Paul’s Use of Freedom

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

³ My defense to those who examine me is this: ^4 [a](G)Do we not have a right to eat and drink? ^5 [b](H)Do we not have a right to take along a ^[c]believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the ^(I)brothers of the Lord, and ^[d](J)Cephas? ⁶ Or do only ^[e](K)Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from ^[f]working? ⁷ Who at any time serves ^(L)as a soldier at his own expense? Who ^(M)plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not ^[g]consume some of the milk of the flock?

⁸ I am not just asserting these things ^(N)according to human judgment, am I? Or does the Law not say these things as well? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “^(O)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing.” God is not concerned about ^(P)oxen, is He? ¹⁰ Or is He speaking entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written ^(Q)for our sake, because ^(R)the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing in the crops. ^11 (S)If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? ¹² If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we ^(T)did not use this right, but we endure all things ^(U)so that we will cause no hindrance to the ^(V)gospel of Christ. ^13 (W)Do you not know that those who ^(X)perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share ^[h]from the altar? ¹⁴ So also ^(Y)the Lord directed those who proclaim the ^(Z)gospel to ^(AA)get their living from the gospel.

¹⁵ But I have ^(AB)used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make ^(AC)my boast an empty one! ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for ^(AD)I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach ^(AE)the gospel. ¹⁷ For if I do this voluntarily, I have a ^(AF)reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a ^(AG)commission nonetheless. ¹⁸ What, then, is my ^(AH)reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel ^(AI)without charge, so as ^(AJ)not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

¹⁹ For though I am ^(AK)free from all people, I have made myself ^(AL)a slave to all, so that I may ^(AM)gain more. ^20 (AN)To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though ^(AO)not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; ²¹ to those who are ^(AP)without the Law, I became ^(AQ)as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but ^(AR)under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. ²² To the ^(AS)weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become ^(AT)all things to all people, ^(AU)so that I may by all means save some. ²³ I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

^24 (AV)Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives ^(AW)the prize? ^(AX)Run in such a way that you may win. ²⁵ Everyone who ^(AY)competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable ^(AZ)wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore I ^(BA)run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as ^[i]to avoid ^(BB)hitting air; ²⁷ but I strictly discipline ^(BC)my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Avoid Israel’s Mistakes

10 For ^(BD)I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all ^(BE)under the cloud and they all ^(BF)passed through the sea; ² and they all were ^(BG)baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³ and they all ^(BH)ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all ^(BI)drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was ^[j]Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were ^(BJ)spread out in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things happened as ^(BK)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^(BL)they indeed craved them. ⁷ Do not be ^(BM)idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “^(BN)The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to ^(BO)play.” ⁸ Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as ^(BP)some of them ^[k]did, and ^(BQ)twenty-three thousand fell in one day. ⁹ Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as ^(BR)some of them ^[l]did, and were killed by the snakes. ¹⁰ Nor ^(BS)grumble, as some of them ^[m]did, and ^(BT)were killed by the ^(BU)destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an ^(BV)example, and ^(BW)they were written for our instruction, upon whom ^(BX)the ends of the ages have come. ¹² Therefore let the one who ^(BY)thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and ^(BZ)God is faithful, ^[n]so He will not allow you to be ^(CA)tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

¹⁴ Therefore, my ^(CB)beloved, flee from ^(CC)idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. ¹⁶ Is the ^(CD)cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the ^(CE)bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Since there is one loaf, we ^(CF)who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. ¹⁸ Look at ^[o]the people of ^(CG)Israel; are those who ^(CH)eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? ¹⁹ What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^(CI)that an idol is ^[p]anything? ²⁰ No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^(CJ)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. ^21 (CK)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^(CL)the table of demons. ²² Or do we ^(CM)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not ^(CN)stronger than He, are we?

^23 (CO)All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things ^[q](CP)build people up. ²⁴ No one is to ^(CQ)seek his own advantage, but rather that of his ^[r]neighbor. ^25 (CR)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; ^26 (CS)for the earth is the Lord’s, and ^[s]all it contains. ²⁷ If ^(CT)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^(CU)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. ²⁸ But ^(CV)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; ²⁹ Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for ^(CW)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thankfulness, ^(CX)why am I slandered about that for which I ^(CY)give thanks?

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or ^(CZ)whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. ^32 (DA)Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or ^(DB)the church of God; ³³ just as I also ^(DC)please everyone in all things, ^(DD)not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, ^(DE)so that they may be saved.

Christian Order

11 ^(DF)Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

² Now ^(DG)I praise you because you ^(DH)remember me in everything and ^(DI)hold firmly to the traditions, just as I handed them down to you. ³ But I want you to understand that Christ is the ^(DJ)head of every man, and ^[t](DK)the man is the head of a woman, and God is the ^(DL)head of Christ. ⁴ Every man who has something on his head while praying or ^(DM)prophesying disgraces his head. ⁵ But every ^(DN)woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for it is one and the same as the woman ^[u]whose head is ^(DO)shaved. ⁶ For if a woman does not cover ^[v]her head, have her also ^[w]cut her hair off; however, if it is disgraceful for a woman to ^[x]have her hair cut off or ^[y]her head shaved, have her cover ^[z]her head. ⁷ For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the ^(DP)image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For ^(DQ)man ^[aa]does not originate from woman, but woman from man; ⁹ for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but ^(DR)woman for the man’s sake. ¹⁰ Therefore the woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ However, in the Lord, neither is woman ^[ab]independent of man, nor is man ^[ac]independent of woman. ¹² For as the woman originated from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and ^(DS)all things originate ^(DT)from God. ^13 (DU)Judge ^[ad]for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, ¹⁵ but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, ^(DV)we have no ^[ae]such practice, nor have ^(DW)the churches of God.

¹⁷ Now in giving this next instruction ^(DX)I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better, but for the worse. ¹⁸ For, in the first place, when you come together ^[af]as a church, I hear that ^[ag](DY)divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For there also ^(DZ)have to be factions among you, ^(EA)so that those who are approved may become ^[ah]evident among you. ²⁰ Therefore when you come together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, ²¹ for when you eat, each one takes his own supper first; and one goes hungry while ^(EB)another gets drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the ^(EC)church of God and ^(ED)shame those who have nothing? What am I to say to you? Shall ^(EE)I praise you? In this I do not praise you.

The Lord’s Supper

²³ For ^(EF)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that ^(EG)the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way He also took ^(EH)the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the ^(EI)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 ^(EJ)until He comes.

²⁷ Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way, shall be ^(EK)guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But a person must ^(EL)examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not properly recognize the ^[ai]body. ³⁰ For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number ^[aj](EM)are asleep. ³¹ But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are ^(EN)disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with ^(EO)the world.

³³ So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ If anyone is ^(EP)hungry, have him eat ^(EQ)at home, so that you do not come together for judgment. As to the remaining matters, I will ^(ER)give instructions ^(ES)when I come.

The Use of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning ^(ET)spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, ^(EU)I do not want you to be unaware. ^2 (EV)You know that when you were ^[ak]pagans, you were ^(EW)led ^[al]astray to the ^(EX)mute idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking ^[am](EY)by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is ^[an](EZ)accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is ^(FA)Lord,” except ^[ao](FB)by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are ^(FC)varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same ^(FD)God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit ^(FE)for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given the word of ^(FF)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of ^(FG)knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another ^(FH)faith ^[ap]by the same Spirit, and to another ^(FI)gifts of ^[aq]healing ^[ar]by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the ^[as]effecting of ^[at](FJ)miracles, and to another ^(FK)prophecy, and to another the ^[au](FL)distinguishing of spirits, to another various ^(FM)kinds of tongues, and to another the ^(FN)interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(FO)distributing to each one individually just as He ^[av]wills.

¹² For just ^(FP)as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, ^(FQ)so also is Christ. ¹³ For ^[aw](FR)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether ^(FS)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to ^(FT)drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For ^(FU)the body is not one part, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason ^[ax]any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason ^[ay]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 now God has ^(FV)arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, ^(FW)just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now ^(FX)there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, ^[az]it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³ and those parts of the body which we ^[ba]consider less honorable, ^[bb]on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no ^[bc]division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is ^[bd]honored, all the parts rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are ^(FY)Christ’s body, and ^(FZ)individually parts of it. ²⁸ And God has ^[be](GA)appointed in ^(GB)the church, first ^(GC)apostles, second ^(GD)prophets, third ^(GE)teachers, then ^[bf](GF)miracles, then ^(GG)gifts of healings, helps, ^(GH)administrations, and various ^(GI)kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of ^[bg]miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not ^(GJ)interpret, do they? ³¹ But ^(GK)earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the ^(GL)tongues of mankind and of ^(GM)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ^(GN)clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of ^(GO)prophecy and know all ^(GP)mysteries and all ^(GQ)knowledge, and if I have ^(GR)all faith so as to ^(GS)remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I ^(GT)give away all my possessions to charity, and if I ^(GU)surrender my body so that I may ^[bh]glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

⁴ Love ^(GV)is patient, love is kind, it ^(GW)is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not ^(GX)arrogant. ⁵ It does not act disgracefully, it ^(GY)does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, ^(GZ)does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, ^6 (HA)it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but ^(HB)rejoices with the truth; ⁷ it ^[bi](HC)keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of ^[bj](HD)prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are ^(HE)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. ⁹ For we ^(HF)know in part and prophesy in part; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I ^[bk]became a man, I did away with childish things. ¹² For now we ^(HG)see in a mirror ^[bl]dimly, but then ^(HH)face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also ^(HI)have been fully known. ¹³ But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the ^[bm]greatest of these is ^(HJ)love.

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 ^(HK)Pursue love, yet earnestly ^(HL)desire ^(HM)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^(HN)prophesy. ² For the one who ^(HO)speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one ^[bn]understands, but ^[bo]in his spirit he speaks ^(HP)mysteries. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for ^(HQ)edification, ^[bp](HR)exhortation, and consolation. ⁴ The one who ^(HS)speaks in a tongue ^(HT)edifies himself; but the one who ^(HU)prophesies ^(HV)edifies the church. ⁵ Now I wish that you all ^(HW)spoke in tongues, but ^(HX)rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who ^(HY)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ^(HZ)edification.

⁶ But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(IA)revelation, or of ^(IB)knowledge, or of ^(IC)prophecy, or of ^(ID)teaching? ⁷ Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? ⁸ For if ^(IE)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be ^(IF)talking to the air. ¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^[bq]languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. ¹¹ So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ^(IG)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible ^[br]to me. ¹² So you too, since you are eager to possess ^[bs]spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the ^(IH)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. ^15 (II)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(IJ)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. ¹⁶ For otherwise, if you bless God ^[bt]in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the ^[bu]outsider know to say ^(IK)the “Amen” at your ^(IL)giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(IM)edified. ¹⁸ I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

^20 (IN)Brothers and sisters, ^(IO)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^(IP)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In ^(IQ)the ^[bv]Law it is written: “^(IR)By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. ²² So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ^(IS)prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and ^[bw]outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(IT)you are insane? ²⁴ But if all ^(IU)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^[bx]outsider enters, he is ^(IV)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; ^25 (IW)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(IX)fall on his face and worship God, ^(IY)declaring that God is certainly among you.

^26 (IZ)What is the outcome then, ^(JA)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, ^(JB)each one has a ^(JC)psalm, has a ^(JD)teaching, has a ^(JE)revelation, has a ^(JF)tongue, has an ^(JG)interpretation. ^(JH)All things are to be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(JI)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to ^(JJ)interpret; ²⁸ but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Have two or three ^(JK)prophets speak, and have the others ^(JL)pass judgment. ³⁰ But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be ^[by]exhorted; ³² and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; ³³ for God is not a God of ^(JM)confusion, but of peace.

As in ^(JN)all the churches of the ^[bz](JO)saints, ³⁴ the women are to ^(JP)keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but ^(JQ)are to subject themselves, just as ^(JR)the Law also says. ³⁵ If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is ^[ca]improper for a woman to speak in church. ³⁶ Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

^37 (JS)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or ^(JT)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ^(JU)are the Lord’s commandment. ³⁸ But if anyone does not recognize this, ^[cb]he is not recognized.

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, ^(JV)earnestly desire to ^(JW)prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But ^(JX)all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.

The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

15 Now ^(JY)I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the ^(JZ)gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, ^(KA)in which you also stand, ² by which you also are saved, ^(KB)if you hold firmly to ^[cc]the word which I preached to you, ^(KC)unless you believed in vain.

³ For ^(KD)I handed down to you ^[cd]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died ^(KE)for our sins ^(KF)according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was ^(KG)raised on the third day ^(KH)according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that ^(KI)He appeared to ^[ce](KJ)Cephas, then ^(KK)to the twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some ^(KL)have fallen asleep; ⁷ then He appeared to ^[cf](KM)James, then to ^(KN)all the apostles; ⁸ and last of all, as ^[cg]to one untimely born, ^(KO)He appeared to me also. ⁹ For I am ^(KP)the least of the apostles, ^[ch]and not fit to be called an apostle, because I ^(KQ)persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by ^(KR)the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I ^(KS)labored even more than all of them, yet ^(KT)not I, but the grace of God with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

¹² Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there ^(KU)is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁴ and ^(KV)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. ¹⁵ Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified ^[ci]against God that He ^(KW)raised ^[cj]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁷ and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ^(KX)you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then also those who ^(KY)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are ^(KZ)of all people most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

²⁰ But the fact is, Christ ^(LA)has been raised from the dead, the ^(LB)first fruits of those who ^(LC)are asleep. ²¹ For since ^(LD)by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For ^(LE)as in Adam all die, so also in ^[ck]Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ ^(LF)the first fruits, after that ^(LG)those who are Christ’s at ^(LH)His coming, ²⁴ then comes the end, when He hands over ^(LI)the kingdom to our ^(LJ)God and Father, when He has abolished ^(LK)all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign ^(LL)until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be ^(LM)abolished is death. ²⁷ For ^(LN)He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “^(LO)All things are put in subjection,” it is clear that ^[cl]this excludes the Father who put all things in subjection to Him. ²⁸ When ^(LP)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that ^(LQ)God may be all in all.

²⁹ For otherwise, what will those do who are baptized ^[cm]for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized ^[cn]for them? ³⁰ Why are we also ^(LR)in danger every hour? ³¹ I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that ^(LS)I die daily. ³² If ^[co]from human motives I ^(LT)fought with wild beasts at ^(LU)Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, ^(LV)let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ^33 (LW)Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ^34 (LX)Sober up ^[cp]morally and stop sinning, for some have ^(LY)no knowledge of God. ^(LZ)I say this to your shame.

³⁵ But ^(MA)someone will say, “How are ^(MB)the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” ^36 (MC)You fool! That which you ^(MD)sow does not come to life unless it dies; ³⁷ and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of ^[cq]something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body just as He wished, and ^(ME)to each of the seeds a body of its own. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of mankind, another flesh of animals, another flesh of birds, and another of fish. ⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

^42 (MF)So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown ^[cr](MG)a perishable body, it is raised ^[cs](MH)an imperishable body; ⁴³ it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in ^(MI)glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a ^(MJ)natural body, it is raised a ^(MK)spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So also it is written: “The first ^(ML)man, Adam, became a living ^[ct]person.” The ^(MM)last Adam was a ^(MN)life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is ^(MO)from the earth, ^[cu](MP)earthy; the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly one, ^(MQ)so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ Just as we have ^(MR)borne the image of the earthy, ^[cv]we ^(MS)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

The Mystery of Resurrection

⁵⁰ Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that ^(MT)flesh and blood cannot ^(MU)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does ^[cw]the perishable inherit ^[cx](MV)the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a ^[cy](MW)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(MX)changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(MY)the trumpet will sound, and ^(MZ)the dead will be raised ^[cz]imperishable, and ^(NA)we will be changed. ⁵³ For this ^[da]perishable must put on ^[db](NB)the imperishable, and this ^(NC)mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this ^[dc]perishable puts on ^[dd]the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “^(ND)Death has been swallowed up in victory. ^55 (NE)Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of ^(NF)death is sin, and ^(NG)the power of sin is the Law; ⁵⁷ but ^(NH)thanks be to God, who gives us the ^(NI)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58 (NJ)Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in ^(NK)the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Instructions and Greetings

16 Now concerning ^(NL)the collection for ^[de](NM)the saints, as ^(NN)I directed the churches of ^(NO)Galatia, so you are to do as well. ² On ^(NP)the first day of every week, each of you is to ^[df]put aside and save as he may prosper, so that ^(NQ)no collections need to be made when I come. ³ When I arrive, ^(NR)whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; ⁴ and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵ But I ^(NS)will come to you after I go through ^(NT)Macedonia; for I ^(NU)am going through Macedonia, ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(NV)send me on my way wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now ^(NW)just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, ^(NX)if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will remain in ^(NY)Ephesus until ^(NZ)Pentecost; ⁹ for a ^(OA)wide door ^[dg]for effective service has opened to me, and ^(OB)there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ Now if ^(OC)Timothy comes, see that he ^[dh]has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing ^(OD)the Lord’s work, as I also am. ^11 (OE)So do not look down on him, anyone. But ^(OF)send him on his way ^(OG)in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.

¹² Now concerning our brother ^(OH)Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.

^13 (OI)Be on the alert, ^(OJ)stand firm in the faith, ^(OK)act like men, ^(OL)be strong. ¹⁴ All that you do must be done ^(OM)in love.

¹⁵ Now I urge you, brothers and sisters: you know the ^(ON)household of Stephanas, that ^[di]they are the ^(OO)first fruits of ^(OP)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to ^(OQ)ministry to ^(OR)the ^[dj]saints; ¹⁶ I urge that ^(OS)you also be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. ¹⁷ I rejoice over the ^[dk](OT)coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have ^[dl]supplied ^(OU)what was lacking on your part. ¹⁸ For they ^(OV)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^(OW)acknowledge such men.

¹⁹ The churches of ^[dm](OX)Asia greet you. ^(OY)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ^(OZ)the church that is in their house. ²⁰ All the brothers and sisters greet you. ^(PA)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ The greeting is in ^(PB)my own hand—that of Paul. ²² If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be ^[dn](PC)accursed. ^[do](PD)Maranatha! ^23 (PE)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Introduction

1 Paul, ^(PF)an apostle of ^(PG)Christ Jesus ^(PH)by the will of God, and our brother ^(PI)Timothy,

To ^(PJ)the church of God which is at ^(PK)Corinth with all the ^[dp]saints who are throughout ^(PL)Achaia:

^2 (PM)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (PN)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and ^(PO)God of all comfort, ⁴ who ^(PP)comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in ^[dq]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For just ^(PQ)as the sufferings of Christ are ^[dr]ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. ⁶ But if we are afflicted, it is ^(PR)for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; ⁷ and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that ^(PS)as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.

⁸ For ^(PT)we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our ^(PU)affliction which occurred in ^[ds](PV)Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. ^9 [dt]Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰ who ^(PW)rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us, He ^[du](PX)on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, ¹¹ if you also join in ^(PY)helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by ^(PZ)many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.

Paul’s Integrity

¹² For our ^[dv]proud confidence is this: the testimony of ^(QA)our conscience, that in holiness and ^(QB)godly sincerity, ^(QC)not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. ¹³ For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand ^(QD)until the end; ¹⁴ just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, on ^(QE)the day of our Lord Jesus.

¹⁵ In this confidence I intended at first to ^(QF)come to you, so that you might ^[dw]twice receive a ^[dx](QG)blessing; ^16 [dy]that is, to ^(QH)pass ^[dz]your way into ^(QI)Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be ^(QJ)helped on my journey to Judea. ¹⁷ Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I decide, do I decide ^(QK)according to the flesh, so that with me there will be ^[ea]yes, yes and no, no at the same time? ¹⁸ But as ^(QL)God is faithful, ^(QM)our word to you is not yes and no. ¹⁹ For ^(QN)the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and ^(QO)Silvanus and ^(QP)Timothy—was not yes and no, but has been yes ^(QQ)in Him. ²⁰ For ^(QR)as many as the promises of God are, ^(QS)in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is ^(QT)our Amen to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who ^(QU)establishes us with you in Christ and ^(QV)anointed us is God, ²² who also ^(QW)sealed us and ^(QX)gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a ^[eb]pledge.

²³ But ^(QY)I call God as witness to my soul, that it was ^(QZ)to spare you that I did not come again to ^(RA)Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we ^(RB)domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are ^(RC)standing firm.