But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled.

Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed.

This is my defense to those who examine me.

Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well?

For it is written in the law of Moses, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." God is not concerned here about oxen, is he?

Or is he not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest.

If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?

If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving? But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.

So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."

And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.

And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.

And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.

No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread.

No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.

Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?

"Everything is lawful," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds others up.

Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience,

If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.

But if someone says to you, "This is from a sacrifice," do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience --

I do not mean yours but the other person's. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience?

just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

I praise you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you.

But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head.

For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head.

For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man.

In any case, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman. But all things come from God.

Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him,

but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

For in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk.

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."

In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me."

That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.

If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you assemble it does not lead to judgment. I will give directions about other matters when I come.

So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.

For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.

For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body -- though many -- are one body, so too is Christ.

For in fact the body is not a single member, but many.

But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided.

If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.

Now you are Christ's body, and each of you is a member of it.

But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.

It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.

It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.

Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.

but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside.

For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.

I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.

It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood?

It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning.

It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.

If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.

For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened.

It is written in the law: "By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me," says the Lord.

So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, "God is really among you."

But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God.

Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said.

And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude.

for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says.

If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.

If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command.

If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received -- that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.

Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins.

For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

The last enemy to be eliminated is death.

For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says "everything" has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.

Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as my boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God -- I say this to your shame!

And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed -- perhaps of wheat or something else.

But God gives it a body just as he planned, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.

All flesh is not the same: People have one flesh, animals have another, birds and fish another.

And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.

It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.