judgment on this point.4My conscience is clear, but that isn'twhat matters. It is the Lord himself whowill examine me and decide.5So be careful not to jump toconclusions before the Lord returns asto whether or not someone is faithful.
When the Lord comes, he will bring ourdeepest secrets to light and will revealour private motives. And then God willgive to everyone whatever praise is due.6Dear brothers and sisters, I have usedApollos and myself to illustrate what I'vebeen saying. If you pay attention to theScriptures, you won't brag about one ofyour leaders at the expense of another.7What makes you better than anyoneelse? What do you have that God hasn'tgiven you? And if all you have is fromGod, why boast as though you haveaccomplished something on your own?8You think you already have everythingyou need! You are already rich! Withoutus you have become kings! I wish youreally were on your thrones already, forthen we would be reigning with you!9But sometimes I think God has put usapostles on display, like prisoners of warat the end of a victor's parade,condemned to die. We have become aspectacle to the entire world--to peopleand angels alike.10Our dedication to Christ makes us looklike fools, but you are so wise! We areweak, but you are so powerful! You arewell thought of, but we are laughed at.11To this very hour we go hungry andthirsty, without enough clothes to keepus warm. We have endured manybeatings, and we have no homes of ourown.12We have worked wearily with our ownhands to earn our living. We bless thosewho curse us. We are patient with thosewho abuse us.13We respond gently when evil thingsare said about us. Yet we are treatedlike the world's garbage, likeeverybody's trash--right up to thepresent moment.14I am not writing these things to shameyou, but to warn you as my belovedchildren.15For even if you had ten thousandothers to teach you about Christ, youhave only one spiritual father. For Ibecame your father in Christ Jesuswhen I preached the Good News to you.16So I ask you to follow my example anddo as I do.17That is the very reason I am sendingTimothy--to help you do this. For he ismy beloved and trustworthy child in theLord. He will remind you of what I teachabout Christ Jesus in all the churcheswherever I go.
FIRST CORINTHIANS
18I know that some of you have becomearrogant, thinking I will never visit youagain.19But I will come--and soon--if the Lordwill let me, and then I'll find out whetherthese arrogant people are just bigtalkers or whether they really haveGod's power.20For the Kingdom of God is not justfancy talk; it is living by God's power.21Which do you choose? Should I comewith punishment and scolding, or shouldI come with quiet love and gentleness?
5I can hardly believe the report about
the sexual immorality going on amongyou, something so evil that even thepagans don't do it. I am told that youhave a man in your church who is livingin sin with his father's wife.2And you are so proud of yourselves!Why aren't you mourning in sorrow andshame? And why haven't you removedthis man from your fellowship?3Even though I am not there with you inperson, I am with you in the Spirit.Concerning the one who has done this, Ihave already passed judgment4in the name of the Lord Jesus. You areto call a meeting of the church, and I willbe there in spirit, and the power of theLord Jesus will be with you as you meet.5Then you must cast this man out of thechurch and into Satan's hands, so thathis sinful nature will be destroyed andhe himself will be saved when the Lordreturns.6How terrible that you should boastabout your spirituality, and yet you letthis sort of thing go on. Don't you realizethat if even one person is allowed to goon sinning, soon all will be affected?7Remove this wicked person fromamong you so that you can stay pure.Christ, our Passover Lamb, has beensacrificed for us.8So let us celebrate the festival, not byeating the old bread of wickedness andevil, but by eating the new bread ofpurity and truth.9When I wrote to you before, I told younot to associate with people who indulgein sexual sin.10But I wasn't talking about unbelieverswho indulge in sexual sin, or who aregreedy or are swindlers or idolworshipers. You would have to leavethis world to avoid people like that.11What I meant was that you are not to
associate with anyone who claims to bea Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, oris greedy, or worships idols, or isabusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler.Don't even eat with such people.12It isn't my responsibility to judgeoutsiders, but it certainly is your job tojudge those inside the church who aresinning in these ways.13God will judge those on the outside;but as the Scriptures say, "You mustremove the evil person from amongyou."
6When you have something against
another Christian, why do you file alawsuit and ask a secular court todecide the matter, instead of taking it toother Christians to decide who is right?2Don't you know that someday weChristians are going to judge the world?And since you are going to judge theworld, can't you decide these little thingsamong yourselves?3Don't you realize that we Christians willjudge angels? So you should surely beable to resolve ordinary disagreementshere on earth.4If you have legal disputes about suchmatters, why do you go to outsidejudges who are not respected by thechurch?5I am saying this to shame you. Isn'tthere anyone in all the church who iswise enough to decide thesearguments?6But instead, one Christian suesanother--right in front of unbelievers!7To have such lawsuits at all is a realdefeat for you. Why not just accept theinjustice and leave it at that? Why not letyourselves be cheated?8But instead, you yourselves are theones who do wrong and cheat evenyour own Christian brothers and sisters.9Don't you know that those who dowrong will have no share in the Kingdomof God? Don't fool yourselves. Thosewho indulge in sexual sin, who are idolworshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes,homosexuals,10thieves, greedy people, drunkards,abusers, and swindlers--none of thesewill have a share in the Kingdom of God.11There was a time when some of youwere just like that, but now your sinshave been washed away, and you havebeen set apart for God. You have beenmade right with God because of what
FIRST CORINTHIANS
the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit ofour God have done for you.12You may say, "I am allowed to doanything." But I reply, "Not everything isgood for you." And even though "I amallowed to do anything," I must notbecome a slave to anything.13You say, "Food is for the stomach, andthe stomach is for food." This is true,though someday God will do away withboth of them. But our bodies were notmade for sexual immorality. They weremade for the Lord, and the Lord caresabout our bodies.14And God will raise our bodies from thedead by his marvelous power, just as heraised our Lord from the dead.15Don't you realize that your bodies areactually parts of Christ? Should a mantake his body, which belongs to Christ,and join it to a prostitute? Never!16And don't you know that if a man joinshimself to a prostitute, he becomes onebody with her? For the Scriptures say,"The two are united into one."17But the person who is joined to theLord becomes one spirit with him.18Run away from sexual sin! No othersin so clearly affects the body as thisone does. For sexual immorality is a sinagainst your own body.19Or don't you know that your body isthe temple of the Holy Spirit, who livesin you and was given to you by God?You do not belong to yourself,20for God bought you with a high price.So you must honor God with your body.
7Now about the questions you asked
in your letter. Yes, it is good to live acelibate life.2But because there is so much sexualimmorality, each man should have hisown wife, and each woman should haveher own husband.3The husband should not deprive hiswife of sexual intimacy, which is herright as a married woman, nor shouldthe wife deprive her husband.4The wife gives authority over her bodyto her husband, and the husband alsogives authority over his body to his wife.5So do not deprive each other of sexualrelations. The only exception to this rulewould be the agreement of bothhusband and wife to refrain from sexualintimacy for a limited time, so they cangive themselves more completely toprayer. Afterward they should come
together again so that Satan won't beable to tempt them because of their lackof self-control.6This is only my suggestion. It's notmeant to be an absolute rule.7I wish everyone could get along withoutmarrying, just as I do. But we are not allthe same. God gives some the gift ofmarriage, and to others he gives the giftof singleness.8Now I say to those who aren't marriedand to widows--it's better to stayunmarried, just as I am.9But if they can't control themselves,they should go ahead and marry. It'sbetter to marry than to burn with lust.10Now, for those who are married I havea command that comes not from me, butfrom the Lord. A wife must not leave herhusband.11But if she does leave him, let herremain single or else go back to him.And the husband must not leave his wife.12Now, I will speak to the rest of you,though I do not have a direct commandfrom the Lord. If a Christian man has awife who is an unbeliever and she iswilling to continue living with him, hemust not leave her.13And if a Christian woman has ahusband who is an unbeliever, and he iswilling to continue living with her, shemust not leave him.14For the Christian wife brings holinessto her marriage, and the Christianhusband brings holiness to his marriage.Otherwise, your children would not havea godly influence, but now they are setapart for him.15(But if the husband or wife who isn't aChristian insists on leaving, let them go.In such cases the Christian husband orwife is not required to stay with them, forGod wants his children to live in peace.)16You wives must remember that yourhusbands might be converted becauseof you. And you husbands mustremember that your wives might beconverted because of you.17You must accept whatever situationthe Lord has put you in, and continue onas you were when God first called you.This is my rule for all the churches.18For instance, a man who wascircumcised before he became abeliever should not try to reverse it. Andthe man who was uncircumcised whenhe became a believer should not becircumcised now.
FIRST CORINTHIANS
19For it makes no difference whether ornot a man has been circumcised. Theimportant thing is to keep God'scommandments.20You should continue on as you werewhen God called you.21Are you a slave? Don't let that worryyou--but if you get a chance to be free,take it.22And remember, if you were a slavewhen the Lord called you, the Lord hasnow set you free from the awful powerof sin. And if you were free when theLord called you, you are now a slave ofChrist.23God purchased you at a high price.Don't be enslaved by the world.24So, dear brothers and sisters,whatever situation you were in whenyou became a believer, stay there inyour new relationship with God.25Now, about the young women who arenot yet married. I do not have acommand from the Lord for them. Butthe Lord in his kindness has given mewisdom that can be trusted, and I willshare it with you.26Because of the present crisis, I think itis best to remain just as you are.27If you have a wife, do not end themarriage. If you do not have a wife, donot get married.28But if you do get married, it is not a sin.And if a young woman gets married, it isnot a sin. However, I am trying to spareyou the extra problems that come withmarriage.29Now let me say this, dear brothers andsisters: The time that remains is veryshort, so husbands should not letmarriage be their major concern.30Happiness or sadness or wealthshould not keep anyone from doingGod's work.31Those in frequent contact with thethings of the world should make gooduse of them without becoming attachedto them, for this world and all it containswill pass away.32In everything you do, I want you to befree from the concerns of this life. Anunmarried man can spend his timedoing the Lord's work and thinking howto please him.33But a married man can't do that so well.He has to think about his earthlyresponsibilities and how to please hiswife.34His interests are divided. In the same
way, a woman who is no longer marriedor has never been married can be moredevoted to the Lord in body and in spirit,while the married woman must beconcerned about her earthlyresponsibilities and how to please herhusband.35I am saying this for your benefit, not toplace restrictions on you. I want you todo whatever will help you serve the Lordbest, with as few distractions aspossible.36But if a man thinks he ought to marryhis fianc‚e because he has troublecontrolling his passions and time ispassing, it is all right; it is not a sin. Letthem marry.37But if he has decided firmly not tomarry and there is no urgency and hecan control his passion, he does well notto marry.38So the person who marries does well,and the person who doesn't marry doeseven better.39A wife is married to her husband aslong as he lives. If her husband dies,she is free to marry whomever shewishes, but this must be a marriageacceptable to the Lord.40But in my opinion it will be better forher if she doesn't marry again, and Ithink I am giving you counsel from God'sSpirit when I say this.
8Now let's talk about food that has
been sacrificed to idols. You think thateveryone should agree with your perfectknowledge. While knowledge may makeus feel important, it is love that reallybuilds up the church.2Anyone who claims to know all theanswers doesn't really know very much.3But the person who loves God is theone God knows and cares for.4So now, what about it? Should we eatmeat that has been sacrificed to idols?Well, we all know that an idol is notreally a god and that there is only oneGod and no other.5According to some people, there aremany so-called gods and many lords,both in heaven and on earth.6But we know that there is only one God,the Father, who created everything, andwe exist for him. And there is only oneLord, Jesus Christ, through whom Godmade everything and through whom wehave been given life.7However, not all Christians realize this.
FIRST CORINTHIANS
Some are accustomed to thinking ofidols as being real, so when they eatfood that has been offered to idols, theythink of it as the worship of real gods,and their weak consciences are violated.8It's true that we can't win God'sapproval by what we eat. We don't missout on anything if we don't eat it, and wedon't gain anything if we do.9But you must be careful with thisfreedom of yours. Do not cause abrother or sister with a weakerconscience to stumble.10You see, this is what can happen:Weak Christians who think it is wrong toeat this food will see you eating in thetemple of an idol. You know there'snothing wrong with it, but they will beencouraged to violate their conscienceby eating food that has been dedicatedto the idol.11So because of your superiorknowledge, a weak Christian, for whomChrist died, will be destroyed.12And you are sinning against Christwhen you sin against other Christians byencouraging them to do something theybelieve is wrong.13If what I eat is going to make anotherChristian sin, I will never eat meat againas long as I live--for I don't want to makeanother Christian stumble.
9Do I not have as much freedom as
anyone else? Am I not an apostle?Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with myown eyes? Isn't it because of my hardwork that you are in the Lord?2Even if others think I am not an apostle,I certainly am to you, for you are livingproof that I am the Lord's apostle.3This is my answer to those whoquestion my authority as an apostle.4Don't we have the right to live in yourhomes and share your meals?5Don't we have the right to bring aChristian wife along with us as the otherdisciples and the Lord's brothers andPeter do?6Or is it only Barnabas and I who haveto work to support ourselves?7What soldier has to pay his ownexpenses? And have you ever heard ofa farmer who harvests his crop anddoesn't have the right to eat some of it?What shepherd takes care of a flock ofsheep and isn't allowed to drink some ofthe milk?8And this isn't merely human opinion.
Doesn't God's law say the same thing?9For the law of Moses says, "Do notkeep an ox from eating as it treads outthe grain." Do you suppose God wasthinking only about oxen when he saidthis?10Wasn't he also speaking to us? Ofcourse he was. Just as farm workerswho plow fields and thresh the grainexpect a share of the harvest, Christianworkers should be paid by those theyserve.11We have planted good spiritual seedamong you. Is it too much to ask, inreturn, for mere food and clothing?12If you support others who preach toyou, shouldn't we have an even greaterright to be supported? Yet we havenever used this right. We would ratherput up with anything than put anobstacle in the way of the Good Newsabout Christ.13Don't you know that those who work inthe Temple get their meals from thefood brought to the Temple asofferings? And those who serve at thealtar get a share of the sacrificialofferings.14In the same way, the Lord gave ordersthat those who preach the Good Newsshould be supported by those whobenefit from it.15Yet I have never used any of theserights. And I am not writing this tosuggest that I would like to start now. Infact, I would rather die than lose mydistinction of preaching without charge.16For preaching the Good News is notsomething I can boast about. I amcompelled by God to do it. How terriblefor me if I didn't do it!17If I were doing this of my own free will,then I would deserve payment. But Godhas chosen me and given me thissacred trust, and I have no choice.18What then is my pay? It is thesatisfaction I get from preaching theGood News without expense to anyone,never demanding my rights as apreacher.19This means I am not bound to obeypeople just because they pay me, yet Ihave become a servant of everyone sothat I can bring them to Christ.20When I am with the Jews, I becomeone of them so that I can bring them toChrist. When I am with those who followthe Jewish laws, I do the same, eventhough I am not subject to the law, so
FIRST CORINTHIANS
that I can bring them to Christ.21When I am with the Gentiles who donot have the Jewish law, I fit in withthem as much as I can. In this way, Igain their confidence and bring them toChrist. But I do not discard the law ofGod; I obey the law of Christ.22When I am with those who areoppressed, I share their oppression sothat I might bring them to Christ. Yes, Itry to find common ground witheveryone so that I might bring them toChrist.23I do all this to spread the Good News,and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.24Remember that in a race everyoneruns, but only one person gets the prize.You also must run in such a way thatyou will win.25All athletes practice strict self-control.They do it to win a prize that will fadeaway, but we do it for an eternal prize.26So I run straight to the goal withpurpose in every step. I am not like aboxer who misses his punches.27I discipline my body like an athlete,training it to do what it should.Otherwise, I fear that after preaching toothers I myself might be disqualified.
10I don't want you to forget, dear
brothers and sisters, what happened toour ancestors in the wilderness long ago.God guided all of them by sending acloud that moved along ahead of them,and he brought them all safely throughthe waters of the sea on dry ground.2As followers of Moses, they were allbaptized in the cloud and the sea.3And all of them ate the samemiraculous food,4and all of them drank the samemiraculous water. For they all drankfrom the miraculous rock that traveledwith them, and that rock was Christ.5Yet after all this, God was not pleasedwith most of them, and he destroyedthem in the wilderness.6These events happened as a warningto us, so that we would not crave evilthings as they did7or worship idols as some of them did.For the Scriptures say, "The peoplecelebrated with feasting and drinking,and they indulged themselves in paganrevelry."8And we must not engage in sexualimmorality as some of them did, causing23,000 of them to die in one day.
9Nor should we put Christ to the test, assome of them did and then died fromsnakebites.10And don't grumble as some of themdid, for that is why God sent his angel ofdeath to destroy them.11All these events happened to them asexamples for us. They were writtendown to warn us, who live at the timewhen this age is drawing to a close.12If you think you are standing strong, becareful, for you, too, may fall into thesame sin.13But remember that the temptationsthat come into your life are no differentfrom what others experience. And Godis faithful. He will keep the temptationfrom becoming so strong that you can'tstand up against it. When you aretempted, he will show you a way out sothat you will not give in to it.14So, my dear friends, flee from theworship of idols.15You are reasonable people. Decide foryourselves if what I am about to say istrue.16When we bless the cup at the Lord'sTable, aren't we sharing in the benefitsof the blood of Christ? And when webreak the loaf of bread, aren't wesharing in the benefits of the body ofChrist?17And we all eat from one loaf, showingthat we are one body.18And think about the nation of Israel; allwho eat the sacrifices are united by thatact.19What am I trying to say? Am I sayingthat the idols to whom the pagans bringsacrifices are real gods and that thesesacrifices are of some value?20No, not at all. What I am saying is thatthese sacrifices are offered to demons,not to God. And I don't want any of youto be partners with demons.21You cannot drink from the cup of theLord and from the cup of demons, too.You cannot eat at the Lord's Table andat the table of demons, too.22What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord'sjealousy as Israel did? Do you think weare stronger than he is?23You say, "I am allowed to doanything"--but not everything is helpful.You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is beneficial.24Don't think only of your own good.Think of other Christians and what isbest for them.
FIRST CORINTHIANS
25Here's what you should do. You mayeat any meat that is sold in themarketplace. Don't ask whether or not itwas offered to idols, and then yourconscience won't be bothered.26For "the earth is the Lord's, andeverything in it."27If someone who isn't a Christian asksyou home for dinner, go ahead; acceptthe invitation if you want to. Eatwhatever is offered to you and don't askany questions about it. Your conscienceshould not be bothered by this.28But suppose someone warns you thatthis meat has been offered to an idol.Don't eat it, out of consideration for theconscience of the one who told you.29It might not be a matter of consciencefor you, but it is for the other person.Now, why should my freedom be limitedby what someone else thinks?30If I can thank God for the food andenjoy it, why should I be condemned foreating it?31Whatever you eat or drink or whateveryou do, you must do all for the glory ofGod.32Don't give offense to Jews or Gentilesor the church of God.33That is the plan I follow, too. I try toplease everyone in everything I do. Idon't just do what I like or what is bestfor me, but what is best for them so theymay be saved.
11And you should follow my
example, just as I follow Christ's.2I am so glad, dear friends, that youalways keep me in your thoughts andyou are following the Christian teachingI passed on to you.3But there is one thing I want you toknow: A man is responsible to Christ, awoman is responsible to her husband,and Christ is responsible to God.4A man dishonors Christ if he covers hishead while praying or prophesying.5But a woman dishonors her husband ifshe prays or prophesies without acovering on her head, for this is thesame as shaving her head.6Yes, if she refuses to wear a headcovering, she should cut off all her hair.And since it is shameful for a woman tohave her hair cut or her head shaved,then she should wear a covering.7A man should not wear anything on hishead when worshiping, for man is God'sglory, made in God's own image, but
woman is the glory of man.8For the first man didn't come fromwoman, but the first woman came fromman.9And man was not made for woman'sbenefit, but woman was made for man.10So a woman should wear a coveringon her head as a sign of authoritybecause the angels are watching.11But in relationships among the Lord'speople, women are not independent ofmen, and men are not independent ofwomen.12For although the first woman camefrom man, all men have been born fromwomen ever since, and everythingcomes from God.13What do you think about this? Is it rightfor a woman to pray to God in publicwithout covering her head?14Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for aman to have long hair?15And isn't it obvious that long hair is awoman's pride and joy? For it has beengiven to her as a covering.16But if anyone wants to argue aboutthis, all I can say is that we have noother custom than this, and all thechurches of God feel the same wayabout it.17But now when I mention this nextissue, I cannot praise you. For it soundsas if more harm than good is done whenyou meet together.18First of all, I hear that there aredivisions among you when you meet asa church, and to some extent I believe it.19But, of course, there must be divisionsamong you so that those of you who areright will be recognized!20It's not the Lord's Supper you areconcerned about when you cometogether.21For I am told that some of you hurry toeat your own meal without sharing withothers. As a result, some go hungrywhile others get drunk.22What? Is this really true? Don't youhave your own homes for eating anddrinking? Or do you really want todisgrace the church of God and shamethe poor? What am I supposed to sayabout these things? Do you want me topraise you? Well, I certainly do not!23For this is what the Lord himself said,and I pass it on to you just as I receivedit. On the night when he was betrayed,the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread,24and when he had given thanks, he
FIRST CORINTHIANS
broke it and said, "This is my body,which is given for you. Do this inremembrance of me."25In the same way, he took the cup ofwine after supper, saying, "This cup isthe new covenant between God and you,sealed by the shedding of my blood. Dothis in remembrance of me as often asyou drink it."26For every time you eat this bread anddrink this cup, you are announcing theLord's death until he comes again.27So if anyone eats this bread or drinksthis cup of the Lord unworthily, thatperson is guilty of sinning against thebody and the blood of the Lord.28That is why you should examineyourself before eating the bread anddrinking from the cup.29For if you eat the bread or drink thecup unworthily, not honoring the body ofChrist, you are eating and drinkingGod's judgment upon yourself.30That is why many of you are weak andsick and some have even died.31But if we examine ourselves, we willnot be examined by God and judged inthis way.32But when we are judged anddisciplined by the Lord, we will not becondemned with the world.33So, dear brothers and sisters, whenyou gather for the Lord's Supper, waitfor each other.34If you are really hungry, eat at homeso you won't bring judgment uponyourselves when you meet together. I'llgive you instructions about the othermatters after I arrive.
12And now, dear brothers and
sisters, I will write about the specialabilities the Holy Spirit gives to each ofus, for I must correct yourmisunderstandings about them.2You know that when you were stillpagans you were led astray and sweptalong in worshiping speechless idols.3So I want you to know how to discernwhat is truly from God: No one speakingby the Spirit of God can curse Jesus,and no one is able to say, "Jesus isLord," except by the Holy Spirit.4Now there are different kinds of spiritualgifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who isthe source of them all.5There are different kinds of service inthe church, but it is the same Lord weare serving.
6There are different ways God works inour lives, but it is the same God whodoes the work through all of us.7A spiritual gift is given to each of us asa means of helping the entire church.8To one person the Spirit gives theability to give wise advice; to another hegives the gift of special knowledge.9The Spirit gives special faith to another,and to someone else he gives the powerto heal the sick.10He gives one person the power toperform miracles, and to another theability to prophesy. He gives someoneelse the ability to know whether it isreally the Spirit of God or another spiritthat is speaking. Still another person isgiven the ability to speak in unknownlanguages, and another is given theability to interpret what is being said.11It is the one and only Holy Spirit whodistributes these gifts. He alone decideswhich gift each person should have.12The human body has many parts, butthe many parts make up only one body.So it is with the body of Christ.13Some of us are Jews, some areGentiles, some are slaves, and someare free. But we have all been baptizedinto Christ's body by one Spirit, and wehave all received the same Spirit.14Yes, the body has many different parts,not just one part.15If the foot says, "I am not a part of thebody because I am not a hand," thatdoes not make it any less a part of thebody.16And if the ear says, "I am not part ofthe body because I am only an ear andnot an eye," would that make it any lessa part of the body?17Suppose the whole body were an eye--then how would you hear? Or if yourwhole body were just one big ear, howcould you smell anything?18But God made our bodies with manyparts, and he has put each part justwhere he wants it.19What a strange thing a body would beif it had only one part!20Yes, there are many parts, but onlyone body.21The eye can never say to the hand, "Idon't need you." The head can't say tothe feet, "I don't need you."22In fact, some of the parts that seemweakest and least important are reallythe most necessary.23And the parts we regard as less
FIRST CORINTHIANS
honorable are those we clothe with thegreatest care. So we carefully protectfrom the eyes of others those parts thatshould not be seen,24while other parts do not require thisspecial care. So God has put the bodytogether in such a way that extra honorand care are given to those parts thathave less dignity.25This makes for harmony among themembers, so that all the members carefor each other equally.26If one part suffers, all the parts sufferwith it, and if one part is honored, all theparts are glad.27Now all of you together are Christ'sbody, and each one of you is a separateand necessary part of it.28Here is a list of some of the membersthat God has placed in the body ofChrist: first are apostles, second areprophets, third are teachers, then thosewho do miracles, those who have thegift of healing, those who can helpothers, those who can get others towork together, those who speak inunknown languages.29Is everyone an apostle? Of course not.Is everyone a prophet? No. Are allteachers? Does everyone have thepower to do miracles?30Does everyone have the gift ofhealing? Of course not. Does God giveall of us the ability to speak in unknownlanguages? Can everyone interpretunknown languages? No!31And in any event, you should desirethe most helpful gifts. First, however, letme tell you about something else that isbetter than any of them!
13If I could speak in any language in
heaven or on earth but didn't love others,I would only be making meaninglessnoise like a loud gong or a clangingcymbal.2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if Iknew all the mysteries of the future andknew everything about everything, butdidn't love others, what good would Ibe? And if I had the gift of faith so that Icould speak to a mountain and make itmove, without love I would be no goodto anybody.3If I gave everything I have to the poorand even sacrificed my body, I couldboast about it; but if I didn't love others, Iwould be of no value whatsoever.4Love is patient and kind. Love is not
jealous or boastful or proud5or rude. Love does not demand its ownway. Love is not irritable, and it keepsno record of when it has been wronged.6It is never glad about injustice butrejoices whenever the truth wins out.7Love never gives up, never loses faith,is always hopeful, and endures throughevery circumstance.8Love will last forever, but prophecy andspeaking in unknown languages andspecial knowledge will all disappear.9Now we know only a little, and even thegift of prophecy reveals little!10But when the end comes, thesespecial gifts will all disappear.11It's like this: When I was a child, Ispoke and thought and reasoned as achild does. But when I grew up, I putaway childish things.12Now we see things imperfectly as in apoor mirror, but then we will seeeverything with perfect clarity. All that Iknow now is partial and incomplete, butthen I will know everything completely,just as God knows me now.13There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love--and the greatestof these is love.
14Let love be your highest goal, but
also desire the special abilities the Spiritgives, especially the gift of prophecy.2For if your gift is the ability to speak intongues, you will be talking to God butnot to people, since they won't be ableto understand you. You will be speakingby the power of the Spirit, but it will allbe mysterious.3But one who prophesies is helpingothers grow in the Lord, encouragingand comforting them.4A person who speaks in tongues isstrengthened personally in the Lord, butone who speaks a word of prophecystrengthens the entire church.5I wish you all had the gift of speaking intongues, but even more I wish you wereall able to prophesy. For prophecy is agreater and more useful gift thanspeaking in tongues, unless someoneinterprets what you are saying so thatthe whole church can get some goodout of it.6Dear brothers and sisters, if I shouldcome to you talking in an unknownlanguage, how would that help you? Butif I bring you some revelation or somespecial knowledge or some prophecy or
FIRST CORINTHIANS
some teaching--that is what will help you.7Even musical instruments like the fluteor the harp, though they are lifeless, areexamples of the need for speaking inplain language. For no one willrecognize the melody unless the notesare played clearly.8And if the bugler doesn't sound a clearcall, how will the soldiers know they arebeing called to battle?9And it's the same for you. If you talk topeople in a language they don'tunderstand, how will they know whatyou mean? You might as well be talkingto an empty room.10There are so many different languagesin the world, and all are excellent forthose who understand them,11but to me they mean nothing. I will notunderstand people who speak thoselanguages, and they will not understandme.12Since you are so eager to havespiritual gifts, ask God for those that willbe of real help to the whole church.13So anyone who has the gift ofspeaking in tongues should pray also forthe gift of interpretation in order to tellpeople plainly what has been said.14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit ispraying, but I don't understand what Iam saying.15Well then, what shall I do? I will doboth. I will pray in the spirit, and I willpray in words I understand. I will sing inthe spirit, and I will sing in words Iunderstand.16For if you praise God only in the spirit,how can those who don't understandyou praise God along with you? Howcan they join you in giving thanks whenthey don't understand what you aresaying?17You will be giving thanks very nicely,no doubt, but it doesn't help the otherpeople present.18I thank God that I speak in tonguesmore than all of you.19But in a church meeting I would muchrather speak five understandable wordsthat will help others than ten thousandwords in an unknown language.20Dear brothers and sisters, don't bechildish in your understanding of thesethings. Be innocent as babies when itcomes to evil, but be mature and wise inunderstanding matters of this kind.21It is written in the Scriptures, "I willspeak to my own people through
unknown languages and through the lipsof foreigners. But even then, they willnot listen to me," says the Lord.22So you see that speaking in tongues isa sign, not for believers, but forunbelievers; prophecy, however, is forthe benefit of believers, not unbelievers.23Even so, if unbelievers or people whodon't understand these things come intoyour meeting and hear everyone talkingin an unknown language, they will thinkyou are crazy.24But if all of you are prophesying, andunbelievers or people who don'tunderstand these things come into yourmeeting, they will be convicted of sin,and they will be condemned by whatyou say.25As they listen, their secret thoughts willbe laid bare, and they will fall down ontheir knees and worship God, declaring,"God is really here among you."26Well, my brothers and sisters, let'ssummarize what I am saying. When youmeet, one will sing, another will teach,another will tell some special revelationGod has given, one will speak in anunknown language, while another willinterpret what is said. But everythingthat is done must be useful to all andbuild them up in the Lord.27No more than two or three shouldspeak in an unknown language. Theymust speak one at a time, and someonemust be ready to interpret what they aresaying.28But if no one is present who caninterpret, they must be silent in yourchurch meeting and speak in tongues toGod privately.29Let two or three prophesy, and let theothers evaluate what is said.30But if someone is prophesying andanother person receives a revelationfrom the Lord, the one who is speakingmust stop.31In this way, all who prophesy will havea turn to speak, one after the other, sothat everyone will learn and beencouraged.32Remember that people who prophesyare in control of their spirit and can waittheir turn.33For God is not a God of disorder but ofpeace, as in all the other churches.34Women should be silent during thechurch meetings. It is not proper forthem to speak. They should besubmissive, just as the law says.
FIRST CORINTHIANS
35If they have any questions to ask, letthem ask their husbands at home, for itis improper for women to speak inchurch meetings.36Do you think that the knowledge ofGod's word begins and ends with youCorinthians? Well, you are mistaken!37If you claim to be a prophet or thinkyou are very spiritual, you shouldrecognize that what I am saying is acommand from the Lord himself.38But if you do not recognize this, youwill not be recognized.39So, dear brothers and sisters, beeager to prophesy, and don't forbidspeaking in tongues.40But be sure that everything is doneproperly and in order.
15Now let me remind you, dear
brothers and sisters, of the Good News Ipreached to you before. You welcomedit then and still do now, for your faith isbuilt on this wonderful message.2And it is this Good News that saves youif you firmly believe it--unless, of course,you believed something that was nevertrue in the first place.3I passed on to you what was mostimportant and what had also beenpassed on to me--that Christ died for oursins, just as the Scriptures said.4He was buried, and he was raised fromthe dead on the third day, as theScriptures said.5He was seen by Peter and then by thetwelve apostles.6After that, he was seen by more thanfive hundred of his followers at one time,most of whom are still alive, thoughsome have died by now.7Then he was seen by James and laterby all the apostles.8Last of all, I saw him, too, long after theothers, as though I had been born at thewrong time.9For I am the least of all the apostles,and I am not worthy to be called anapostle after the way I persecuted thechurch of God.10But whatever I am now, it is allbecause God poured out his specialfavor on me--and not without results.For I have worked harder than all theother apostles, yet it was not I but Godwho was working through me by hisgrace.11So it makes no difference whether Ipreach or they preach. The important
thing is that you believed what wepreached to you.12But tell me this--since we preach thatChrist rose from the dead, why aresome of you saying there will be noresurrection of the dead?13For if there is no resurrection of thedead, then Christ has not been raisedeither.14And if Christ was not raised, then allour preaching is useless, and your trustin God is useless.15And we apostles would all be lyingabout God, for we have said that Godraised Christ from the grave, but thatcan't be true if there is no resurrection ofthe dead.16If there is no resurrection of the dead,then Christ has not been raised.17And if Christ has not been raised, thenyour faith is useless, and you are stillunder condemnation for your sins.18In that case, all who have diedbelieving in Christ have perished!19And if we have hope in Christ only forthis life, we are the most miserablepeople in the world.20But the fact is that Christ has beenraised from the dead. He has becomethe first of a great harvest of those whowill be raised to life again.21So you see, just as death came intothe world through a man, Adam, nowthe resurrection from the dead hasbegun through another man, Christ.22Everyone dies because all of us arerelated to Adam, the first man. But allwho are related to Christ, the other man,will be given new life.23But there is an order to thisresurrection: Christ was raised first; thenwhen Christ comes back, all his peoplewill be raised.24After that the end will come, when hewill turn the Kingdom over to God theFather, having put down all enemies ofevery kind.25For Christ must reign until he humblesall his enemies beneath his feet.26And the last enemy to be destroyed isdeath.27For the Scriptures say, "God has givenhim authority over all things." (Of course,when it says "authority over all things," itdoes not include God himself, who gaveChrist his authority.)28Then, when he has conquered allthings, the Son will present himself toGod, so that God, who gave his Son
FIRST CORINTHIANS
authority over all things, will be utterlysupreme over everything everywhere.29If the dead will not be raised, thenwhat point is there in people beingbaptized for those who are dead? Whydo it unless the dead will someday riseagain?30And why should we ourselves becontinually risking our lives, facing deathhour by hour?31For I swear, dear brothers and sisters,I face death daily. This is as certain asmy pride in what the Lord Jesus Christhas done in you.32And what value was there in fightingwild beasts--those men of Ephesus --ifthere will be no resurrection from thedead? If there is no resurrection, "Let'sfeast and get drunk, for tomorrow wedie!"33Don't be fooled by those who say suchthings, for "bad company corrupts goodcharacter."34Come to your senses and stop sinning.For to your shame I say that some ofyou don't even know God.35But someone may ask, "How will thedead be raised? What kind of bodies willthey have?"36What a foolish question! When you puta seed into the ground, it doesn't growinto a plant unless it dies first.37And what you put in the ground is notthe plant that will grow, but only a drylittle seed of wheat or whatever it is youare planting.38Then God gives it a new body--just thekind he wants it to have. A different kindof plant grows from each kind of seed.39And just as there are different kinds ofseeds and plants, so also there aredifferent kinds of flesh--whether ofhumans, animals, birds, or fish.40There are bodies in the heavens, andthere are bodies on earth. The glory ofthe heavenly bodies is different from thebeauty of the earthly bodies.41The sun has one kind of glory, whilethe moon and stars each have anotherkind. And even the stars differ from eachother in their beauty and brightness.42It is the same way for the resurrectionof the dead. Our earthly bodies, whichdie and decay, will be different whenthey are resurrected, for they will neverdie.43Our bodies now disappoint us, butwhen they are raised, they will be full ofglory. They are weak now, but when
they are raised, they will be full of power.44They are natural human bodies now,but when they are raised, they will bespiritual bodies. For just as there arenatural bodies, so also there arespiritual bodies.45The Scriptures tell us, "The first man,Adam, became a living person." But thelast Adam--that is, Christ--is a life-givingSpirit.46What came first was the natural body,then the spiritual body comes later.47Adam, the first man, was made fromthe dust of the earth, while Christ, thesecond man, came from heaven.48Every human being has an earthlybody just like Adam's, but our heavenlybodies will be just like Christ's.49Just as we are now like Adam, theman of the earth, so we will someday belike Christ, the man from heaven.50What I am saying, dear brothers andsisters, is that flesh and blood cannotinherit the Kingdom of God. Theseperishable bodies of ours are not able tolive forever.51But let me tell you a wonderful secretGod has revealed to us. Not all of us willdie, but we will all be transformed.52It will happen in a moment, in theblinking of an eye, when the last trumpetis blown. For when the trumpet sounds,the Christians who have died will beraised with transformed bodies. Andthen we who are living will betransformed so that we will never die.53For our perishable earthly bodies mustbe transformed into heavenly bodiesthat will never die.54When this happens--when ourperishable earthly bodies have beentransformed into heavenly bodies thatwill never die--then at last the Scriptureswill come true: "Death is swallowed upin victory.55O death, where is your victory? Odeath, where is your sting?"56For sin is the sting that results in death,and the law gives sin its power.57How we thank God, who gives usvictory over sin and death through JesusChrist our Lord!58So, my dear brothers and sisters, bestrong and steady, always enthusiasticabout the Lord's work, for you know thatnothing you do for the Lord is everuseless.
16Now about the money being
FIRST CORINTHIANS
collected for the Christians inJerusalem: You should follow the sameprocedures I gave to the churches inGalatia.2On every Lord's Day, each of youshould put aside some amount ofmoney in relation to what you haveearned and save it for this offering. Don'twait until I get there and then try tocollect it all at once.3When I come I will write letters ofrecommendation for the messengersyou choose to deliver your gift toJerusalem.4And if it seems appropriate for me alsoto go along, then we can travel together.5I am coming to visit you after I havebeen to Macedonia, for I am planning totravel through Macedonia.6It could be that I will stay awhile withyou, perhaps all winter, and then youcan send me on my way to the nextdestination.7This time I don't want to make just ashort visit and then go right on. I want tocome and stay awhile, if the Lord will letme.8In the meantime, I will be staying hereat Ephesus until the Festival ofPentecost,9for there is a wide-open door for a greatwork here, and many people areresponding. But there are many whooppose me.10When Timothy comes, treat him withrespect. He is doing the Lord's work, justas I am.11Don't let anyone despise him. Sendhim on his way with your blessingswhen he returns to me. I am lookingforward to seeing him soon, along withthe other brothers.12Now about our brother Apollos--Iurged him to join the other brotherswhen they visit you, but he was notwilling to come right now. He will beseeing you later, when the time is right.13Be on guard. Stand true to what youbelieve. Be courageous. Be strong.14And everything you do must be donewith love.15You know that Stephanas and hishousehold were the first to becomeChristians in Greece, and they arespending their lives in service to otherChristians. I urge you, dear brothers andsisters,16to respect them fully and others likethem who serve with such real devotion.
17I am so glad that Stephanas,Fortunatus, and Achaicus have comehere. They have been making up for thehelp you weren't here to give me.18They have been a wonderfulencouragement to me, as they havebeen to you, too. You must give properhonor to all who serve so well.19The churches here in the province ofAsia greet you heartily in the Lord, alongwith Aquila and Priscilla and all theothers who gather in their home forchurch meetings.20All the brothers and sisters here haveasked me to greet you for them. Greeteach other in Christian love.21Here is my greeting, which I write withmy own hand--PAUL.22If anyone does not love the Lord, thatperson is cursed. Our Lord, come!23May the grace of the Lord Jesus bewith you.24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.