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1 Corinthians 5-10
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church

5 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife.[a] 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

3 For though absent in body I 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. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan[b] for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.[c]

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Sexual Immorality Must Be Judged

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men;[d] 10 not at all meaning the immoral[e] of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But rather I wrote[f] to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality[g] or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.”

Lawsuits among Believers

6 When one of you has a grievance against a brother, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous[h] instead of 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? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters pertaining to this life! 4 If then you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who are least esteemed by the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no man among you wise enough to decide between members of the brotherhood, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?

7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren.

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral,[i] nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[j][k] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Glorify God in Body and Spirit

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,”[l] but I will not be enslaved by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality,[m] but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two shall become one.”[n] 17 But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Shun immorality.[o] Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Directions concerning Marriage

7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.[p] 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control. 6 I say this by way of concession, not of command. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.

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

12 To the rest I say, 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. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. For God has called us[q] to peace. 16 Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?

The Life That the Lord Has Assigned

17 Only, let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was any one at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was any one at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Every one should remain in the state in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.[r] 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God.

The Unmarried and the Widows

25 Now concerning the unmarried,[s] I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the impending[t] distress it is well for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. 28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a girl[u] marries she does not sin. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 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 goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of this world is passing away.

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; 33 but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl[v] is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If any one thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,[w] if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed,[x] he will do well. 38 So that he who marries his betrothed[y] does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I have the Spirit of God.

Food Offered to Idols

8 Now concerning food offered to idols:[z] we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” “Knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if one loves God, one is known by him.

4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed 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.

7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

The Rights of an Apostle

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

3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.[aa] 4 Do we not have the right to our food and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife,[ab][ac] as the other apostles and the brethren[ad] of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

8 Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? 12 If others share this rightful claim upon 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. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have any one deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel.

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under the law I became as one under the law—though not being myself under the law—that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law—not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ—that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; 27 but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Warnings from Israel’s History

10 I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same supernatural[ae] food 4 and all drank the same supernatural[af] drink. For they drank from the supernatural[ag] Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless with most of them God was not pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to dance.” 8 We must not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put the Lord[ah] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, shun the worship of idols. 15 I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation[ai] in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation[aj] 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. 18 Consider the practice of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.[ak] 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. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 (But if some one says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then out of consideration for the man who informed you, and for conscience’ sake— 29 I mean his conscience, not yours—do not eat it.) For why should my liberty be determined by another man’s scruples? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 5.1 father’s wife: Evidently his stepmother.
  2. 5.5 to Satan: Not only excommunicated, but in some sense given over to suffering, for his own good.
  3. 1 Corinthians 5:5 Other ancient authorities omit Jesus
  4. 5.9-10 immoral: Literally, “fornicators.”
  5. 5.9-10 immoral: Literally, “fornicators.”
  6. 1 Corinthians 5:11 Or now I write
  7. 5.11 guilty of immorality: Literally, “a fornicator.”
  8. 6.1 the unrighteous: i.e., civil courts in which the judges were, of course, pagan.
  9. 6.9 the immoral: Literally, “fornicators.”
  10. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Two Greek words are rendered by this expression
  11. 6.9 homosexuals: Greek has “effeminate nor sodomites.” The apostle condemns, not the inherent tendencies of such, but the indulgence of them.
  12. 6.12 This saying is possibly an exaggeration of the freedom from the Mosaic law that Christians enjoyed. The saying has been applied to sinful practices, as is clear from the following verses.
  13. 6.13, 18 immorality: i.e., sexual immorality.
  14. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Greek one flesh
  15. 6.13, 18 immorality: i.e., sexual immorality.
  16. 7.2 Note Paul’s insistence on equality of man and woman in certain aspects of Christian marriage, and his recognition that the unmarried state is also a gift from God.
  17. 1 Corinthians 7:15 Other ancient authorities read you
  18. 1 Corinthians 7:21 Or make use of your present condition instead
  19. 1 Corinthians 7:25 Greek virgins
  20. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or present
  21. 1 Corinthians 7:28 Greek virgin
  22. 1 Corinthians 7:34 Greek virgin
  23. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Greek virgin
  24. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Greek virgin
  25. 1 Corinthians 7:38 Greek virgin
  26. 8.1-13 Animals sacrificed to pagan gods were often sold as meat in the market. Could Christians buy such meat? Paul allows it so long as scandal is avoided.
  27. 9.3 Paul set great store by the fact that he has earned his living and waived his right to support by the faithful. He used this as an authentication of his apostolate.
  28. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Greek woman, sister
  29. 9.5 wife: Greek, a “woman,” a “sister.” This could mean either a woman who is a Christian or a wife who is a Christian. There were pious women who ministered to the apostles (Lk 8.3). As many of the apostles must have been married, they may have been ministered to by their wives, though it is possible they had left their wives in answer to the Lord’s command to leave all (Lk 18.28-29).
  30. 9.5 brethren: See note on Mt 12.46.
  31. 1 Corinthians 10:3 Greek spiritual
  32. 1 Corinthians 10:4 Greek spiritual
  33. 1 Corinthians 10:4 Greek spiritual
  34. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Other ancient authorities read Christ
  35. 1 Corinthians 10:16 Or communion
  36. 1 Corinthians 10:16 Or communion
  37. 10.20 Paul appears to forbid partaking in sacrificial meals. In verse 27 he says they may eat meat offered to idols if it is at an ordinary meal, unless it would cause scandal to any one present.
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1 Corinthians 5-10
New King James Version

Immorality Defiles the Church

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even [a]named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s (A)wife! 2 (B)And you are [b]puffed up, and have not rather (C)mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 (D)For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the (E)name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, (F)with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 (G)deliver such a one to (H)Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord [c]Jesus.

6 (I)Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that (J)a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore [d]purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed (K)Christ, our (L)Passover, was sacrificed [e]for us. 8 Therefore (M)let us keep the feast, (N)not with old leaven, nor (O)with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Immorality Must Be Judged

9 I wrote to you in my epistle (P)not to [f]keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go (Q)out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company (R)with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—(S)not even to eat with such a person.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore (T)“put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Do Not Sue the Brethren

6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the (U)saints? 2 Do you not know that (V)the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall (W)judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have [g]judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. (X)Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. (Y)Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [h]homosexuals, nor [i]sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were (Z)some of you. (AA)But you were washed, but you were [j]sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Glorify God in Body and Spirit

12 (AB)All things are lawful for me, but all things are not [k]helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of [l]any. 13 (AC)Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for (AD)sexual immorality but (AE)for the Lord, (AF)and the Lord for the body. 14 And (AG)God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up (AH)by His power.

15 Do you not know that (AI)your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For (AJ)“the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 (AK)But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 (AL)Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins (AM)against his own body. 19 Or (AN)do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, (AO)and you are not your own? 20 For (AP)you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [m]and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Principles of Marriage

7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:

(AQ)It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 (AR)Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 (AS)Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that (AT)Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, (AU)not as a commandment. 7 For (AV)I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: (AW)It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but (AX)if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Keep Your Marriage Vows

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the (AY)Lord: (AZ)A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise (BA)your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us (BB)to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will (BC)save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live as You Are Called

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And (BD)so I [n]ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? (BE)Let him not be circumcised. 19 (BF)Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but (BG)keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is (BH)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is (BI)Christ’s slave. 23 (BJ)You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with (BK)God in that state in which he was called.

To the Unmarried and Widows

25 Now concerning virgins: (BL)I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one (BM)whom the Lord in His mercy has made (BN)trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—(BO)that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

29 But (BP)this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not (BQ)misusing it. For (BR)the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be without [o]care. (BS)He who is unmarried [p]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman (BT)cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his [q]virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his [r]virgin, does well. 38 (BU)So then he who gives [s]her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

39 (BV)A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, (BW)only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, (BX)according to my judgment—and (BY)I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Be Sensitive to Conscience

8 Now (BZ)concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have (CA)knowledge. (CB)Knowledge [t]puffs up, but love [u]edifies. 2 And (CC)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that (CD)an idol is nothing in the world, (CE)and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are (CF)so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet (CG)for us there is one God, the Father, (CH)of whom are all things, and we for Him; and (CI)one Lord Jesus Christ, (CJ)through whom are all things, and (CK)through whom we live.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, (CL)with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is (CM)defiled. 8 But (CN)food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

9 But (CO)beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become (CP)a [v]stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not (CQ)the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And (CR)because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But (CS)when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (CT)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

A Pattern of Self-Denial

9 Am (CU)I not an apostle? Am I not free? (CV)Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? (CW)Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are (CX)the [w]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 (CY)Do we have no [x]right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along [y]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, (CZ)the brothers of the Lord, and (DA)Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I (DB)who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever (DC)goes to war at his own expense? Who (DD)plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who (DE)tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, (DF)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that (DG)he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 (DH)If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

(DI)Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things (DJ)lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 (DK)Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the (DL)temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so (DM)the Lord has commanded (DN)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But (DO)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for (DP)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for (DQ)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, (DR)I have a reward; but if against my will, (DS)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That (DT)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [z]of Christ without charge, that I (DU)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

19 For though I am (DV)free from all men, (DW)I have made myself a servant to all, (DX)that I might win the more; 20 and (DY)to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [aa]law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 (DZ)to (EA)those who are without law, as without law (EB)(not being without [ab]law toward God, but under [ac]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 (EC)to the weak I became [ad]as weak, that I might win the weak. (ED)I have become all things to all men, (EE)that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? (EF)Run in such a way that you may [ae]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [af]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for (EG)an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: (EH)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 (EI)But I discipline my body and (EJ)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become (EK)disqualified.

Old Testament Examples

10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under (EL)the cloud, all passed through (EM)the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same (EN)spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same (EO)spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies (EP)were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as (EQ)they also lusted. 7 (ER)And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, (ES)“The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 (ET)Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as (EU)some of them did, and (EV)in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [ag]tempt Christ, as (EW)some of them also tempted, and (EX)were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as (EY)some of them also complained, and (EZ)were destroyed by (FA)the destroyer. 11 Now [ah]all these things happened to them as examples, and (FB)they were written for our [ai]admonition, (FC)upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

12 Therefore (FD)let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but (FE)God is faithful, (FF)who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [aj]bear it.

Flee from Idolatry

14 Therefore, my beloved, (FG)flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to (FH)wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 (FI)The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the [ak]communion of the blood of Christ? (FJ)The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For (FK)we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

18 Observe (FL)Israel (FM)after the flesh: (FN)Are not those who eat of the sacrifices [al]partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? (FO)That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles (FP)sacrifice (FQ)they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 (FR)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and (FS)the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the (FT)Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we (FU)provoke the Lord to jealousy? (FV)Are we stronger than He?

All to the Glory of God(FW)

23 All things are lawful [am]for me, but not all things are (FX)helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things [an]edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one (FY)the other’s well-being.

25 (FZ)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for (GA)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, (GB)eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it (GC)for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; [ao]for (GD)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For (GE)why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food (GF)over which I give thanks?

31 (GG)Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 (GH)Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just (GI)as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 5:1 NU omits named
  2. 1 Corinthians 5:2 arrogant
  3. 1 Corinthians 5:5 NU omits Jesus
  4. 1 Corinthians 5:7 clean out
  5. 1 Corinthians 5:7 NU omits for us
  6. 1 Corinthians 5:9 associate
  7. 1 Corinthians 6:4 courts
  8. 1 Corinthians 6:9 catamites, those submitting to homosexuals
  9. 1 Corinthians 6:9 male homosexuals
  10. 1 Corinthians 6:11 set apart
  11. 1 Corinthians 6:12 profitable
  12. 1 Corinthians 6:12 Or anything
  13. 1 Corinthians 6:20 NU omits the rest of v. 20.
  14. 1 Corinthians 7:17 direct
  15. 1 Corinthians 7:32 concern
  16. 1 Corinthians 7:32 is concerned about
  17. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or virgin daughter
  18. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or virgin daughter
  19. 1 Corinthians 7:38 NU his own virgin
  20. 1 Corinthians 8:1 makes arrogant
  21. 1 Corinthians 8:1 builds up
  22. 1 Corinthians 8:9 cause of offense
  23. 1 Corinthians 9:2 certification
  24. 1 Corinthians 9:4 authority
  25. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Lit. a sister, a wife
  26. 1 Corinthians 9:18 NU omits of Christ
  27. 1 Corinthians 9:20 NU adds though not being myself under the law
  28. 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU God’s law
  29. 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU Christ’s law
  30. 1 Corinthians 9:22 NU omits as
  31. 1 Corinthians 9:24 win
  32. 1 Corinthians 9:25 exercises self-control
  33. 1 Corinthians 10:9 test
  34. 1 Corinthians 10:11 NU omits all
  35. 1 Corinthians 10:11 instruction
  36. 1 Corinthians 10:13 endure
  37. 1 Corinthians 10:16 fellowship or sharing
  38. 1 Corinthians 10:18 fellowshippers or sharers
  39. 1 Corinthians 10:23 NU omits for me
  40. 1 Corinthians 10:23 build up
  41. 1 Corinthians 10:28 NU omits the rest of v. 28.
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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