God can be depended on, and it was he who called you to this fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For what human being can understand a man's thoughts except the man's own spirit within him? Just so no one understands the thoughts of God but the spirit of God.

But the spiritual man is alive to all true values, but his own true value no unspiritual man can see.

For who has ever known the Lord's thoughts, so that he can instruct him? But we share the thoughts of Christ.

For no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is laid, that is, Jesus Christ himself.

Now further, what is always demanded of managers is that they can be depended on.

This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is a dear child of mine, in the service of the Lord, and one on whom you can depend, and he will help you to keep in mind my methods in the service of Christ Jesus, which I follow everywhere in every church.

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.

And can you put on airs, instead of being overwhelmed with grief at having to expel from your number the man who has done this?

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.

If you were a slave when you were called, never mind. Even if you can gain your freedom, make the most of your present condition instead.

About unmarried women I have no command of the Lord to give you, but I will give you my opinion as that of one on whom through the Lord's mercy you can depend.

I want you to be free from all anxiety. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's work, and how he can please the Lord.

A married man is concerned about worldly affairs, and how he can please his wife, and so his interests are divided.

An unmarried woman or a girl is concerned about the Lord's work, so as to be consecrated in body and spirit, but the woman who marries is concerned with worldly affairs, and how she can please her husband.

What pay then do I get? Why, that in my preaching I can offer the good news without cost, and so not take full advantage of my rights as a preacher.

So the man who thinks he can stand must be on his guard against a fall.

It is no superhuman temptation that you have had. And God can be depended on, not to let you be tried beyond your strength, but when temptation comes, to give you a way out of it, so that you can withstand it.

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.

Is everyone able to cure the sick? Can everyone speak ecstatically? Can everyone explain what it means?

I will show you a far better way. If I can speak the languages of men and even of angels, but have no love, I am only a noisy gong or a clashing cymbal.

If I am inspired to preach and know all the secret truths and possess all knowledge, and if I have such perfect faith that I can move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing.

For anyone who speaks ecstatically is speaking not to men but to God, for no one can understand him, though he is uttering secret truths.

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.

Even inanimate things, like the flute or the harp, may produce sound, but if there is no difference in the notes, how can you tell what is being played?

So if you in your ecstatic speaking utter words no one can understand, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the empty air!

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

For in this way you can all preach one after another, as you are inspired to, so that everyone may be instructed and stimulated,

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?

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

But I can tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot share in the Kingdom of God, and decay will not share in what is imperishable.

And if it seems worth while for me to go myself, they can go with me.