just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you --

so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom,

God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something,

so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God.

But just as it is written, "Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him."

For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.

So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.

If someone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness."

One should think about us this way -- as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.

I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children.

For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

For even though I am absent physically, I am present in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did this, just as though I were present.

So if you have ordinary lawsuits, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?

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

I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.

To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.

Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches.

Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity.

For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ's slave.

With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.

Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are.

And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none,

those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.

A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the Lord).

But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is -- and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!

If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord's work, as I am too.

Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you