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1 Corinthians 3-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

On Divisions in the Corinthian Church

3 And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people but rather as fleshly, as infants in Christ.(A) 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready,(B) 3 for you are still fleshly. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling[a] among you, are you not fleshly and behaving according to human inclinations?(C) 4 For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not all too human?(D)

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and each will receive wages according to their own labor.(E) 9 For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.(F)

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Let each builder choose with care how to build on it.(G) 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.(H) 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 the work of each builder will become visible, for the day[b] will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.(I) 14 If the work that someone has built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a wage. 15 If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?[c](J) 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.(K) 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,

“He catches the wise in their craftiness,”(L)

20 and again,

“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
    that they are futile.”

21 So let no one boast about people.[d] For all things are yours,(M) 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.(N)

The Ministry of the Apostles

4 Think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.(O) 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. 4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.(P)

6 I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us what “Not beyond what is written” means, so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you?[e] What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive?(Q)

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Quite apart from us you have become kings! If only you had become kings, so that we might be kings with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to humans.(R) 10 We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are sensible people in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.(S) 11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are naked and beaten and homeless,(T) 12 and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;(U) 13 when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.

Fatherly Admonition

14 I am not writing this to make you ashamed but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I fathered you through the gospel.(V) 16 I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me.(W) 17 For this reason I sent[f] you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 But some of you, thinking that I am not coming to you, have become arrogant. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.(X) 20 For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power. 21 What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick or with love in a spirit of gentleness?(Y)

Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you and the sort of sexual immorality that is not found even among gentiles, for a man is living with his father’s wife.(Z) 2 And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?

3 For I, though absent in body, am present in spirit, and as if present I have already pronounced judgment 4 in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing.[g] When you are assembled and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus,(AA) 5 you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.[h](AB)

6 Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all of the dough?(AC) 7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.(AD) 8 Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.(AE)

Sexual Immorality Must Be Judged

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons, 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world.(AF) 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy or an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler. Do not even eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging those outside? Are you not judges of those who are inside?(AG) 13 God will judge those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.”(AH)

Lawsuits among Believers

6 When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?(AI) 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels, to say nothing of ordinary matters? 4 If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one person wise enough to decide between brothers and sisters? 6 Instead, brothers and sisters go to court against one another, and this before the unbelievers.(AJ)

7 In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?(AK) 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—and brothers and sisters at that.

9 Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes,[i] men who engage in illicit sex,[j](AL) 10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, swindlers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ[k] and in the Spirit of our God.(AM)

Glorify God in Body and Spirit

12 “All things are permitted for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,”[l] and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body.(AN) 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.(AO) 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!(AP) 16 Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, “The two shall be one flesh.”(AQ) 17 But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.(AR) 18 Shun sexual immorality![m] Every sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person[n] sins against the body itself.(AS) 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple[o] of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?(AT) 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.(AU)

Directions concerning Marriage

7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” 2 But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife what is due her and likewise the wife to her husband.(AV) 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer,[p] and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.(AW) 6 This I say by way of concession, not of command.(AX) 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.(AY)

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain unmarried as I am.(AZ) 9 But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.(BA)

10 To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband(BB) 11 (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say—I and not the Lord—that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.(BC) 13 And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce the husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through the brother.[q] Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.(BD) 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called us.[r](BE) 16 Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.(BF)

The Life that the Lord Has Assigned

17 However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.(BG) 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.(BH) 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying the commandments of God is everything.(BI) 20 Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.(BJ)

21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make the most of it.[s] 22 For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave belonging to Christ.(BK) 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of humans.(BL) 24 In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God.

The Unmarried and the Widows

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.(BM) 26 I think that, in view of the impending[t] crisis,[u] it is good for you to remain as you are.(BN) 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in the flesh, and I would spare you that. 29 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none,(BO) 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.(BP)

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord,(BQ) 33 but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit, but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband.(BR) 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks that he is behaving indecently toward his fiancée,[v] if his passions are strong and so it has to be, let him marry as he wishes; it is no sin. Let them marry. 37 But if someone stands firm in his resolve, being under no necessity but having his own desire under control, and has determined in his own mind to keep her as his fiancée,[w] he will do well. 38 So then, he who marries his fiancée[x] does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do better.

39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies,[y] she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.(BS) 40 But in my opinion she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.

Food Offered to Idols

8 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.(BT) 2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge,(BU) 3 but anyone who loves God is known by him.(BV)

4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists” and that “there is no God but one.”(BW) 5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.(BX)

7 It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.(BY) 8 “Food will not bring us close to God.”[z] We are no worse off if we do not eat and no better off if we do.(BZ) 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.(CA) 10 For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister for whom Christ died is destroyed.(CB) 12 But when you thus sin against brothers and sisters and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never again eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.(CC)

The Rights of an Apostle

9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?(CD) 2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.(CE)

3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to our food and drink?(CF) 5 Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife,[aa] as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?(CG) 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?(CH) 7 Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?(CI)

8 Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?(CJ) 10 Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we harvest material[ab] things?(CK) 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more?

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.(CL) 13 Do you not know that those who work in the temple service get their food from the temple and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar?(CM) 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.(CN)

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that—no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting! 16 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a wage, but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.(CO) 18 What then is my wage? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might gain all the more.(CP) 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to gain Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might gain those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not outside God’s law but am within Christ’s law) so that I might gain those outside the law.(CQ) 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I might become a partner in it.

24 Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.(CR) 25 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.(CS) 26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air, 27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.(CT)

Warnings from Israel’s History

10 I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,(CU) 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food,(CV) 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.(CW) 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.(CX)

6 Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.(CY) 7 Do not become idolaters as some of them did, as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.”(CZ) 8 We must not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.(DA) 9 We must not put Christ[ac] to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents.(DB) 10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.(DC) 11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.(DD) 12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.(DE)

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from the worship of idols.(DF) 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.(DG) 18 Consider the people of Israel:[ad] Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?(DH) 19 What do I imply, then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what they[ae] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.(DI) 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.(DJ) 22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?(DK)

Do All to the Glory of God

23 “All things are permitted,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” but not all things build up. 24 Do not seek your own advantage but that of the other.(DL) 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, 26 for “the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.”(DM) 27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you and for the sake of conscience— 29 I mean the other’s conscience, not your own. For why should my freedom be subject to the judgment of someone else’s conscience?(DN) 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks?(DO)

31 So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.(DP) 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,(DQ) 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage but that of many, so that they may be saved.(DR) 11 1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.(DS)

Head Coverings

2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.(DT) 3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man[af] is the head of the woman,[ag] and God is the head of Christ.(DU) 4 Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head,(DV) 5 but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled shames her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. 7 For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection[ah] of God, but woman is the reflection[ai] of man.(DW) 8 Indeed, man was not made from woman but woman from man.(DX) 9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman but woman for the sake of man.(DY) 10 For this reason a woman ought to have authority over her head,[aj] because of the angels.(DZ) 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. 12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, but all things come from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that, if a man wears long hair, it is dishonoring to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.(EA)

Abuses at the Lord’s Supper

17 Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.(EB) 19 Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.(EC) 20 When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For when the time comes to eat, each of you proceeds to eat your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. 22 What! Do you not have households to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,(ED) 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for[ak] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(EE)

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.(EF) 28 Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.(EG) 29 For all who eat and drink[al] without discerning the body[am] eat and drink judgment against themselves. 30 For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.[an] 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.(EH) 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined[ao] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.(EI)

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If you are hungry, eat at home,[ap] so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.(EJ)

Footnotes

  1. 3.3 Other ancient authorities add and dissensions
  2. 3.13 Or the Day
  3. 3.16 In 3.16 and 3.17 the Greek word for you is plural
  4. 3.21 Or about human things
  5. 4.7 Or Who makes you different from another?
  6. 4.17 Or am sending
  7. 5.4 Or on the man who has done such a thing in the name of the Lord Jesus
  8. 5.5 Other ancient authorities add Jesus
  9. 6.9 Meaning of Gk uncertain
  10. 6.9 Meaning of Gk uncertain
  11. 6.11 Other ancient authorities lack Christ
  12. 6.13 The quotation may extend to the word other
  13. 6.18 Or prostitution
  14. 6.18 Or the one who hires a prostitute
  15. 6.19 Or sanctuary
  16. 7.5 Other ancient authorities read fasting and prayer
  17. 7.14 Other ancient authorities read husband
  18. 7.15 Other ancient authorities read you
  19. 7.21 Meaning of Gk uncertain
  20. 7.26 Or present
  21. 7.26 Or necessity
  22. 7.36 Gk virgin
  23. 7.37 Gk virgin
  24. 7.38 Gk virgin
  25. 7.39 Gk falls asleep
  26. 8.8 The quotation may extend to the end of the verse
  27. 9.5 Gk a sister as wife
  28. 9.11 Gk fleshly
  29. 10.9 Other ancient authorities read the Lord
  30. 10.18 Gk Israel according to the flesh
  31. 10.20 Other ancient authorities read the gentiles
  32. 11.3 Or husband
  33. 11.3 Or wife
  34. 11.7 Or glory
  35. 11.7 Or glory
  36. 11.10 Or have freedom of choice regarding her head
  37. 11.24 Other ancient authorities read is broken for
  38. 11.29 Other ancient authorities add in an unworthy manner,
  39. 11.29 Other ancient authorities read the Lord’s body
  40. 11.30 Gk fallen asleep
  41. 11.32 Or When we are judged, we are being disciplined by the Lord
  42. 11.34 Gk in a household
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1 Corinthians 3-11
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The Church and Its Leaders

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit(A) but as people who are still worldly(B)—mere infants(C) in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food,(D) for you were not yet ready for it.(E) Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling(F) among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,”(G) are you not mere human beings?

5 What, after all, is Apollos?(H) And what is Paul? Only servants,(I) through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed,(J) Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.(K) 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service;(L) you are God’s field,(M) God’s building.(N)

10 By the grace God has given me,(O) I laid a foundation(P) as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.(Q) 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is,(R) because the Day(S) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.(T) 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.(U) 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.(V)

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple(W) and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?(X) 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise(Y) by the standards of this age,(Z) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness(AA) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a];(AB) 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b](AC) 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders!(AD) All things are yours,(AE) 22 whether Paul or Apollos(AF) or Cephas[c](AG) or the world or life or death or the present or the future(AH)—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,(AI) and Christ is of God.

The Nature of True Apostleship

4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants(AJ) of Christ and as those entrusted(AK) with the mysteries(AL) God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience(AM) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.(AN) It is the Lord who judges me.(AO) 5 Therefore judge nothing(AP) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.(AQ) He will bring to light(AR) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.(AS)

6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(AT) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(AU) 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?(AV) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!(AW) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(AX) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(AY) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ,(AZ) but you are so wise in Christ!(BA) We are weak, but you are strong!(BB) You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.(BC) 12 We work hard with our own hands.(BD) When we are cursed, we bless;(BE) when we are persecuted,(BF) we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(BG) of the world—right up to this moment.

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you(BH) but to warn you as my dear children.(BI) 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father(BJ) through the gospel.(BK) 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.(BL) 17 For this reason I have sent to you(BM) Timothy,(BN) my son(BO) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.(BP)

18 Some of you have become arrogant,(BQ) as if I were not coming to you.(BR) 19 But I will come to you very soon,(BS) if the Lord is willing,(BT) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of(BU) talk but of power.(BV) 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,(BW) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Dealing With a Case of Incest

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.(BX) 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning(BY) and have put out of your fellowship(BZ) the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.(CA) As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus(CB) on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over(CC) to Satan(CD) for the destruction of the flesh,[d][e] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.(CE)

6 Your boasting is not good.(CF) Don’t you know that a little yeast(CG) leavens the whole batch of dough?(CH) 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.(CI) 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread(CJ) of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate(CK) with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world(CL) who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[f](CM) but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater(CN) or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.(CO)

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside(CP) the church? Are you not to judge those inside?(CQ) 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”[g](CR)

Lawsuits Among Believers

6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?(CS) 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?(CT) And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you.(CU) Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?(CV) 6 But instead, one brother(CW) takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!(CX)

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?(CY) 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.(CZ) 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?(DA) Do not be deceived:(DB) Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers(DC) nor men who have sex with men[h](DD) 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers(DE) will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were.(DF) But you were washed,(DG) you were sanctified,(DH) you were justified(DI) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Sexual Immorality

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(DJ) “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.”(DK) The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord,(DL) and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead,(DM) and he will raise us also.(DN) 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?(DO) Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”[i](DP) 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.[j](DQ)

18 Flee from sexual immorality.(DR) All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.(DS) 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples(DT) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;(DU) 20 you were bought at a price.(DV) Therefore honor God with your bodies.(DW)

Concerning Married Life

7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”(DX) 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,(DY) and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time,(DZ) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan(EA) will not tempt you(EB) because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.(EC) 7 I wish that all of you were as I am.(ED) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.(EE)

8 Now to the unmarried[k] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.(EF) 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,(EG) for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.(EH) 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.(EI) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):(EJ) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.(EK)

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.(EL) 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save(EM) your husband?(EN) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.(EO) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.(EP) 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.(EQ) 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.(ER) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(ES)

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;(ET) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.(EU) 23 You were bought at a price;(EV) do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(EW)

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(EX) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(EY) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(EZ) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(FA) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(FB) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(FC) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(FD)

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs(FE)—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.(FF) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided(FG) devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[l] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.(FH) They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right,(FI) but he who does not marry her does better.[m]

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.(FJ) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.(FK) 40 In my judgment,(FL) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:(FM) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”(FN) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something(FO) do not yet know as they ought to know.(FP) 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[n](FQ)

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:(FR) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”(FS) and that “There is no God but one.”(FT) 5 For even if there are so-called gods,(FU) whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God,(FV) the Father,(FW) from whom all things came(FX) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,(FY) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came(FZ) and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge.(GA) 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,(GB) it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God;(GC) 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(GD) to the weak.(GE) 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?(GF) 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed(GG) by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them(GH) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.(GI) 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.(GJ)

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?(GK) Am I not an apostle?(GL) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?(GM) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?(GN) 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal(GO) 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?(GP) 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife(GQ) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers(GR) and Cephas[o]?(GS) 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas(GT) who lack the right to not work for a living?

7 Who serves as a soldier(GU) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard(GV) 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.”[p](GW) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?(GX) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,(GY) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.(GZ) 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(HA) 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.(HB) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(HC) 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?(HD) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(HE)

15 But I have not used any of these rights.(HF) 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.(HG) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(HH) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(HI) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(HJ) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(HK) and so not make full use of my rights(HL) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free(HM) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(HN) to win as many as possible.(HO) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(HP) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(HQ) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(HR) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(HS) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(HT) I have become all things to all people(HU) so that by all possible means I might save some.(HV) 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?(HW) Run(HX) 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(HY) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(HZ) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(IA) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(IB) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(IC) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(ID)

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant(IE) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud(IF) and that they all passed through the sea.(IG) 2 They were all baptized into(IH) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food(II) 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock(IJ) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.(IK)

6 Now these things occurred as examples(IL) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters,(IM) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[q](IN) 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.(IO) 9 We should not test Christ,[r](IP) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.(IQ) 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did(IR)—and were killed(IS) by the destroying angel.(IT)

11 These things happened to them as examples(IU) and were written down as warnings for us,(IV) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.(IW) 12 So, if you think you are standing firm,(IX) be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[s] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;(IY) he will not let you be tempted[t] beyond what you can bear.(IZ) But when you are tempted,[u] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

14 Therefore, my dear friends,(JA) flee from idolatry.(JB) 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break(JC) a participation in the body of Christ?(JD) 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,(JE) for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices(JF) participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?(JG) 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,(JH) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.(JI) 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?(JJ) Are we stronger than he?(JK)

The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(JL) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.(JM)

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,(JN) 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[v](JO)

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you(JP) without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.(JQ) 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom(JR) being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?(JS)

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.(JT) 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble,(JU) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God(JV)— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way.(JW) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,(JX) so that they may be saved.(JY) 11 1 Follow my example,(JZ) as I follow the example of Christ.(KA)

On Covering the Head in Worship

2 I praise you(KB) for remembering me in everything(KC) and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.(KD) 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,(KE) and the head of the woman is man,[w](KF) and the head of Christ is God.(KG) 4 Every man who prays or prophesies(KH) with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies(KI) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.(KJ) 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

7 A man ought not to cover his head,[x] since he is the image(KK) and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;(KL) 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.(KM) 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[y] head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.(KN)

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.(KO)

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper(KP)

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you,(KQ) for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions(KR) among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.(KS) 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers.(KT) As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God(KU) by humiliating those who have nothing?(KV) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?(KW) Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord(KX) what I also passed on to you:(KY) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,(KZ) which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(LA) in my blood;(LB) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(LC)

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.(LD) 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves(LE) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.(LF) 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.(LG) 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined(LH) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.(LI)

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry(LJ) should eat something at home,(LK) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come(LL) I will give further directions.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter
  4. 1 Corinthians 5:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  5. 1 Corinthians 5:5 Or of his body
  6. 1 Corinthians 5:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in 8:11, 13.
  7. 1 Corinthians 5:13 Deut. 13:5; 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21,24; 24:7
  8. 1 Corinthians 6:9 The words men who have sex with men translate two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in homosexual acts.
  9. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Gen. 2:24
  10. 1 Corinthians 6:17 Or in the Spirit
  11. 1 Corinthians 7:8 Or widowers
  12. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage
  13. 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
  14. 1 Corinthians 8:3 An early manuscript and another ancient witness think they have knowledge do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves truly knows.
  15. 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, Peter
  16. 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4
  17. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6
  18. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts test the Lord
  19. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  20. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  21. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  22. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1
  23. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or of the wife is her husband
  24. 1 Corinthians 11:7 Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair
  25. 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or have a sign of authority on her
Next
1 Corinthians 2
1 Corinthians 12
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