The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

American Standard Version, 1901 ed.

Chapter 1

¹Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, ²unto the church of God which is at Corinth, [even] them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their [Lord] and ours: ³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; ⁵that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge; ⁶even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: ⁷so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; ⁸who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye be] unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. ¹⁰Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them [that are of the household] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. ¹²Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. ¹³Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul? ¹⁴I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius; ¹⁵lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name. ¹⁶And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. ¹⁸For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

²⁰Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe. ²²Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: ²³but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; ²⁴but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ²⁵Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ²⁶For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: ²⁷but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; ²⁸and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, [yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: ²⁹that no flesh should glory before God. ³⁰ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: ³¹that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Chapter 2

¹And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. ²For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ³And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. ⁴ And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: ⁵ that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ⁶We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: ⁷but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: ⁸which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: ⁹but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And [which] entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.

¹⁰But unto us God revealed [them] through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. ¹¹For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. ¹²But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. ¹³Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words]. ¹⁴Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. ¹⁵But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man. ¹⁶For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Chapter 3

¹And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. ²I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able [to bear it]: nay, not even now are ye able; ³for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men? ⁴ For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not men? ⁵What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him. ⁶I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. ⁷So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. ⁸Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry, God's building. ¹⁰According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon. ¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; ¹³each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. ¹⁴If any man's work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire. ¹⁶Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ¹⁷If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye. ¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness: ²⁰and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain. ²¹Wherefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours; ²²whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; ²³and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Chapter 4

¹Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. ²Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. ³But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. ⁴For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. ⁵Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God. ⁶Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not [to go] beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other. ⁷For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? ⁸Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. ⁹For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor. ¹¹Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; ¹²and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³ being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now. ¹⁴I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ¹⁵For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel. ¹⁶I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me. ¹⁷For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church. ¹⁸Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power. ²⁰For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. ²¹What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Chapter 5

¹It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one [of you] hath his father's wife. ²And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you. ³For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing, ⁴in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, ⁵ to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. ⁶Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? ⁷Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, [even] Christ: ⁸ wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. ⁹I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; ¹⁰not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: ¹¹but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat. ¹²For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? ¹³But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.

Chapter 6

¹Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? ²Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life? ⁴If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church? ⁵I say [this] to move you to shame. What, cannot there be [found] among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren, ⁶but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? ⁷Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded? ⁸Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that [your] brethren. ⁹Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. ¹²All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any. ¹³Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body: ¹⁴ and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up as through his power. ¹⁵Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid. ¹⁶Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh. ¹⁷But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. ¹⁸Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. ¹⁹Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; ²⁰for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.

Chapter 7

¹Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ²But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ³Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. ⁴The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife. ⁵Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. ⁶But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. ⁷Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. ⁸But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. ⁹But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. ¹⁰But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband ¹¹(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife. ¹²But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. ¹³ And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. ¹⁵Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace. ¹⁶For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife? ¹⁷Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches. ¹⁸Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. ²¹Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather. ²²For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant. ²³ Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men. ²⁴Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God. ²⁵Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. ²⁶I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is. ²⁷Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. ²⁸But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. ²⁹But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; ³⁰and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; ³¹ and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away. ³²But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: ³³but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. ³⁶But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry. ³⁷But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well. ³⁸So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better. ³⁹A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. ⁴⁰But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Chapter 8

¹Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. ²If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know; ³but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him. ⁴Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is [anything] in the world, and that there is no God but one. ⁵ For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; ⁶yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him. ⁷Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. ⁸But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. ⁹But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. ¹⁰For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? ¹¹For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. ¹²And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. ¹³Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

Chapter 9

¹Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? ²If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. ³My defence to them that examine me is this. ⁴Have we no right to eat and to drink? ⁵Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? ⁶Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? ⁷What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ⁸Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same? ⁹For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth, ¹⁰or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, [to thresh] in hope of partaking. ¹¹If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? ¹²If others partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? ¹⁴Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel. ¹⁵But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void. ¹⁶For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. ¹⁷For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me. ¹⁸What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel. ¹⁹For though I was free from all [men,] I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. ²⁰ And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; ²¹to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law. ²²To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. ²³And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof. ²⁴Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. ²⁵And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. ²⁶I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: ²⁷but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

Chapter 10

¹For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; ²and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³and did all eat the same spiritual food; ⁴ and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. ⁵Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. ⁶Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. ⁷Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. ⁸Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. ⁹Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. ¹⁰Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. ¹¹Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. ¹² Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. ¹³There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it. ¹⁴Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. ¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread. ¹⁸Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar? ¹⁹What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons. ²¹Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. ²²Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? ²³All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify. ²⁴Let no man seek his own, but [each] his neighbor's [good]. ²⁵Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake, ²⁶for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. ²⁷If one of them that believe not biddeth you [to a feast], and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. ²⁸But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: ²⁹conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience? ³⁰If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? ³¹Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. ³²Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: ³³even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of the many, that they may be saved.

Chapter 11

¹Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. ²Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. ³But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. ⁴Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. ⁵But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven. ⁶For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled. ⁷For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. ⁸For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man: ⁹for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man: ¹⁰for this cause ought the woman to have [a sign of] authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord. ¹²For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God. ¹³Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled? ¹⁴Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him? ¹⁵But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. ¹⁶But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. ¹⁷But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁹For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you. ²⁰When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord's supper: ²¹for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken. ²²What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this I praise you not. ²³For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; ²⁴and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁵In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me. ²⁶For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come. ²⁷Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. ³⁰For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. ³¹ But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. ³³Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait one for another. ³⁴If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.

Chapter 12

¹Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant. ²Ye know that when ye were Gentiles [ye were] led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might led. ³Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit. ⁴Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. ⁶And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. ⁷But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. ⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: ⁹to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; ¹⁰and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: ¹¹but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will. ¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. ¹³For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? ¹⁸But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where were the body? ²⁰But now they are many members, but one body. ²¹And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. ²²Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: ²³and those [parts] of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness; ²⁴whereas our comely [parts] have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that [part] which lacked; ²⁵that there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another. ²⁶And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or [one] member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ²⁷Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. ²⁸And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, [divers] kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all [workers of] miracles? ³⁰have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? ³¹But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you.

Chapter 13

¹If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have [the gift of] prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³And if I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. ⁴ Love suffereth long, [and] is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ⁵doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; ⁶rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; ⁷beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. ⁸Love never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall be done away; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall be done away. ⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; ¹⁰but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. ¹³ But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Chapter 14

¹Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy. ²For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. ³But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation. ⁴He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. ⁵Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. ⁶But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? ⁷Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war? ⁹So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no [kind] is without signification. ¹¹If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me. ¹²So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. ¹³Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ¹⁶Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest? ¹⁷For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸ I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all: ¹⁹ howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. ²⁰Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men. ²¹In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord. ²²Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying [is for a sign], not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe. ²³If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad? ²⁴But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all; ²⁵the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed. ²⁶What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ²⁷If any man speaketh in a tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most three, and [that] in turn; and let one interpret: ²⁸but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ²⁹And let the prophets speak [by] two or three, and let the others discern. ³⁰But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. ³¹For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted; ³²and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; ³³for God is not [a God] of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, ³⁴let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. ³⁵And 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. ³⁶What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone? ³⁷If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. ³⁸But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant. ³⁹Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. ⁴⁰But let all things be done decently and in order.

Chapter 15

¹Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, ²by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. ³For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; ⁵and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve; ⁶then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep; ⁷then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; ⁸and last of all, as to the [child] untimely born, he appeared to me also. ⁹For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹Whether then [it be] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. ¹²Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: ¹⁴and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. ¹⁵Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. ¹⁶For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: ¹⁷and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ¹⁸Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. ²⁰But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep. ²¹For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. ²⁴Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. ²⁷For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. ²⁸And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all. ²⁹Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? ³⁰Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? ³¹I protest by that glorifying in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. ³²If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. ³³Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals. ³⁴Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak [this] to move you to shame. ³⁵But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? ³⁶Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die: ³⁷and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind; ³⁸but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. ³⁹All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one [flesh] of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes. ⁴⁰There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. ⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual [body]. ⁴⁵So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven. ⁴⁸As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: ⁵⁷but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.

Chapter 16

¹Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. ² Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. ³And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem: ⁴and if it be meet for me to go also, they shall go with me. ⁵But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia; ⁶but with you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that ye may set me forward on my journey whithersoever I go. ⁷For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. ⁸But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost; ⁹for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. ¹⁰Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do: ¹¹ let no man therefore despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come unto me: for I expect him with the brethren. ¹²But as touching Apollos the brother, I besought him much to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not all [his] will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity. ¹³Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. ¹⁴Let all that ye do be done in love. ¹⁵Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints), ¹⁶that ye also be in subjection unto such, and to every one that helpeth in the work and laboreth. ¹⁷And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they supplied. ¹⁸For they refreshed my spirit and yours: acknowledge ye therefore them that are such. ¹⁹The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. ²⁰All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss. ²¹The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. ²²If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha. ²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ²⁴My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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