And the base things of the world, and things that are despised, hath God chosen; yea, things that are not, to bring to nought the things that are; That no flesh may glory before him.

So that no flesh might have glory before God.

And when I came to you, my brothers, I did not come with wise words of knowledge, putting before you the secret of God.

And I was weak, apprehensive and fearful when I was [there] with you. [Note: This probably refers to Paul's sense of inadequacy in view of the task before him].

But we give the news of the secret wisdom of God, which he had kept in store before the world came into existence, for our glory;

For the wisdom of this world is foolish before God. As it is said in the holy Writings, He who takes the wise in their secret designs:

I am aware of nothing against myself and I feel blameless, but I am not by this acquitted [before God]. It is the Lord who judges me.

For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God.

I will come to you before long, if the Lord wills, and then I will find out from these puffed up creatures not what their talk but what their power amounts to.

to turn such a person over to Satan for his body to be destroyed [Note: This probably refers to his removal from their fellowship. See verse 2], in order for his spirit to be saved in the day of the Lord [i.e., the judgment day]. [Note: This implies that his removal from their fellowship will have produced a genuine repentance before that time].

How is it, that if any one of you has a cause at law against another, he takes it before a Gentile judge and not before the saints?

Do you not know that God's people are to judge the world? And if the world is to be judged before you, are you unfit to try such petty cases?

So if you have lawsuits dealing with matters of this life, are you appointing those as judges [to hear disputes] who are of no account in the church?

But a brother who has a cause at law against another takes it before Gentile judges.

Brothers, each man, in what he was called, should remain in this before God.

But I say this, brothers; there is not much time left [i.e., before the crisis arrives in full fury. See verse 26]. From now on those men who are married should live as though they were single.

But I say this for your own profit; not that I may set a snare before you, but for what is seemly, and waiting on the Lord without distraction.

And food sets us not before God: for neither, if we eat, do we abound; neither if we eat not, do we want.

to those without the Law, as without the Law, being not without a law before God, but under the law of Christ, that I might gain those without the Law;

For I do not want you to be unaware, believers, that our fathers were all under the cloud [in which God’s presence went before them] and they all passed [miraculously and safely] through the [Red] Sea;

If a Gentile makes a feast for you, and you are pleased to go as a guest, take whatever is put before you, without question of right or wrong.

But if any one tells you, "This food has been offered in sacrifice;" abstain from eating it--out of respect for him who warned you, and, as before, for conscience' sake.

For when you take your food, everyone takes his meal before the other; and one has not enough food, and another is the worse for drink.

So, my brothers, when you assemble for a meal, wait for each other [i.e., so some will not be finished before others. See verse 21].

now we do but indirectly see the faint images of things; but then the objects themselves will be before our eyes; now I have a partial knowledge, but then shall I know, even as I myself am known.

Suppose now I were to come to you speaking with 'tongues,' my brothers; what good could I do you, unless I had some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching to lay before you?

and so the secrets of his heart become manifest, and so having fallen upon his face, he will bow before God, declaring that God really is among you.

But if there is no interpreter present [at the meeting], the person [i.e., with the ability to speak a language supernaturally] should remain quiet in the assembly. [Note: This implies that the speaker would know before he begins speaking whether or not an interpreter is present]. [In that case], he should speak [only] to himself and to God. [See verse 2].

And if any thing be revealed to another sitting by, let the first have done speaking before the other begins.

afterwards he appeared before five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater number remain alive unto this hour, but some also are gone to rest.

But that which is natural comes before that which is of the spirit.

The chances are, I shall spend some time with you, possibly even pass the winter with you, so that you may speed me forward on any journey that lies before me.

for a wide door stands open before me which demands great efforts, and we have many opponents.