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

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

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."

now the spirit which we have received, is not the spirit of this world, but that which comes from God; that we might know what he has graciously bestowed upon us.

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.

who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye have received faith according to the divine gifts imparted to each of them?

I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increase.

he that planteth, and he that watereth, have the same design: and each shall receive his proper reward, in proportion to his own labour.

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.

therefore suspend your judgment till the Lord comes, who will bring to light the secrets of darkness, and expose the counsels of mens hearts: and then shall every man have his due reward from God.

These things, my brethren, I have represented to you in my own person, and that of Apollos, out of respect to you: to show you how to moderate your esteem by the rule prescrib'd, that you may not be transported in favour of one rather than another.

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?

You have already a sufficiency, you already abound, you live like princes in our absence: and would to God you did reign, that we too might have the advantage of your administration.

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.

we have it from all quarters, that incest is practis'd among you, and such as is not among the Gentiles, that of a man's having his father's wife.

this you have made a matter of levity, instead of being concern'd in discarding him that has done such an action.

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?

if then you have the cognizance of such matters, why do ye set those to judge who are despised by the church? I speak it to your shame.

and such were some of you: but you have been washed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the spirit of our God.

what! know ye not that your bodies are the temple of the holy spirit, which is in you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?

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.

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

have you been redeemed from slavery? then, don't turn slaves.

As to the case of celibacy, I have no positive instructions: yet my advice deserves to be regarded, as coming from one the divine favour has distinguished.

This I say, brethren, because the time is coming, when they who have wives will be as those that have none;

and they that weep, as those that are unconcern'd; and they that rejoice, as those that do not; and they that buy, as those that have no possessions;

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.

so that he who marries, does well; but he who lives single, may have less trouble.

Now as to things offered to idols, 'tis certain that the knowledge you all pretend to have, swells you with pride, but 'tis charity that edifieth.

As to the eating therefore of what is offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that the heathen deities have no real existence, and that there is but one God.

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?

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?

have we not a right to meat and drink?

have not we the liberty to take a christian woman with us in our travels, as well as the rest of the apostles, as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas did?

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

if others partake of your substance, have not I a better title? nevertheless, I have not made use of this privilege; but bear with any thing rather than obstruct the gospel of Christ.

don't you know, that they who prepare the sacrifices, do eat of the sacrifice in the temple? and they who wait at the altar, have their portion from the altar?

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.

now if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, it is a dispensation of trust which must be discharged.

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

I would not have you ignorant, my brethren, that all our fathers were under the Cloud, all passed thro' the sea:

you have met with no trials yet, but such as are common to men: and God who is faithful, will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, by enabling you to bear it.

no, but that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not have you partake of the sacrifices of demons.

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

but I would have you take notice, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the wife, is the man; and the head of Christ, is God.

a woman may as well have the tonsure, as not wear her veil: the one is as indecent as the other.

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

but if any man has a mind to be contentious, I answer, we have no such custom, nor any of the churches of God.

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.

Now concerning those who are spiritual, my brethren, I would not have you be mistaken.

for by one spirit we have all been baptized, to be form'd into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and have been all made to drink of one spirit.

and the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of thee:" nor again, the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

what we think to be less honourable, is loaded with additional ornaments, and the less graceful have adventitious finery,

of which the graceful have no need: but God has contrived the symmetry of the body, by bestowing an additional advantage where it seem'd to want it.

that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same mutual concern for one another.

have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret?

For tho' I should speak with the eloquence of men, and of angels, and not have social affection, I should be like sounding brass, or a noisy cymbal.

and tho' I should have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and tho' I had all the faith necessary to remove mountains, and had no benevolence, it would signify nothing.

and tho' I distribute my whole substance to the poor, and give my body to be burned, and have not social affection, it profits me nothing.

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.

And even inanimate instruments of sound, whether pipe or harp, except they have a distinct variety of notes, how can they express any significant tune?

and if they desire to have information about any point, let them consult their husbands at home: for it does not become women to ask questions in the church.

if any one pretends to be a prophet, or to spiritual gifts, let him be assured that the rules which I have here prescrib'd, are the commandments of the Lord.

What I have explain'd to you, my brethren, is the gospel which I preached to you, which you have received, and wherein you have persisted:

by which also you will be saved, if you so retain it as I preached it to you, unless you have believed without sufficient grounds.

rouze from your sins, as is but just; for some of you have not the knowledge of God: I speak it to your shame.

for as we have born the image of the terrestrial, so we shall bear the image of the celestial.

Now as to the collection for the converts at Jerusalem, do as I have directed for the churches of Galatia.

for I have a very fair and promising opportunity given me of propagating the gospel, tho' there are many opposers.

You know brethren, that the family of Stephanas were the first converts of Achaia, and have made it their business to be serviceable to christian converts: to such,

I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus are come: for what was wanting on your side, they have supplied.

for they have quieted my mind as well as yours: therefore to such have a regard.