Some of you seem to think that I am not coming to visit you, and are putting on airs about it.

Some of you used to be like that; but you have washed it all away, you have been consecrated, you have become upright, by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and through the Spirit of our God.

About food that has been offered to idols, it is true, as you say, that we all have some knowledge on that matter. Knowledge gives people airs; love is what builds up character.

If a man thinks he has acquired some knowledge, he does not yet know it as well as he ought to know it.

But it is not everyone that has this knowledge; for some, through being long accustomed to idols, still eat meat that has been sacrificed to them as really offered to an idol, and their consciences, being oversensitive, are troubled.

To the overscrupulous I have become overscrupulous, so as to win the overscrupulous; I have become everything to everybody, so as by all means to save some of them.

You must not become idolaters, like some of them, for the Scripture says, "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to dance."

Let us not practice immorality, like some of them, twenty-three thousand of whom fell dead in one day,

Let us not try the Lord's patience too far, as some of them did, for they were killed for it by the snakes.

You must not grumble, as some of them did, for they were destroyed for it by the destroying angel.

For I myself received from the Lord the account that I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus the night he was betrayed took some bread

I want you all to speak ecstatically, but I especially want you to be inspired to preach. The man who is inspired to preach is more useful than the one who speaks ecstatically??nless he can explain what he says so that it may do the church some good.

But as it is brothers, if I come back to you and speak ecstatically, what good will I do you, unless I have some revelation or special knowledge or message or teaching to give you?

But if they are all inspired to preach and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convinced of his sin by them all, he is called to account by them all,

After that he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, although some of them have fallen asleep.

Now if what we preach about Christ is that he was raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead?

Return to your sober sense as you ought, and stop sinning, for some of you are utterly ignorant about God. To your shame I say so.

and I will probably stay some time with you, or even pass the winter, so that you may start me off for wherever I may be going.

For I do not want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits it.