For who knows the mind of the Lord, who shall give him counsel? But we have the mind of Christ.

[You behave as if] you are already filled [with spiritual wisdom and in need of nothing more]. Already you have become rich [in spiritual gifts]! You [in your conceit] have ascended your thrones and become kings without us; and how I wish [that it were true and] that you did reign as kings, so that we might reign with you.

I do not write these things to shame you, but to warn and advise you as my beloved children.

but as for the rest, I speak it by way of counsel, and not of command.

Was any man already circumcised when he was called [by God to be a Christian]? Then he should not [try to] become uncircumcised. [Note: Some Jews in that day resorted to a surgical procedure in an attempt to conceal their circumcision]. Was any man uncircumcised when he was called? Then he should not become circumcised.

As concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: yet give I counsel as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

If, others, of this right, over you, are partaking, should not rather, we? nevertheless, we used not this right; but, all such things, do we conceal, - lest we should cause any hindrance unto the glad message of the Christ.

Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed],