But food does not bring us close to God. For neither if we eat do we have more, nor if we do not eat do we lack.

If others share this right over you, do we not [do so] even more? Yet we have not made use of this right, but we endure all [things], in order that we may not cause any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

For [although I] am free from all [people], I have enslaved myself to all, in order that I may gain more.

But by much more the members of the body which are thought to be weaker are necessary,

and [the parts] of the body which we think to be less honorable, these we clothe with more abundant honor, and our unpresentable [parts] come to have more abundant presentability,

but our presentable [parts] do not have need [of this]. Yet God composed the body by giving more abundant honor to the part which lacked [it],

But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Now I want you all to speak with tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies [is] greater than the one who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, in order that the church may receive edification.

I give thanks to God [that] I speak with tongues more than all of you,

then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, the majority of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain, but I labored even more than all of them, and not I, but the grace of God with me.