Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is in Corinth,

To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been made holy in Christ Jesus, saints by the selection of God, with all those who in every place give honour to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

I give praise to my God for you at all times, because of the grace of God which has been given to you in Christ Jesus;

all of which verifies the testimony we bore to Christ when we were with you.

so that there is no spiritual gift in which you consciously come short, while you are waiting for the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which shall strengthen you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

For, the discourse which concerneth the cross, unto them, indeed, who are perishing, is, foolishness; but, unto them who are being saved - unto us, it is, God's power.

for whereas the world, with all their learning, did not distinguish the characters of his divine wisdom, in his works, it pleased God to save those who believe, by preaching, which they counted folly.

but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense],

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Because that which the world deems foolish in God is wiser than men's wisdom, and that which it deems feeble in God is mightier than men's might.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

And the low things of the world, and the things without honour, did God make selection of, yes, even the things which are not, so that he might make as nothing the things which are:

And unto him pertain ye, in Christ Jesus, which of God is made unto us wisdom, and also righteousness, and sanctifying, and redemption.

That according, as it is written, "He which rejoiceth, should rejoice in the Lord."

And as for myself, brethren, when I came to you, it was not with surpassing power of eloquence or earthly wisdom that I came, announcing to you that which God had commanded me to bear witness to.

And I did not use persuasive words of [human] wisdom in my message and preaching, but they were [accompanied by] a demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power [from God]. [Note: This "demonstration" could have included the evidence of miraculous spiritual gifts which Paul utilized while there in Corinth. See 14:18].

That we speak of is wisdom among them that are perfect - not the wisdom of this world, neither of the rulers of this world, which goeth to nought -

But we give the news of the secret wisdom of God, which he had kept in store before the world came into existence, for our glory;

Of which not one of the rulers of this world had knowledge: for if they had, they would not have put the Lord of glory on the cross:

But as it says in the holy Writings, Things which the eye saw not, and which had not come to the ears or into the heart of man, such things as God has made ready for those who have love for him.

For who has knowledge of the things of a man but the spirit of the man which is in him? in the same way, no one has knowledge of the things of God but the Spirit of God.

But we have not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which comes from God, so that we may have knowledge of the things which are freely given to us by God.

And these are the things which we say, not in the language of man's wisdom, but in words given to us by the Spirit, judging the things of the spirit by the help of the Spirit.

So then, neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth: but God which gave the increase.

According to the favour of God which hath been given unto me, as a wise master-builder, I laid a foundation, whereas, another, is building thereon; but, let each one, see, how he buildeth thereon;

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

And whether the building which any one is erecting on that foundation be of gold or silver or costly stones, of timber or hay or straw--

will be expos'd. for the time of tryal will show it: it shall be discovered by the fire, which will put each sort of work to the test.

If, anyone's work, shall abide, which he built, a reward, shall he receive, -

If the structure which one builds is burned up, he will get no pay; and yet he himself will be saved, but just as one who goes through a fire.

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, which will lighten things that are hid in darkness: and open the counsels of the hearts. And then shall every man have praise of God.

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But, if thou didst even receive it, why dost thou boast, as though thou hadst not received it?

Me thinketh that God hath set forth us, which are apostles, for the lowest of all: as it were, men appointed to death. For we are a gazingstock unto the world, and to the angels, and to men.

When evil things are said about us we give gentle answers: we are made as the unclean things of the world, as that for which no one has any use, even till now.

For though you have ten thousand teachers in the Christian life, you certainly could not have many fathers. For it was I myself who became your father through your union with Christ Jesus, which resulted from my telling you the good news.

For this cause, sent I unto you, Timothy, - who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put, you, in mind of my ways which are in Christ Jesus, even as, everywhere, in every assembly, I teach.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

Which would you chuse, that I should come to you arm'd with resentment? or, in a mild and benevolent temper?

On all hands, there is reported to be among you - fornication, and such fornication as this - which, not among the nations, is found , - as that one should have, his father's wife: -

And ye swell and have not rather sorrowed, that he which hath done this deed might be put from among you.

you are to hand over this man to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

It is no good thing--this which you make the ground of your boasting. Do you not know that a little yeast corrupts the whole of the dough?

For what have I to do to judge them which are without? Do ye not judge them that are within?

Which one of you having a matter dares to go to law with another before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

Do you not know that God's people will sit in judgement upon the world? And if you are the court before which the world is to be judged, are you unfit to deal with these petty matters?

If ye have judgments of worldly matters, take them which are despised in the congregation, and make them judges.

"Everything is permissible for me [to do];" but not everything is profitable. [Note: The words in quote marks in this and the following verse are thought to have been commonly held views of that day, to which Paul gives an inspired reply]. "Everything is permissible for me [to do];" but I will not be ruled by anything.

Don't you know, that your bodies are parts of Christ's mystical body? now, how can that which is Christ's, be made the property of a very creature?

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

Keep away from the desires of the flesh. Every sin which a man does is outside of the body; but he who goes after the desires of the flesh does evil to his body.

Or are you not conscious that your body is a house for the Holy Spirit which is in you, and which has been given to you by God? and you are not the owners of yourselves;

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good it is for a man not to touch a woman,

Let the husband give to the wife that which is due, and likewise the wife also to the husband.

But if they cannot control their [sexual] desires, they should get married, for it is better [for them] to marry than to burn [i.e., with sexual lust which cannot be legitimately gratified].

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.

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

Only, everybody must continue to live in the station which the Lord assigned to him, in that in which God called him. These are my orders in all the churches.

Let every man keep the position in which he has been placed by God.

My brothers, let every man keep in that condition which is the purpose of God for him.

Concerning unmarried women I have no command to give you from the Lord; but I offer you my opinion, which is that of a man who, through the Lord's mercy, is deserving of your confidence.

I think then that, taking into consideration the distress which is now upon us, it is well for a man to remain as he is.

But if you do marry, there is no sin in that. And if a girl marries, it is no sin. But those who marry will have worldly trouble, which I would like to spare you.

This say I, brethren: the time is short. It remaineth that they which have wives, be as though they had none:

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Now in regard to food which has been offered to idols, we are sure of course that "we all have knowledge." But knowledge puffs up, while love builds up.

If any one imagines that he already possesses any true knowledge, he has as yet attained to no knowledge of the kind to which he ought to have attained;

As to eating things which have been sacrificed to idols, we are fully aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but One.

For though there are those which are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are many gods, and many lords,)

yet unto us is there but one God, which is the father, of whom are all things, and we in him: and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Still, all men have not that knowledge: but some, being used till now to the image, are conscious that they are taking food which has been offered to the image; and because they are not strong in the faith, their minds are troubled.

But pay attention [to this], so that somehow this liberty of yours [i.e., to eat whatever you want to] does not become an occasion over which weak people could fall [away from God].

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

Now [if you] sin in this way against the brothers and wound their conscience, which is weak, you sin against Christ.

For which reason, if meat cause my brother to fall, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

for in the law of Moses it is written, "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox which treadeth out the corn." Doth God take care for oxen?

Either saith he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he which eareth should ear in hope: and that he which thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.

Do you not see that the servants of the holy things get their living from the Temple, and the servants of the altar have their part in the food which is offered on the altar?

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

now if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, it is a dispensation of trust which must be discharged.

whence then is my reward? why, from my preaching the gospel of Christ gratis, without making use of the privilege which the gospel gives me.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

And every man who takes part in the sports has self-control in all things. Now they do it to get a crown which is of this world, but we for an eternal crown.

For I do not want you to be unaware, believers, that our fathers were all under the cloud [in which God’s presence went before them] and they all passed [miraculously and safely] through the [Red] Sea;

And the same holy drink: for they all took of the water from the holy rock which came after them: and the rock was Christ.

You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.

I speak as unto them which have discretion: judge ye what I say.

The cup of blessing which we take, does it not give us a part in the blood of Christ? and is not the broken bread a taking part in the body of Christ?

Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

On the contrary - that, the things which the nations sacrifice, unto demons, and not unto God, they sacrifice; and I wish not that ye should become, sharers together with the demons!

We are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good.

Let, no one, be seeking, what concerneth himself, but that which concerneth some one else.

Eat everything which is sold in market, asking no questions on account of conscience;

If any of them which believe not bid you to a feast, and if ye be disposed to go, whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

But if I give praise to God for the food which I take, let no man say evil of me for that reason.