[it is being sent] to the church of God at Corinth. [You people are] set apart in [the fellowship of] Christ Jesus and called [by God] to be saints [i.e., His holy people], along with all [others] everywhere who call on our Lord Jesus Christ [i.e., in prayer]. He is their Lord and ours [as well].

I mean that one or other of you cries out "I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas,

And I gave baptism to the house of Stephanas; but I am not certain that any others had baptism from me.

I know not that I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; but not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

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

But, the man of the spirit, on the one hand, examineth all things, but, on the other, he himself, by no one, is examined.

"For who knoweth the mind of the Lord, other who shall inform him?" But we understand the mind of Christ.

For ye are still carnal: for since there are among you envy, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as [other] men?

When one says 'I follow Paul,' and another 'I follow Apollos,' are not you like other men?

He that planteth, and he that watereth, are neither better than the other. Every man yet shall receive his reward according to his labour.

In discharge of the task which God graciously entrusted to me, I--like a competent master-builder--have laid a foundation, and others are building upon it. But let every one be careful how and what he builds.

For there is no other base for the building but that which has been put down, which is Jesus Christ.

I however am very little concerned at undergoing your scrutiny, or that of other men; in fact I do not even scrutinize myself.

And these things, brethren, I did transfer to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us ye may learn not to think above that which hath been written, that ye may not be puffed up one for one against the other,

For who makes you different [from each other]? [i.e., with some being viewed as superior and others inferior]. And what do you have that you did not receive [from God]? But if you received it [from Him], then why do you boast as though you did not [receive it as a gift]?

But I had not in mind the sinners who are outside the church, or those who have a desire for and take the property of others, or those who give worship to images; for it is not possible to keep away from such people without going out of the world completely:

But the sense of my letter was that if a brother had the name of being one who went after the desires of the flesh, or had the desire for other people's property, or was in the way of using violent language, or being the worse for drink, or took by force what was not his, you might not keep company with such a one, or take food with him.

Dare any one of you, having a matter with the other, go to be judged before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

Indeed even this is altogether a fault among you, that ye have contests with each other. Why do ye not rather suffer wrong?

On the contrary, you practice wronging and robbing others, and that your brothers.

Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].

"Food is meant for the stomach, and the stomach for food"? Yes, but God will soon put an end both to the one and to the other. The body, however, exists not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body;

flee licentiousness. no other sin that a man commits does affect the church as a body: but the licentious commits a fraud against the whole body to which he belongs.

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Yet I wish that everyone were like me [i.e., with the ability to remain single. See 9:5]. However, each person has his own special gift from God; one has this gift [i.e., being content to remain single. See Matt. 19:12], and another has the other gift [i.e., feeling the need to marry and have a family].

But as to the other cases, which were not decided by the Lord; I say, if any brother has a pagan wife, who likes to live with him, let him not put her away.

But if the one who is not a Christian has a desire to go away, let it be so: the brother or the sister in such a position is not forced to do one thing or the other: but it is God's pleasure that we may be at peace with one another.

For how knowest thou o woman, whether thou shalt save that man or no? Other, how knowest thou o man, whether thou shalt save that woman or no?

[Since] you people were bought for a price [i.e., the blood of Christ], do not become slaves to [other] people.

On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has determined to keep his daughter unmarried, does well.

In short, the one who consents to his daughter's marriage is doing right, and yet the other will be doing better.

But she will be happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is, and I think I have God's spirit as well as other people.

On the other hand, if a man loves God, he is known by God.

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

It is true that a particular kind of food will not bring us into God's presence; we are neither inferior to others if we abstain from it, nor superior to them if we eat it.

If to others I am not an Apostle, at least I am one to you: for the fact that you are Christians is the sign that I am an Apostle.

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

If others have a part in this right over you, have we not even more? But we did not make use of our right, so that we might put nothing in the way of the good news of Christ.

What is the reward then that I have? That in announcing the glad tidings I make the glad tidings costless to others, so as not to have made use, as belonging to me, of my right in announcing the glad tidings.

And I do it all for the sake of the good news, so as to share with others in its blessings.

Well, I run without swerving; I do not plant my blows upon the empty air ??27 no, I maul and master my body, in case, after preaching to other people, I am disqualified myself.

But I give blows to my body, and keep it under control, for fear that, after having given the good news to others, I myself might not have God's approval.

Those things continued to befall them as warnings to others, and they were written down for the purpose of instructing us, in whose lives the climax of the ages has been reached.

There hath none other temptation taken you, such as followeth the nature of man. God is faithful, which shall not suffer you to be tempted above your strength: but shall in the midst of the temptation make a way to escape out.

"Everything is lawful," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds others up.

No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

Right and wrong, I say, not for you, but for the other man; for the fact that I am free is not dependent on another man's sense of right or wrong.

So then, if it is a question of food or drink, or any other thing, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Do not offend Jews or Greeks or even the church of God [but live to honor Him];

Even as I give way to all men in all things, not looking for profit for myself, but for the good of others, that they may get salvation.

Every man who prays or prophesies [i.e., speaks in a public assembly, since prophecy was always for the benefit of others] with his [physical] head covered [Note: The Greek word here denotes "something hanging down" and could refer to long hair or a cloth shawl], shows disrespect for his head [i.e., Christ].

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

But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other custom, nor do the churches of God.

For when you take your food, everyone takes his meal before the other; and one has not enough food, and another is the worse for drink.

Therefore, my brothers, when ye come together to eat, await each other.

If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the good of others.

so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.

When one member suffers, all the others suffer with it; and when one member is honored, all the members are glad with it.

God has appointed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who help others, administrators, and those who speak various kinds of languages.

But always seek to excel in the greater gifts. And now I will point out to you a way of life which transcends all others.

and if I give away to feed others all my goods, and if I give up my body that I may be burned, and have not love, I am profited nothing.

Love has long patience, is kind; love is not emulous of others; love is not insolent and rash, is not puffed up,

[Love] does not act improperly [toward people]; it does not insist on having its own way [at the expense of others]; it is not easily irritated [by others]; it does not keep track of the wrongs [done by others].

She finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth.

You should make loving [others] your aim, yet eagerly desire [to possess] spiritual gifts, and especially [the gift of] prophecy.

But [on the other hand] the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification [to promote their spiritual growth] and [speaks words of] encouragement [to uphold and advise them concerning the matters of God] and [speaks words of] consolation [to compassionately comfort them].

I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Even things without life, having a voice, such as a music-pipe or other instrument, if they do not give out different sounds, who may be certain what is being played?

for if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prays, but my meaning is of no benefit to others.

For, thou, indeed, excellently art giving thanks, but, the other, is not being built up.

I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you;

But, in assembly, I desire to speak five words with my mind, that, others also, I may instruct, than myriads of words in a tongue.

It is written in the law:

I will speak to these people
by people of other languages
and by the lips of foreigners,
and even then, they will not listen to Me,

says the Lord.

It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

If, on the other hand, every one is prophesying and an unbeliever or an ungifted man comes in, he is convicted by all and closely examined by all,

and the hidden evils of his heart are brought to light. And, as the result, he will fall on his face and worship God, and will report to others that of a truth God is among you.

What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

If anyone speaks in a tongue, [it must be] on one occasion two or at most three, and {one after the other}, and one must interpret.

Prophets, moreover, let two or three speak, and let, the others, judge.

And if any thing be revealed to another sitting by, let the first have done speaking before the other begins.

For God is not causer of strife: but of peace, as he is in all other congregations of the saints.

If anyone claims to have the prophetic spirit, or any other spiritual gift, let him recognize that what I now am writing is the Lord's command.

Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages.

But I am whatever I am because of God's unearned favor, and the favor He showed me was not for nothing [i.e., Paul made the most of his conversion by being extra diligent in his service to God]. But I worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I, but God's favor on me [that accomplished it].

So, whether it was I, or the other apostles [who did the work], this is [the message] that we have preached, and that you people have received.

If we have placed our hope in Christ while in this life only, we are to be pitied more than all [other] people.

After that comes the end, when He will turn the kingdom over to God His Father, when He will put an end to all other government, authority, and power;

interpretations given to this very difficult verse. Other possibilities are: a) "immersed in view of (being raised from) the dead," b) "immersed in view of being dead (to sin)," c) "immersed in view of (having to suffer) death," d) "immersed in view of (someday joining) the dead"].

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

All flesh is not the same [Note: The word "flesh" here refers to the material composition of matter, and in no way suggests anything sinful, as it does in many other places in Paul's writings]. But mankind has one [kind of] flesh; animals have another kind; birds have another; and fish [still] another.

And there are bodies of heaven and bodies of earth, but the glory of the one is different from that of the other.

therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye inflexibly steady, and continually surpass others in the work of the Lord, knowing that he will not leave your christian labour unrewarded.

So no one must slight him at all. But send him on with your goodbye, that he may come back to me, for I am expecting him with the other brothers.

As for our Apollos, I have many times urged him to go to you with the others, but he was always unwilling to go to you at this time. He will come, however, whenever he has a good opportunity.

All the brothers salute you. Salute each other by a holy kiss.