What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.”

But as it is written:

What eye did not see and ear did not hear,
and what never entered the human mind—
God prepared this for those who love Him.

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.

But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given.

For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.

Therefore don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.” The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another.

For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?

What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside?

However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.

Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin, if she is past marriageable age, and so it must be, he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married.

What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.

I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.

What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons!

Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this!

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,

A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:

Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?

In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.

What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.

Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received:

that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures,

But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God’s grace that was with me.

Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?

If I fought wild animals in Ephesus with only human hope, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?”

Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain.