Book of 1stCorinthians
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Verse by verse, account of the book of 1^st Corinthians.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 1

¹Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, with our brother Sosthenes.

²To the church of God at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints together with all who call on the name of Jesus Christ.

³Grace and peace be with you, from God the Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴I thank my God for the measure of grace He has given you, through Christ Jesus. ⁵That He has enriched you in everything, in both speech and knowledge. ⁶Just as the testimony of Christ was also confirmed in you. ⁷So you would not be lacking in any gift. Eagerly awaiting and anticipating the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸And He shall also keep you steadfast until the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹For God whom has called you into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

¹⁰For this cause brothers, I plead with you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you be in harmony with one another, having no divisions among you, that you may be perfectly joined together in mind and in judgment. ¹¹For I have heard from Chloe's household, that debates and strife are among you. ¹²As one claims that by baptism, he is of Paul, or of Apollos, or of Cephas or even of Christ. ¹³Christ is not divided, these men were not crucified for you, but only Christ was crucified. You were not baptized in the name of these men but in the name of Christ. ¹⁴I thank God that I baptized few, Crispus and Gaius. ¹⁵least any of you should say, they are baptized in my name. ¹⁶ And I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides these, I do not know if I baptized any other. ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the truth of the gospel, not with eloquent words, least the Cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God unto those who are being saved. ¹⁹For scripture says that; God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the proud will be brought to nothing, Isaiah 29:14.

²⁰Are any of you wise? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolishness? ²¹For through the wisdom of this world God was not known, but it pleased God that through the foolishness of preaching those who believe are saved. ²²For the Jews seek a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom. ²³But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews this is a scandalous offense that causes them to stumble and to the Greeks it is foolishness. ²⁴However, to those who are called either Jew or Gentile, Christ is the power and the wisdom of God. ²⁵Even the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶Consider when you were called, few of you were wise according to the flesh, mighty or noble. ²⁷For God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the things that are mighty. ²⁸He has chosen the low and despised things of this world and the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are. ²⁹So that no flesh should glory in His presents. ³⁰But it is of God that you are in Christ Jesus, for Christ became for us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. ³¹As the scripture says; Let him who glories, glory in the Lord, Jeremiah 9:24.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 2

¹Brothers when I came to you, I did not come having eloquent speech or wisdom, declaring to you the gospel of Christ. ²For I determined to know nothing among you except the testimony of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ³In those days, I was with you in weakness, fear and much trembling. ⁴And my preaching to you was not in persuasive and clever words of human wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. ⁵Revealing to you that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

⁶To them who are mature, we speak the wisdom of God, not the wisdom of this world or of the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing. ⁷For we speak the hidden wisdom of God, that God ordered for our benefit and glory. ⁸That the rulers of this age were unaware of, for if they had been aware of this, they would have never crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹As scripture says; eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has man imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him, Isaiah 64:4.

¹⁰But God reveals these things to us through His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹For only the spirit of a man that is in him knows the things of a man, likewise, no one knows the things of God, unless the Spirit of God reveals it to him. ¹²Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, so that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

¹³We speak of these things not in words of worldly wisdom but by wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives us. ¹⁴For the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them for they are only received through Spiritual discernment. ¹⁵He who is spiritual judges all things, yet he is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶For who has known the counsels of the Lord, that we may instruct Him. Yet, we have the mind of Christ.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 3

¹Brothers, I could not speak to you as spiritual people but as carnal, fleshly people, as to babes in Christ. ²Earlier when I was with you, I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for you were immature in Christ and not able to take solid food and even now you are still unable. ³For you are still carnal! Filled with envy and strife and divisions among you, behaving as mere men. ⁴For when you quarrel among yourself saying; I am of Paul and another says I am of Apollos, are you not showing your carnality?

⁵Both Paul and Apollos are simply ministers of the gospel, through whom you believed. ⁶Each carrying out his various gift, as the Lord has given them. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. ⁷Therefore, neither he who plants nor waters are anything, but it is God, who gets the credit, for He gives the increase. ⁸All ministers of the gospel are one and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labors.

⁹For we are God's fellow workers, you being His harvest and His house. ¹⁰According to the grace of God that was given to me, I have laid the foundation and another builds upon it. But, let each one take care in how they build on it. ¹¹For no one can lay any other foundation but the one that has already been laid and that foundation is Jesus Christ. ¹²Whoever builds on this foundation, the materials used, ie. (gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or stubble). ¹³Each one's work will become clear at the day of Christ, for fire will test and reveal everyone's work. ¹⁴Then if anyone's work endures, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵But if anyone's work is burnt up, he will suffer loss but he himself will be saved, as through the fire. ¹⁶Do you not realize that you are the temple of God and His Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷Therefore if anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, whose temple are you?

¹⁸Do not deceive yourself with worldly wisdom, but rather let him become a fool so that he may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God, for He catches the wise in their own trap. ²⁰The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise and they are futile. ²¹Therefore let no one boast of certain men being their leader, for in Christ all things are already yours. ²²Regardless of whether Paul, Apollos, the world, life or death, things present or even things to come, are all yours. ²³And you are Christ's and Christ is God's.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 4

¹May men consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ²And it is essential that a steward be found faithful. ³It matters little to me that you should judge me, nor am I concerned with my popularity status among the world, in fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴I hold nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this, for he who judges me is the Lord. ⁵Therefore, judge nothing until the time when the Lord returns. Whom will bring into the light, what was hidden in the darkness and reveal the thoughts of the heart. Then every man will receive his due praise from God.

⁶I have used myself and Apollos as examples that you should not go beyond what is written and no one should become puffed up or self-righteous against another. ⁷For who has made you different from one another? And what have you acquired, that God has not given you? Why do you then boast, putting yourself over another?

⁸You deceive yourselves as if you are already full and rich, reigning as kings without us. Indeed I do wish that you did reign, so that we might also reign with you. ⁹For I believe that, God has put the apostles on display to the world, condemned to death, watched as a spectacle both by men and angels. ¹⁰We are fools for the sake of Christ, weak and dishonored but, you pride yourselves in being wise in Christ, strong and distinguished. ¹¹Even currently we hunger and thirst, being poorly clothed, beaten and homeless. ¹²Laboring with our own hands, when we are reviled we bless in return and when persecuted, we endure. ¹³Having been slandered, we pray for those, we have been made as the filth of the world, the outcast.

¹⁴I do not write this to shame you, but as loved children to warn you. ¹⁵For though you may have many teachers in Christ, you have few fathers. Remember that it was through the preaching of Christ Jesus that I brought you to the gospel. ¹⁶Therefore, I urge you, to become imitators of me. ¹⁷For this reason I have sent Timothy, my loved and faithful son in the Lord to you. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I also teach in every church.

¹⁸Some of you have become conceited and arrogant, as if I was not coming to you. ¹⁹But I shall come to you shortly, if the Lord wills and we shall see if those proud people that talk have any power. ²⁰For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. ²¹How than shall I come to you, shall I come with a rod or come to you in love, having a spirit of gentleness?

1^st Corinthians: chapter 5

¹It has been reported to me that there is sexual immorality among you, such an act that is not even named among the non-church people, that a man has his father's wife. ²And you have celebrated this, rather than mourning this and removing him from your church fellowship. ³Even though I am absent in the body, I am yet present with you in the Spirit, (as though I were with you) and have already judged him who has done this deed. ⁴When you gather yourself together along with my spirit, in the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵Deliver such a person over to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

⁶Your celebration of this matter is not good, do you not know that a little sin soon spreads throughout all. ⁷Therefore purge out the sin, that the body may be made new, since Christ our passover was sacrificed for us, you are truly without sin. ⁸Therefore let us partake of Christ's feast, not with old sinful ways of malice and wickedness but with pure hearts, sincerity and truth.

⁹I wrote to you in my last letter that you should not associate with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰Yet that is exactly what you are doing. Running with the covetous, extortioners and idolaters people of this world, one usually needs to go outside the church to find such people. ¹¹But now, I write to you, not even to keep company with one who is sexually immoral, covetous, an idolater, a reviler, a drunkard or an extortioner, who identifies himself with the church, do not even eat with such a person.

¹²We, as believers have nothing to do with the judgment of those who are outside the church, however we do judge those who are inside. ¹³God alone judges those who are outside the church. Therefore, put out the evil man from the church body.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 6

¹Dare not that any of you should take a matter against another brother to the courts of the unrighteous rather than before the believers. ²Do you not know that the believers will one day judge the world and if so are you not even able to judge the smallest of matters. ³Do you not know that we will judge angels? Their matters are much more weightier than matters pertaining to this life! ⁴So, as you have matters to settle in this life, why would you appoint the people least esteemed by the church to judge them? ⁵I say this to your shame. Is there not even one wise man among you, who can judge among his brethren? ⁶But, you have brothers taking brothers to court to appear before unbelievers.

⁷This is an utter failure, that you run to the law against each other, why do you not just accept the wrong allowing yourself to be cheated? ⁸Rather you do wrong and cheat even your own brothers! ⁹Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Therefore, do not be deceived, neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals nor sodomites. ¹⁰Neither, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And such were some of you, but you have been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God.

¹²All things are lawful for me, but not all are profitable and I will not be brought under the power of any. ¹³Foods were made for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but in the last days they will both be destroyed. However, the body is not meant for sexual immorality but rather for the Lord. ¹⁴For God raised up the Lord Jesus and will also raise us up by His power. ¹⁵Since your bodies are then members with Christ, shall we then take the members of Christ and join it with a harlot? (God forbid). ¹⁶Or do you not realize that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her, for He has said; The two shall become one flesh, Genesis 2:24. ¹⁷But he who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit with Him. ¹⁸Therefore, flee sexual immorality! Every other sin that a man commits is outside of the body, but sexual immorality is a sin against his own body. ¹⁹Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that dwells in you, a gift from God and you are not your own. ²⁰You have been bought with a price, therefore, glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God's.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 7

¹Concerning the things that you wrote me; It is advantageous for a man not to touch a woman and to remain unmarried. ²Nevertheless, because of sexual temptations and to keep from sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife and each woman her own husband. ³Let the husband give his wife the affections due to her and likewise, the wife to her husband. ⁴For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does and likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body but his wife does. ⁵Do not deprive one another of the marital rights, except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer and fasting, then coming back together again so that Satan does not tempt you. ⁶I speak this to make you aware not as a commandment. ⁷For I wish all men were single as I am, but each person has their own gift from God.

⁸I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them if they remain single. ⁹However if they cannot exercise self-control let them marry, for it is better to marry than burn with passion.

¹⁰To the married, I speak the command of the Lord, a wife is not to leave her husband. ¹¹But if she does, let her either remain unmarried or be reconciled back to her husband, nor shall the husband divorce his wife.

¹²To the rest I say this, (not of the Lord, but of myself). If a man has a wife who does not believe in Christ and the unbelieving wife is willing to live with the man, the man shall not divorce his wife. ¹³Likewise if a woman has a husband who does not believe and the husband is willing to live with the wife, the wife shall not divorce her husband. ¹⁴For the unbeliever is sanctified by the believer, otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy, set apart for Christ. ¹⁵But if the unbeliever departs, let them depart and the believing spouse is not under bondage in such a case, for God has called us unto peace. ¹⁶For there is no assurance that the unbelieving mate will become a believer.

¹⁷Let each one walk in his own gift, as God has distributed them to each person, as I teach in all the churches. ¹⁸Let each one of you remain with God in his calling, regardless of the outward signs at the time of your calling, either circumcised or not. ¹⁹For outward signs are not what matters, keeping the commands of God is what matters. ²⁰Let each one remain in the social condition they were in when they were called. ²¹If you were called while a slave, do not be concerned about your freedom, but if you can achieve your freedom, do so. ²²For he who is called by the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ's slave. ²³You were bought by Christ with a price, do not become slaves of men. ²⁴Brothers, let each of you remain with God, in the state in which you were called.

²⁵Now cornering virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give you my advice as one the Lord has made trustworthy. ²⁶Because of the present distress, it is good for a man to remain as he is. ²⁷If you are bound to a wife, do not seek to be loosed. If you are loosed from a wife, do not seek to be bound to a wife. ²⁸If you do marry, you have not sinned and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Even though I wish to spare you, for such will have troubles in the flesh.

²⁹This I do say brothers, the appointed time is nearing, the time is short, let even those who have wives, be as if they had none. ³⁰Do not let the Christian get wrapped up in the emotions and affairs of this world, nether weeping or rejoicing nor delighting in great possessions. ³¹Let those who deal in the world, not get caught up in misusing the things of the world, for this world is passing away. ³²But I want you to be without care, he who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord and how he may please the Lord. ³³But he who is married cares for the things of the world and how he may please his wife. ³⁴Likewise there is also a difference between a wife and a virgin, the unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy, both in body and in spirit. But, the married woman cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵I say this for your own profit, not to restrict you, but that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

³⁶But if a man has passions towards his virgin and she is passed her youth, let him do as he wishes. He does not sin if he marries. ³⁷Nevertheless, he who has determined in his heart, having power over his own will, with no necessity to marry, he does well in keeping his virginity. ³⁸So then, he who marries does well, but he who does not marry does better.

³⁹A wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives, but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whom she wishes, (as long as he is a fellow believer in the Lord). ⁴⁰But, in my judgment, she is happier if she remains as she is.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 8

¹Concerning things offered to idles. Knowing we all have knowledge, yet knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. ²For if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing as he ought to know. ³But simply he who loves God, is known by God. ⁴Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols. We know that an idol is nothing and there is only one God. ⁵Even if there are other so-called gods, whether in heaven or here on earth. ⁶Yet for us there is but one God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom are all things and we live by Him. ⁷However, not everyone has this knowledge. But, certain men having a weak conscious, view the food as being sacrificed to actual gods and their conscious is defiled. ⁸Eating food will not cause our acceptance to God. So in eating of it, we are none the better nor the worse.

⁹But beware, lest this liberty of yours, in this matter, becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. ¹⁰This is why I say; If the weaker brother sees you eating at the temple, food offered to idols, although you know there is nothing wrong with it. If he also partakes in the food offered to idols, violating his own conscience, personally condemning himself. ¹¹Because of your knowledge, shall the weaker brother be condemned and perish, for whom Christ also died for? ¹²For when you sin against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I would never eat meat again.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 9

¹Yes, I am an apostle and yes I am free, one who has seen Jesus Christ our Lord and are you not my work in the Lord? ²Even if I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. ³My defense to those who question me is this. ⁴Surely we must have the right to eat and drink, at the expense of the church. ⁵Do we not also have the right to take with us a believing wife, as the other apostles do and the brethren of Christ, such as Peter? ⁶Is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? ⁷No solider ever goes to war at his own expense, nor does a farmer not partake of his own crops, (this also appears in 2^nd Timothy 2:6).

⁸I am not saying this as a mere man but the Word also says; ⁹you shall not muzzle the ox when it is treading out the grain, Deuteronomy 25:4. This is not written for the sakes of oxen, ¹⁰but for the sake of God's ministers. That he who plows should plow in hope and he who threshes should also be partakers of this hope. ¹¹If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much to ask that we should reap your material things? ¹²You give these rights to others who preach to you, are we not more worthy? Nevertheless, we have not used this right, but we have endured all things least we hinder the gospel of Christ. ¹³Do you not know that those who minister the holy things and serve at the alter also partake of the offerings of the alter? ¹⁴Even the Lord has said that those who preach the gospel shall live by the gospel. ¹⁵Yet, I have not asked you for anything, nor am I writing this to suggest that it should be done now. I would rather die than have anyone take away this boast from me. ¹⁶For when I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of. For I am compelled to preach and woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. ¹⁷If I preach willing I have a reward, but if I preach merely out of compulsion, I have but simply been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸My reward then is that, I may present the gospel of Christ without cost to others, so that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

¹⁹For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, so that I might win more for Christ. ²⁰To the Jews, I have become as a Jew, to those under the law, I became as under the law as they are, to win the Jews, who are under the law. ²¹To those who are without law, I was as they were, (not forsaking God's law, but walking in Christ's righteousness), to win those not under the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might win some for Christ. ²³This I do for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a partaker in it with you.

²⁴Keep in mind that in a race all run, but only one receives the prize, run then in such a way that you may obtain the prize. ²⁵Everyone who strives has disciplined themselves, preparing for the race, even denying themselves of certain things, all to win a perishable crown, but we run for an imperishable crown. ²⁶Therefore I run not with uncertainty ²⁷and I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, least that after preaching to others, I myself might become disqualified.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 10

¹Do not be ignorant of the matter, that even though our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the Red sea. ²All of them were baptized into Moses, in the cloud (under God's presence) and in the sea (a passage). ³All ate of the same spiritual food ⁴and all drank of the same spiritual Rock, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵However God was not well pleased with most of them and they died in the wilderness. ⁶This is to be taken as an example, that we should not lust after evil things, as they did. ⁷Nor should we became idolaters as were some of them. For it is written, They sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play, Exodus 32:6. ⁸Nor let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, for in one day twenty-three thousand fell, Numbers chapter 25. ⁹May we not tempt Christ, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, Numbers 21:4-9. ¹⁰Or Complain as some of them also did and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹These thing befell them as examples and it is written to us as a warning, to whom the end of the age is nearing.

¹²Therefore, let him who thinks he stands firm, learn from the examples here, least he falls. ¹³For no temptation has overtaken you except such that is common to man, but our God is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to withstand, for He will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

¹⁴Therefore, my loved brothers, do whatever it takes to flee from idolatry. ¹⁵I speak to you as a wise man, judge for yourself. ¹⁶The bread and the cup, are they not the communion of the body and blood of Christ? ¹⁷For though we are many, we are of one bread and one body, for we all partake of that one bread. ¹⁸Observe the Jewish people, are not all who eat of the altar, not also united in the worship of the same God? ¹⁹Yes an idol or what is offered to an idol is nothing, ²⁰However the gentiles sacrifice these things to demons rather than to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. ²¹For you cannot partake of the cup and table of the Lord and partake of the cup and table of demons. ²²Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy and anger? Are any of us stronger than He is?

²³All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable or edifying to me. ²⁴May no one seek his own, but let each one seek the other's well-being. ²⁵Eat whatever is sold in the meat markets, not asking if it has been offered to idols, for the sake of your conscience. ²⁶For the whole earth is the Lord's and all the fullness therein. ²⁷If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you wish to go, eat whatever is served to you, asking no questions. ²⁸However, if you are told that this was offered to idols, do not eat of it for the sake of the one who told you and their conscience. For we know, the earth is the Lord's and all the fullness therein. ²⁹Why should then my liberty be judged by another man's conscience? ³⁰For if I can partake with thanks, why then should I be falsely accused? ³¹Therefore whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. ³²Give no offense either to the Jew or to the Greek or to the church of God. ³³Just as I strive to accommodate all men in all things, not seeking my own profit or advantage, but the profit of many that they may come to Christ.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 11

¹Imitate me, even as I also follow Christ. ²I praise you brethren, that you remember me and keep the doctrines as I have delivered to you. ³And, I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is her husband and the head of Christ is God. ⁴A man in worship, praying or prophesying having his head covered dishonors his head, which is Christ. ⁵But a woman in worship, praying or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonors her head, which is her husband, it is as if her head were shaven. ⁶For if a woman's head is not covered, it is as if she was shaven and this is shameful, so let her head be covered. ⁷A man should not cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. ⁸For man did not come from woman, but woman from came out of man, Genesis 2:22. ⁹Nether was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. ¹⁰This is why she should have a head covering, to show that she is subject to her husband's authority, as likewise, the angels show submission to their Authority. ¹¹Nevertheless, man is not independent of woman, nor is woman independent of man, in the Lord. ¹²For as woman came from man, even so, man is born of woman, but all things are from God.

¹³Judge for yourself, is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴Even nature teaches us that, if a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him. ¹⁵However if a woman has long hair, it is her glory, for her hair is given to her as a covering. ¹⁶But if any of you take argument with this, we recognize no other custom than this in worship, nor do the other churches of God.

¹⁷In giving you these instructions, I do not praise you, because I sense that when you come together it is not for the betterment of the body, but rather for the worse. ¹⁸I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions and cliques among you and in part I believe this. ¹⁹For even though there are those among you who stray from accepted doctrine, the truly approved ones shall be revealed among you. ²⁰Therefore when you come together is it for debates or to partake of the Lord's Supper? ²¹For I hear that when you eat and drink, one takes his own supper ahead of others, leaving the other hungry while the other gets drunk. ²²Do not each of you have your own home to eat and drink in! Do you think so little of the church and enjoy shaming others who have nothing? I do not praise you for this.

²³I have delivered to you what I have received from the Lord. That the Lord Jesus on the very night He was betrayed, He took bread. ²⁴When He had given thanks, He broke it and said; Take, eat, this is My body, which is broken for you, do this in remembrance of Me. ²⁵In the same manner He took the cup after supper and said; This cup is the new convent, established by My blood, As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me. ²⁶For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again.

²⁷Therefore, whomever eats or drinks of the table of the Lord in an unworthy manner, they are guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸Therefore let each man examine himself and after he has done so, let him partake of the Lord's table. ²⁹For he that partakes (of the elements) the body and the blood unworthily, they eat and drink condemnation upon themselves, not acknowledging what Christ's body and sacrifice has provided for them and they remain under the condemnation of this world. ³⁰This is why so many among you are weak and sick and some have even died. ³¹For if we would first judge ourselves, we would not be judged. ³²But when we examine ourselves, the Lord judges and disciplined us, so that we may not be condemned with the rest of the world. ³³Therefore, brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴And if anyone is hungry they should eat at home. Concerning the other matters, I will give you direction when I come to you.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 12

¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, I do not want you to be ignorant. ²Before you came to Christ, you were gentiles led astray by dumb idols. ³Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴Now there are diversities of gifts, but they all have been given by the same Holy Spirit. ⁵There are differences in ministries but the same Lord ⁶and diversities of activities, but the same God, whom works in all of them. ⁷But, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. ⁸Through the same Holy Spirit the gifts are given: A word of wisdom, a word of knowledge, ⁹The gift of faith, the gift of healings, ¹⁰The working of miracles, the gift of prophecy, discerning of spirits, Various kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. ¹¹But the same Spirit works in all of these, giving to each one as He wills.

¹²As the body has many members and all the members are of that one body, so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jew or Greek, slaves or free and we have all been made to drink of one Spirit. ¹⁴For the body is not one member such as, an eye, a hand or an ear, etc., but many members. ¹⁵Though we are diverse members of the body each member is a needed part of the body. The foot cannot say, because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body. ¹⁶Nor can the ear say, because I am not an eye, I am not needed. ¹⁷If the entire body were a single member, such as an eye, how would it function in smelling or hearing? ¹⁸But God has set each member in place just as He pleased. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰Indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, nor can the head say to the feet I have no need of you. ²²Rather, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³And the members that we think to be less honorable, on these, we need to bestow greater honor. Giving our unpresentable parts greater modesty, ²⁴for our presentable parts have no need of modesty. For God has composed the body in such a way to give greater honor to that part that lacks it. ²⁵That there should be no discord in the body, but that all members should take mutual care for each other. ²⁶That when one member suffers, all the members suffer with it and when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷For you are the body of Christ, yet individual members. ²⁸And God has appointed these in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that they who have the gift of miracles, then gifts of healings, the gift of helps, the gift of administrations and varieties of tongues. ^29-30It is obvious that all do not have the same gifts. ³¹But earnestly desire the best gifts, yet I will show you a higher more excellent way and that is love.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 13

¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am merely making noise. ²Even though I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all mysteries and by faith can move mountains and have not love, I am nothing. ³Though I give my goods away to the poor and endure persecutions, but have not love, it profits me nothing. ⁴For love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy or parade itself around, nor is it proud. ⁵Love does not behave itself rudely, love does not have a selfish agenda and is not provoked, love thinks no evil, ⁶Love does not rejoice in the failures of others, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.

⁸Love never fails! As for prophecies they will fall, tongues will cease and knowledge will pass away. ⁹For now our knowledge and prophecy is only in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect has come, there will be no need for that which is in part and it will be done away with. ¹¹For, when I was a child, I spoke and understood as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²We now see in a mirror dimly, knowing only in part, but when perfection has come, we will see face to face and we will know just as we are known by God. ¹³So for now, abide in faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 14

¹Eagerly pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, especially that you prophesy. ²For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to man but to God, for no man understands him, but in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³But he who prophesies speaks edification, exhortation and comfort to men. ⁴He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, yet he who prophesies edifies the body of believers. ⁵I wish you all spoke with tongues, but more so that you all prophesied, for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless he also has the gift of interpretation and can interpret his tongue for the edification of the body of believers.

⁶Now brothers, if I come to you speaking in an unknown tongue, How will this profit you? Unless I speak to you plainly, either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying or by teaching. ⁷Even things without life giving sound, the flute or harp, unless they make a distinctive sound, how will anyone know what is being played? ⁸For example, if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹And likewise, unless you utter words that can be understood, how will others know what is being spoken? Otherwise, you are merely speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are many voices in the world and all of them have significance. ¹¹But if the meaning of the language is unknown to me, it is as if I am as a foreigner to him, as he is also to me. ¹²Even though you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you may seek to excel.

¹³Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue, let him pray that he might be able to interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵So then, let each man pray with the spirit and with understanding, let him sing in the spirit and with understanding. ¹⁶But, keep in mind that if you praise God and give thanks in the spirit, how will an outsider be able to join you in giving thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? ¹⁷For when in the spirit, you do indeed give thanks well, however the other brother is not edified. ¹⁸I do thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, ¹⁹yet in the church I would rather speak a few words with my understanding, so as to teach others for their benefit, then speak ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

²⁰Brothers, do not think as children, yet do be simple in matters of evil, but in your understanding be mature. ²¹For in the law it is written; That God will speak through men of other tongues to these people and yet they will still not hear Me, says the Lord, Isaiah 28:11.

²²Therefore, tongues are a sign to the unbeliever not for the believer, but prophesying is for the believer, not the unbeliever. ²³Therefore, if the whole church congregation all speaks at the same time in unknown tongues and an unbeliever or one that does not use this gift, comes into the church, will they not think that you are all crazy? ²⁴But if all of you are prophesying and an unbeliever comes in, he will understand everyone and is convicted by all. ²⁵And the secrets of his heart are revealed and he worships God, knowing that God is truly among you all.

²⁶How is it then that when you come together, each one of you has a psalm, a tongue, a teaching, a revelation and an interpretation. Let all these things be used for edification. ²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be but two or three at the most and each speaking in their turn, with one who interprets. ²⁸But if there is no one to interpret the tongue, let them keep silent while in church, speaking silently to himself and to God. ²⁹Let two or three people prophesy, also in their turn and let the others discern what has been said. ³⁰But during this prophecy, if anything is revealed to another, let him keep silent. ³¹This way you can all prophecy, in your turn, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³²Know that the spoken words of he who prophecies are under his control. ³³For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, throughout all the churches.

³⁴Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they should be in subjection, as also the law says. ³⁵If they wish to be instructed, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. ³⁶Do you disagree, do you think the Word of God originated with you or has reached only you? ³⁷If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet, let him acknowledge my words, for they are the commandment of the Lord. ³⁸But if anyone disagrees, that it is not the Lord's command, leave him in his ignorance. ³⁹Therefore brothers, desire earnestly to prophecy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰Doing all things in an orderly manor.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 15

¹Brothers, let me remind you of the Gospel, that I preach to you, which you welcomed and accepted and upon which your faith rests. ²This is the gospel by which you are saved, if you hold fast to it, unless you have believed in vain. ³I have delivered to you the gospel that I also received, that Christ died for our sins as foretold by the scriptures. ⁴He was buried and He rose again on the third day. ⁵And was seen by Peter and then to the other disciples. ⁶After that He was seen by more than five hundred brethren, the majority of whom are still with us, yet some have died. ⁷After that He was seen by James and then by all the apostles. ⁸Last of all He also appeared to me, one born in due time.

⁹For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because of how I once persecuted God's church. ¹⁰It is by the grace of God that I am what I am today, His grace towards me was not in vain, but I have labored more than they all, yet not by my strength but by God's grace that worked through me. ¹¹For it does not matter who worked the hardest, I or they, but that the gospel was preached and you believed.

¹²Now, if Christ is preached as being raised from the dead, how is it that some of you say that there is no resurrection from the dead? ¹³For if there is no resurrection from the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴And if Christ not be risen, then our preaching is in vain and so is your faith. ¹⁵We are also found to be false witnesses of God, for we have preached that God resurrected Christ when there was none. ¹⁶For if the dead do not rise, then Christ has not risen. ¹⁷And If Christ was not raised from the dead, you are still in your sins and your faith is fruitless! ¹⁸Also all who have died in Christ have simply perished. ¹⁹If we who are abiding in Christ, have hope only in this life, we are most pitiful of men.

²⁰The truth is that Christ was risen from the dead and has become the first of all to be raised up from the dead. ²¹For death came into the world through one man, (Adam) and also through a Man, (Christ) came the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as all that are in Adam shall die, so shall all who are in Christ be made alive. ²³Each one in his own order, Christ being our firstfruits and after that, all who are Christ's at His coming. ²⁴Then comes the end, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father, having put an end to all powers and authorities. ²⁵For Christ will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶And the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. ²⁷For the Father has put all rule and authority under Christ's feet, with the exception of the Father Himself. ²⁸Now when all things are made subject to the Father, Christ will also subject Himself to the Father, that God may be all in all.

²⁹Even the pagans who follow the tradition of being baptized for the dead, believe in the resurrection of the dead. If they did not believe such, Why would they do such a thing, if the dead are not risen? ³⁰Why do we also stand in daily persecutions? ³¹Brethren, I assure you that I die daily, because of my belief in Christ Jesus and the resurrection. ³²However if the dead are not raised, there is no point for my preaching and debating with various men, for we should all just, eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ³³Do not be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits. ³⁴Awake from your stupor and return to righteousness and sin no more, for some of you do not have the knowledge of God and I say this to your shame.

³⁵Some of you will ask, How are the dead raised up and what body do they then inhabit? ³⁶You unwise men! A seed that is sown is not made alive, unless it dies. ³⁷The physical body itself is not sown, but rather a mere seed, as a seed of grain. ³⁸God then gives each seed its own body as He pleases. ³⁹All flesh is not the same, there is human flesh, flesh of beasts, fish and of birds. ⁴⁰Just as there are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies, each having their own glory. ⁴¹The sun, the moon and the stars each have their own glory, for even the stars differ from each other. ⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, but is raised in incorruption. ⁴³It is sown in dishonor and weakness, but is raised in glory and power. ⁴⁴It is sown a as a natural body, but is raised a spiritual body. ⁴⁵And thus it is written; The first man (Adam) became a living being, the last Adam (Christ) became a life giving Spirit.

⁴⁶However, the spiritual life does not come first, but does the natural life and the spiritual life is to follow. ⁴⁷The first man was made of the dust of the earth, the second Man is of the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸As was the first earthly man, so are all men that are made of dust. Likewise, as is the heavenly Man, so are the heavenly ones. ⁴⁹Just as we bore the image of the man made from the dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

⁵⁰Brothers, I tell you this; that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹I tell you a mystery, we shall not all die, but we shall all be changed. ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call. The dead shall be raised, as incorruptible and we shall all be changed. ⁵³For our corruption will put on incorruption and the mortal body will put on immortality. ⁵⁴When the perishable puts on the imperishable, then the scripture shall be fulfilled, that death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death where is your sting? Oh Hell where is your victory?, Hosea 13:14.

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, for He gave us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸Therefore, brothers, be steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1^st Corinthians: chapter 16

¹Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have ordered the church at Galatia, you are also to do the same. ²On the first day of the week, let each person put something aside to give, as he may prosper, so there be no need to take up collections when I come. ³I will then send your gift on to Jerusalem, via messengers that you choose. ⁴And if it seems fitting, I shall also go with them.

⁵I shall come to you when I pass through Macedonia. ⁶Perhaps I will even stay through the winter with you and then you can send me on my next journey. ⁷It is not my plan to see you as I pass by, but on my return journey, I am hoping to stay some time with you, if the Lord permits.

⁸I will remain here in Ephesus until the day of Pentecost. ⁹For many opportunities present themselves to me here, to teach and preach, but there are also many adversaries.

¹⁰When Timothy arrives, make him feel at ease, so he can be fearless among you, for he does the Lord's work as I also do. ¹¹Let no one despise him, but send him on his journey to me in peace, for I am waiting for him with the rest of the brethren.

¹²Concerning our brother Apollos, I have encouraged him to come to you. But, it is not his will at this time, but he will come to you when he has the opportunity.

¹³Brothers, be alert, stand firm in your faith be strong and courageous. ¹⁴And whatever you do, do it with love and kindness.

¹⁵The household of Stephanas, were among the first in Greece to become Christians and you know how they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord and God's people. ¹⁶I urge you to submit to them, giving them your utmost respect, along with everyone who labors together with you. ¹⁷I am grateful that three within that household, Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus, have come to me, for they have supplied to me what was lacking by your absence. ¹⁸For they have refreshed my spirit and yours as well, therefore, acknowledge such men.

¹⁹The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla, together with the church that meets in their house. ²⁰All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹I, Paul, add this final greeting with my own hand.

²²If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed, the approaching judgment of the Lord

²³The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ²⁴My love is with you all, in Christ Jesus, Amen.