Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:^(A) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”^(B) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. ² Those who think they know something^(C) do not yet know as they ought to know.^{(D) 3} But whoever loves God is known by God.^[a](E)

⁴ So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:^(F) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”^(G) and that “There is no God but one.”^{(H) 5} For even if there are so-called gods,^(I) whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), ⁶ yet for us there is but one God,^(J) the Father,^(K) from whom all things came^(L) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,^(M) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came^(N) and through whom we live.

⁷ But not everyone possesses this knowledge.^(O) Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak,^(P) it is defiled. ⁸ But food does not bring us near to God;^(Q) we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

⁹ Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block^(R) to the weak.^{(S) 10} For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?^{(T) 11} So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed^(U) by your knowledge. ¹² When you sin against them^(V) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.^{(W) 13} Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.^(X)

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?^(Y) Am I not an apostle?^(Z) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?^(AA) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?^{(AB) 2} Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal^(AC) of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink?^{(AD) 5} Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife^(AE) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers^(AF) and Cephas^[b]?^{(AG) 6} Or is it only I and Barnabas^(AH) who lack the right to not work for a living?

⁷ Who serves as a soldier^(AI) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard^(AJ) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”^[c](AK) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?^{(AL) 10} Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,^(AM) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.^{(AN) 11} If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?^{(AO) 12} If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.^(AP) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder^(AQ) the gospel of Christ.

¹³ Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?^{(AR) 14} In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.^(AS)

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights.^(AT) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.^{(AU) 16} For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.^(AV) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;^(AW) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.^{(AX) 18} What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,^(AY) and so not make full use of my rights^(AZ) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(BA) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(BB) to win as many as possible.^{(BC) 20} To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.^(BD) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),^(BE) so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law^(BF) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),^(BG) so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(BH) I have become all things to all people^(BI) so that by all possible means I might save some.^{(BJ) 23} I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?^(BK) Run^(BL) in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown^(BM) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.^{(BN) 26} Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;^(BO) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.^{(BP) 27} No, I strike a blow to my body^(BQ) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.^(BR)

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love^(A) and eagerly desire^(B) gifts of the Spirit,^(C) especially prophecy.^{(D) 2} For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a](E) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(F) they utter mysteries^(G) by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(H) encouraging^(I) and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(J) edifies^(K) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(L) edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[b] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(M) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.^(N)

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(O) or knowledge^(P) or prophecy or word of instruction?^{(Q) 7} Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^{(R) 9} So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^{(S) 12} So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(T) try to excel in those that build up^(U) the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^{(V) 14} For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(W) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(X) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(Y) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say “Amen”^(Z) to your thanksgiving,^(AA) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(AB)

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(AC)

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(AD) In regard to evil be infants,^(AE) but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law^(AF) it is written:

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,^(AH) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?^{(AI) 24} But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets^(AJ) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”^(AK)

Good Order in Worship

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(AL) When you come together, each of you^(AM) has a hymn,^(AN) or a word of instruction,^(AO) a revelation, a tongue^(AP) or an interpretation.^(AQ) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^{(AR) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets^(AS) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^{(AT) 30} And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^{(AU) 33} For God is not a God of disorder^(AV) but of peace^(AW)—as in all the congregations^(AX) of the Lord’s people.^(AY)

³⁴ Women^[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,^(AZ) but must be in submission,^(BA) as the law^(BB) says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.^[g]

³⁶ Or did the word of God^(BC) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet^(BD) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,^(BE) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.^{(BF) 38} But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[h]

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(BG) to prophesy,^(BH) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly^(BI) way.