Unto the congregation of God which is at Corinth. To them that are sanctified in Jesus Christ, saints by calling, with all that call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both of theirs and of ours.

I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ,

even as the testimony of Jesus Christ was confirmed in you:

For God is faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is showed unto me, my brethren, of you by them that are of the house of Chloe; that there is strife among you.

And this is it that I mean: how that commonly among you, one sayeth, "I hold of Paul"; Another, "I hold of Apollos"; the third, "I hold of Cephas"; and the fourth that, "I hold of Christ."

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Either were ye baptised in the name of Paul?

For the preaching of the cross is, to them that perish, foolishness: but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.

For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will cast away the understanding of the prudent."

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the searcher of this world? Hath not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness?

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men: And the weakness of God is stronger than are men.

Brethren, look on your calling how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many of high degree are called:

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound things which are mighty.

And unto him pertain ye, in Christ Jesus, which of God is made unto us wisdom, and also righteousness, and sanctifying, and redemption.

That according, as it is written, "He which rejoiceth, should rejoice in the Lord."

That we speak of is wisdom among them that are perfect - not the wisdom of this world, neither of the rulers of this world, which goeth to nought -

but we speak the wisdom of God, which is in secret and lieth hid, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

But as it is written, "The eye hath not seen, and the ear hath not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

But God hath opened them unto us by his spirit. For the spirit searcheth all things, yea the bottom of God's secrets.

For what man knoweth the things of a man: save the spirit of a man which is within him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God.

And we have not received the spirit of the world: but the spirit which cometh of God, for to know the things that are given to us of God,

For the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are but foolishness unto him: Neither can he perceive them, because he is spiritually examined.

But he that is spiritual discusseth all things: yet he himself is judged of no man.

And I could not speak unto you brethren as unto spiritual: but as unto carnal, even as it were unto babes in Christ.

For ye are yet carnal. As long verily as there is among you envying, strife and dissension: are ye not carnal, and walk after the manner of men?

As long as one saith "I hold of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are ye not carnal?

What is Paul? What thing is Apollos? Only ministers are they, by whom ye believed: even as the Lord gave every man grace.

So then, neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth: but God which gave the increase.

According to the grace of God given unto me, as a wise builder have I laid the foundation; and another hath built thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth upon.

For other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

every man's work shall appear. For the day shall declare it, and it shall be showed in fire, and the fire shall try every man's work what it is.

If any man's work burn; he shall suffer loss. But he shall be safe himself, nevertheless yet as it were through fire.

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man seem wise among you, let him be a fool in this world, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He compasseth the wise in their craftiness."

And again, "God knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they be vain."

and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

Let men this wise esteem us, even as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.

Furthermore it is required of the stewards that they be found faithful.

With me is it but a very small thing, that I should be judged of you, either of man's day. No I judge not mine own self.

I know nought by myself: yet am I not thereby justified. It is the Lord that judgeth me.

These things, brethren, I have described in mine own person, and Apollos, for your sakes - that ye might learn by us that no man count of himself beyond that which is above written: that one swell not against another for any man's cause.

For who preferreth thee? What hast thou, that thou hast not received? If thou have received it: why boastest thou as though thou hadst not received it?

Now ye are full: now ye are made rich: ye reign as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we might reign with you.

Me thinketh that God hath set forth us, which are apostles, for the lowest of all: as it were, men appointed to death. For we are a gazingstock unto the world, and to the angels, and to men.

We are fools for Christ's sake, and ye are wise through Christ: we are weak, and ye are strong. Ye are honorable, and we are despised.

We are evil spoken of, and we pray. We are made as it were the filthiness of the world, the offscouring of all things, even unto this time.

I write not these things to shame you: but as my beloved sons, I warn you.

For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, which is my dear son, and faithful in the Lord, which shall put you in remembrance of my ways which I have in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in all congregations.

Some swell, as though I would come no more at you:

For the Kingdom of God is not in words, but in power.

There goeth a common saying that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not once named among the gentiles: that one should have his father's wife.

For I, verily, as absent in body, even so present in spirit, have determined already - as though I were present - of him that hath done this deed;

Your rejoicing is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven soureth the whole lump of dough?

Purge therefore the old leaven, that ye may be new dough, as ye are sweet bread. For Christ our Easter lamb is offered up for us.

Therefore let us keep holiday, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of maliciousness and wickedness - but with the sweet bread of pureness and truth.

but now I write unto you that ye company not together. If any that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or a worshipper of images, either a railer, either a drunkard, or an extortioner: with him that is such see that ye eat not.

This I say to your shame. Is there utterly no wise man among you? What, not one at all? That can judge between brother and brother?

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why rather suffer ye not wrong? Why rather suffer ye not yourselves to be robbed?

God hath raised up the Lord, and shall raise us up by his power.

Do ye not understand that he which coupleth himself with a harlot, is become one body? "For two," saith he, "shall be one flesh."

but he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Flee fornication. All sins that a man doth, are without the body. But he that is a fornicator, sinneth against his own body.

Either, know ye not how that your bodies are the temple of the holy ghost, which is in you, whom he have of God, and how that ye are not your own?

As concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man, not to touch a woman.

For I would that all men were as I myself am: but every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, another after that.

I say unto the unmarried men, and widows: it is good for them if they abide even as I do,

but and if they cannot abstain, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife: and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. Or else were your children unclean: but now are they pure.

But and if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not in subjection to such. God hath called us in peace.

But even as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every person, so let him walk: and so ordain I in all congregations.

Circumcision is nothing, uncircumcision is nothing: but the keeping of the commandments of God is altogether.

Art thou called a servant? Care not for it. Nevertheless if thou mayst be free, use it rather.

For he that is called in the Lord being a servant, is the Lord's freeman. Likewise he that is called being free, is Christ's servant.

Brethren, let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

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.

I suppose that it is good for the present necessity. For it is good for a man so to be.

This say I, brethren: the time is short. It remaineth that they which have wives, be as though they had none:

and they that weep, be as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, be as though they rejoiced not: And they that buy, be as though they possessed not:

And they that use this world, be as though they used it not: For the fashion of this world goeth away.

There is difference between a virgin and a wife. The single woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be pure both in body and also in spirit: but she that is married, careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

This speak I for your profit, not to tangle you in a snare: but for that which is honest and comely unto you; And that ye may quietly cleave unto the Lord without separation.

If any man think that it is uncomely for his virgin if she pass the time of marriage, and if so need require, let him do what he listeth, he sinneth not: let them be coupled in marriage.

The wife is bound to the law as long as her husband liveth. If her husband sleep, she is at liberty to marry with whom she will only in the Lord.

But she is happier if she so abide, in my judgement. And I think verily that I have the spirit of God.

If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

To speak of meat dedicated unto idols, we are sure that there is none idol in the world: and that there is none other God but one.

And though there be that are called "gods," whether in heaven or in earth - as there be "gods" many and "lords" many -

yet unto us is there but one God, which is the father, of whom are all things, and we in him: and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

But every man hath not knowledge. For some suppose that there is an idol, until this hour, and eat as of a thing offered unto the idol, and so their consciences being yet weak are defiled.

Meat maketh us not acceptable to God: Neither if we eat are we the better: Neither if we eat not are we the worse.

For if some man see thee, which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple shall not the conscience of him which is weak be boldened to eat those things which are offered unto the idol?

Mine answer to them that ask me, is this:

Either, have we not power to lead about a sister to wife as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

For it is written in the law of Moses, "Thou shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." Doth God take thought for oxen?

Either saith he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he which eareth should ear in hope: and that he which thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.

If we sow unto you spiritual things: is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things?

In that I preach the gospel, I have nothing to rejoice of. For necessity is put unto me. Woe is it unto me if I preach not the gospel.

If I do it with a good will, I have a reward. But if I do it against my will, an office is committed unto me.