For after the world by its wisdom--as God in His wisdom had ordained--had failed to gain the knowledge of God, God was pleased, by the apparent foolishness of the Message which we preach, to save those who accepted it.

If I go on preaching the Good News, that is nothing for me to boast of; for the necessity is imposed upon me; and alas for me, if I fail to preach it!

And if I preach willingly, I receive my wages; but if against my will, a stewardship has nevertheless been entrusted to me.

What are my wages then? The very fact that the Good News which I preach will cost my hearers nothing, so that I cannot be charged with abuse of my privileges as a Christian preacher.

The cup of blessing, which we bless, does it not mean a joint-participation in the blood of Christ? The loaf of bread which we break, does it not mean a joint-participation in the body of Christ?

and after giving thanks He broke it and said, "This is my body which is about to be broken for you. Do this in memory of me."

But whether it is I or they, this is the way we preach and the way that you came to believe.

And if Christ has not risen, it follows that what we preach is a delusion, and that your faith also is a delusion.