If the foot should say, "Because I am a hand, I am not part a part the body," would it not indeed be a part of the body?

Or if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," would it be any less a part of the body?

If all the body was an eye, where would be the hearing? if all was hearing, where would be the smelling?

And now has God set the members each one of them in the body, as he would.

And if they were all one part, where would the body be?

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

and tho' I should have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and tho' I had all the faith necessary to remove mountains, and had no benevolence, it would signify nothing.

When I was a child I spoke, thought and reasoned like a child. But now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. [Note: Paul uses an analogy to illustrate that the church made use of the supernatural gifts in its infancy, but that these would no longer be needed when it matured].

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I benefit you, unless I would speak to you either in a revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in doctrine?

Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they did not give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I should be a foreigner to the man who speaks it, and he would be a foreigner to me.

Otherwise if thou would bless with the spirit, how will the man who fills the place of the unlearned, say the Truly at thy thanksgiving, since he knows not what thou say?

yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.

But if there is no interpreter present [at the meeting], the person [i.e., with the ability to speak a language supernaturally] should remain quiet in the assembly. [Note: This implies that the speaker would know before he begins speaking whether or not an interpreter is present]. [In that case], he should speak [only] to himself and to God. [See verse 2].

And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

Now I would remind you, brethren, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

And by means of which you are being saved. I would remind you of the very words that I used in telling it to you, since you are still holding fast to it, and since it was not in vain that you became believers in Christ.

If after the manner of men I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, of what advantage would it be to me, if the dead did not rise again? shall we eat and drink; because to-morrow we die?

And God gives it a body as he would, and to each of the seed its own body.

But, concerning Apollos the brother, much, did I beseech him, that he would come unto you, with the brethren, but there was, by no means, any will, that he should come, now; - he will come, however, as soon as he hath good opportunity.

have set themselves to minister to the saints) that you also would be subservient to such, and to every one that worketh and laboureth with us.

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

And because of this confidence [i.e., that you people have such a favorable opinion of me], I had determined to visit you first [i.e., before going to Macedonia. See I Cor. 16:5-7], so that you could have an additional blessing. [Note: The "blessing" here would be Paul getting to minister to them both before and after visiting Macedonia].

Therefore intending this, did I accordingly employ anything in lightness? Or what I decide, do I decide according to flesh, so that it would be with me the yes, yes and the no, no?

not that I would arbitrarily prescribe what you should believe, but rather encourage you to go on: for 'tis by faith you have stood.

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad?

I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours.

For out of much stress and dismay of heart, through many tears, I wrote to you, not that ye would be grieved, but that ye might know the love that I have so much more for you.

so that instead, for you rather to forgive and encourage, lest perhaps such a man would be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

For this is why I wrote you, to see if you would stand the test, to see if you would be obedient in everything.

so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

and not as Moses used to place a veil over his face, in order that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was transitory.

besides, their minds were greatly prejudiced: for that very veil would still have obstructed the understanding of the old testament, unless it had been taken away by Christ.

I disown disgraceful, underhanded ways. I refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's message. It is by the open statement of the truth that I would commend myself to every human conscience in the sight of God.

among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they would not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

And he died for all so that those who live would no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them, and was raised.

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

[We try] not to place an obstacle in anyone's way [i.e., to keep them from accepting the Gospel message], so that our ministry would not be blamed.

I do not mean this for your condemnation, because, as I have said before, you have such a place in my heart that I would live with you or die with you.

We would remind you, Brothers, of the love that God has shown to the Churches in Macedonia--

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

But, just as, in everything, ye superabound, - in faith, and discourse, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in the love among you which proceedeth from us, in order that, in this favour also, ye would superabound.

For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said.

For if any Macedonians come with me and find you not ready, shame would come upon me (not to speak of you) in respect to this confidence.

Necessary, therefore, I regarded it, to exhort the brethren that they would go forward unto you, and make up beforehand your previously-promised blessing. The same, to be ready - thus, as a blessing, and not as of constraint.

For though I should boast even, somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I would not be ashamed:

That I may not seem as though I would be terrifying you through means of my letters;

Such people should consider this: When I arrive for action I shall do exactly what I said I would in my letters when far away.

For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

For it is not the case, as it would be if we were not in the habit of coming to you, that we are exceeding our bounds! Why, we were the very first to reach you with the Good News of the Christ!

Would that you could put up with a little "folly" from me! Nay, do bear with me.

If indeed some one is coming to preach another Jesus, whom I did not preach, or you are receiving a Spirit other than you once received, or another gospel which you did not accept before, you would do well to bear with me.

But what I am doing, I will continue to do, so that I can cut off the opportunity from those who want an occasion [to receive financial support for themselves because of my example of receiving it]. They want to boast [that they are preaching] on the same terms as I do. [Note: Paul's argument seems to be that one reason for his foregoing financial support was so those "super apostles" in Corinth (see verse 5) would not be able to use his example to wrongfully exact financial support from the church].

I repeat, no one should think me a fool, but if you do, show me at least the patience you would show a fool, and let me have my little boast like the others.

What I say in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.

In the city of Damascus, the governor of the people under king Aretas, laid watch in the city of the Damascenes, and would have caught me,

I know a man in [fellowship with] Christ who, fourteen years ago, was taken [literally, "snatched"] up to the third heaven. [Note: The first heaven would be where birds fly; the second where the stars are; and the third where God is]. (I do not know whether he was in his physical body or whether it was an "out-of-the-body" experience, but God knows). [Note: Paul is obviously telling about a personal experience. See verse 7].

Although in fact, if I should wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for, the truth, would I speak; but I forbear, lest anyone, unto me, should reckon above what he beholdeth me to be , or heareth from me, - even by the exceeding greatness of the revelations.

especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself.

Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would depart from me.

For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, - save that, I myself, would not allow myself to be a burden unto you? Forgive me this wrong!

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.

Now I pray to God, to do you nothing harmful, not that we would appear test-passing, but that ye would do right, even like we might be test-failing.

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Am I now using arguments to men, or God? or is it my desire to give men pleasure? if I was still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel I preach is not man-made;

to reveal his Son in me in order that I would proclaim the gospel [about] him among the Gentiles, immediately I did not consult with flesh and blood,

But only they had heard that he who persecuted us before, now preacheth the faith which he formerly would have destroyed.

[It was] in response to [a divine] revelation that I went [there] and explained to them [I. e., the apostles and elders] the Gospel [message] that I had been preaching among the Gentiles. Then [later on I presented it] privately before those who were highly regarded [i.e., the three apostles, verse 9] so [they would have verification that] my running [i.e., ministry] had not been, nor was now, in vain.

But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.

and when James, Cephas, and John, who had a reputation as pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Only it was their desire that we would give thought to the poor; which very thing I had much in mind to do.

For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him].

If, while seeking to be pronounced righteous through union with Christ, we were ourselves seen to be outcasts, would that make Christ an agent of sin? Heaven forbid!

For if I try to build up again what I had already destroyed [i.e., by returning to depend on compliance with the law of Moses to become right with God, after having rejected this system by trusting in Christ to save me], I would certainly be guilty of sin.

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are ye so unwise, that after ye have begun in the spirit, ye would now end in the flesh?

And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, In you will all the nations have a blessing.

The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Brothers, as men would say, even a man's agreement, when it has been made certain, may not be put on one side, or have additions made to it.

For if the inheritance [of never ending life] can be obtained by [obeying the requirements of] the law of Moses, it would not come from the promise [of God]; but God provided [this inheritance] for Abraham according to [His] promise.

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

Is the Law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not; for if a law had been given which could make alive, then righteousness would actually have come from law;

Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed.

Why then did you account yourselves so happy? (For I bear you witness that if you could you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me.)

They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

I would I were with you now, and could change my voice, for I stand in a doubt of you.

Tell me, ye that would be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

You are cut off from Christ, you who would have righteousness by the law; you are turned away from grace.