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.^(A)

¹¹ But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given.^{(A) 12} For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”

⁵ Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife,^[a] as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?^(A)

⁶ We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith;^(A)

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit,^(A)

⁸ To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain unmarried as I am.^(A)

¹¹ All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.^(A)

²⁹ Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”^(A)

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!