We are sending this letter to you, the members of God’s church in Corinth. You have been made holy because you belong to Christ Jesus. God has chosen you to be his holy people. He has done the same for all people everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is their Lord and ours.

Taking Sides in the Church

Brothers and sisters, I make my appeal to you. I do this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I ask that all of you agree with one another in what you say. I ask that you don’t take sides. I ask that you are in complete agreement in all that you think.

The Church and Its Leaders

Brothers and sisters, I couldn’t speak to you as people who live by the Holy Spirit. I had to speak to you as people who were still following the ways of the world. You aren’t growing as Christ wants you to. You are still like babies.

That’s the reason I have sent Timothy to you. He is like a son to me, and I love him. He is faithful in serving the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in serving Christ Jesus. And that agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

And you are proud! Shouldn’t you be very sad instead? Shouldn’t you have thrown out of your church the man doing this?

Is it my business to judge those outside the church? Aren’t you supposed to judge those inside the church?

So suppose you disagree with one another in matters like this. Who do you ask to decide which of you is right? Do you ask people who live in a way the church disapproves of? Of course not!

Stay as You Were When God Chose You

But each believer should live in whatever situation the Lord has given them. Stay as you were when God chose you. That’s the rule all the churches must follow.

Don’t do anything that causes another person to trip and fall. It doesn’t matter if that person is a Jew or a Greek or a member of God’s church.

If anyone wants to argue about this, we don’t have any other practice. And God’s churches don’t either.

First, here is what people are telling me. When you come together as a church, you take sides. And in some ways I believe it.

Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? You are shaming those in the church who have nothing. Do you think so little of God’s church that you do this? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? Certainly not about the Lord’s Supper!

First, God has placed apostles in the church. Second, he has placed prophets in the church. Third, he has placed teachers in the church. Then he has given to the church miracles and gifts of healing. He also has given the gift of helping others and the gift of guiding the church. God also has given the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages.

Anyone who speaks in other languages builds up only themselves. But the person who prophesies builds up the church.

I would like all of you to speak in other languages. But I would rather have you prophesy. The person who prophesies is more helpful than those who speak in other languages. But that is not the case if someone explains what was said in the other languages. Then the whole church can be built up.

It’s the same with you. You want the gifts of the Spirit. So try to do your best in using gifts that build up the church.

In the church, I wouldn’t want to speak 10,000 words in an unfamiliar language. I’d rather speak five words in a language people could understand. Then I would be teaching others.

Suppose the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in other languages. And suppose visitors or unbelievers come in. Won’t they say you are out of your minds?

Proper Worship

Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, each of you brings something. You bring a hymn or a teaching or a message from God. You bring a message in another language or explain what was said in that language. Everything must be done to build up the church.

If there is no one to explain, the person speaking should keep quiet in the church. They can speak to themselves and to God.

God is not a God of disorder. He is a God of peace, just as in all the churches of the Lord’s people.

Women should remain silent in church meetings. They are not allowed to speak. They must follow the lead of those who are in authority, as the law says.

If they have a question about something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for women to speak in church meetings.

I am the least important of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle. I tried to destroy God’s church.

The Offering for the Lord’s People

Now I want to deal with the offering of money for the Lord’s people. Do what I told the churches in Galatia to do.