just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed in you,

so that you do not lack in any spiritual gift [as you] eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

For indeed, Jews ask for sign miracles and Greeks seek wisdom,

so that, just as it is written, "The one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

But just as it is written, "[Things] which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him."

And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual [people], but as to fleshly [people], as to infants in Christ.

Therefore, what is Apollos and what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, and to each as the Lord gave.

If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.

Thus let a person consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries.

For who concedes you [superiority]? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if indeed you received [it], why do you boast as [if you] did not receive [it]?

Already you are satiated! Already you are rich! Apart from us you reign as kings! And would that indeed you reigned as kings, in order that we also might reign as kings with you!

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to people.

I am not writing these [things] to shame you, but admonishing [you] as my dear children.

Because of this, I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dear and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

But some have become arrogant, as [if] I were not coming to you.

For [although I] am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already passed judgment on the one who has done this in this way, as [if I] were present.

Clean out the old leaven in order that you may be a new batch of dough, just as you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

But I say this as a concession, not as a command.

Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: [It is] good for them if they remain as I [am].

But to each one as the Lord has apportioned. As God has called each one, thus let him live--and thus I order in all the churches.

Now concerning virgins I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.

But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as [if they] do not have [wives],

and those who weep as [if they] do not weep, and those who rejoice as [if they] do not rejoice, and those who buy as [if they] do not possess,

and those who make use of the world as [if they] do not make full use of [it]. For the present form of this world is passing away.

A wife is bound for as long a time [as] her husband lives. But if her husband {dies}, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord.

If anyone thinks he knows anything, he has not yet known as it is necessary to know.

For even if after all [there] are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as [there] are many gods and many lords,

But this knowledge [is] not in everyone. But some, being accustomed until now to the idol, eat [this food] as food sacrificed to idols, and their conscience, [because it] is weak, is defiled.

Do we not have the right to take along a sister [as] wife, like the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Who shepherds a flock and does not drink from the milk of the flock?

I have become like a Jew to the Jews, in order that I may gain the Jews. To those under the law [I became] as under the law ([although I] myself am not under the law) in order that I may gain those under the law.

To those outside the law [I became] as outside the law ([although I] am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law.

Therefore I run in this way, not as [running] aimlessly; I box in this way, not as beating the air.

Now these [things] happened [as] examples for us, so that we should not be desirers of evil [things], just as those also desired [them],

and not become idolaters, as some of them [did], just as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play,"

nor commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day,

nor put Christ to the test, as some of them tested [him], and were destroyed by snakes,

nor grumble, just as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Now these [things] happened to those [people] as an example, but are written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

I am speaking as to sensible [people]; you judge what I am saying.

just as I also please all [people] in all [things], not seeking my own benefit, but the [benefit] of the many, in order that they may be saved.

Become imitators of me, just as I also [am] of Christ.

Now I praise you that you remember me [in] all [things], and just as I handed over to you the traditions, you hold fast to [them].

For just as the woman [is] from the man, thus also the man [is] through the woman. But all [things] [are] from God.

For in the first place, [when you] come together as a church, I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

Likewise also the cup, after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], in remembrance of me."

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

But in all these [things] one and the same Spirit is at work, distributing to each one individually just as he wishes.

For just as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, [although they] are many, are one body, thus also Christ.

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body just as he wanted.

For now we see through a mirror {indirectly}, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know completely, just as I have also been completely known.

Brothers, do not become children in [your] understanding, but with respect to wickedness be as a child, and in [your] understanding be mature.

For God is not [a God of] disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

the women must be silent in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but they must be in submission, just as the law also says.

But if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

For I passed on to you {as of first importance} what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

and last of all, as it were to one born at the wrong time, he appeared also to me.

Now if Christ is preached as raised up from the dead, how do some among you say that [there] is no resurrection of the dead?

And as a further result, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

But God gives to it a body just as he wishes, and to each one of the seeds its own body.

As the one [who is] made of earth, so also [are] those [who are] made of earth, and as the heavenly, so also [are] those [who are] heavenly.

And just as we have borne the image of the [one who is] made of earth, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now concerning the collection for the saints: just as I gave directions about [it] to the churches of Galatia, so you do also.

But if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to fear, for he is carrying out the Lord's work, as I also [am].