But I urge you all, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree in what you say, and not to allow factions among you, but to be perfectly united in mind and judgment.

What I mean is this, that one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," another, "And I, of Apollos," another, "And I, of Cephas," and another, "And I, of Christ!"

so that no one could say that you were baptized in my name.

For the Scripture says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And I will thwart the shrewdness of the shrewd!"

so that, as the Scripture says, "Let him who would boast, boast of the Lord!"

But, as the Scripture says, there are things "Which no eye ever saw and no ear ever heard, And never occurred to the human mind, Which God has provided for those who love him."

For when one man says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another, "I am a follower of Apollos," are you not simply human?

For this world's wisdom is foolishness to God. For the Scripture says, "He who catches the wise with their own cunning,"

But I am coming very soon to see you, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out, not what these conceited people have to say, but what they can actually do.

Do you not know that we are to be the judges of angels, to say nothing of ordinary matters?

Or do you not know that a man who has to do with a prostitute makes one body with her? For "The two," says the Scripture, "shall become physically one."

To all who are unmarried and to widows, I would say this: It is an excellent thing if they can remain single as I am.

To other people I would say, though not as Christ's command, if a Christian has a wife who is not a believer, and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her,

But this I do say, brothers. The appointed time has grown very short. From this time on those who have wives should live as though they had none,

It is for your benefit that I say this, not to put a halter on you, but to promote good order, and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

About food that has been offered to idols, it is true, as you say, that we all have some knowledge on that matter. Knowledge gives people airs; love is what builds up character.

Am I saying only what men say? Does not the Law say so too?

If others enjoy such rights over you, have we not a still better claim? But, you say, we have never availed ourselves of this right. No, we will stand anything rather than put any hindrance in the way of the good news of the Christ.

You must not become idolaters, like some of them, for the Scripture says, "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to dance."

I appeal to your good sense. Make up your minds about what I say.

But if someone says to you, "This meat has been offered in sacrifice," let it alone, on account of the man who told you and his conscientious scruples;

his scruples, I say, not yours. For why should my liberty of action be limited by another's scruples?

Have you no houses to eat and drink in? Or do you mean to show your contempt for the church of God, and to humiliate those who have none? What can I say to you? Can I approve of you? Not in this matter certainly.

Therefore, I must tell you that no one who is speaking under the influence of the Spirit of God ever says, "Curse Jesus!" and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord!" without being under the influence of the holy Spirit.

If the foot says, "As I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," that does not make it any less a part of the body.

And if the ear says, "As I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," that does not make it any less a part of the body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you," or the head to the feet, "I do not need you."

I want you all to speak ecstatically, but I especially want you to be inspired to preach. The man who is inspired to preach is more useful than the one who speaks ecstatically??nless he can explain what he says so that it may do the church some good.

Therefore, the man who can speak ecstatically should pray for the power to explain what he says.

For if you utter blessings in ecstatic speech, how is an ordinary man to say Amen to your thanksgiving? For he does not know what you are saying.

But in public worship I would rather say five words with my understanding so as to instruct others also than ten thousand words in an ecstasy.

In the Law it says, "By men of strange languages and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this nation, and not even then will they listen to me, says the Lord."

Hence, if the whole church assembles and they all speak ecstatically, and ordinary people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are crazy?

If there is any ecstatic speaking, let it be limited to two or three people at the most, and have one speak at a time and someone explain what he says.

Women are to keep quiet in church, for they are not allowed to speak. They must take a subordinate place, just as the Law says.

Now if what we preach about Christ is that he was raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead?

for everything is to be reduced to subjection and put under Christ's feet. But when it says that everything is subject to him, he is evidently excepted who reduced it all to subjection to him.

Return to your sober sense as you ought, and stop sinning, for some of you are utterly ignorant about God. To your shame I say so.

But someone will say, "How can the dead rise? What kind of a body will they have when they come back?"

This is also what the Scripture says: "The first man Adam became a living creature." The last Adam has become a life-giving Spirit.

And when this mortal nature puts on immortality, then what the Scripture says will come true??Death has been triumphantly destroyed.