1 Corinthians New Living Translation (NLT)
chapter 1
Greetings from Paul
1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother
Sosthenes.
2We are writing to the church of God in Corinth, you who have been called by God to be his own holy people.
He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did all Christians everywhere--whoever calls upon the
name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs.
3May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace.
Paul Gives Thanks to God
4I can never stop thanking God for all the generous gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ
Jesus. 5He has enriched your church with the gifts of eloquence and every kind of knowledge. 6This shows
that what I told you about Christ is true. 7Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for
the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will keep you strong right up to the end, and he will keep you free
from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9God will surely do this for you, for he
always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Divisions in the Church
10Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing
among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be
of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11For some members of Chloe's household have told me about
your arguments, dear brothers and sisters. 12Some of you are saying, "I am a follower of Paul." Others are
saying, "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Peter," or "I follow only Christ." 13Can Christ be divided into pieces?
Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I did not
baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15for now no one can say they were baptized in my name.
16(Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. I don't remember baptizing anyone else.) 17For Christ
didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News--and not with clever speeches and high-sounding
ideas, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.
The Wisdom of God
18I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction.
But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. 19As the Scriptures say,
"I will destroy human wisdom
and discard their most brilliant ideas."
20So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made
them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. 21Since God in his wisdom saw to it
that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who
believe. 22God's way seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven to prove it is true.
And it is foolish to the Greeks because they believe only what agrees with their own wisdom. 23So when we
preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. 24But to
those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful
wisdom of God. 25This "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is
far stronger than the greatest of human strength.
26Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or
wealthy when God called you. 27Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to
shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are
powerful. 28God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring
to nothing what the world considers important, 29so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
30God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom
itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to
purchase our freedom. 31As the Scriptures say,
"The person who wishes to boast
should boast only of what the Lord has done."
chapter 2
Paul Preaches Wisdom
1Dear brothers and sisters, when I first came to you I didn't use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you
God's message. 2For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. 3I came to
you in weakness--timid and trembling. 4And my message and my preaching were very plain. I did not use wise
and persuasive speeches, but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you. 5I did this so that you might trust the
power of God rather than human wisdom.
6Yet when I am among mature Christians, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that
belongs to this world, and not the kind that appeals to the rulers of this world, who are being brought to
nothing. 7No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though
he made it for our benefit before the world began. 8But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they
had, they would never have crucified our glorious Lord. 9That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him."
10But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out
everything and shows us even God's deep secrets. 11No one can know what anyone else is really thinking
except that person alone, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. 12And God has
actually given us his Spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given
us. 13When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the
Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. 14But people who aren't Christians can't understand
these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can
understand what the Spirit means. 15We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can't
understand us at all. 16How could they? For,
"Who can know what the Lord is thinking?
Who can give him counsel?"
But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
chapter 3
Paul and Apollos, Servants of Christ
1Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had
to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. 2I had to feed
you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn't handle anything stronger. And you still aren't
ready, 3for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with
each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your own desires? You are acting like people who don't
belong to the Lord. 4When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I prefer Apollos,"
aren't you acting like those who are not Christians?
5Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, we're only servants.
Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6My job was to plant the
seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. 7The ones who do
the planting or watering aren't important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed
grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be
rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. 9We work together as partners who belong to God.
You are God's field, God's building--not ours.
10Because of God's special favor to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are
building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11For no one can lay any other
foundation than the one we already have--Jesus Christ. 12Now anyone who builds on that foundation may
use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment
day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see
whether or not it keeps its value. 14If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. 15But if
the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like
someone escaping through a wall of flames.
16Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
17God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that
temple.
18Stop fooling yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you will have to become a fool
so you can become wise by God's standards. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the
Scriptures say,
"God catches those who think they are wise
in their own cleverness."
20And again,
"The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
that they are worthless."
21So don't take pride in following a particular leader. Everything belongs to you: 22Paul and Apollos and
Peter; the whole world and life and death; the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, 23and you
belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
chapter 4
Paul and the Corinthians
1So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God's
secrets. 2Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3What about me? Have I been
faithful? Well, it matters very little what you or anyone else thinks. I don't even trust my own judgment on
this point. 4My conscience is clear, but that isn't what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and
decide.
5So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful.
When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then
God will give to everyone whatever praise is due.
6Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I've been saying. If you pay
attention to the Scriptures, you won't brag about one of your leaders at the expense of another. 7What
makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from
God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?
8You think you already have everything you need! You are already rich! Without us you have become kings! I
wish you really were on your thrones already, for then we would be reigning with you! 9But sometimes I think
God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die.
We have become a spectacle to the entire world--to people and angels alike.
10Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you are so wise! We are weak, but you are so
powerful! You are well thought of, but we are laughed at. 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty,
without enough clothes to keep us warm. We have endured many beatings, and we have no homes of our
own. 12We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are
patient with those who abuse us. 13We respond gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are
treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash--right up to the present moment.
14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15For even if you had
ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father
in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. 16So I ask you to follow my example and do as I do.
17That is the very reason I am sending Timothy--to help you do this. For he is my beloved and trustworthy
child in the Lord. He will remind you of what I teach about Christ Jesus in all the churches wherever I go.
18I know that some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will never visit you again. 19But I will come--and
soon--if the Lord will let me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or
whether they really have God's power. 20For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's
power. 21Which do you choose? Should I come with punishment and scolding, or should I come with quiet
love and gentleness?
chapter 5
Paul Condemns Spiritual Pride
1I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even
the pagans don't do it. I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife.
2And you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren't you mourning in sorrow and shame? And why haven't you
removed this man from your fellowship?
3Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. Concerning the one who has
done this, I have already passed judgment 4in the name of the Lord Jesus. You are to call a meeting of the
church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet. 5Then you
must cast this man out of the church and into Satan's hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and
he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.
6How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on. Don't you
realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? 7Remove this wicked
person from among you so that you can stay pure. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. 8So
let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread
of purity and truth.
9When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10But I
wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol
worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11What I meant was that you are
not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships
idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people.
12It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who
are sinning in these ways. 13God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must
remove the evil person from among you."
chapter 6
Avoiding Lawsuits with Christians
1When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to
decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right? 2Don't you know that
someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you
decide these little things among yourselves? 3Don't you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you
should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth. 4If you have legal disputes about such
matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5I am saying this to shame
you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? 6But instead, one
Christian sues another--right in front of unbelievers!
7To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that?
Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8But instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even
your own Christian brothers and sisters.
Avoiding Sexual Sin
9Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves.
Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals,
10thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers--none of these will have a share in the Kingdom
of God. 11There was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed
away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord
Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.
12You may say, "I am allowed to do anything." But I reply, "Not everything is good for you." And even though
"I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything. 13You say, "Food is for the stomach,
and the stomach is for food." This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them. But our
bodies were not made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our
bodies. 14And God will raise our bodies from the dead by his marvelous power, just as he raised our Lord from
the dead. 15Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which
belongs to Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! 16And don't you know that if a man joins himself to a
prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, "The two are united into one." 17But the
person who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
18Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is
a sin against your own body. 19Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in
you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20for God bought you with a high price. So
you must honor God with your body.
chapter 7
Instruction on Marriage
1Now about the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life. 2But because there
is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own
husband.
3The husband should not deprive his wife of sexual intimacy, which is her right as a married woman, nor
should the wife deprive her husband. 4The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the
husband also gives authority over his body to his wife. 5So do not deprive each other of sexual relations. The
only exception to this rule would be the agreement of both husband and wife to refrain from sexual intimacy
for a limited time, so they can give themselves more completely to prayer. Afterward they should come
together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt them because of their lack of self-control. 6This is only
my suggestion. It's not meant to be an absolute rule. 7I wish everyone could get along without marrying, just
as I do. But we are not all the same. God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of
singleness.
8Now I say to those who aren't married and to widows--it's better to stay unmarried, just as I am. 9But if
they can't control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It's better to marry than to burn with lust.
10Now, for those who are married I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must
not leave her husband. 11But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else go back to him. And the
husband must not leave his wife.
12Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a Christian
man has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.
13And if a Christian woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to continue living with her,
she must not leave him. 14For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband
brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not have a godly influence, but now they are
set apart for him. 15(But if the husband or wife who isn't a Christian insists on leaving, let them go. In such
cases the Christian husband or wife is not required to stay with them, for God wants his children to live in
peace.) 16You wives must remember that your husbands might be converted because of you. And you
husbands must remember that your wives might be converted because of you.
17You must accept whatever situation the Lord has put you in, and continue on as you were when God first
called you. This is my rule for all the churches. 18For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became
a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer
should not be circumcised now. 19For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The
important thing is to keep God's commandments.
20You should continue on as you were when God called you. 21Are you a slave? Don't let that worry
you--but if you get a chance to be free, take it. 22And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called
you, the Lord has now set you free from the awful power of sin. And if you were free when the Lord called
you, you are now a slave of Christ. 23God purchased you at a high price. Don't be enslaved by the world.
24So, dear brothers and sisters, whatever situation you were in when you became a believer, stay there in
your new relationship with God.
25Now, about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them.
But the Lord in his kindness has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you. 26Because
of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain just as you are. 27If you have a wife, do not end the
marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not get married. 28But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a
young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, I am trying to spare you the extra problems that come
with marriage.
29Now let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short, so husbands should not
let marriage be their major concern. 30Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing
God's work. 31Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without
becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away. 32In everything you do, I want
you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord's work and
thinking how to please him. 33But a married man can't do that so well. He has to think about his earthly
responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no
longer married or has never been married can be more devoted to the Lord in body and in spirit, while the
married woman must be concerned about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.
35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you
serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible. 36But if a man thinks he ought to marry his fiancee
because he has trouble controlling his passions and time is passing, it is all right; it is not a sin. Let them
marry. 37But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he
does well not to marry. 38So the person who marries does well, and the person who doesn't marry does even
better.
39A wife is married to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she
wishes, but this must be a marriage acceptable to the Lord. 40But in my opinion it will be better for her if she
doesn't marry again, and I think I am giving you counsel from God's Spirit when I say this.
chapter 8
Food Sacrificed to Idols
1Now let's talk about food that has been sacrificed to idols. You think that everyone should agree with your
perfect knowledge. While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church.
2Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. 3But the person who loves God is
the one God knows and cares for.
4So now, what about it? Should we eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols? Well, we all know that an idol
is not really a god and that there is only one God and no other. 5According to some people, there are many
so-called gods and many lords, both in heaven and on earth. 6But we know that there is only one God, the
Father, who created everything, and we exist for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom
God made everything and through whom we have been given life.
7However, not all Christians realize this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they
eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak
consciences are violated. 8It's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. We don't miss out on
anything if we don't eat it, and we don't gain anything if we do. 9But you must be careful with this freedom
of yours. Do not cause a brother or sister with a weaker conscience to stumble.
10You see, this is what can happen: Weak Christians who think it is wrong to eat this food will see you eating
in the temple of an idol. You know there's nothing wrong with it, but they will be encouraged to violate their
conscience by eating food that has been dedicated to the idol. 11So because of your superior knowledge, a
weak Christian, for whom Christ died, will be destroyed. 12And you are sinning against Christ when you sin
against other Christians by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong. 13If what I eat is going
to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live--for I don't want to make another
Christian stumble.
chapter 9
Paul Gives Up His Rights
1Do I not have as much freedom as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my
own eyes? Isn't it because of my hard work that you are in the Lord? 2Even if others think I am not an
apostle, I certainly am to you, for you are living proof that I am the Lord's apostle.
3This is my answer to those who question my authority as an apostle. 4Don't we have the right to live in your
homes and share your meals? 5Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife along with us as the other
disciples and the Lord's brothers and Peter do? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support
ourselves? 7What soldier has to pay his own expenses? And have you ever heard of a farmer who harvests his
crop and doesn't have the right to eat some of it? What shepherd takes care of a flock of sheep and isn't
allowed to drink some of the milk? 8And this isn't merely human opinion. Doesn't God's law say the same thing?
9For the law of Moses says, "Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain." Do you suppose God
was thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10Wasn't he also speaking to us? Of course he was. Just as
farm workers who plow fields and thresh the grain expect a share of the harvest, Christian workers should be
paid by those they serve.
11We have planted good spiritual seed among you. Is it too much to ask, in return, for mere food and
clothing? 12If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be
supported? Yet we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than put an obstacle in
the way of the Good News about Christ.
13Don't you know that those who work in the Temple get their meals from the food brought to the Temple as
offerings? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14In the same way, the
Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.
15Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I would like to start
now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my distinction of preaching without charge. 16For preaching the
Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't
do it!
17If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. But God has chosen me and given
me this sacred trust, and I have no choice. 18What then is my pay? It is the satisfaction I get from preaching
the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights as a preacher.
19This means I am not bound to obey people just because they pay me, yet I have become a servant of
everyone so that I can bring them to Christ. 20When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can
bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not
subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. 21When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the
Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ.
But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
22When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ.
Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. 23I do all this to spread
the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.
24Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a
way that you will win. 25All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away,
but we do it for an eternal prize. 26So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a
boxer who misses his punches. 27I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.
Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
chapter 10
Warnings against Idolatry
1I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long
ago. God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all
safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. 2As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the
cloud and the sea. 3And all of them ate the same miraculous food, 4and all of them drank the same
miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was
Christ. 5Yet after all this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
6These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did 7or worship
idols as some of them did. For the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they
indulged themselves in pagan revelry." 8And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did,
causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and
then died from snakebites. 10And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of
death to destroy them. 11All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to
warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.
12If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. 13But remember
that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is
faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you
are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.
14So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if
what I am about to say is true. 16When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the
benefits of the blood of Christ? And when we break the loaf of bread, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the
body of Christ? 17And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body. 18And think about the nation
of Israel; all who eat the sacrifices are united by that act.
19What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and
that these sacrifices are of some value? 20No, not at all. What I am saying is that these sacrifices are
offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons. 21You cannot drink
from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the
table of demons, too. 22What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy as Israel did? Do you think we are
stronger than he is?
23You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is helpful. You say, "I am allowed to do
anything"--but not everything is beneficial. 24Don't think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and
what is best for them.
25Here's what you should do. You may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace. Don't ask whether or not
it was offered to idols, and then your conscience won't be bothered. 26For "the earth is the Lord's, and
everything in it."
27If someone who isn't a Christian asks you home for dinner, go ahead; accept the invitation if you want to.
Eat whatever is offered to you and don't ask any questions about it. Your conscience should not be bothered
by this. 28But suppose someone warns you that this meat has been offered to an idol. Don't eat it, out of
consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29It might not be a matter of conscience for you,
but it is for the other person.
Now, why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30If I can thank God for the food and
enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? 31Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you
must do all for the glory of God. 32Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33That is the
plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what I like or what is best for
me, but what is best for them so they may be saved.
chapter 11
1 And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's.
Instructions for Public Worship
2I am so glad, dear friends, that you always keep me in your thoughts and you are following the Christian
teaching I passed on to you. 3But there is one thing I want you to know: A man is responsible to Christ, a
woman is responsible to her husband, and Christ is responsible to God. 4A man dishonors Christ if he covers
his head while praying or prophesying. 5But a woman dishonors her husband if she prays or prophesies without
a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. 6Yes, if she refuses to wear a head
covering, she should cut off all her hair. And since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head
shaved, then she should wear a covering. 7A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for
man is God's glory, made in God's own image, but woman is the glory of man. 8For the first man didn't come
from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9And man was not made for woman's benefit, but woman
was made for man. 10So a woman should wear a covering on her head as a sign of authority because the
angels are watching.
11But in relationships among the Lord's people, women are not independent of men, and men are not
independent of women. 12For although the first woman came from man, all men have been born from women
ever since, and everything comes from God.
13What do you think about this? Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head?
14Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 15And isn't it obvious that long hair is a
woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. 16But if anyone wants to argue about this,
all I can say is that we have no other custom than this, and all the churches of God feel the same way about
it.
Order at the Lords Supper
17But now when I mention this next issue, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is
done when you meet together. 18First of all, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a
church, and to some extent I believe it. 19But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that those of
you who are right will be recognized!
20It's not the Lord's Supper you are concerned about when you come together. 21For I am told that some of
you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get
drunk. 22What? Is this really true? Don't you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really
want to disgrace the church of God and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say about these things? Do
you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly do not!
23For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he
was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
"This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, he took the cup
of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of
my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." 26For every time you eat this bread and
drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.
27So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning
against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the
bread and drinking from the cup. 29For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the
body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. 30That is why many of you are
weak and sick and some have even died.
31But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. 32But when we are
judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world. 33So, dear brothers and sisters,
when you gather for the Lord's Supper, wait for each other. 34If you are really hungry, eat at home so you
won't bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together.
I'll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.
chapter 12
Spiritual Gifts
1And now, dear brothers and sisters, I will write about the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives to each of us,
for I must correct your misunderstandings about them. 2You know that when you were still pagans you were
led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3So I want you to know how to discern what is
truly from God: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one is able to say, "Jesus is
Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all.
5There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. 6There are
different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. 7A spiritual
gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
8To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special
knowledge. 9The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the
sick. 10He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives
someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still
another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret
what is being said. 11It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift
each person should have.
One Body with Many Parts
12The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of
Christ. 13Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been
baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.
14Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body
because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear says, "I am not
part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body?
17Suppose the whole body were an eye--then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big
ear, how could you smell anything?
18But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. 19What a
strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! 20Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21The
eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
22In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. 23And the
parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from
the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, 24while other parts do not require this special care.
So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that
have less dignity. 25This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other
equally. 26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
28Here is a list of some of the members that God has placed in the body of Christ:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who can get others to work together,
those who speak in unknown languages.
29Is everyone an apostle? Of course not. Is everyone a prophet? No. Are all teachers? Does everyone have
the power to do miracles? 30Does everyone have the gift of healing? Of course not. Does God give all of us
the ability to speak in unknown languages? Can everyone interpret unknown languages? No! 31And in any
event, you should desire the most helpful gifts.
Love Is the Greatest
First, however, let me tell you about something else that is better than any of them!
chapter 13
1 If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making
meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the
mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be?
And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be
no good to anybody. 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast
about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. Love does not demand its own
way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 6It is never glad about
injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance.
8Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all
disappear. 9Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little! 10But when the end
comes, these special gifts will all disappear.
11It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I
put away childish things. 12Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything
with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely,
just as God knows me now.
13There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.
chapter 14
The Gifts of Tongues and Prophecy
1Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives, especially the gift of
prophecy. 2For if your gift is the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking to God but not to people,
since they won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be
mysterious. 3But one who prophesies is helping others grow in the Lord, encouraging and comforting them. 4A
person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally in the Lord, but one who speaks a word of prophecy
strengthens the entire church.
5I wish you all had the gift of speaking in tongues, but even more I wish you were all able to prophesy. For
prophecy is a greater and more useful gift than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are
saying so that the whole church can get some good out of it.
6Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you talking in an unknown language, how would that help you?
But if I bring you some revelation or some special knowledge or some prophecy or some teaching--that is
what will help you. 7Even musical instruments like the flute or the harp, though they are lifeless, are examples
of the need for speaking in plain language. For no one will recognize the melody unless the notes are played
clearly. 8And if the bugler doesn't sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to
battle? 9And it's the same for you. If you talk to people in a language they don't understand, how will they
know what you mean? You might as well be talking to an empty room.
10There are so many different languages in the world, and all are excellent for those who understand them,
11but to me they mean nothing. I will not understand people who speak those languages, and they will not
understand me. 12Since you are so eager to have spiritual gifts, ask God for those that will be of real help to
the whole church.
13So anyone who has the gift of speaking in tongues should pray also for the gift of interpretation in order to
tell people plainly what has been said. 14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand
what I am saying.
15Well then, what shall I do? I will do both. I will pray in the spirit, and I will pray in words I understand. I will
sing in the spirit, and I will sing in words I understand. 16For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can
those who don't understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they
don't understand what you are saying? 17You will be giving thanks very nicely, no doubt, but it doesn't help
the other people present.
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in a church meeting I would much rather
speak five understandable words that will help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
20Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies
when it comes to evil, but be mature and wise in understanding matters of this kind. 21It is written in the
Scriptures,
"I will speak to my own people
through unknown languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,"
says the Lord.
22So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy, however,
is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23Even so, if unbelievers or people who don't understand these
things come into your meeting and hear everyone talking in an unknown language, they will think you are
crazy. 24But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come
into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin, and they will be condemned by what you say. 25As they
listen, their secret thoughts will be laid bare, and they will fall down on their knees and worship God,
declaring, "God is really here among you."
A Call to Orderly Worship
26Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize what I am saying. When you meet, one will sing, another will
teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in an unknown language, while
another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must be useful to all and build them up in the
Lord. 27No more than two or three should speak in an unknown language. They must speak one at a time,
and someone must be ready to interpret what they are saying. 28But if no one is present who can interpret,
they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
29Let two or three prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30But if someone is prophesying and
another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31In this way, all who
prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.
32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can wait their turn. 33For God is not a
God of disorder but of peace, as in all the other churches.
34Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be
submissive, just as the law says. 35If they have any questions to ask, let them ask their husbands at home,
for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.
36Do you think that the knowledge of God's word begins and ends with you Corinthians? Well, you are
mistaken! 37If you claim to be a prophet or think you are very spiritual, you should recognize that what I am
saying is a command from the Lord himself. 38But if you do not recognize this, you will not be recognized.
39So, dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking in tongues. 40But be sure
that everything is done properly and in order.
chapter 15
The Resurrection of Christ
1Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You
welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message. 2And it is this Good News
that saves you if you firmly believe it--unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the
first place.
3I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me--that Christ died for
our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as
the Scriptures said. 5He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles. 6After that, he was seen by
more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by
now. 7Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8Last of all, I saw him, too, long after the
others, as though I had been born at the wrong time. 9For I am the least of all the apostles, and I am not
worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted the church of God.
10But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me--and not without results.
For I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me
by his grace. 11So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach. The important thing is that you
believed what we preached to you.
The Resurrection of the Dead
12But tell me this--since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be
no resurrection of the dead? 13For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised
either. 14And if Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless.
15And we apostles would all be lying about God, for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave, but
that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ
has not been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under
condemnation for your sins. 18In that case, all who have died believing in Christ have perished! 19And if we
have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.
20But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of
those who will be raised to life again.
21So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead
has begun through another man, Christ. 22Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man.
But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life. 23But there is an order to this
resurrection: Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised.
24After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having put down all
enemies of every kind. 25For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26And the
last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For the Scriptures say, "God has given him authority over all things."
(Of course, when it says "authority over all things," it does not include God himself, who gave Christ his
authority.) 28Then, when he has conquered all things, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who
gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.
29If the dead will not be raised, then what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead?
Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
30And why should we ourselves be continually risking our lives, facing death hour by hour? 31For I swear,
dear brothers and sisters, I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what the Lord Jesus Christ has
done in you. 32And what value was there in fighting wild beasts--those men of Ephesus--if there will be no
resurrection from the dead? If there is no resurrection,
"Let's feast and get drunk,
for tomorrow we die!"
33Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character." 34Come to your
senses and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't even know God.
The Resurrection Body
35But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?" 36What a foolish
question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37And what
you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a dry little seed of wheat or whatever it is you
are planting. 38Then God gives it a new body--just the kind he wants it to have. A different kind of plant
grows from each kind of seed. 39And just as there are different kinds of seeds and plants, so also there are
different kinds of flesh--whether of humans, animals, birds, or fish.
40There are bodies in the heavens, and there are bodies on earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is
different from the beauty of the earthly bodies. 41The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars
each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their beauty and brightness.
42It is the same way for the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be
different when they are resurrected, for they will never die. 43Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they
are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power.
44They are natural human bodies now, but when they are raised, they will be spiritual bodies. For just as
there are natural bodies, so also there are spiritual bodies.
45The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam--that is, Christ--is
a life-giving Spirit. 46What came first was the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. 47Adam, the
first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 48Every
human being has an earthly body just like Adam's, but our heavenly bodies will be just like Christ's. 49Just as
we are now like Adam, the man of the earth, so we will someday be like Christ, the man from heaven.
50What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.
These perishable bodies of ours are not able to live forever.
51But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be
transformed. 52It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For
when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we
who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. 53For our perishable earthly bodies must be
transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die.
54When this happens--when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that
will never die--then at last the Scriptures will come true:
"Death is swallowed up in victory.
55
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"
56For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57How we thank God, who gives
us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!
58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you
know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
chapter 16
The Collection for Jerusalem
1Now about the money being collected for the Christians in Jerusalem: You should follow the same procedures
I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2On every Lord's Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money
in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering. Don't wait until I get there and then try to
collect it all at once. 3When I come I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to
deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 4And if it seems appropriate for me also to go along, then we can travel
together.
Pauls Final Instructions
5I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. 6It
could be that I will stay awhile with you, perhaps all winter, and then you can send me on my way to the
next destination. 7This time I don't want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and
stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. 8In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of
Pentecost, 9for there is a wide-open door for a great work here, and many people are responding. But there
are many who oppose me.
10When Timothy comes, treat him with respect. He is doing the Lord's work, just as I am. 11Don't let anyone
despise him. Send him on his way with your blessings when he returns to me. I am looking forward to seeing
him soon, along with the other brothers.
12Now about our brother Apollos--I urged him to join the other brothers when they visit you, but he was not
willing to come right now. He will be seeing you later, when the time is right.
13Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. 14And everything you do must be
done with love.
15You know that Stephanas and his household were the first to become Christians in Greece, and they are
spending their lives in service to other Christians. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, 16to respect them
fully and others like them who serve with such real devotion. 17I am so glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and
Achaicus have come here. They have been making up for the help you weren't here to give me. 18They have
been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you, too. You must give proper honor to all
who serve so well.
Pauls Final Greetings
19The churches here in the province of Asia greet you heartily in the Lord, along with Aquila and Priscilla and
all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. 20All the brothers and sisters here have asked
me to greet you for them. Greet each other in Christian love.
21Here is my greeting, which I write with my own hand--PAUL.
22If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come!
23May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.