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.”^{(A) 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,^(B) 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,^(C) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan^(D) will not tempt you^(E) because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ I say this as a concession, not as a command.^{(F) 7} I wish that all of you were as I am.^(G) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.^(H)

⁸ Now to the unmarried^[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.^{(I) 9} But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,^(J) 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.^{(K) 11} But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.^(L) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

¹² To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):^(M) 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.^(N)

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.^{(O) 16} How do you know, wife, whether you will save^(P) your husband?^(Q) 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.^(R) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^{(S) 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.^{(T) 19} Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(U) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(V)

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;^(W) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.^{(X) 23} You were bought at a price;^(Y) 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.^(Z)

Concerning the Unmarried

²⁵ Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,^(AA) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy^(AB) is trustworthy. ²⁶ Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.^{(AC) 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.^{(AD) 28} But if you do marry, you have not sinned;^(AE) 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.^(AF) 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.^(AG)

³² I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs^(AH)—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.^(AI) 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^(AJ) 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^[b] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.^(AK) 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,^(AL) but he who does not marry her does better.^[c]

³⁹ A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.^(AM) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.^{(AN) 40} In my judgment,^(AO) 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:^(AP) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”^(AQ) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. ² Those who think they know something^(AR) do not yet know as they ought to know.^{(AS) 3} But whoever loves God is known by God.^[d](AT)

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

⁷ But not everyone possesses this knowledge.^(BD) 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,^(BE) it is defiled. ⁸ But food does not bring us near to God;^(BF) 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^(BG) to the weak.^{(BH) 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?^{(BI) 11} So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed^(BJ) by your knowledge. ¹² When you sin against them^(BK) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.^{(BL) 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.^(BM)

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?^(BN) Am I not an apostle?^(BO) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?^(BP) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?^{(BQ) 2} Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal^(BR) 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?^{(BS) 5} Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife^(BT) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers^(BU) and Cephas^[e]?^{(BV) 6} Or is it only I and Barnabas^(BW) who lack the right to not work for a living?

⁷ Who serves as a soldier^(BX) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard^(BY) 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.”^[f](BZ) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?^{(CA) 10} Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,^(CB) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.^{(CC) 11} If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?^{(CD) 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.^(CE) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder^(CF) 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?^{(CG) 14} In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.^(CH)

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights.^(CI) 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.^{(CJ) 16} For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.^(CK) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;^(CL) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.^{(CM) 18} What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,^(CN) and so not make full use of my rights^(CO) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(CP) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(CQ) to win as many as possible.^{(CR) 20} To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.^(CS) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),^(CT) so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law^(CU) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),^(CV) so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(CW) I have become all things to all people^(CX) so that by all possible means I might save some.^{(CY) 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?^(CZ) Run^(DA) 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^(DB) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.^{(DC) 26} Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;^(DD) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.^{(DE) 27} No, I strike a blow to my body^(DF) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.^(DG)

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant^(DH) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud^(DI) and that they all passed through the sea.^{(DJ) 2} They were all baptized into^(DK) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food^{(DL) 4} and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock^(DM) 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.^(DN)

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples^(DO) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters,^(DP) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”^{[g](DQ) 8} We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.^{(DR) 9} We should not test Christ,^[h](DS) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.^{(DT) 10} And do not grumble, as some of them did^(DU)—and were killed^(DV) by the destroying angel.^(DW)

¹¹ These things happened to them as examples^(DX) and were written down as warnings for us,^(DY) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.^{(DZ) 12} So, if you think you are standing firm,^(EA) be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation^[i] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;^(EB) he will not let you be tempted^[j] beyond what you can bear.^(EC) But when you are tempted,^[k] 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,^(ED) flee from idolatry.^{(EE) 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^(EF) a participation in the body of Christ?^{(EG) 17} Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,^(EH) for we all share the one loaf.

¹⁸ Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices^(EI) participate in the altar? ¹⁹ Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?^{(EJ) 20} No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,^(EK) 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.^{(EL) 22} Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?^(EM) Are we stronger than he?^(EN)

The Believer’s Freedom

²³ “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.^(EO) “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.^(EP)

²⁵ Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,^{(EQ) 26} for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”^[l](ER)

²⁷ If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you^(ES) 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.^{(ET) 29} I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom^(EU) 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?^(EV)

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.^{(EW) 32} Do not cause anyone to stumble,^(EX) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God^(EY)— ³³ even as I try to please everyone in every way.^(EZ) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,^(FA) so that they may be saved.^(FB) 11 ¹ Follow my example,^(FC) as I follow the example of Christ.^(FD)

On Covering the Head in Worship

² I praise you^(FE) for remembering me in everything^(FF) and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.^{(FG) 3} But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,^(FH) and the head of the woman is man,^[m](FI) and the head of Christ is God.^{(FJ) 4} Every man who prays or prophesies^(FK) with his head covered dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies^(FL) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.^{(FM) 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,^[n] since he is the image^(FN) and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;^{(FO) 9} neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.^{(FP) 10} It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own^[o] 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.^(FQ)

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.^(FR)

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper^(FS)

¹⁷ In the following directives I have no praise for you,^(FT) 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^(FU) 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.^{(FV) 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.^(FW) 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^(FX) by humiliating those who have nothing?^(FY) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?^(FZ) Certainly not in this matter!

²³ For I received from the Lord^(GA) what I also passed on to you:^(GB) 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,^(GC) 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^(GD) in my blood;^(GE) 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.^(GF)

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.^{(GG) 28} Everyone ought to examine themselves^(GH) 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.^{(GI) 31} But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.^{(GJ) 32} Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined^(GK) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.^(GL)

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

And when I come^(GO) I will give further directions.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,^(GP) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.^{(GQ) 2} You know that when you were pagans,^(GR) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.^{(GS) 3} Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,”^(GT) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”^(GU) except by the Holy Spirit.^(GV)

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit^(GW) distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone^(GX) it is the same God^(GY) at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.^{(GZ) 8} To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,^(HA) to another a message of knowledge^(HB) by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith^(HC) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing^(HD) by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers,^(HE) to another prophecy,^(HF) to another distinguishing between spirits,^(HG) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[p](HH) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^{[q] 11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,^(HI) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,^(HJ) so it is with Christ.^{(HK) 13} For we were all baptized^(HL) by^[r] one Spirit^(HM) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(HN)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^{(HO) 14} Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.^(HP)

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed^(HQ) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.^{(HR) 19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.^(HS)

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(HT) and each one of you is a part of it.^{(HU) 28} And God has placed in the church^(HV) first of all apostles,^(HW) second prophets,^(HX) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,^(HY) of helping, of guidance,^(HZ) and of different kinds of tongues.^{(IA) 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[s]?^(IB) Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire^(IC) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues^[t](ID) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(IE) and can fathom all mysteries^(IF) and all knowledge,^(IG) and if I have a faith^(IH) that can move mountains,^(II) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(IJ) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[u](IK) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(IL) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(IM) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(IN) it is not easily angered,^(IO) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(IP) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(IQ) but rejoices with the truth.^{(IR) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(IS)

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(IT) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(IU) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part^(IV) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,^(IW) what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood^(IX) behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(IY) then we shall see face to face.^(IZ) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(JA)

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.^(JB) But the greatest of these is love.^(JC)