1 Corinthians 9-16

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Rights of an Apostle

9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?^{(A) 2} If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.^(B)

³ This is my defense to those who would examine me. ⁴ Do we not have the right to our food and drink?^{(C) 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?^{(D) 6} Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?^{(E) 7} Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?^(F)

⁸ Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?^{(G) 10} Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. ¹¹ If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we harvest material^[b] things?^{(H) 12} If others share this rightful claim on 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.^{(I) 13} Do you not know that those who work in the temple service get their food from the temple and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar?^{(J) 14} In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.^(K)

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! ¹⁶ If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this of my own will, I have a wage, but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.^{(L) 18} What then is my wage? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

¹⁹ For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might gain all the more.^{(M) 20} To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to gain Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might gain those under the law. ²¹ To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not outside God’s law but am within Christ’s law) so that I might gain those outside the law.^{(N) 22} To the weak I became weak, so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. ²³ I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I might become a partner in it.

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.^{(O) 25} Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.^{(P) 26} So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air, ²⁷ but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.^(Q)

Warnings from Israel’s History

10 I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,^{(R) 2} and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and all ate the same spiritual food,^{(S) 4} and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.^{(T) 5} Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.^(U)

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.^{(V) 7} Do not become idolaters as some of them did, as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.”^{(W) 8} We must not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.^{(X) 9} We must not put Christ^[c] to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents.^{(Y) 10} And do not complain, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.^{(Z) 11} These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.^{(AA) 12} So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. ¹³ No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.^(AB)

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, flee from the worship of idols.^{(AC) 15} I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread 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 body, for we all partake of the one bread.^{(AD) 18} Consider the people of Israel:^[d] Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?^{(AE) 19} What do I imply, then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, I imply that what they^[e] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.^{(AF) 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.^{(AG) 22} Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?^(AH)

Do All to the Glory of God

²³ “All things are permitted,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” but not all things build up. ²⁴ Do not seek your own advantage but that of the other.^{(AI) 25} Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, ²⁶ for “the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.”^{(AJ) 27} If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁸ But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you and for the sake of conscience— ²⁹ I mean the other’s conscience, not your own. For why should my freedom be subject to the judgment of someone else’s conscience?^{(AK) 30} If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks?^(AL)

³¹ So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.^{(AM) 32} Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,^{(AN) 33} just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage but that of many, so that they may be saved.^(AO) 11 ¹ Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.^(AP)

Head Coverings

² I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.^{(AQ) 3} But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man^[f] is the head of the woman,^[g] and God is the head of Christ.^{(AR) 4} Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head,^{(AS) 5} but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled shames her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. ⁶ For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. ⁷ For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection^[h] of God, but woman is the reflection^[i] of man.^{(AT) 8} Indeed, man was not made from woman but woman from man.^{(AU) 9} Neither was man created for the sake of woman but woman for the sake of man.^{(AV) 10} For this reason a woman ought to have authority over her head,^[j] because of the angels.^{(AW) 11} Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. ¹² For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, but all things come from God. ¹³ Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? ¹⁴ Does not nature itself teach you that, if a man wears long hair, it is dishonoring to him, ¹⁵ but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.^(AX)

Abuses at the Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.^{(AY) 19} Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.^{(AZ) 20} When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. ²¹ For when the time comes to eat, each of you proceeds to eat your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. ²² What! Do you not have households to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,^{(BA) 24} and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for^[k] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.^(BB)

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

²⁷ Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.^{(BC) 28} Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.^{(BD) 29} For all who eat and drink^[l] without discerning the body^[m] eat and drink judgment against themselves. ³⁰ For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.^{[n] 31} But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.^{(BE) 32} But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined^[o] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.^(BF)

³³ So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ If you are hungry, eat at home,^[p] so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.^(BG)

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts,^[q] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant.^{(BH) 2} You know that when you were gentiles you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.^{(BI) 3} Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.^(BJ)

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit,^{(BK) 5} and there are varieties of services but the same Lord,^{(BL) 6} and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. ⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.^{(BM) 8} To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,^{(BN) 9} to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,^{(BO) 10} to another the working of powerful deeds, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.^{(BP) 11} All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.^(BQ)

One Body with Many Members

¹² For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.^{(BR) 13} For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.^(BS)

¹⁴ Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many members yet one body. ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect, ²⁴ whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, ²⁵ that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.^{(BT) 28} And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.^{(BU) 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work powerful deeds? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?^{(BV) 31} But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.^(BW)

The Gift of Love

13 If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.^{(BX) 3} If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast^[r] but do not have love, I gain nothing.^(BY)

⁴ Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant^{(BZ) 5} or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs;^{(CA) 6} it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.^{(CB) 7} It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.^(CC)

⁸ Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. ⁹ For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, ¹⁰ but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. ¹² For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.^{(CD) 13} And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts and especially that you may prophesy.^{(CE) 2} For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God, for no one understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.^{(CF) 3} But those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.^{(CG) 4} Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. ⁵ Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.^(CH)

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?^{(CI) 7} It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will what is being played on the flute or harp be recognized? ⁸ And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?^{(CJ) 9} So with yourselves: If in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.^{(CK) 10} There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound. ¹¹ If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.^{(CL) 12} So with yourselves: since you are striving after spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them for building up the church.

¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. ¹⁵ What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also.^{(CM) 16} Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying?^{(CN) 17} For you may give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.^{(CO) 18} I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; ¹⁹ nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults.^{(CP) 21} In the law it is written,

says the Lord.^{(CQ) 22} Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ If, therefore, the entire church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind?^{(CR) 24} But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. ²⁵ After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship, declaring, “God is really among you.”

Orderly Worship

²⁶ What should be done then, my brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.^{(CS) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three and each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. ³⁰ If someone sitting receives a revelation, let the first person be silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged ³² (and the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, ³³ for God is a God not of disorder but of peace), as in all the churches of the saints.

³⁴ Women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak but should be subordinate, as the law also says.^{(CT) 35} If there is something they want to learn, let them ask their husbands at home.^[s] For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.^{[t] 36} Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

³⁷ Anyone who claims to be a prophet or spiritual must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command^[u] of the Lord.^{(CU) 38} Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized. ³⁹ So, my brothers and sisters, strive to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues,^{(CV) 40} but all things should be done decently and in order.

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now I want you to understand, brothers and sisters, the good news^[v] that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand,^{(CW) 2} through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.^(CX)

³ For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures^{(CY) 4} and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures^{(CZ) 5} and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.^{(DA) 6} Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.^{[w] 7} Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.^{(DB) 8} Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.^{(DC) 9} For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.^{(DD) 10} But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me.^{(DE) 11} Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ 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 in vain and your faith is in vain. ¹⁵ We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.^{(DF) 16} For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. ¹⁷ If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have died^[x] in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.^{[y](DG) 21} For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human,^{(DH) 22} for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. ²³ But each in its own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power.^{(DI) 25} For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(DJ) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^{(DK) 27} For “God^[z] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him.^{(DL) 28} When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.^(DM)

²⁹ Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?

³⁰ And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour?^{(DN) 31} I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord.^{(DO) 32} If I fought with wild animals at Ephesus with a merely human perspective, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised,

³³ Do not be deceived:

³⁴ Sober up, as you rightly ought to, and sin no more, for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.^(DQ)

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶ Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.^{(DR) 37} And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has chosen and to each kind of seed its own body. ³⁹ Not all flesh is alike, but there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰ There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs from star in glory.

⁴² So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.^{(DS) 44} It is sown a physical body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.^{(DT) 46} But it is not the spiritual that is first but the physical and then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man was from the earth, made of dust; the second man is^[aa] from heaven.^{(DU) 48} As one of dust, so are those who are of the dust, and as one of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹ Just as we have borne the image of the one of dust, we will^[ab] also bear the image of the one of heaven.^(DV)

⁵⁰ What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(DW) 51} Look, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die,^[ac] but we will all be changed,^{(DX) 52} in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.^{(DY) 53} For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When this perishable body puts on imperishability and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.^{(EA) 57} But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.^(EB)

The Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia.^{(EC) 2} On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come.^{(ED) 3} And when I arrive, I will send any whom you approve with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

Plans for Travel

⁵ I will visit you after passing through Macedonia—for I intend to pass through Macedonia^(EE)— ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way, wherever I go. ⁷ I do not want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹ for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am;^{(EF) 11} therefore let no one despise him. Send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers and sisters.^(EG)

¹² Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers and sisters, but he was not at all willing to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.^(EH)

Final Messages and Greetings

¹³ Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.^{(EI) 14} Let all that you do be done in love.^(EJ)

¹⁵ Now, brothers and sisters, you know that members of the household of Stephanas were the first fruits in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints;^{(EK) 16} I urge you to put yourselves at the service of such people and of everyone who works and toils with them.^{(EL) 17} I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence,^{(EM) 18} for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So give recognition to such persons.^(EN)

¹⁹ The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord.^{(EO) 20} All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. ²² Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come!^{[ad](EP) 23} The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.^[ae]