I continually give thanks to God on your behalf, for the favour he has bestowed on you thro' Jesus Christ;

for he, who has called you to the communication of his son Jesus Christ our Lord, will make good his promise.

for I have been inform'd, my brethren, by some of Chloe's family, that there are contentions among you.

and I of Christ." is the school of Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

for Christ did not send me to baptize: but to preach the gospel: tho' not with the preaching of the wise, lest the cross of Christ should have been hinder'd in its efficacy.

For tho' the doctrine of the cross seems folly to those that perish: yet we that are to be saved, do feel its energy is divine.

for it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

for whereas the world, with all their learning, did not distinguish the characters of his divine wisdom, in his works, it pleased God to save those who believe, by preaching, which they counted folly.

for this divine doctrine, as foolish and weak as men may think it, far surpasses all their wisdom, and baffles all their power.

for consider, brethren, that not many worldly wise, not many men of power, not many men of birth are among you that are called.

for from him it is that ye believe in Christ Jesus, whom God has made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that,

As for me, my brethren, when I appear'd among you, it was not to represent to you the divine mystery in sublime language, and with human literature.

for I did not think I was to have any other knowledge among you, than that of Christ, a crucified saviour.

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in great agony:

but we explain that mysterious plan of divine wisdom, which God had contriv'd before the ages, for our glory:

which none of the rulers of this age understood: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

but, as it is written, "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

this is what God has revealed to us by his spirit: for the spirit penetrates into all things, even the profound counsels of God.

for who knows the thoughts of a man, but the spirit of man which is in him? even so the thoughts of God no one can know, but the spirit of God.

but the animal man does not receive the effusions of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; neither can he understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

for how can he, that does not know the mind of the Lord, instruct another? but as for us, we are acquainted with the mind of the Lord.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, nor have you yet sufficient strength.

for you are still subject to your passions. since envy, and strife, and divisions are among you, are you not actuated by the vices of the animal part?

For we are fellow labourers employed by God: you are his field, and his mansion.

according to the free gift of God bestowed upon me, I, as a skilful architect, have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. but let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.

for no one can lay any other foundation, than what is laid, which is, that Jesus is the Messias.

will be expos'd. for the time of tryal will show it: it shall be discovered by the fire, which will put each sort of work to the test.

if that man's work should be burnt, he will suffer loss: but should he himself escape, it will be as out of the fire.

if any man divide the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for you, who are the temple of God, are consecrated to him.

for the wisdom of this world is folly, in the eye of God: as it is written, "he surprizes the wise in all their artifices."

therefore, let no one glory in men: for all are yours:

as for me, it is a matter of no great concern that I should be called to account by you, or any human authority; not that I am my own judge;

(for though I am not conscious to my self of any unfaithfulness, yet am I not hereby absolved:) but he that is my supreme judge, is the Lord.

for who has distinguish'd thee above another? or what have you, that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?

for it seems as if God had exposed us apostles the last upon the stage, as persons appointed to death. for we are made a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

we are made fools for our attachment to Christ, while you, who are christians too, still pass for the wise: we are in poverty, but you are in power: you meet with esteem, but we find contempt.

for though you may have ten thousand christian preceptors, you cannot have many fathers; since it was I that first instructed you in the gospel of Christ Jesus:

'tis for this end I have sent you Timothy, who is my dear disciple, and a faithful christian, who will inform you how I behave my self in every church where I teach the gospel of Christ.

for the gospel dispensation does not consist in talk, but in power.

as for me, though I am absent in person, yet being present by my authority, with regard to him that has committed this fact, I am come to the same resolution, as if I was present,

purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new mass, since you should be without leaven. for Christ our paschal lamb has been sacrificed for us.

I did not mean the vicious Gentiles, the misers, the raparees, or with idolaters; for then you must have gone out of the world.

for what have I to do to judge those who are without the church; but are not you to judge those that are within?

Are all things lawful for me? however, all things are not expedient: are all things lawful for me? however, I will not be a slave to any.

"meat is design'd for the belly, and the belly for meat:" true, yet God has design'd both for destruction. now the body is not design'd for licentiousness, but for the glory of the Lord; since the Lord died for the glorification of the body:

for as God hath raised up the Lord, so will he likewise raise us up to partake of his own power.

it cannot be. why, don't you perceive, that where there is such an attachment, they are but as one person? for the scripture says, "they two shall be as one."

for you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Now as to the question you writ to me about; "whether it is best for a man not to marry?"

I answer, with regard to the licentious, it is best for a man, to have his wife; and for a woman to have her husband.

don't desert one another, unless you mutually consent to retire for a time, to the solemnity of prayer; and then come together again, lest satan make an attempt upon your continency.

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

for I wish that all men were as I myself am: but every man hath his proper gift from God, some one way, and some another.

As to the unmarried and widows, I say, it is best for them to continue so, as I do.

but if they have not the gift, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to be in pain.

for the unbelieving husband is christianiz'd by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is christianiz'd by the believing husband: else were your children heathens: whereas they are christians.

but if the infidel will separate, let him go: a brother or a sister is not inslaved in such cases. but God has called us to peace; for how do you know,

for the slave that turns christian, is the Lord's freedman: likewise, the freeman that becomes a convert is Christ's servant.

I think therefore it is best, considering the present distress, I say, it is best, for a single person to continue so still.

are you contracted to a wife? seek not to be disengag'd. are you disengag'd from your wife? don't look out for another;

not that it is a sin for you to marry; nor is it so if a virgin marry; but they that do, will be troubled for their relations, and that I would prevent.

and they that possess this world, as those that can't make an ill use of it. for the scene of this world is continually shifting. I would have you free from anxiety.

And this I say for your particular advantage, not to lay any constraint upon you, but as that which is most suitable to a state of uninterrupted attendance upon religion.

for tho' there are several titular deities, both in heaven and on earth: such as the whole crowd of gods, and lords among the Gentiles;

But every one has not this knowledge: for some still imagine the idol represents a deity: and eat the meat under the notion of an offering to such a being: by which erroneous opinion they are infected with idolatry.

for if any man see you who have a just notion of idols, sitting at table in their temple, will not the person who is wrong in his notions be incouraged to eat what is offered to idols, tho' contrary to his own opinion?

so that your notions may endanger the life of thy weak brother, for whom Christ died.

Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not you become christians by my labour?

if I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you: for your being christians is the proof of my apostleship.

for it is written in the law of Moses, "thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." are oxen the objects of divine care?

or is it said, no doubt, for our sakes? for our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he who plows should plow in hope; and that he who thresheth should expect the advantage.

if for your benefit we have sown spirituals, is it so extraordinary if we should reap some benefit from your temporals?

but I have not made use of these advantages. neither have I writ this to obtain such maintenance: for I had rather die for want, than be deprived of such matter of glorying.

for in barely preaching the gospel, I have nothing to glory in: because I am under an obligation to do it; yea, wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel.

for tho' I am independent of all men, yet have I subjected myself to all, that I might gain the more.

and I do all for the gospel's sake, that I may share in the benefits thereof.

every one that strives for the mastery, is extremely temperate: now, they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one.

and all drank the same spiritual drink: (for they drank of what flowed from the spiritual rock: and that rock was Christ.)

but with the greater part God was not well pleased: for their carcasses were strown in the wilderness.

All these things happened to them for examples: and are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

for the bread being one, as many as we are, we are one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

are all things lawful for me? yet all things are not expedient: are all things lawful for me? yet all things do not edify.

for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

but if any man say to you, this is offered in sacrifice to an idol, don't eat, for his sake that mentioned it, and for conscience sake.

when I say conscience, I don't mean your own, but that of the other: for why should I expose my liberty to the censure of another man's conscience?

if I am thankful for what I have, why should I chuse to be evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

now I commend you, brethren, for remembring all my orders, and for keeping the rules I delivered to you.

or prophesies with her head uncovered, dishonoureth the man who is her head: for it is the same thing as if her head was shav'd.

for the man was not taken from the woman: but the woman from the man.

for as the woman was taken from the man, so man is born of the woman: and all are from God.

Be you yourselves judges: is it decent for a woman to pray to God without a veil?

does not settled custom show it is a shame for a man to have long hair?

for first, I hear, that when you come together in the church, you fall into parties; and I believe it is true of some of you.

for there must be factions among you, whereby it will appear who among you are the approved.

for in eating every one strives to take his own supper first, and while one is hungry, another is surfeited.

what, have you no houses to eat and drink in? or have ye a contempt for the church of God, or is it to insult those who are in want? what shall I say to you? shall I commend such behaviour? I do not approve of it.

For I received it from the Lord, and I inform'd you of it: that the Lord Jesus, the night in which he was betrayed, took bread:

and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, "take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

for he that eats and drinks in a disrespectful manner, not discriminating the Lord's body, eateth and drinketh to his own punishment.

for if we made such a discrimination, we should not be punished.