But I say this as a concession, not as a command.

I wish all people could be like myself, but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way and another in that way.

Each one in the calling in which he was called--in this he should remain.

Each one in [the situation] in which he was called, brothers--in this he should remain with God.

Therefore, I consider this to be good because of the impending distress, that [it is] good for a man to be thus.

But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as [if they] do not have [wives],

and those who make use of the world as [if they] do not make full use of [it]. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.

But he who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well.

But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him.

But this knowledge [is] not in everyone. But some, being accustomed until now to the idol, eat [this food] as food sacrificed to idols, and their conscience, [because it] is weak, is defiled.

But watch out lest somehow this right of yours becomes a cause for stumbling to the weak.

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

My defense to those who examine me is this:

If others share this right over you, do we not [do so] even more? Yet we have not made use of this right, but we endure all [things], in order that we may not cause any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward, but if [I do so] unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

I do all [this] for the sake of the gospel, in order that I may become a participant with it.

Therefore I run in this way, not as [running] aimlessly; I box in this way, not as beating the air.

But if someone says to you, "This is offered to idols," do not eat [it], for the sake of that one who informed [you] and the conscience.

Because of this, the woman ought to have [a symbol of] authority on her head, on account of the angels.

But in giving this instruction I do not praise [you], because you come together not for the better but for the worse.

For do you not have houses for eating and drinking? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who do not have [anything]? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise [you]!

and [after he] had given thanks, he broke [it] and said, "This is my body which [is] for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

Likewise also the cup, after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], in remembrance of me."

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

But let a person examine himself, and in this way let him eat from the bread and let him drink from the cup.

Because of this, many [are] weak and sick among you, and quite a few {have died}.

If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not [a part] of the body," not because of this is it not [a part] of the body.

And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not [a part] of the body, not because of this is it not [a part] of the body.

but our presentable [parts] do not have need [of this]. Yet God composed the body by giving more abundant honor to the part which lacked [it],

In this way also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek for the edification of the church, in order that you may abound.

In the law it is written: "By those who speak a foreign language and by the lips of others I will speak to this people, and not even in this way will they obey me," says the Lord.

But if anyone ignores [this], he is ignored.

Therefore whether I or those, in this way we preached, and in this way you believed.

If {we have put our hope} in Christ in this life only, we are of all people most pitiable.

Sober up correctly and {stop sinning}, for some have no knowledge of God--I say [this] to your shame.

But I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruptibility.

For it is necessary [for] this perishable [body] to put on incorruptibility, and this mortal [body] to put on immortality.

But whenever this perishable [body] puts on incorruptibility and this mortal [body] puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: "Death is swallowed up in victory.

[while] you also join in helping {on our behalf} by prayer, so that thanks may be given {on our behalf} by many persons for this gracious gift [given] to us through [the help] of many.

For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness and purity of motive from God, not in merely human wisdom, but by the grace of God.

And with this confidence, I was wanting to come to you previously, in order that you may have a second proof of my goodwill,

Therefore, [when I] was wanting [to do] this, perhaps then was I making use of vacillation? Or was I deciding what I was deciding according to the flesh, in order that with me my "yes" may be "yes" and my "no" [may be] "no" [at the same time]?

For I have decided this for myself, not to come to you again in sorrow.

And I wrote this very [thing] in order that [when I] came, I would not experience sorrow from those who ought to have made me glad, [because I] have confidence about you all, that my joy {belongs to all of you}.

This punishment by the majority [is] sufficient for such a person.

So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Because for this [reason] also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything.

For indeed what had been glorified has not been glorified in this case, on account of the glory that surpasses [it].

But their minds were hardened. For until this very day, the same veil remains upon the reading of the old covenant, not being uncovered, because it is done away with in Christ.

Because of this, [since we] have this ministry, just as we have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart,

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.

But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us.

For indeed, in this [house] we groan, [because we] desire to put on our dwelling from heaven,

For indeed we who are in this tent groan, being burdened {for this reason, that} we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now the one who has prepared us for this very [thing] [is] God, who has given us the down payment, the Spirit.

For the love of Christ controls us, [because we] have concluded this: that one died for all; as a result all died.

So then, from now on we know no one {from a human point of view}, if indeed we have known Christ {from a human point of view}, but now we know [him this way] no longer.

I do not say [this] {to condemn you}, because I have already said that you are in our hearts, so that we die together and we live together.

For behold how much diligence this very [thing], being grieved according to [the will of] God, has brought about in you: what defense [of yourselves], what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! In everything you have demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

Because of this we have been encouraged, and in addition to our encouragement, we rejoiced much more over the joy of Titus, because his spirit had been refreshed by all of you.

So we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun [it], thus he would also complete for you this [act of] grace.

But just as you excel in everything--in faith and in speaking and in knowledge and with all diligence and in the love from us [that is] in you--so may you excel in this grace also.

I am not saying [this] as a command, but proving the genuineness of your love by means of the diligence of others.

And I am giving an opinion in this [matter], because this is profitable for you who not only began previously, a year ago, to do [something], but also to want [to do it].

For [this is] not that for others [there may be] relief, [and] for you difficult circumstances, but [as a matter] of equality.

And not only [this], but he was also chosen by the churches [as] our traveling companion together with this gift that is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and [to show] our readiness [to help].

[We are] trying to avoid this, lest anyone should find fault with us in this abundant gift that is being administered by us.

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you would not prove to be empty in this case, so that you may be prepared just as I was saying,

lest somehow if Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we--{not to speak of you}--would be humiliated in connection with this project.

Therefore I considered [it] necessary to urge the brothers that they should go on ahead to you and make arrangements in advance for your generous gift that was promised previously, so this would be prepared as a generous gift and not as grudgingly granted.

Now [the point is] this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

because the service of this ministry is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but also is overflowing through many [expressions of] thanksgiving to God.

Through the proven character of this service [they will] glorify God because of the submission of your confession to the gospel of Christ and the generosity of [your] participation toward them and toward everyone,

You are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone is convinced he himself is Christ's, he should consider this concerning himself again: that just as Christ himself [is], so also [are] we.

Let such a person consider this: that what we are in word by letters [when we] are absent, [we will] also [be] in {actions} [when we] are present.

But even if [I am] unskilled in speech, yet [I am] not in knowledge; certainly in everything [we] have made this clear to you in every [way].

[As the] truth of Christ is in me, this boasting {of mine} will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

What I am saying in this project of boasting, I am not saying as the Lord [would say], but as in foolishness.

I say [this] to [my] shame, namely, that we have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares to [boast]--I am speaking in foolishness--I also dare to [boast].

and I know this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--

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

{For in what respect are you made worse off} more than the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Behold, this third [time] I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden [to you]. For I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Have you been thinking all this time that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and all [these things], dear friends, [are] for your edification.

This [is] the third [time] I am coming to you. {By the testimony} of two or three witnesses every word will be established.

For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong, and we pray for this: your maturity.

Because of this, I am writing these [things] [although I] am absent, in order that [when I] am present I may not have to act severely according to the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Now [this was] because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order that they might enslave us,

and the rest of the Jews also joined in [this] hypocrisy with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with them in [their] hypocrisy.

I want only to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Now I am saying this: the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise.

This persuasion [is] not from the one who calls you!

Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked, for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap,

And all those who follow this rule, peace and mercy [be] on them and on the Israel of God.

Because of this I also, hearing of {your faith} in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this age but also in the coming one,

in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this [is] not from yourselves, [it is] the gift of God;

On account of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles