But I say this, that each of you is saying, "I am with Paul," and "I [am] with Apollos," and "I [am] with Cephas," and "I [am] with Christ."

And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual [people], but as to fleshly [people], as to infants in Christ.

For whenever anyone says, "I am with Paul," and another, "I [am] with Apollos," are you not [merely] human?

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord.

I am not writing these [things] to shame you, but admonishing [you] as my dear children.

But I am coming to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk of the ones who have become arrogant, but the power.

For [although I] am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already passed judgment on the one who has done this in this way, as [if I] were present.

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

Now concerning virgins I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.

Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.

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

I am not saying these [things] according to a human perspective. Or does the law not also say these [things]?

But I have not made use of any of these [rights]. And I am not writing these [things] in order that it may be thus with me. For [it would be] better to me rather to die than [for] anyone to deprive me of my reason for boasting.

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

To those outside the law [I became] as outside the law ([although I] am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law.

And everyone who competes exercises self-control in all [things]. Thus those [do so] in order that they may receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable [one].

I am speaking as to sensible [people]; you judge what I am saying.

Now I am not speaking about your own conscience, but the [conscience] of the other [person]. For why [is] my freedom judged by another's conscience?

If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not [a part] of the body," not because of this is it not [a part] of the body.

And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not [a part] of the body, not because of this is it not [a part] of the body.

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

And if I have [the gift of] prophecy and I know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that [I can] remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that [the things] which I am writing to you are of the Lord.

For I passed on to you {as of first importance} what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

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.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,

in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

But I will come to you whenever I go through Macedonia (for I am going through Macedonia),

Therefore do not let anyone disdain him, but send him [on his way] in peace in order that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.