while our testimony about the Messiah has been confirmed among you.

For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God's power to us who are being saved.

Brothers, think about your own calling. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come and tell you about God's secret with rhetorical language or wisdom.

Instead, we speak about God's wisdom in a hidden secret, which God destined before the world began for our glory.

We don't speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people.

So let no one boast about human beings, since everything belongs to you,

Brothers, I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what the Scriptures say. Then you will stop boasting about one person at the expense of another.

Now about what you asked: "Is it advisable for a man not to marry?"

I want you to be free from concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, that is, about how he can please the Lord.

But a married man is concerned about things of this world, that is, about how he can please his wife,

An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, that is, about how she can please her husband. I'm saying this for your benefit, not to put a noose around your necks, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

For in the Law of Moses it is written, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." God is not only concerned about oxen, is he?

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for this obligation has been entrusted to me. How terrible it would be for me if I didn't preach the gospel!

Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without raising any question about it on the grounds of conscience,

But if anyone wants to argue about this, we do not have any custom like this, nor do any of God's churches.

For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit.

In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God because we testified on God's behalf that he raised the Messiah whom he did not raise if in fact it is true that the dead are not raised.