Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) called as an apostle^(B) of Christ Jesus by God’s will,^(C) and Sosthenes our brother:^(D)

² To God’s church at Corinth,^(E) to those who are sanctified^(F) in Christ Jesus and called^(G) as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name^(H) of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father^(I) and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

⁴ I always thank^(J) my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that by Him you were enriched^(K) in everything—in all speech and all knowledge.^{(L) 6} In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,^{(M) 7} so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait^(N) for the revelation^(O) of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will also strengthen you to the end,^(P) so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(Q) 9} God is faithful;^(R) you were called by Him^(S) into fellowship with His Son,^(T) Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions at Corinth

¹⁰ Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. ¹¹ For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry^(U) among you. ¹² What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,”^(V) or “I’m with Cephas,”^(W) or “I’m with Christ.”^{(X) 13} Is Christ divided?^(Y) Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? ¹⁴ I thank God^[a][b] that I baptized none of you except Crispus^(Z) and Gaius,^{(AA) 15} so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ I did, in fact, baptize the household^(AB) of Stephanas;^(AC) beyond that, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross^(AD) of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.^{(AE) 19} For it is written:

²⁰ Where is the philosopher?^[d] Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age?^(AG) Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? ²¹ For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. ²² For the Jews ask for signs^(AH) and the Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified,^(AI) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.^{[e] 24} Yet to those who are called,^(AJ) both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, ²⁵ because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Boasting Only in the Lord

²⁶ Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective,^[f] not many powerful,^(AK) not many of noble birth. ²⁷ Instead, God has chosen^(AL) what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world^(AM)—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, ²⁹ so that no one^[g] can boast in His presence.^{(AN) 30} But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness,^(AO) sanctification,^(AP) and redemption,^{(AQ) 31} in order that, as it is written:^(AR) The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.^(AS)[h]

The Problem of Immaturity

3 Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ.^{(A) 2} I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, ³ because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy^(B) and strife^[a](C) among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers?^{[b] 4} For whenever someone says, “I’m with Paul,” and another, “I’m with Apollos,”^(D) are you not unspiritual people?^[c][d]

The Role of God’s Servants

⁵ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. ⁶ I planted,^(E) Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ Now the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God’s coworkers.^[e] You are God’s field, God’s building.^{(F) 10} According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any other foundation^(G) than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver,^(H) costly stones,^(I) wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become obvious, for the day^[f] will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire;^(J) the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.^{(K) 14} If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved;^(L) yet it will be like an escape through fire.^[g](M)

¹⁶ Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary^(N) and that the Spirit of God lives in you?^{(O) 17} If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him;^(P) for God’s sanctuary is holy,^(Q) and that is what you are.

The Folly of Human Wisdom

¹⁸ No one should deceive^(R) himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age,^(S) he must become foolish^(T) so that he can become wise.^{(U) 19} For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(V) with God, since it is written:^(W) He catches the wise in their craftiness;^{(X)[h] 20} and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings^(Y) of the wise are meaningless.^{(Z)[i] 21} So no one should boast in human leaders, for everything is yours^(AA)— ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas^(AB) or the world or life^(AC) or death^(AD) or things present or things to come^(AE)—everything is yours, ²³ and you belong to Christ,^(AF) and Christ belongs to God.

Immoral Church Members

5 It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality^(A) among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated^[a] among the Gentiles^(B)—a man is living with his father’s wife.^{(C) 2} And you are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief^(D) so that he who has committed this act might be removed from your congregation. ³ For though I am absent in body but present in spirit,^(E) I have already decided about the one who has done this thing as though I were present. ⁴ When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus, ⁵ turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,^(F) so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.^(G)

⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast^(H) permeates the whole batch of dough?^{(I) 7} Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our Passover^(J) has been sacrificed.^{[b] 8} Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast or with the yeast of malice and evil^(K) but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Church Discipline

⁹ I wrote to you in a letter not to associate^(L) with sexually immoral people.^{(M) 10} I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy^(N) and swindlers^(O) or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.^{(P) 11} But now I am writing^[c] you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer^[d](Q) who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard^(R) or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. ¹² For what business is it of mine to judge^(S) outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? ¹³ But God judges outsiders. Put away the evil person from among yourselves.^(T)[e]

Lawsuits among Believers

6 If any of you has a legal dispute against another, do you dare go to court^(U) before the unrighteous,^[f] and not before the saints? ² Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases? ³ Don’t you know that we will judge angels—not to mention ordinary matters? ⁴ So if you have cases pertaining to this life, do you select those^[g] who have no standing^(V) in the church to judge? ⁵ I say this to your shame!^(W) Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between his brothers?^{(X) 6} Instead, believer^[h] goes to court against believer, and that before unbelievers!^(Y)

⁷ Therefore, to have legal disputes against one another is already a moral failure for you.^(Z) Why not rather put up with injustice?^(AA) Why not rather be cheated?^{(AB) 8} Instead, you act unjustly and cheat—and you do this to believers! ⁹ Don’t you know that the unrighteous^(AC) will not inherit God’s kingdom?^(AD) Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters,^(AE) adulterers,^(AF) or anyone practicing homosexuality,^{[i](AG) 10} no thieves,^(AH) greedy^(AI) people, drunkards, verbally abusive people,^(AJ) or swindlers^(AK) will inherit God’s kingdom. ¹¹ And some of you used to be like this.^(AL) But you were washed, you were sanctified,^(AM) you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Glorifying God in Body and Spirit

¹² “Everything is permissible^(AN) for me,”^[j] but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything. ¹³ “Food^(AO) for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will do away with both of them.^[k] The body is not for sexual immorality^(AP) but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.^{(AQ) 15} Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body?^(AR) So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh.^{(AS)[l] 17} But anyone joined^(AT) to the Lord is one spirit^(AU) with Him.

¹⁸ Run^(AV) from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.”^[m] On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral^(AW) sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary^(AX) of the Holy Spirit^(AY) who is in you,^(AZ) whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought^(BA) at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.^[n]

Warnings from Israel’s Past

10 Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers^(A) were all under the cloud,^(B) all passed through the sea,^{(C) 2} and all were baptized^(D) into Moses^(E) in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food,^{(F) 4} and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock^(G) that followed them, and that rock was Christ.^{(H) 5} But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.^(I)

⁶ Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire^(J) evil things as they did.^{[a](K) 7} Don’t become idolaters^(L) as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.^{[b](M)[c] 8} Let us not commit sexual immorality^(N) as some of them did,^[d] and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.^{(O) 9} Let us not test Christ as some of them did^[e] and were destroyed by snakes.^{(P) 10} Nor should we complain^(Q) as some of them did,^[f](R) and were killed by the destroyer.^{[g](S) 11} Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us,^(T) on whom the ends of the ages^(U) have come.^{(V) 12} So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.^{(W) 13} No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful,^(X) and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape^(Y) so that you are able to bear it.

Warning against Idolatry

¹⁴ Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ The cup^(Z) of blessing^(AA) that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread^(AB) 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^(AC) body, for all of us share that one bread. ¹⁸ Look at the people of Israel.^[h] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?^{(AD) 19} What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, but I do say that what they^[i] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. ²² Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?^(AE)

Christian Liberty

²³ “Everything is permissible,”^[j][k] but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,”^[l] but not everything builds up. ²⁴ No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.^(AF)

²⁵ Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, ²⁶ for the earth is the Lord’s,^(AG) and all that is in it.^{(AH)[m] 27} If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. ²⁸ But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it,^(AI) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake.^{[n] 29} I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged^(AJ) by another person’s conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thanks,^(AK) why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.^{(AL) 32} Give no offense^(AM) to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, ³³ just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,^(AN) so that they may be saved.

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning what comes from the Spirit:^[a] brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols^(A) that could not speak.^{(B) 3} Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are different gifts,^(C) but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.^{[b] 7} A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person^(D) to produce what is beneficial:

¹¹ But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.

Unity Yet Diversity in the Body

¹² For as the body is one^(K) and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.^{(L) 13} For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.^{(M) 14} So the body is not one part but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted.^{(N) 19} And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? ²⁰ Now there are many parts, yet one body.

²¹ So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable,^(O) we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation. ²⁴ But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, ²⁵ so that there would be no division^(P) in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. ²⁶ So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(Q) and individual members of it. ²⁸ And God has placed these in the church:^(R)

³¹ But desire^(W) the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

Love: The Superior Way

Resurrection Essential to the Gospel

15 Now brothers, I want to clarify^[a] for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand^(A) on it. ² You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed for no purpose.^{[b](B) 3} For I passed on to you^(C) as most important what I also received:

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles,^(P) unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(Q) the church of God. ¹⁰ But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God’s grace that was with me.^{(R) 11} Therefore, whether it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.

Resurrection Essential to the Faith

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,^(S) how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”?^{(T) 13} But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; ¹⁴ and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without foundation, and so is your faith.^{[d] 15} In addition, we are found to be false witnesses^(U) about God, because we have testified^(V) about God that He raised up Christ—whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ^(W) have also perished. ¹⁹ If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Christ’s Resurrection Guarantees Ours

²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits^(X) of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death^(Y) came through a man,^(Z) the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.^{(AA) 22} For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.^{(AB) 23} But each in his own order:^(AC) Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end,^(AD) when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father,^(AE) when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power.^{(AF) 25} For He must reign^(AG) until He puts all His enemies under His feet.^{(AH) 26} The last enemy to be abolished is death.^{(AI) 27} For God has put everything under His feet.^(AJ)[e] But when it says “everything” is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception. ²⁸ And when everything is subject to Christ, then the Son^(AK) Himself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.^(AL)

Resurrection Supported by Christian Experience

²⁹ Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?^{[f] 30} Why are we in danger every hour? ³¹ I affirm by the pride in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: I die every day!^{(AM) 32} If I fought wild animals in Ephesus^(AN) with only human hope,^[g] what good did that do me?^[h](AO) If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.^{(AP)[i] 33} Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”^{[j] 34} Come to your senses^[k](AQ) and stop sinning, for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.^(AR)

The Nature of the Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” ³⁶ Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life^(AS) unless it dies. ³⁷ And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed,^[l] perhaps of wheat or another grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as He wants,^(AT) and to each of the seeds its own body. ³⁹ Not all flesh^(AU) is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰ There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor^(AV) of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. ⁴¹ There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for one star differs from another star in splendor. ⁴² So it is with the resurrection of the dead:

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being;^(BA)[m] the last Adam^(BB) became a life-giving Spirit. ⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.

Victorious Resurrection

⁵⁰ Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh^(BG) and blood^(BH) cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Listen! I am telling you a mystery:

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work,^(BR) knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.