⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate^(A) with sexually immoral people—

¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world^(A) who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

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?^{(A) 2} Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?^(B) 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.^(C) Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?^{(D) 6} But instead, one brother^(E) takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!^(F)

¹² To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):^(A) 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.^(B)

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.^{(C) 16} How do you know, wife, whether you will save^(D) your husband?^(E) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

³⁹ A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.^(A) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.^(B)

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?^{(A) 11} So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed^(B) by your knowledge. ¹² When you sin against them^(C) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.^{(D) 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.^(E)

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.^{(A) 22} Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?^(B) Are we stronger than he?^(C)

The Believer’s Freedom

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

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

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

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.^{(L) 32} Do not cause anyone to stumble,^(M) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God^(N)— ³³ even as I try to please everyone in every way.^(O) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,^(P) so that they may be saved.^(Q)