Amplified Bible (AMP)

Examine Yourselves

1 This is the third time that I am visiting you. Every fact shall be sustainedandconfirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

2 I have already warned those who have sinned in the past and all the restas well,and I warn them now even though I am absent [from you] as I did when I was with you the second time, that if I come back I will not spareanyone,

3 since you seek [forensic] proof that Christ is speaking inandthrough me. He is not weakorineffective in dealing with you, but powerful within you.

4 For even though He was crucified in weakness [yielding Himself], yet He lives [resurrected] by the power of God [His Father]. For we too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak], yet we are aliveandwell [in fellowship] with Him because of the power of Goddirectedtoward you.

5 Testandevaluate yourselvesto seewhether you are in the faithandliving your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the testandare rejected as counterfeit?

6 But I hope you will acknowledge that we do not fail the testnorare we to be rejected.

7 But I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong. Not so that we [and our teaching] may appear to be approved, but that you may continue doing what is right, even though we [by comparison] may seem to have failed.

8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth [and the gospel–the good news of salvation].

9 We are glad when we are weak [since God’s power comes freely through us], but you [by comparison] are strong. We also pray for this, that you be made complete [fully restored, growing and maturing in godly character and spirit–pleasing your heavenly Father by the life you live].

10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent from you, so that when I come, I will not need to deal severely [with you], in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be used] for building you up and not for tearing you down.

11 Finally, believers, rejoice! Be made complete [be what you should be], be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace [enjoy the spiritual well-being experienced by believers who walk closely with God]; and the God of love and peace [the source of lovingkindness] will be with you.

12 Greet one another with aholy kiss.

13 AllGod’s people greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Appeal to Unity

1 Paul, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and our brotherSosthenes,

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified (set apart, made holy) in Christ Jesus, who are selectedandcalled as saints (God’s people), together with all those who in every place call onandhonor the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, theirLordand ours:

3 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,

5 so that in everything you were [exceedingly] enriched in Him, in all speech [empowered by the spiritual gifts] and in all knowledge [with insight into the faith].

6 In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmedandestablished in you,

7 so that you are not lacking in anyspiritualgift [which comes from the Holy Spirit], as you eagerly wait [with confident trust] for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ [when He returns].

8 And He will also confirm you to the end [keeping you strong and free of any accusation, so that you will be] blamelessandbeyond reproach in the day [of the return] of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise–He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisionsorfactions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith].

11 For I have been informed about you, my brothers and sisters, by those of Chloe’shousehold,that there are quarrelsandfactions among you.

12 Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” or “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” or “I am [a disciple] of Cephas (Peter),” or “I am [a disciple] of Christ.”

13 Has Christ been divided [into different parts]? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? [Certainly not!]

14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,

15 so that no one would say that you were baptized into my name.

16 Now I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else.

17 For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]–not with cleverandeloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not bemade ineffective [deprived of its saving power].

The Wisdom of God

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishingandspiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God.

19 For it is writtenandforever remains written,

“Iwill destroy the wisdom of the wise[the philosophy of the philosophers],

And the cleverness of the clever[who do not know Me] Iwill nullify.”

20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom?

21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through thefoolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior].

22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdomandphilosophy,

23 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense],

24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].

26 Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerfulorinfluential, not many of highandnoble birth.

27 But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty].

28 God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despisedandtreated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are,

29 so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God.

30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],

31 so then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boastsandglories,let him boastandglory in theLord.”

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

1 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you thetestimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do];

2 for I made the decision toknow nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].

3 I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling.

4 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them],

5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdomandrhetoric of men, but on the power of God.

6 Yet we do speak wisdom among thosespirituallymature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of thispresentage nor of the rulersandleaders of this age, who are passing away;

7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, thewisdomonce hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence].

8 None of the rulers of this age recognizedandunderstood thiswisdom;for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

9 but just as it is written [in Scripture],

“Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard,

And which have not entered the heart of man,

All thatGod has prepared for those who loveHim[who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].”

10 For God has unveiled themandrevealedthemto us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding].

11 For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So also no one knows thethoughtsof God except the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may knowandunderstand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God.

13 We also speak of these things, not in words taughtorsupplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combiningandinterpreting spiritualthoughtswith spiritualwords[for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].

14 But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discernedandappreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].

15 But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer’s spiritual nature].

16 Forwho has known the mindandpurposes of theLord,so as to instructHim? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].

Foundations for Living

1 However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as toworldly people [dominated by human nature],mereinfants [in the new life] in Christ!

2 I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet ableto receive it.Even now you are still not ready.

3 You are stillworldly [controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity]. For as long as there is jealousy and strifeanddiscord among you, are you notunspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]?

4 For when oneof yousays, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” and another, “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” are you not [proving yourselves unchanged, just]ordinarypeople?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Just servants through whom you believed [in Christ], even as the Lord appointed to each his task.

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was causing the growth.

7 So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but [only] God who causes the growth.

8 He who plants and he who waters are one [in importance and esteem, working toward the same purpose]; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9 For we are God’s fellow workers [His servants working together]; you are God’s cultivated field [His garden, His vineyard], God’s building.

10 According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,

11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the qualityandcharacterandworth of each person’s work.

14 If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward.

15 But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.

16 Do you not knowandunderstand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]?

17 If anyone destroys the temple of God [corrupting it with false doctrine], God will destroy the destroyer; for the temple of God is holy (sacred), and that is what you are.

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom], so that he may become [truly] wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness (absurdity, stupidity) before God; for it is written [in Scripture], “[He is] The one who catches the wiseandclever in their craftiness;”

20 and again, “TheLord knows the thoughtsof the [humanly] wise,that they are useless.”

21 So let no one boast in men [about their wisdom, or of having this or that one as a leader]. For all things are yours,

22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things are yours,

23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

Servants of Christ

1 So then, let us [who minister] be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God [that He chooses to reveal].

2 In this case, moreover, it is required [as essential and demanded] of stewards that one be found faithfulandtrustworthy.

3 But [as for me personally] it matters very little to me that I may be judged by you oranyhuman court [on this point]; in fact, I do not even judge myself.

4 I am aware of nothing against myselfandI feel blameless, but I am not by this acquitted [before God]. It is the Lord who judges me.

5 So do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time,but waituntil the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the [secret] things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

6 Now I have applied these things [that is, the analogies about factions] to myself and Apollos for your benefit, believers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written [in Scripture], so that none of you will become arrogantandboast in favor of one [minister or teacher] against the other.

7 For who regards you as superiororwhat sets you apart as special? What do you have that you did not receive [from another]? And if in fact you received it [from God or someone else], why do you boast as if you had not received it [but had gained it by yourself]?

8 [You behave as if] you are already filled [with spiritual wisdom and in need of nothing more]. Already you have become rich [in spiritual gifts]! You [in your conceit] have ascended your thronesandbecome kings without us; and how I wish [that it were true and] that you did reign as kings, so that we might reign with you.

9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles at the end of the line, like men sentenced to death [and paraded as prisoners in a procession], because we have become a spectacle to the world [a show in the world’s amphitheater], both to angels and to men.

10 We are [regarded as] fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are highly esteemed, but we are dishonored.

11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we arecontinuallypoorly dressed, and we are roughly treated, and wander homeless.

12 We work [for our living], workinghardwith our own hands. When we are reviledandverbally abused, we bless. When we are persecuted, we take it patientlyandendure.

13 When we are slandered, wetry to beconciliatoryandanswer softly. We have become like the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but to warnandadvise you as my beloved children.

15 For even if you were to have ten thousand teachers [to guide you] in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers [who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you], for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the good news [of salvation].

16 So I urge you, be imitators of me [just as a child imitates his father].

17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my way of life in Christ [my conduct and my precepts for godly living], just as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some of you have become arrogantandpretentious, as though I were not coming to see you.

19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not just the talk of these arrogant people, but [evaluate] their [spiritual] power [whether they live up to their own claims].

20 For the kingdom of God is not based on talk but on power.

21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod [of discipline and correction], or with love and a gentle spirit?

Immorality Rebuked

1 It is actually reported [everywhere] that there is sexual immorality among you, a kind of immorality that is condemned even among the [unbelieving] Gentiles: that someonehas [an intimate relationship with] his father’s wife.

2 And you are proudandarrogant! You should have mourned in shame so that the man who has done this [disgraceful] thing would be removed from your fellowship!

3 For I, though absent [from you] in body but present in spirit, have already passed judgment on him who has committed this [act], as if I were present.

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

5 you are tohand over this man to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your boasting [over the supposed spirituality of your church] is not good [indeed, it is vulgar and inappropriate].Do you not know that [just] a little leaven ferments the whole batch [of dough, just as a little sin corrupts a person or an entire church]?

7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new batch, just as you are, still unleavened. For Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed.

8 Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of viceandmalice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and [untainted] truth.

9 I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate with [sexually] immoral people–

10 not meaning the immoral people of this world, or the greedy ones and swindlers, or idolaters, for then you would have to get out of the worldandhuman society altogether!

11 But actually, I have written to you not to associate with any so-called [Christian] brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater [devoted to anything that takes the place of God], or is a reviler [who insults or slanders or otherwise verbally abuses others], or is a drunkard or a swindler–you must not so much aseat with such a person.

12 For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders (non-believers)? Do you not judge those who are withinthe church[to protect the church as the situation requires]?

13 Godalonesits in judgment on those who are outside [the faith]. Remove the wicked one from among you[expel him from your church].

Lawsuits Discouraged

1 Does any one of you, when he has acomplaint (civil dispute) with another [believer], dare to go to law before unrighteous men (non-believers) instead of [placing the issue] before the saints (God’s people)?

2 Do you not know that the saints (God’s people) will [one day] judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you not competentto try trivial (insignificant, petty) cases?

3 Do you not know that we [believers] will judge angels? How much more then [as to] matters of this life?

4 So if you have lawsuits dealing with matters of this life, are you appointing those as judges [to hear disputes] who are of no account in the church?

5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is not one wise man among you who [is governed by integrity and] will be ableandcompetent to decide [private disputes] between his fellow believers,

6 butinstead,brother goes to law against brother, and that before [judges who are] unbelievers?

7 Why, the very fact that you have lawsuits with one another is already a defeat. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?

8 On the contrary, it is you who wrong and defraud, and you do this even to your brothers and sisters.

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inheritorhave any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived;neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], northose who participate in homosexuality,

10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inheritorhave any share in the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].

The Body Is the Lord’s

12 Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].

13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will do away with both of them. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body [to save, sanctify, and raise it again because of the sacrifice of the cross].

14 And God has not only raised the Lord [to life], but will also raise us up by His power.

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Am I therefore to take the members of Christ and make them part of aprostitute? Certainly not!

16 Do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one bodywith her?For He says, “The two shall be one flesh.”

17 But the one who is unitedandjoined to the Lord is one spiritwith Him.

18 Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Everyothersin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.

19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?

20 You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honorandglorify God with your body.

Teaching on Marriage

1 Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage].

2 But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3 The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband.

4 The wife does not have [exclusive] authority over her own body, but the husbandshares with her;and likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wifeshares with him.

5 Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control.

6 But I am saying this as a concession, not as a command.

7 I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [that as a practical matter] it is good if they remain [single and entirely devoted to the Lord]as I am.

9 But if they do not have [sufficient] self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burnwith passion.

10 But to themarried [believers] I give instructions–not I, but the Lord–that the wife is not to separate from her husband,

11 (but even if she does leave him, let her remain single or else bereconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not leave his wife.

12 To therest I declare–I, not the Lord [since Jesus did not discuss this]–that if any [believing] brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ], and she consents to live with him, he must not leave her.

13 And if any [believing] woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband issanctified [that is, he receives the blessings granted] through his [Christian] wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be [ceremonially]unclean, but as it is they are holy.

15 But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him leave. In such cases the [remaining] brother or sister is not [spiritually or morally] bound. But God has called us topeace.

16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband [by leading him to Christ]? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife [by leading her to Christ]?

17 Only, let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his choices and conduct, let him walk in this way]. This is the rule I make in all the churches.

18 Was anyone at the time of his calling [from God already] circumcised? He is not tobecome uncircumcised. Has anyone been called while uncircumcised?He is not to be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, butwhat matters iskeeping the commandments of God.

20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was [when he was] called.

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not worry about that [since your status as a believer isequal to that of a freeborn believer]; but if you are able to gain your freedom,do that.

22 For he who was a slave when he was called in the Lord is a freedman of the Lord, likewise he who was free when he was called is a slave of Christ.

23 You were bought with a price [a precious price paid by Christ]; do not become slaves to men [but to Christ].

24 Brothers, let each one remain with God in thatconditionin which he was [when he was] called.

25 Now concerning the virgins [of marriageable age] I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

26 I think then that because of the impending distress [that is, the pressure of the current trouble], it is good for a man to remain as he is.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are youunmarried? Do not seek a wife.

28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned [in doing so]; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned [in doing so]. Yet those [who marry] will have troubles (special challenges) in this life, and I am trying to spare you that.

29 But I say this, believers: thetime has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they did not;

30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess [anything];

31 and those who use the world [taking advantage of its opportunities], as though they did not make full use of it. For the outward form of this world [its present social and material nature] is passing away.

32 But I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

33 but the married man is concerned about worldly things, how he may please his wife,

34 andhis interestsare divided. The unmarried woman or the virgin is concerned about the matters of the Lord, how to be holyandset apart both in body and in spirit; but a married woman is concerned about worldly things, how she may please her husband.

35 Now I say this for your own benefit; not to restrict you, but to promote what is appropriate and secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36 But if any man thinks that he is not acting properlyandhonorably toward his virgindaughter,[by not permitting her to marry], if she ispast her youth, and it must be so, let him do as he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry.

37 But the man who stands firmly committed in his heart, having no compulsion [to yield to his daughter’s request], and has authority over his own will, and has decided in his own heart to keep his own virgin [daughter from being married], he will do well.

38 So then both the father who gives his virgindaughterin marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

39 A wife is bound [to her husband by law] as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord.

40 But in my opinion a widow is happier if she stays as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God [in this matter].

Take Care with Your Liberty

1 Now about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge [concerning this]. Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds upandencourages others to grow [in wisdom].

2 If anyone imagines that he knowsandunderstands anything [of divine matters, without love], he has not yet known as he ought to know.

3 But if anyone loves God [with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude], he is known by Him [as His very own and is greatly loved].

4 In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world [it has no real existence], and that there is no God but one.

5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,

6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father,who is the source of all things, and weexistfor Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things [that have been created], and we [believers exist and have life and have been redeemed] through Him.

7 However, not all [believers] have this knowledge. But some, being accustomed [throughout their lives] to [thinking of] the idol until now [as real and living], still eat foodas if it were sacrificed to an idol; and because their conscience is weak, it is defiled (guilty, ashamed).

8 Now food will not commend us to Godnorbring us close to Him; we are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better if we do eat.

9 Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience].

10 For if someone sees you, a person havingknowledge,eating in an idol’s temple, then if he is weak, will he not be encouraged to eat things sacrificed to idols [and violate his own convictions]?

11 For through your knowledge (spiritual maturity) this weak man is ruined [that is, he suffers in his spiritual life], the brother for whom Christ died.

12 And when you sin against the brothers and sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience [by confusing them], you sin against Christ.

13 Therefore, if [my eating a certain] food causes my brother to stumble (sin), I will not eat [such] meat ever again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

Paul’s Use of Liberty

1 Am I not free [unrestrained and exempt from any obligation]? Am I not an apostle? Have I notseen Jesus our [risen] Lord [in person]? Are you not [the result and proof of] my work in the Lord?

2 If I am not [considered] an apostle to others, at least I am one to you; for you are the sealandthe certificateandthe living evidence of my apostleship in the Lord [confirming and authenticating it].

3 This is my defense to those who would put me on trialandinterrogate me [concerning my authority as an apostle]:

4 Have we not the right to our food and drink [at the expense of the churches]?

5 Have we not the right to take along with us a believing wife, as do the rest of the apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas (Peter)?

6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to stop doing manual labor [in order to support our ministry]?

7 [Consider this:] Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?

8 Do I say these things only from a man’s perspective? Does the Law not endorse the same principles?

9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain[to keep it from eating the grain].” Is it [only] for oxen that God cares?

10 Or does He speak entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake: The plowman ought to plowin hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the harvest.

11 If we have sown [the good seed of] spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

12 If others share in this rightful claim over you, do not we even more? However, we did not exercise this right, but we put up with everything so that we will not hinder [the spread of] the good news of Christ.

13 Do you not know that those who officiate in the sacred services of the temple eat from the temple [offerings of meat and bread] and those who regularly attend the altar have their share from the [offerings brought to the] altar?

14 So also [on the same principle] the Lord directed those who preach the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these privileges, nor am I writing this [to suggest] that any such provision be made for me now. For it would be better for me to die than to have anyone deprive me of myboast [in this matter of financial support].

16 For if I [merely] preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am compelled [that is, absolutely obligated to do it]. Woe to me if I do not preach the good news [of salvation]!

17 For if I do this workof my own free will, then I have a reward; but if it is not of my will [but by God’s choosing], I have been entrusted with a [sacred] stewardship.

18 What then is my reward? [Just this:] that, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge [to everyone], so as not to take advantage of my rights [as a preacher and apostle] in [preaching] the gospel.

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to everyone, so that I may win more [for Christ].

20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews [for Christ]; to men under the Law, [I became] as oneunder the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might win those who are under the Law.

21 To those who are without (outside) the Law, [I became] as one without the Law, though [I am] not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.

22 To theweak I became [as the] weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ].

23 And I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings along with you.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prizeandmake it yours!

25 Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplinedandexercises self-control in all things. They do it to win acrown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither].

26 Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing].

27 But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].