that in everything ye have been enriched in him, in all word of doctrine, and all knowledge,

For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain.

For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

And I, when I came to you, brethren, came not in excellency of word, or wisdom, announcing to you the testimony of God.

and my word and my preaching, not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;

I [Paul] planted [i.e., preached God's word], Apollos watered [it], but God made it grow.

and when we are defamed, we intreat: in a word, we are look'd upon as the dregs and scum of mankind, even to this day.

For although you have ten thousand guardians [Note: This word means someone who transported a child to his teacher] in [the fellowship of] Christ, you do not have many [spiritual] fathers. For I [spiritually] conceived you people through [preaching to you] the good news [about Christ]. [Note: Paul here refers to his work in establishing the church at Corinth].

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Now I have no command from the Lord concerning [what you wrote about] unmarried women. [Note: The word here is "virgins" but some think it includes both males and females]. But I give my advice as someone who has received the Lord's mercy to be counted trustworthy.

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Or is he speaking purely for our sakes? Assuredly for our sakes. This word was written for us, because the ploughman needs to plough in hope, and the thresher to thresh in the hope of getting a share in the crop.

No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].

Every man who prays or prophesies [i.e., speaks in a public assembly, since prophecy was always for the benefit of others] with his [physical] head covered [Note: The Greek word here denotes "something hanging down" and could refer to long hair or a cloth shawl], shows disrespect for his head [i.e., Christ].

For any one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgement to himself, if he fails to estimate the body aright.

If, however, we estimated ourselves aright, we should not be judged.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

And to another the power of working wonders; and to another the prophet's word; and to another the power of testing spirits; to another different sorts of tongues; and to another the power of making clear the sense of the tongues:

And those parts of the body which we consider less honorable [i.e., probably female breasts, buttocks, etc.], we clothe with greater honor. [Note: The Greek word for "clothe" here refers to clothing elsewhere in the New Testament]. And our unpresentable parts [i.e., probably sex organs] need to be more presentable [i.e., by being covered up with modest clothing],

Though the prophet's word may come to an end, tongues come to nothing, and knowledge have no more value, love has no end.

For our knowledge is only in part, and the prophet's word gives only a part of what is true:

For now [i.e., during the church's infant state] we see in a mirror [Note: God's word is elsewhere likened to a mirror. See James 1:22-25] indistinctly [i.e., because of having only partial knowledge and prophecy], but then [i.e., when the church matures and has the completed Scriptures], we will see face to face [i.e., clearly]. Now I have [only] partial knowledge, but then I will have full knowledge, just as [God has] full knowledge of me.

But the word of the prophet gives men knowledge and comfort and strength.

He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church.

Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church.

But, now, my brothers, if I come to you using tongues, what profit will it be to you, if I do not give you a revelation, or knowledge, or the word of the prophet, or teaching?

So also you, if you do not give a clear word through the language, how will it be known what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

Else, if thou be blessing in a spirit, he that filleth up the place of the ungifted person, how shall he say the Amen upon thy thanksgiving? since indeed, what thou art saying, he knoweth not;

For, thou, indeed, excellently art giving thanks, but, the other, is not being built up.

For this reason tongues are for a sign, not to those who have faith, but to those who have not: but the prophet's word is for those who have faith, and not for the rest who have not.

What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

If any man seems to himself to be a prophet or to have the Spirit, let him take note of the things which I am writing to you, as being the word of the Lord.

by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.

If then it is I who am the preacher, or they, this is our word, and to this you have given your faith.

All flesh is not the same [Note: The word "flesh" here refers to the material composition of matter, and in no way suggests anything sinful, as it does in many other places in Paul's writings]. But mankind has one [kind of] flesh; animals have another kind; birds have another; and fish [still] another.

But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word written: Death has been swallowed up in victory.