1 Corinthians 8-16

New American Standard Bible 1995

Take Care with Your Liberty

8 Now concerning ^(A)things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have ^(B)knowledge. Knowledge ^[a](C)makes arrogant, but love ^(D)edifies. ^2 (E)If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet ^(F)known as he ought to know; ³ but if anyone loves God, he ^(G)is known by Him.

⁴ Therefore concerning the eating of ^(H)things sacrificed to idols, we know that ^[b]there is ^(I)no such thing as an idol in the world, and that ^(J)there is no God but one. ⁵ For even if ^(K)there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, ⁶ yet for us ^(L)there is but one God, ^(M)the Father, ^(N)from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and ^(O)one Lord, Jesus Christ, ^(P)by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

⁷ However not all men ^(Q)have this knowledge; but ^(R)some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. ⁸ But ^(S)food will not ^[c]commend us to God; we are neither ^[d]the worse if we do not eat, nor ^[e]the better if we do eat. ⁹ But ^(T)take care that this ^[f]liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the ^(U)weak. ¹⁰ For if someone sees you, who have ^(V)knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat ^(W)things sacrificed to idols? ¹¹ For through ^(X)your knowledge he who is weak ^(Y)is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. ^12 (Z)And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin ^(AA)against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, ^(AB)if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

Paul’s Use of Liberty

9 Am I not ^(AC)free? Am I not an ^(AD)apostle? Have I not ^(AE)seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not ^(AF)my work in the Lord? ² If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the ^(AG)seal of my ^(AH)apostleship in the Lord.

³ My defense to those who examine me is this: ^4 [g](AI)Do we not have a right to eat and drink? ^5 [h](AJ)Do we not have a right to take along a ^[i]believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the ^(AK)brothers of the Lord and ^(AL)Cephas? ⁶ Or do only ^[j](AM)Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? ⁷ Who at any time serves ^(AN)as a soldier at his own expense? Who ^(AO)plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not ^[k]use the milk of the flock?

⁸ I am not speaking these things ^(AP)according to ^[l]human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses, “^(AQ)You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about ^(AR)oxen, is He? ¹⁰ Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, ^(AS)for our sake it was written, because ^(AT)the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. ^11 (AU)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 ^(AV)did not use this right, but we endure all things ^(AW)so that we will cause no hindrance to the ^(AX)gospel of Christ. ^13 (AY)Do you not know that those who ^(AZ)perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share ^[m]from the altar? ¹⁴ So also ^(BA)the Lord directed those who proclaim the ^(BB)gospel to ^(BC)get their living from the gospel.

¹⁵ But I have ^(BD)used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make ^(BE)my boast an empty one. ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for ^(BF)I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach ^(BG)the gospel. ¹⁷ For if I do this voluntarily, I have a ^(BH)reward; but if against my will, I have a ^(BI)stewardship entrusted to me. ¹⁸ What then is my ^(BJ)reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel ^(BK)without charge, so as ^(BL)not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

¹⁹ For though I am ^(BM)free from all men, I have made myself ^(BN)a slave to all, so that I may ^(BO)win more. ^20 (BP)To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under ^[n]the Law, as under ^[o]the Law though ^(BQ)not being myself under ^[p]the Law, so that I might win those who are under ^[q]the Law; ²¹ to those who are ^(BR)without law, ^(BS)as without law, though not being without the law of God but ^(BT)under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. ²² To the ^(BU)weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become ^(BV)all things to all men, ^(BW)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 (BX)Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives ^(BY)the prize? ^(BZ)Run in such a way that you may win. ²⁵ Everyone who ^(CA)competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable ^(CB)wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore I ^(CC)run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not ^(CD)beating the air; ²⁷ but I ^[r]discipline ^(CE)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 ^(CF)I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all ^(CG)under the cloud and all ^(CH)passed through the sea; ² and all were ^(CI)baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³ and all ^(CJ)ate the same spiritual food; ⁴ and all ^(CK)drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was ^[s]Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for ^(CL)they were laid low in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things happened as ^(CM)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^(CN)they also craved. ⁷ Do not be ^(CO)idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “^(CP)The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to ^(CQ)play.” ⁸ Nor let us act immorally, as ^(CR)some of them ^[t]did, and ^(CS)twenty-three thousand fell in one day. ⁹ Nor let us try the Lord, as ^(CT)some of them ^[u]did, and were destroyed by the serpents. ¹⁰ Nor ^(CU)grumble, as some of them ^[v]did, and ^(CV)were destroyed by the ^(CW)destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an ^(CX)example, and ^(CY)they were written for our instruction, upon whom ^(CZ)the ends of the ages have come. ¹² Therefore let him who ^(DA)thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and ^(DB)God is faithful, who will not allow you to be ^(DC)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 ^(DD)beloved, flee from ^(DE)idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. ¹⁶ Is not the ^(DF)cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the ^[w](DG)bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Since there is one ^[x]bread, we ^(DH)who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one ^[y]bread. ¹⁸ Look at ^[z]the nation ^(DI)Israel; are not those who ^(DJ)eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? ¹⁹ What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^(DK)that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^(DL)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. ^21 (DM)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^(DN)the table of demons. ²² Or do we ^(DO)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not ^(DP)stronger than He, are we?

^23 (DQ)All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things ^(DR)edify. ²⁴ Let no one ^(DS)seek his own good, but that of his ^[aa]neighbor. ^25 (DT)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; ^26 (DU)for the earth is the Lord’s, and ^[ab]all it contains. ²⁷ If ^(DV)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^(DW)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. ²⁸ But ^(DX)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; ²⁹ I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for ^(DY)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thankfulness, ^(DZ)why am I slandered concerning that for which I ^(EA)give thanks?

³¹ Whether, then, you eat or drink or ^(EB)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ^32 (EC)Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to ^(ED)the church of God; ³³ just as I also ^(EE)please all men in all things, ^(EF)not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, ^(EG)so that they may be saved.

Christian Order

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

² Now ^(EI)I praise you because you ^(EJ)remember me in everything and ^(EK)hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to understand that ^[ac]Christ is the ^(EL)head of every man, and ^(EM)the man is the head of a woman, and God is the ^(EN)head of ^[ad]Christ. ⁴ Every man who has something on his head while praying or ^(EO)prophesying disgraces his head. ⁵ But every ^(EP)woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman ^[ae]whose head is ^(EQ)shaved. ⁶ For if a woman does not cover ^[af]her head, let her also ^[ag]have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to ^[ah]have her hair cut off or ^[ai]her head shaved, let her cover ^[aj]her head. ⁷ For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the ^(ER)image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For ^(ES)man ^[ak]does not originate from woman, but woman from man; ⁹ for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but ^(ET)woman for the man’s sake. ¹⁰ Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ However, in the Lord, neither is woman ^[al]independent of man, nor is man ^[am]independent of woman. ¹² For as the woman ^[an]originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and ^(EU)all things ^[ao]originate ^(EV)from God. ^13 (EW)Judge ^[ap]for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself 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 for a covering. ¹⁶ But if one is inclined to be contentious, ^(EX)we have no ^[aq]other practice, nor have ^(EY)the churches of God.

¹⁷ But in giving this instruction, ^(EZ)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 ^[ar]as a church, I hear that ^[as](FA)divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For there ^(FB)must also be factions among you, ^(FC)so that those who are approved may become ^[at]evident among you. ²⁰ Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, ²¹ for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and ^(FD)another is drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the ^(FE)church of God and ^(FF)shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall ^(FG)I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

The Lord’s Supper

²³ For ^(FH)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that ^(FI)the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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 took ^(FJ)the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the ^(FK)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 ^(FL)until He comes.

²⁷ Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be ^(FM)guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But a man must ^(FN)examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. ³⁰ For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number ^[au](FO)sleep. ³¹ But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are ^(FP)disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with ^(FQ)the world.

³³ So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ If anyone is ^(FR)hungry, let him eat ^(FS)at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will ^(FT)arrange ^(FU)when I come.

The Use of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning ^(FV)spiritual gifts, brethren, ^(FW)I do not want you to be unaware. ^2 (FX)You know that when you were pagans, you were ^(FY)led astray to the ^(FZ)mute idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking ^[av](GA)by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is ^[aw](GB)accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is ^(GC)Lord,” except ^[ax](GD)by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are ^(GE)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 ^(GF)God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit ^(GG)for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given the word of ^(GH)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of ^(GI)knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another ^(GJ)faith ^[ay]by the same Spirit, and to another ^(GK)gifts of ^[az]healing ^[ba]by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the ^[bb]effecting of ^[bc](GL)miracles, and to another ^(GM)prophecy, and to another the ^[bd](GN)distinguishing of spirits, to another various ^(GO)kinds of tongues, and to another the ^(GP)interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(GQ)distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

¹² For even ^(GR)as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, ^(GS)so also is Christ. ¹³ For ^[be](GT)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether ^(GU)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to ^(GV)drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For ^(GW)the body is not one member, 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 ^[bf]any the 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 ^[bg]any the less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has ^(GX)placed the members, each one of them, in the body, ^(GY)just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now ^(GZ)there are many members, 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, ^[bh]it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³ and those members of the body which we ^[bi]deem less honorable, ^[bj]on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no ^[bk]division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is ^[bl]honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are ^(HA)Christ’s body, and ^(HB)individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has ^[bm](HC)appointed in ^(HD)the church, first ^(HE)apostles, second ^(HF)prophets, third ^(HG)teachers, then ^[bn](HH)miracles, then ^(HI)gifts of healings, helps, ^(HJ)administrations, various ^(HK)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 ^[bo]miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not ^(HL)interpret, do they? ³¹ But ^(HM)earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I show you a still more excellent way.

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the ^(HN)tongues of men and of ^(HO)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ^(HP)clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of ^(HQ)prophecy, and know all ^(HR)mysteries and all ^(HS)knowledge; and if I have ^(HT)all faith, so as to ^(HU)remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I ^(HV)give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I ^(HW)surrender my body ^[bp]to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love ^(HX)is patient, love is kind and ^(HY)is not jealous; love does not brag and is not ^(HZ)arrogant, ⁵ does not act unbecomingly; it ^(IA)does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^(IB)does not take into account a wrong suffered, ^6 (IC)does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but ^(ID)rejoices with the truth; ^7 [bq](IE)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of ^[br](IF)prophecy, they will be done away; if there are ^(IG)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. ⁹ For we ^(IH)know in part and we prophesy in part; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I ^[bs]became a man, I did away with childish things. ¹² For now we ^(II)see in a mirror ^[bt]dimly, but then ^(IJ)face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also ^(IK)have been fully known. ¹³ But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the ^[bu]greatest of these is ^(IL)love.

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 ^(IM)Pursue love, yet ^(IN)desire earnestly ^(IO)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^(IP)prophesy. ² For one who ^(IQ)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one ^[bv]understands, but ^[bw]in his spirit he speaks ^(IR)mysteries. ³ But one who prophesies speaks to men for ^(IS)edification and ^(IT)exhortation and consolation. ⁴ One who ^(IU)speaks in a tongue ^(IV)edifies himself; but one who ^(IW)prophesies ^(IX)edifies the church. ⁵ Now I wish that you all ^(IY)spoke in tongues, but ^(IZ)even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who ^(JA)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ^(JB)edifying.

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(JC)revelation or of ^(JD)knowledge or of ^(JE)prophecy or of ^(JF)teaching? ⁷ Yet even lifeless things, either 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 ^(JG)the ^[bx]bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be ^(JH)speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^[by]languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a ^[bz](JI)barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a ^[ca]barbarian ^[cb]to me. ¹² So also you, since you are zealous of ^[cc]spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the ^(JJ)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ^15 (JK)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(JL)sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. ¹⁶ Otherwise if you bless ^[cd]in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ^[ce]ungifted say ^(JM)the “Amen” at your ^(JN)giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(JO)edified. ¹⁸ I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ however, in the church I desire 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 (JP)Brethren, ^(JQ)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^(JR)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In ^(JS)the Law it is written, “^(JT)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 ^(JU)prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ^[cf]ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(JV)you are mad? ²⁴ But if all ^(JW)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^[cg]ungifted man enters, he is ^(JX)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; ^25 (JY)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(JZ)fall on his face and worship God, ^(KA)declaring that God is certainly among you.

^26 (KB)What is the outcome then, ^(KC)brethren? When you assemble, ^(KD)each one has a ^(KE)psalm, has a ^(KF)teaching, has a ^(KG)revelation, has a ^(KH)tongue, has an ^(KI)interpretation. Let ^(KJ)all things be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(KK)tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must ^(KL)interpret; ²⁸ but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three ^(KM)prophets speak, and let the others ^(KN)pass judgment. ³⁰ But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; ³² and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; ³³ for God is not a God of ^(KO)confusion but of ^[ch]peace, as in ^(KP)all the churches of the ^(KQ)saints.

³⁴ The women are to ^(KR)keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but ^(KS)are to subject themselves, just as ^(KT)the Law also says. ³⁵ If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is ^[ci]improper for a woman to speak in church. ^36 [cj]Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

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

³⁹ Therefore, my brethren, ^(KX)desire earnestly to ^(KY)prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. ⁴⁰ But ^(KZ)all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

15 Now ^(LA)I make known to you, brethren, the ^(LB)gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, ^(LC)in which also you stand, ² by which also you are saved, ^(LD)if you hold fast ^[cl]the word which I preached to you, ^(LE)unless you believed in vain.

³ For ^(LF)I delivered to you ^[cm]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died ^(LG)for our sins ^(LH)according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was ^(LI)raised on the third day ^(LJ)according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that ^(LK)He appeared to ^(LL)Cephas, then ^(LM)to the twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some ^(LN)have fallen asleep; ⁷ then He appeared to ^[cn](LO)James, then to ^(LP)all the apostles; ⁸ and last of all, as ^[co]to one untimely born, ^(LQ)He appeared to me also. ⁹ For I am ^(LR)the least of the apostles, ^[cp]and not fit to be called an apostle, because I ^(LS)persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by ^(LT)the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I ^(LU)labored even more than all of them, yet ^(LV)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 ^(LW)is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁴ and ^(LX)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. ¹⁵ Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified ^[cq]against God that He ^(LY)raised ^[cr]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁷ and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ^(LZ)you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who ^(MA)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are ^(MB)of all men most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

²⁰ But now Christ ^(MC)has been raised from the dead, the ^(MD)first fruits of those who ^(ME)are asleep. ²¹ For since ^(MF)by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For ^(MG)as in Adam all die, so also in ^[cs]Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ ^(MH)the first fruits, after that ^(MI)those who are Christ’s at ^(MJ)His coming, ²⁴ then comes the end, when He hands over ^(MK)the kingdom to the ^(ML)God and Father, when He has abolished ^(MM)all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign ^(MN)until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be ^(MO)abolished is death. ²⁷ For ^(MP)He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “^(MQ)All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. ²⁸ When ^(MR)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that ^(MS)God may be all in all.

²⁹ Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? ³⁰ Why are we also ^(MT)in danger every hour? ³¹ I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, ^(MU)I die daily. ³² If ^[ct]from human motives I ^(MV)fought with wild beasts at ^(MW)Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, ^(MX)let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ^33 (MY)Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ^34 (MZ)Become sober-minded ^[cu]as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have ^(NA)no knowledge of God. ^(NB)I speak this to your shame.

³⁵ But ^(NC)someone will say, “How are ^(ND)the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” ^36 (NE)You fool! That which you ^(NF)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 ^[cv]something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body just as He wished, and ^(NG)to each of the seeds a body of its own. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and 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, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

^42 (NH)So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown ^[cw](NI)a perishable body, it is raised ^[cx](NJ)an imperishable body; ⁴³ it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in ^(NK)glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a ^(NL)natural body, it is raised a ^(NM)spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So also it is written, “The first ^(NN)man, Adam, became a living soul.” The ^(NO)last Adam became a ^(NP)life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is ^(NQ)from the earth, ^[cy](NR)earthy; the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, ^(NS)so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ Just as we have ^(NT)borne the image of the earthy, ^[cz]we ^(NU)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

The Mystery of Resurrection

⁵⁰ Now I say this, brethren, that ^(NV)flesh and blood cannot ^(NW)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does ^[da]the perishable inherit ^[db](NX)the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a ^(NY)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(NZ)changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(OA)the trumpet will sound, and ^(OB)the dead will be raised ^[dc]imperishable, and ^(OC)we will be changed. ⁵³ For this ^[dd]perishable must put on ^[de](OD)the imperishable, and this ^(OE)mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this ^[df]perishable will have put on ^[dg]the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “^(OF)Death is swallowed up in victory. ^55 (OG)O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of ^(OH)death is sin, and ^(OI)the power of sin is the law; ⁵⁷ but ^(OJ)thanks be to God, who gives us the ^(OK)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58 (OL)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in ^(OM)the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Instructions and Greetings

16 Now concerning ^(ON)the collection for ^(OO)the saints, as ^(OP)I directed the churches of ^(OQ)Galatia, so do you also. ² On ^(OR)the first day of every week each one of you is to ^[dh]put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that ^(OS)no collections be made when I come. ³ When I arrive, ^(OT)whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; ⁴ and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵ But I ^(OU)will come to you after I go through ^(OV)Macedonia, for I ^(OW)am going through Macedonia; ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(OX)send me on my way wherever I may go. ⁷ For I do not wish to see you now ^(OY)just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, ^(OZ)if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will remain in ^(PA)Ephesus until ^(PB)Pentecost; ⁹ for a ^(PC)wide door ^[di]for effective service has opened to me, and ^(PD)there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ Now if ^(PE)Timothy comes, see that he is with you without ^[dj]cause to be afraid, for he is doing ^(PF)the Lord’s work, as I also am. ^11 (PG)So let no one despise him. But ^(PH)send him on his way ^(PI)in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren.

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

^13 (PK)Be on the alert, ^(PL)stand firm in the faith, ^(PM)act like men, ^(PN)be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done ^(PO)in love.

¹⁵ Now I urge you, brethren (you know the ^(PP)household of Stephanas, that ^[dk]they were the ^(PQ)first fruits of ^(PR)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ^(PS)ministry to ^(PT)the saints), ¹⁶ that ^(PU)you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. ¹⁷ I rejoice over the ^[dl](PV)coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have ^[dm]supplied ^(PW)what was lacking on your part. ¹⁸ For they ^(PX)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^(PY)acknowledge such men.

¹⁹ The churches of ^(PZ)Asia greet you. ^(QA)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ^(QB)the church that is in their house. ²⁰ All the brethren greet you. ^(QC)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ The greeting is in ^(QD)my own hand—^[dn]Paul. ²² If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be ^[do](QE)accursed. ^[dp](QF)Maranatha. ^23 (QG)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.