1 Corinthians 6-11

New King James Version

Do Not Sue the Brethren

6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the ^(A)saints? ² Do you not know that ^(B)the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³ Do you not know that we shall ^(C)judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? ⁴ If then you have ^[a]judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? ⁵ I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? ⁶ But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

⁷ Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. ^(D)Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? ⁸ No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! ⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. ^(E)Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor ^[b]homosexuals, nor ^[c]sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were ^(F)some of you. ^(G)But you were washed, but you were ^[d]sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Glorify God in Body and Spirit

^12 (H)All things are lawful for me, but all things are not ^[e]helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of ^[f]any. ^13 (I)Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for ^(J)sexual immorality but ^(K)for the Lord, ^(L)and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ And ^(M)God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up ^(N)by His power.

¹⁵ Do you not know that ^(O)your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! ¹⁶ Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ^(P)“the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” ^17 (Q)But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

^18 (R)Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins ^(S)against his own body. ¹⁹ Or ^(T)do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, ^(U)and you are not your own? ²⁰ For ^(V)you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body ^[g]and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Principles of Marriage

7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:

^(W)It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ^3 (X)Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. ⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. ^5 (Y)Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that ^(Z)Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ But I say this as a concession, ^(AA)not as a commandment. ⁷ For ^(AB)I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

⁸ But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: ^(AC)It is good for them if they remain even as I am; ⁹ but ^(AD)if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Keep Your Marriage Vows

¹⁰ Now to the married I command, yet not I but the ^(AE)Lord: ^(AF)A wife is not to depart from her husband. ¹¹ But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

¹² But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. ¹³ And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise ^(AG)your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us ^(AH)to peace. ¹⁶ For how do you know, O wife, whether you will ^(AI)save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live as You Are Called

¹⁷ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And ^(AJ)so I ^[h]ordain in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? ^(AK)Let him not be circumcised. ^19 (AL)Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but ^(AM)keeping the commandments of God is what matters. ²⁰ Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. ²² For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is ^(AN)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is ^(AO)Christ’s slave. ^23 (AP)You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let each one remain with ^(AQ)God in that state in which he was called.

To the Unmarried and Widows

²⁵ Now concerning virgins: ^(AR)I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one ^(AS)whom the Lord in His mercy has made ^(AT)trustworthy. ²⁶ I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—^(AU)that it is good for a man to remain as he is: ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

²⁹ But ^(AV)this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, ³⁰ those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, ³¹ and those who use this world as not ^(AW)misusing it. For ^(AX)the form of this world is passing away.

³² But I want you to be without ^[i]care. ^(AY)He who is unmarried ^[j]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. ³³ But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. ³⁴ There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman ^(AZ)cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

³⁶ But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his ^[k]virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. ³⁷ Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his ^[l]virgin, does well. ^38 (BA)So then he who gives ^[m]her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

^39 (BB)A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, ^(BC)only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains as she is, ^(BD)according to my judgment—and ^(BE)I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Be Sensitive to Conscience

8 Now ^(BF)concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have ^(BG)knowledge. ^(BH)Knowledge ^[n]puffs up, but love ^[o]edifies. ² And ^(BI)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

⁴ Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that ^(BJ)an idol is nothing in the world, ^(BK)and that there is no other God but one. ⁵ For even if there are ^(BL)so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), ⁶ yet ^(BM)for us there is one God, the Father, ^(BN)of whom are all things, and we for Him; and ^(BO)one Lord Jesus Christ, ^(BP)through whom are all things, and ^(BQ)through whom we live.

⁷ However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, ^(BR)with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is ^(BS)defiled. ⁸ But ^(BT)food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

⁹ But ^(BU)beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become ^(BV)a ^[p]stumbling block to those who are weak. ¹⁰ For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not ^(BW)the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? ¹¹ And ^(BX)because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? ¹² But ^(BY)when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, ^(BZ)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

A Pattern of Self-Denial

9 Am ^(CA)I not an apostle? Am I not free? ^(CB)Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? ^(CC)Are you not my work in the Lord? ² If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are ^(CD)the ^[q]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ My defense to those who examine me is this: ^4 (CE)Do we have no ^[r]right to eat and drink? ⁵ Do we have no right to take along ^[s]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, ^(CF)the brothers of the Lord, and ^(CG)Cephas? ⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I ^(CH)who have no right to refrain from working? ⁷ Who ever ^(CI)goes to war at his own expense? Who ^(CJ)plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who ^(CK)tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

⁸ Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, ^(CL)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? ¹⁰ Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that ^(CM)he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. ^11 (CN)If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? ¹² If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

^(CO)Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things ^(CP)lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. ^13 (CQ)Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the ^(CR)temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? ¹⁴ Even so ^(CS)the Lord has commanded ^(CT)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

¹⁵ But ^(CU)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for ^(CV)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for ^(CW)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, ^(CX)I have a reward; but if against my will, ^(CY)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What is my reward then? That ^(CZ)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel ^[t]of Christ without charge, that I ^(DA)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

¹⁹ For though I am ^(DB)free from all men, ^(DC)I have made myself a servant to all, ^(DD)that I might win the more; ²⁰ and ^(DE)to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the ^[u]law, that I might win those who are under the law; ^21 (DF)to ^(DG)those who are without law, as without law ^(DH)(not being without ^[v]law toward God, but under ^[w]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; ^22 (DI)to the weak I became ^[x]as weak, that I might win the weak. ^(DJ)I have become all things to all men, ^(DK)that I might by all means save some. ²³ Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? ^(DL)Run in such a way that you may ^[y]obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize ^[z]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for ^(DM)an imperishable crown. ²⁶ Therefore I run thus: ^(DN)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ^27 (DO)But I discipline my body and ^(DP)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become ^(DQ)disqualified.

Old Testament Examples

10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under ^(DR)the cloud, all passed through ^(DS)the sea, ² all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ all ate the same ^(DT)spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same ^(DU)spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵ But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies ^(DV)were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as ^(DW)they also lusted. ^7 (DX)And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ^(DY)“The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” ^8 (DZ)Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as ^(EA)some of them did, and ^(EB)in one day twenty-three thousand fell; ⁹ nor let us ^[aa]tempt Christ, as ^(EC)some of them also tempted, and ^(ED)were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰ nor complain, as ^(EE)some of them also complained, and ^(EF)were destroyed by ^(EG)the destroyer. ¹¹ Now ^[ab]all these things happened to them as examples, and ^(EH)they were written for our ^[ac]admonition, ^(EI)upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

¹² Therefore ^(EJ)let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but ^(EK)God is faithful, ^(EL)who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to ^[ad]bear it.

Flee from Idolatry

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, ^(EM)flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to ^(EN)wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. ^16 (EO)The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the ^[ae]communion of the blood of Christ? ^(EP)The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ For ^(EQ)we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

¹⁸ Observe ^(ER)Israel ^(ES)after the flesh: ^(ET)Are not those who eat of the sacrifices ^[af]partakers of the altar? ¹⁹ What am I saying then? ^(EU)That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? ²⁰ Rather, that the things which the Gentiles ^(EV)sacrifice ^(EW)they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. ^21 (EX)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and ^(EY)the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the ^(EZ)Lord’s table and of the table of demons. ²² Or do we ^(FA)provoke the Lord to jealousy? ^(FB)Are we stronger than He?

All to the Glory of God^(FC)

²³ All things are lawful ^[ag]for me, but not all things are ^(FD)helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things ^[ah]edify. ²⁴ Let no one seek his own, but each one ^(FE)the other’s well-being.

^25 (FF)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; ²⁶ for ^(FG)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

²⁷ If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, ^(FH)eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. ²⁸ But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it ^(FI)for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; ^[ai]for ^(FJ)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” ²⁹ “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For ^(FK)why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? ³⁰ But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food ^(FL)over which I give thanks?

^31 (FM)Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ^32 (FN)Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, ³³ just ^(FO)as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Worship and the Lord’s Supper

11 Imitate^(FP) me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Head Coverings

² Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to know that ^(FQ)the head of every man is Christ, ^(FR)the head of woman is man, and ^(FS)the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man praying or ^(FT)prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were ^(FU)shaved. ⁶ For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is ^(FV)shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. ⁷ For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since ^(FW)he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man is not from woman, but woman ^(FX)from man. ⁹ Nor was man created for the woman, but woman ^(FY)for the man. ¹⁰ For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, ^(FZ)neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. ¹² For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

¹³ Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? ¹⁵ But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given ^[aj]to her for a covering. ¹⁶ But ^(GA)if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, ^(GB)nor do the churches of God.

Conduct at the Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For first of all, when you come together as a church, ^(GC)I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For ^(GD)there must also be factions among you, ^(GE)that those who are approved may be ^[ak]recognized among you. ²⁰ Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. ²¹ For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and ^(GF)another is drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise ^(GG)the church of God and ^(GH)shame ^[al]those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper^(GI)

²³ For ^(GJ)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: ^(GK)that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ^[am]“Take, eat; this is My body which is ^[an]broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death ^(GL)till He comes.

Examine Yourself

²⁷ Therefore whoever eats ^(GM)this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and ^[ao]blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But ^(GN)let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks ^[ap]in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the ^[aq]Lord’s body. ³⁰ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many ^[ar]sleep. ³¹ For ^(GO)if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, ^(GP)we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

³³ Therefore, my brethren, when you ^(GQ)come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.