But some of you have become conceited over the thought that I am not coming to see you.

And these are just the characters some of you used to be. But now you have washed yourselves clean, you have been consecrated, you are now in right standing with God, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.

Now about the foods that have been sacrificed to idols: We know that every one of us has some knowledge of the matter. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

If a man supposes that he has already gotten some true knowledge, as yet he has not learned it as he ought to know it.

But it is not in all of you that such knowledge is found. Some, because of their past habits with idols, even down to the present moment, still eat such food as was really sacrificed to an idol, and so their consciences, because they are overscrupulous, are contaminated.

To the overscrupulous I have become overscrupulous, to win the overscrupulous; yes, I have become everything to everybody, in order by all means to save some of them.

Now stop being idolaters, as some of them were, for the Scripture says, "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to dance."

Let us stop practicing immorality, as some of them did, and on one day twenty-three thousand fell dead.

Let us stop trying the Lord's patience, as some of them did, and for it were destroyed by the snakes.

You must stop grumbling, as some of them did, and for it were destroyed by the destroying angel.

If some unbelieving heathen invites you to his house, and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question for conscience' sake.

But as it now is, brothers, if I do come back to you speaking in ecstasy, what good shall I do you, unless my speech contains a revelation or new knowledge or a prophetic message or some teaching?

But if everybody prophesies, and some unbeliever or illiterate man comes in, he is convinced of his sins by all, he is closely questioned by all,

After that, at one time He was seen by more than five hundred brothers, most of whom are still living, though some of them have fallen asleep.

Now if we preach that Christ has been raised from the dead, how is it that some of you are saying that there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead?

Sober up, as is right, and stop sinning, for some of you -- to your shame I say so -- are without any true knowledge of God.

and I shall likely stay over with you some time, or maybe spend the winter with you, so that you may help me on to whatever points I may visit.

I do not want to see you right now in a mere stop-over visit, for later I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits me.