What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.”

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given.

For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord.

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.

Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

yet for us there is one God, the Father.
All things are from Him,
and we exist for Him.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ.
All things are through Him,
and we exist through Him.

Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing?

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship.

Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people.

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law.

Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.

What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

If I partake with thanks, why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

If I speak human or angelic languages
but do not have love,
I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy
and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith
so that I can move mountains
but do not have love, I am nothing.

For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
Now I know in part,
but then I will know fully,
as I am fully known.

Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time;
most of them are still alive,
but some have fallen asleep.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God’s grace that was with me.

In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified about God that He raised up Christ—whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised.

Listen! I am telling you a mystery:

We will not all fall asleep,
but we will all be changed,

When I arrive, I will send with letters those you recommend to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear from you, because he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.

Therefore, no one should look down on him. Send him on his way in peace so he can come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

I am pleased to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence.