Brothers, think about your own calling. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

You may have 10,000 mentors who work for the Messiah, but not many fathers. For in the Messiah Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

For even if there are "gods" in heaven and on earth (as indeed there are many so-called "gods" and "lords"),

Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, because all of us eat from the same loaf.

just as I myself try to please everybody in every way. I don't look out for my own benefit, but rather for the benefit of many people, so that they might be saved.

That's why so many of you are weak and sick and a considerable number are dying.

For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, form a single body, so it is with the Messiah.

For the body does not consist of only one part, but of many.

So there are many parts, but one body.

There are, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

because a door has opened wide for me to do effective work, although many people are opposing me.