7 [3:10]According to the grace of God given me as a wise architect I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one see how he builds on it. [3:11]For no one can lay another foundation besides that laid, which is Christ Jesus. [3:12]And if any man builds on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, reeds, [3:13]each one's work shall be manifest; for the day shall show it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the same fire shall try every man's work what it is. [3:14]If any one's work continues which he has built, he shall receive a reward; [3:15]if any one's work is consumed, he shall suffer loss, and he shall be saved, but so as by fire.

8 [3:16]Know you not that you are a temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you? [3:17]If any one destroys the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God which you are is holy. [3:18]Let no one deceive himself; if any one seems to be wise among you in this life, let him be a fool, that he may be wise. [3:19]For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written; He takes the wise in their craftiness. [3:20]And again; The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are vain. [3:21]Let no one therefore glory in men; for all things are yours, [3:22]whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, [3:23]and you Christ's, and Christ God's.

9 [4:1]Let a man so regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. [4:2]But, moreover, it is required of stewards that one should be found faithful. [4:3]But it is of little account to me that I should be judged by you or by man's day [judgment]; but I judge not myself; [4:4]for I am not conscious to myself [of wrong], but I am not on this account justified; but he that judges me is the Lord. [4:5]Judge nothing therefore before the time, till the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden deeds of darkness, and make known the purposes of the hearts; and then shall each one have praise from God.

10 [4:6]I have applied these things figuratively, brothers, to myself and Apollos on your account, that you may learn by us not to [go beyond] what is written, that you may not be puffed up for one against another. [4:7]For who made you to differ? And what have you that you did not receive? And if you received, why do you boast as one that receives not? [4:8]You are already full, you are already enriched; you have reigned without us; and I would that you did reign, that we also might reign with you. [4:9]For I think that God has shown us the apostles last, as devoted to death, for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. [4:10]For we are foolish for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; and you are glorious, but we are infamous. [4:11]Even to this hour we suffer hunger and thirst and nakedness, and are beaten, and are unsettled, [4:12]and labor, working with our hands; being reviled we bless, being persecuted we endure, [4:13]being defamed we entreat; we are made like the offscouring of the world and the vilest of all things, even till now.

11 [4:14]I write these things not to shame you, but as my beloved children, I admonish you. [4:15]For if you have ten thousand teachers in Christ still you have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you by the gospel. [4:16]I exhort you therefore, be followers of me. [4:17]For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere, in every church. [4:18]Some are puffed up as though I would not come to you; [4:19]but I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know not the word of those who are puffed up but the power; [4:20]for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. [4:21]What do you wish? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of meekness?



CHAPTER II.

INCEST, LITIGATION, EXPEDIENCY, AND CHASTITY.

1 [5:1]IT is commonly reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not among the gentiles, that a man should have his father's wife. [5:2]And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed should be removed from among you. [5:3]For I indeed as absent in body, but present in spirit, have already judged as present him that has so done this, [5:4]in the name of our Lord Jesus you being assembled together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus [5:5]to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. [5:6]Your rejoicing is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole mass? [5:7]Remove the old leaven, that you may be a new mass, as you are unleavened; for Christ our passover was also sacrificed for us. [5:8] Let us therefore keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with a leaven of vice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

2 [5:9]I wrote to you in the epistle not to associate with fornicators; [5:10] not altogether the fornicators of this world, or the covetous and rapacious, or idolaters, since then you would have to go out of the world. [5:11]But now I have written to you not to associate, if any one called a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or rapacious, even to eat with such a one. [5:12]For what business have I to judge those without? Do you not judge those within? [5:13]but those without, God judges. Remove therefore the evil man from among you.

3 [6:1]Dare any of you having a business with another be judged by the wicked, and not by the saints? [6:2]Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy of the lowest courts? [6:3]Know you not that we shall judge angels? Much more then things pertaining to this life? [6:4]If then you have courts for the business of this life, do you constitute them of the most abject in the church? [6:5]I speak to your shame. Is there not now a wise man among you? not one who can judge between his brothers? [6:6]But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers. [6:7]Now therefore there is a great fault among you, that you go to law one with another. Why not rather suffer injustice? why not rather be defrauded? [6:8]But you injure and defraud, and that your brothers. [6:9]Know you not that the unjust shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor sodomites, [6:10]nor thieves, nor covetous persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor the rapacious, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [6:11]And such were some of you; but you are washed, you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

4 [6:12]All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful, but I will not be brought under the power of any. [6:13]Food for the stomach, and the stomach for food; but God will destroy both it and them. And the body is not for fornication but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body; [6:14]and God both raised the Lord, and will raise us up by his power. [6:15]Know you not that your bodies are Christ's members? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them a harlot's members? by no means. [6:16]Know you not that he who is joined to a harlot is one body [with her]? For the two, says he, shall be one flesh. [6:17]But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit [with him]. [6:18]Avoid fornication. Every crime that a man commits is out of his body; but he that commits fornication sins in his body. [6:19]Know you not that your bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit in you which you have from God, and you are not your own? [6:20]For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.



CHAPTER III.

MARRIAGE, CELIBACY, ETC., AND THINGS OFFERED TO IDOLS.

1 [7:1]CONCERNING what you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman; [7:2]but on account of fornications, let each man have his wife, and each woman have her husband. [7:3]Let the husband render to the wife her due, and in like manner also the wife the husband. [7:4]The wife has not the right to her body, but the husband; and in like manner the husband has not the right to his body, but the wife. [7:5]Withhold not yourselves from one another, except by agreement for a time that you may be at leisure for prayer, and come together again, that Satan may not tempt you by your incontinence. [7:6]But this I say by suggestion, not by command. [7:7]For I wish that all men were even as I am; but each one has his gift from God, and one is of one kind and another of another.

2 [7:8]And I say to the unmarried and to the widows, that it is good for them to continue as I am; [7:9]but if they have not self-control, let them marry; it is better to marry than to be incontinent. [7:10]But the married I charge, not I, but the Lord, Let not a wife separate from her husband, [7:11]and also if she is separated let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to the husband, and let not a husband leave his wife.

3 [7:12]But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to live with him, let him not leave her; [7:13]and if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he is pleased to live with her, let her not leave the husband. [7:14]For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother; else were your children impure, but now are they holy. [7:15]But if the unbelieving companion departs, let him depart; the brother or the sister is not bound in such cases; but God has called us to peace. [7:16]For how do you know, wife, that you will not save your husband? or how do you know, husband, that you will not save your wife?

4 [7:17]Unless as the Lord has imparted to each one, as God has called each one, so let him walk; and so I appoint in all the churches. [7:18]Is any one called being circumcised, let him not be uncircumcised; is any one called in uncircumcision, let him not be circumcised. [7:19]Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping God's commandments. [7:20]Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called; [7:21]were you called being a servant, care not for it; but if you can be free, use it rather. [7:22]For the servant called in the Lord is the Lord's freeman; in like manner the called freeman is Christ's servant. [7:23]You are bought with a price; be not servants of men. [7:24]Let each one continue, brothers, in the calling in which he was called under God.

5 [7:25]And concerning the virgins I have no ordinance of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. [7:26]I think then that this is good on account of the present necessity, because it is good for man to be so. [7:27]Are you bound to a wife, seek not a release; are you released from a wife, seek not a wife. [7:28]But if you marry, you do not sin and if the virgin marries she does not sin. But such will have affliction in the flesh; but I spare you. [7:29]But this I say, brothers, the time is short, so that in future those who have wives should be as those not having them, [7:30]and those who weep as those not weeping, and those who rejoice as those not rejoicing, and those who buy as not possessing, [7:31]and those who use the world as those not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passes away. [7:32] But I wish you to be without cares. The unmarried man cares for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord; [7:33]but he that is married cares for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife. [7:34]And the wife and the virgin are different; the unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and spirit; but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she shall please the husband. [7:35]But I say this for your own profit; not to impose a snare on you, but for [your] honor, and [your] attending on the Lord without distraction.

6 [7:36]But if any one thinks that he behaves improperly to his virgin, if she is past her prime, and it must be so, let him do what he wishes; he does not sin; let them marry. [7:37]But he that stands firm in mind, not having a necessity, but has power over his will, and has determined in his mind to keep his virgin, does well. [7:38]He that gives in marriage therefore does well, and he that gives not in marriage does better.

7 [7:39]A woman is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead then she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. [7:40] But she is happier if she continues thus, in my opinion, and I think also I have the Spirit of God.

8 [8:1]And concerning things offered to idols we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. [8:2]And if any one thinks he knows any thing, he yet knows nothing as he ought to know; [8:3]but if any one loves God, this [man] is known by him. [8:4]Concerning eating things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. [8:5]For even if there are those called Gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many gods and many lords, [8:6]yet to us there is one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and we through him. [8:7]But all have not this knowledge; and some with the conscience [unenlightened] even till now eat an idol's [sacrifice] as an idol's sacrifice, and their conscience being weak is defiled. [8:8]But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat not are we worse, nor if we eat are we better. [8:9]But beware lest your liberty should become an offense to the weak. [8:10]For if any one sees you who have knowledge reclining in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him that is weak be emboldened to eat things offered to idols? [8:11]And will not the weak brother for whom Christ died perish by your knowledge? [8:12]But when you thus sin against the brothers, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. [8:13] Wherefore, if food offends my brother, I will eat no meat forever, that I may not offend my brother.



CHAPTER IV.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY ENTITLED TO A SUPPORT, PAUL'S LABORS WITHOUT CHARGE.

1 [9:1]AM I not a freeman? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord? [9:2]If I am not an apostle to others, I certainly am to you; for you are a seal of my apostleship in the Lord. [9:3]My defense to those who condemn me is this; [9:4]Have we not a right to eat and drink? [9:5]Have we not a right to lead about a sister, a wife, as also the other apostles; and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? [9:6]Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to abstain from labor? [9:7]Who ever goes on a military expedition at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and eats not the fruit of it? or who feeds a flock and eats not of the milk of the flock? [9:8] Do I say these things in the manner of men? or does not the law also say the same? [9:9]For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes. Does God care for oxen? [9:10]or does he speak entirely for our sakes? For our sakes, doubtless, it was written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and that he who threshes in hope should partake of it. [9:11]If we have sown for you spiritual things, is it too much if we reap your earthly things? [9:12]And if others have this right, do we not have it more? But we have not used this right, but endure all things, that we may not impede the gospel of Christ. [9:13]Know you not that those who perform sacred rites eat from the temple? Those who wait on the altar partake of the altar? [9:14]So also the Lord has appointed to those who preach the gospel to live by the gospel. [9:15]But I have used none of these things, and I have not written these things that it should be so done to me; for I prefer to die, rather than that any one should make my boasting vain.

2 [9:16]For if I preach the gospel I have nothing to boast of; for a necessity is laid upon me; for woe is me, if I preach not the gospel. [9:17]For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am intrusted with a stewardship. [9:18]What then is my reward? That preaching I may make the gospel without expense, that I may not abuse my right in the gospel. [9:19]For being free from all men, I have made myself a servant of all, that I may gain more; [9:20]to the Jews I have been as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain those under the law; [9:21]to those without law, as without law, being not without law to God, but with law to Christ, that I might gain those without law; [9:22]to the weak I have been as weak, that I might gain the weak; I have been all things to all men, that I may save some in all conditions; [9:23]and I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may be a partaker of it.

3 [9:24]Know you not that those who run in the race all indeed run, but one takes the prize. So run that you may obtain. [9:25]And every one that contends in the games is temperate in all things, they indeed to obtain a perishable crown, we an imperishable. [9:26]I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, and so strike, not as one who beats the air; [9:27]but I brow-beat my body, and bring it into subjection, lest having preached to others I should myself be a reprobate.

4 [10:1]For I wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, [10:2]and all were baptized to Moses by the cloud and by the sea, [10:3]and all eat the same spiritual food, [10:4]and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual rock which followed them, and that rock was Christ; [10:5]but with many of them God was not pleased; for they were destroyed in the wilderness. [10:6]But these things are examples for us, that we should not desire evil things, as they did. [10:7]Neither be idolaters, as some of them were, as it is written; The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. [10:8]Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them did and fell in one day twenty-three thousand. [10:9]Neither let us try Christ, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents. [10:10]Neither do you complain as some of them complained and were destroyed by the destroyer. [10:11]All these things happened to them as examples, and are recorded for our admonition on whom the ends of the ages have come; [10:12]so that he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall. [10:13]For no trial has befallen you but what is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trial will order the event, that you may be able to endure.

5 [10:14]Wherefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry. [10:15]I speak as to wise men; judge what I say. [10:16]The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation of the body of Christ? [10:17]For we, being many, are one bread, one body; for we all partake of the one bread. [10:18]Consider Israel after the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices partakers of the altar? [10:19]What then do I say? that an idol sacrifice is any thing, or that an idol is any thing? [10:20]But what the gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not wish you to be partakers with demons. [10:21]You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons; you cannot partake at the Lord's table and the table of demons. [10:22]Do we provoke the Lord to anger? Are we stronger than he?

6 [10:23]All things are lawful, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful, but all things do not edify. [10:24]Let no one seek his own but the good of another. [10:25]Whatever is sold in the market eat, asking no questions for conscience' sake; [10:26]for the earth is the Lord's and all it contains. [10:27]But if an unbeliever invites you and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for conscience' sake. [10:28]But if any one says to you, This has been offered to an idol, eat not for his sake that informed you, and for conscience' sake. [10:29]I mean not your conscience, but that of the other. For why is my freedom limited by the conscience of another? [10:30]If I partake with thanks, why am I blamed for that for which I give thanks? [10:31]Whether then you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [10:32]Be without offense both to Jews and Greeks, and the church of God, [10:33]as I also please all in all things, not seeking my own profit but that of many, that they may be saved. [11:1]Be followers of me as I also am of Christ.



CHAPTER V.

PUBLIC WORSHIP, THE LORD'S SUPPER.

1 [11:2]I COMMEND you, brothers, that you have remembered all my [instructions], and that you retain the traditions as I delivered them to you. [11:3]But I wish you to know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman, the man, and the head of Christ, God. [11:4]Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered disgraces his head. [11:5]But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered disgraces her head; for it is one and the same as if she was shaved. [11:6]For if a woman is not veiled then let her hair be cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off, or to be shaved, let her wear a veil.

2 [11:7]For a man ought not to cover his head, being an image and glory of God; but the woman is a glory of man. [11:8]For man is not of woman, but woman of man; [11:9]for man also was not created because of the woman, but woman because of the man. [11:10]For this reason ought the woman to have a power [veil] on her head because of the angels. [11:11]But neither is woman without man, nor man without woman in the Lord; [11:12]for as the woman is of the man, so also the man is through the woman, but all things are from God. [11:13]Judge of yourselves; is it becoming that a woman should pray to God unveiled? [11:14] Does not nature herself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace to him? [11:15]but if a woman wears long hair it is her glory; for the hair is given her for a covering. [11:16]But if any one is disposed to be contentious, we have no such custom neither have the churches of God.

3 [11:17]But I tell you this, not to praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse. [11:18]For first, when you come together in an assembly, I hear that there are divisions among you, and some part of it I believe. [11:19]For it is necessary that there should be heresies among you, that the approved may be manifest among you. [11:20]When you come together therefore, it is not to eat the Lord's supper, [11:21]for each one in eating takes his supper before the rest, and one is hungry and another drunk. [11:22] Have you not [food] to eat and drink at your houses? or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have not [houses]? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you? In this I commend you not.

4 [11:23]For I received of the Lord, what I also delivered to you; that on the night in which he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread [11:24]and giving thanks broke, and said, This is my body, which is for you; this do in remembrance of me. [11:25]In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant [sealed] with my blood; this do, as often as you drink, in remembrance of me. [11:26]For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you declare the Lord's death till he comes. [11:27]So that whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. [11:28]But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup; [11:29]for he eats and drinks judgment to himself, who eats and drinks not discerning the body.

5 [11:30]For this reason many are weak and sick among you and some sleep. [11:31]For if we judged ourselves we should not be judged; [11:32]but being judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. [11:33]Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait one for another. [11:34]If any one is hungry let him eat at home, that you come not together for judgment. The other things I will arrange when I come.



CHAPTER VI.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

1 [12:1]AND I wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, of the spiritual gifts. [12:2]You know that when you were gentiles, you followed dumb idols as you were led. [12:3]I assure you, therefore, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus an accursed thing, and no one can call Jesus Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

2 [12:4]And there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit; [12:5]and there are diversities of services and the same Lord; [12:6]and there are diversities of operations and the same God, who performs all things in all. [12:7]But a manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for a useful purpose. [12:8]For to one is given by the Spirit a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge by the same Spirit, [12:9]and to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of performing cures by the same Spirit, [12:10]and to another the performance of mighty works, and to another prophecy, and to another discrimination of spirits, and to another different tongues, and to another an interpretation of tongues; [12:11]but all these [works] performs one and the same Spirit, distributing to each in particular as it wills.

3 [12:12]For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body being many are one body, so also is Christ; [12:13]for we have all been baptized with one Spirit in one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and have all been made to drink one Spirit. [12:14]For the body also is not one member but many. [12:15]If the foot says, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? [12:16]and if the ear says, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? [12:17]If the whole body was an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole was a hearing, where would be the smelling? [12:18]But now God has placed the members each one of them in the body, as he pleased. [12:19]But if all were one member, where would be the body? [12:20]But now there are many members, but one body. [12:21]The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, or again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you; [12:22]but much more those members of the body which seem to be weak are necessary, [12:23]and those which we esteem to be less honorable members of the body, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our uncomely members have more abundant comeliness, [12:24]for our comely ones have no need. But God has commingled the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which was lacking, [12:25]that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. [12:26]And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; and if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.

4 [12:27]And you are a body of Christ, and members in particular. [12:28]And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then powers, then gifts of performing cures, aids, governments, different tongues. [12:29]Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all powers? [12:30]have all gifts of performing cures? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? [12:31]But desire earnestly the best gifts: and I will still more fully show you the way.

5 [13:1]If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. [13:2]And if I have prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. [13:3]And if I deal out all my property to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, and have not love, I shall not be profited.

6 [13:4]Love suffers long and is kind; love envies not; love is not boastful, is not puffed up, [13:5]does not behave unbecomingly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, devises not evil, [13:6]rejoices not in wickedness, but rejoices in the truth; [13:7]bears all things, believes all things, hopes for all things, and endures all things.

7 [13:8]Love never fails; but if there are prophecies, they shall pass away; if tongues, they shall cease; if knowledge, it shall pass away. [13:9]And we know in part and we prophesy in part; [13:10]when the perfect has come, that which is in part shall pass away. [13:11]When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child; when I became a man I put away childish things. [13:12]For now we see by a mirror darkly, but then we shall see face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully as I also am known. [13:13]And now remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

8 [14:1]Cherish love, and be earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy. [14:2]For he that speaks with a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but in spirit he speaks mysteries; [14:3]but he that prophesies speaks to men to edification and exhortation and consolation. [14:4]He that speaks with a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies an assembly. [14:5]I wish you all to speak with tongues, but rather that you should prophesy; and he that prophesies is greater than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, that the assembly may receive edification.

9 [14:6]But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you by a revelation, or by a knowledge, or by a prophecy, or by a doctrine? [14:7]So of irrational objects making a sound, whether a flute or harp; if it makes no distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is played on the flute or harp? [14:8]For also if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle? [14:9]So also you by a tongue if you utter a word not easily understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you will speak to the air. [14:10]There are perhaps as many kinds of voices in the world, and no one is without significance; [14:11]if therefore I do not know the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks will be a barbarian to me. [14:12]So also you, since you are earnestly desirous of spirits [spiritual gifts], seek to abound for the edification of the church. [14:13]Let him therefore that speaks with a tongue pray that he may interpret, [14:14]For if I pray with a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. [14:15]What then is [to be done]? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding; [14:16] since if you bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to your thanksgiving, since he knows not what you say? [14:17]For you indeed give thanks well; but the other is not edified. [14:18]I thank God I speak with a tongue more than you all; [14:19]but in an assembly I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may also teach others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

10 [14:20]Brothers, be not children in understanding, but in malice be children, and in understanding be perfect men. [14:21]For it is written in the law, With other tongues, and with other lips will I speak to this people, and so they shall not understand me, says the Lord. [14:22]Tongues therefore are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, but prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. [14:23]If, therefore, the whole church comes together, and all speak with tongues, and there come in the unlearned and unbelieving, will they not say that you are mad? [14:24]But if all prophesy, and there comes in an unbeliever or an unlearned man, he is convinced by all, he is examined by all, [14:25]and the secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so falling down on his face he worships God, declaring that God is really among you.

11 [14:26]What then is [to be done] brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a revelation, has an interpretation; let all things be done for edification. [14:27]If any one speaks with a tongue, let it be by two or at most by three, and by turns, and let one interpret; [14:28] and if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God. [14:29]Let two or three prophets speak, and let the rest judge; [14:30]but if any thing is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent. [14:31]For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all be comforted. [14:32]And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets; [14:33]for God is not [the friend] of disorder but of peace.

12 [14:34]As in all the churches of the saints, let your women keep silence in the assemblies; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law also says. [14:35]But if they wish to learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in an assembly. [14:36]Did the word of God go out from you, or did it come to you alone?

13 [14:37]If any one thinks he is a prophet, or a spiritual man, let him acknowledge the [things] which I write to you, that they are the Lord's; [14:38] but if any one is ignorant, let him be ignorant. [14:39]Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues; [14:40]but let all things be done becomingly and in order.



CHAPTER VII.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.

1 [15:1]I DECLARE to you, brothers, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which also you stand, [15:2]by which also you are saved, if you adhere to the word we preached to you, unless indeed you believed in vain. [15:3]For I delivered to you at first, what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [15:4]and that he was buried, and that he rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, [15:5]and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [15:6]Afterwards he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, of whom the most continue even to the present time, but some have fallen asleep. [15:7]Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, [15:8]and last of all he appeared to me also, as one born out of due time. [15:9]For I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God; [15:10] but by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all, but not I but the grace of God with me. [15:11]Whether therefore it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.

2 [15:12]But if Christ is preached that he was raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? [15:13]But if there is not a resurrection of the dead, Christ has not been raised; [15:14]and if Christ has not been raised, then both our preaching is vain, and your faith also vain; [15:15]and we are found also false witnesses of God, because we testified in regard to God that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up if indeed the dead are not raised. [15:16]For if the dead are not raised, Christ was not raised; [15:17]and if Christ was not raised, your faith is vain, you are yet in your sins, [15:18]and those then who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [15:19]If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

3 [15:20]But now Christ has been raised from the dead, a first fruit of those that have slept. [15:21]For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. [15:22]For as in Adam all die, so in Christ also shall all be made alive. [15:23]But each one in his own order; Christ a first fruit, then those who are Christ's at his coming; [15:24]then is the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when he will destroy every principality and every authority and power. [15:25]For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. [15:26]The last enemy, death, shall be destroyed, [15:27]for he put all things under his feet. But when he says that all things are put under him, it is clear that he is excepted who puts all things under him; [15:28]and when all things have been put under him, then will the Son also himself be subject to him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

4 [15:29]Else what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? and why are they baptized for them? [15:30]Why also do we encounter danger every hour? [15:31]By the joy on account of you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. [15:32]If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, of what advantage is it to me? If the dead rise not, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. [15:33]Be not deceived; evil companionships corrupt good morals. [15:34]Awake to righteousness and sin not; for some have not a knowledge of God. I speak to your shame.

5 [15:35]But some one will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? [15:36]Foolish man, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies; [15:37]and what you sow, you sow not the body which shall be, but the naked grain, it may be of wheat, or some of the other grains; [15:38]but God gives it a body as he pleases, and to each of the grains its own body. [15:39] All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes. [15:40]And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is one, and of the earthly another. [15:41]There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. [15:42]So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in destruction, it is raised in indestructibleness; [15:43]it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; [15:44]it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. [15:45]And thus it is written; The first man Adam became a living soul; the last Adam is a life-giving spirit. [15:46] But the spiritual was not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. [15:47] The first man was from the earth, earthly, the second man is from heaven. [15:48]Like the earthly, such also are the earthly; and like the heavenly, such also are the heavenly; [15:49]and as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

6 [15:50]But I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor shall destruction inherit indestructibleness. [15:51] Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [15:52]in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead be raised, indestructible, and we shall be changed. [15:53]For this destructible must put on indestructibleness, and this mortal must put on immortality. [15:54]And when this destructible has put on indestructibleness, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall the word be accomplished that is written; Death was swallowed up in victory. [15:55]Where, death, is your sting? where, death, is your victory? [15:56]And the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; [15:57]but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [15:58] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.



CHAPTER VIII.

CHARITABLE COLLECTIONS, TIMOTHY, APOLLOS, FAMILY OF STEPHANAS, SALUTATIONS.

1 [16:1]CONCERNING the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so also do you. [16:2]On the first day of the week let each one of you lay aside by himself in store as God has prospered him, that there may be no collections made when I come. [16:3]And when I come, whom you shall approve, these will I send with letters to carry your charity to Jerusalem; [16:4]and if it seems best that I should go, they shall go with me. [16:5]And I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia; for I will pass through Macedonia [16:6]and perhaps remain and spend the winter, that you may send me forward wherever I go. [16:7]For I do not wish now to see you by the way; for I hope to continue some time with you, if the Lord permits. [16:8]But I will remain at Ephesus till Pentecost, [16:9]for a great and effectual door is opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

2 [16:10]If Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he performs the work of the Lord, as I also do; [16:11]let no one therefore despise him. But send him forward in peace, that he may come to me; for I look for him with the brothers.

3 [16:12]But concerning Apollos the brother, I have exhorted him much to come to you with the brothers; but he was entirely indisposed to come now, but he will come when he has a convenient time.

4 [16:13]Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be manly, be strong, [16:14]let all your [works] be in love.

5 [16:15]And I exhort you, brothers, know the family of Stephanas, for it is a first fruit of Achaia, and they devoted themselves to serving the saints; [16:16]that you also be in subjection to such, and to every one that works and labors with us. [16:17]I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaiacus, for they supplied your lack, [16:18]and refreshed my spirit and yours. Know therefore such.

6 [16:19]The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the assembly [church] at their house. [16:20]All the brothers salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.

7 [16:21]The salutation with my hand, Paul's. [16:22]If any one is not a friend to the Lord, let him be accursed. The Lord comes. [16:23]The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. [16:24]My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.



SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.

PHILIPPI, A.D. 58. (ACTS, 16:1.)



CHAPTER I.

THE APOSTLE'S LOVE OF THE CORINTHIANS, HIS TRIALS, HIS DESIGN TO VISIT THEM, HIS FORMER LETTER, ETC.

1 [1:1]PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia. [1:2]Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 [1:3]Blessed be the God and lather of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [1:4]who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those in every affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God, [1:5]because as Christ's sufferings abound in us, so also through Christ does our comfort abound. [1:6]And if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, wrought by a patient endurance the same sufferings which we also suffer, and our hope for you is strong; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort and salvation, [1:7] knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort.

3 [1:8]For we wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, of our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were exceedingly oppressed beyond our power, so that we despaired even of life; [1:9]but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, [1:10]who delivered us from so great a death and will deliver, in whom we hope that he will also still deliver, [1:11]you also striving together for us in prayer, that thanks may be rendered for us by many persons for the gift bestowed on us by many.

4 [1:12]For this is our rejoicing; the testimony of our conscience that in purity and godly sincerity, not with a carnal wisdom, but with a divine grace, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and most abundantly towards you. [1:13]For we do not write to you of other things, but of what you read and acknowledge; and I hope you will also acknowledge to the end, [1:14]as you have also acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

5 [1:15]And in this confidence I wished to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit, [1:16]and to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again from Macedonia to you, and by you to be sent forward to Judea. [1:17] Wishing this therefore, did I use lightness? or what I wish do I wish according to the flesh, that with me there may be the yes, yes, and the no, no? [1:18]But as God is faithful, our word to you was not yes and no. [1:19]For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but was yes in him; [1:20]for all the promises of God, the yes in him, and the Amen in him, are for glory to God by us. [1:21]And he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God, [1:22] who has also sealed us and given us the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.

6 [1:23]But I call God to witness on my soul, that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth. [1:24]Not that we are lords of your faith, but co-laborers of your joy; for you stand firm by the faith. [2:1]But I determined this with myself, not to come again to you in sorrow; [2:2]for if I grieve you, who is he that gladdens me, but he that is grieved by me? [2:3]And I wrote the same to you that coming I might not have sorrow for those in whom I ought to have joy, having trusted in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. [2:4]For I wrote to you in much affliction and distress of mind with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have abundantly for you.

7 [2:5]But if any one has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part, that I may not be hard upon you, [has grieved you] all, [2:6]Sufficient for such a one is this rebuke by many; [2:7]so that on the other hand you ought to forgive and comfort him, that he may not be overwhelmed with excessive sorrow. [2:8]I exhort you, therefore, to confirm your love to him; [2:9]for I wrote for this purpose, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. [2:10]But whom you favor I also will favor; for what favor I have shown, if I have shown any favor, has been for your sakes, in the presence of Christ, [2:11]that we may not be circumvented by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

8 [2:12]But when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, [2:13]I had no rest in my spirit from not finding Titus my brother; but leaving them I went to Macedonia. [2:14]But thanks be to God, who always triumphs over us in Christ and reveals the odor of his knowledge by us in every place; [2:15]for we are a sweet odor of Christ to God, in the saved and in the lost, [2:16]in one an odor of death to death, and in the other an odor of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? [2:17]For we are not as many, who adulterate the word of God, [for gain]; but as of sincerity, but as of God, we speak before God in Christ.

9 [3:1]Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some, commendatory epistles to you or from you? [3:2]You are our epistle, written by our hearts, known and read by all men, [3:3]for you are manifestly an epistle of Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of hearts of flesh. [3:4]And we have such confidence through Jesus Christ in God; [3:5]not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reason out any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, [3:6]who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant, not of the writing but of the spirit; for the writing kills, but the spirit makes alive.

10 [3:7]But if the ministry of death engraved in a writing on stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses on account of the brightness of his face, which passed away, [3:8]how shall not the ministry of the spirit be glorious? [3:9]For if the ministry of condemnation was a glory, much more will the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. [3:10]For that which was made glorious was not glorious in this respect, on account of the surpassing glory. [3:11]For if that which has passed away was with glory, much more will that which continues be in glory.

11 [3:12]Having therefore this hope we use great boldness, [3:13]and not as Moses put a vail on his face, that the children of Israel might not see to the end of that which has passed away; [3:14]but their minds were blinded. For to this day in reading the old covenant the same vail remains, not taken away because it is taken away in Christ; [3:15]but to this day when Moses is read a vail lies upon their minds; [3:16]but when they turn to the Lord the vail is taken away. [3:17]And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. [3:18]And we all with unvailed face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same likeness, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

12 [4:1]Therefore, having this ministry, as we have obtained mercy we faint not, [4:2]but have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but commending ourselves by the manifestation of the truth to every conscience of men before God. [4:3]But if our gospel is vailed it is vailed among the lost, [4:4]in whom the god of this life has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God, may not shine. [4:5]For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. [4:6]For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

13 [4:7]But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us, [4:8]being afflicted in every thing but not distressed, being perplexed but not in despair, [4:9]being persecuted but not deserted, being cast down but not destroyed, [4:10]always carrying about the death of Jesus in the body, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. [4:11]For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh. [4:12]So that death works in us, but life in you. [4:13]And having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore speak, [4:14]knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and present us with you. [4:15]For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace may abound through the thanksgiving of many to the glory of God.

14 [4:16]Wherefore we faint not, but if our outward man is destroyed our inward man is renewed day by day. [4:17]For the light affliction which is for a moment, works out for us more abundantly an eternal weight of glory, [4:18] while we look not on the things which are seen but on the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are for a time, but those which are unseen are eternal.

15 [5:1]For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle was destroyed, we have an edifice from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [5:2]For in this we also groan, earnestly desiring to put on our dwelling which is from heaven, [5:3]if indeed also having put it on we may not be found naked. [5:4]For being in this tabernacle we groan, being burdened, because we do not wish to put it off, but to put on [the other], that the mortal may be swallowed up by life. [5:5]And he that has made us for this is God, who has given us the pledge of the Spirit. [5:6]Being always confident therefore, and knowing that while we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord,— [5:7]we walk by faith, not by sight;— [5:8]but we are confident, and are pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. [5:9] Wherefore also we strive, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to him. [5:10]For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, that each one may receive through the body for what he has done, whether it is good or evil.

16 [5:11]Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord we persuade men, but are made manifest to God; and I hope also to be made manifest in your consciences. [5:12] For we do not again commend ourselves to you, but give you occasion to glory on our account, that you may have something for those that glory in appearance and not in heart. [5:13]For if we are beside ourselves it is for God; and if we are sober it is for you. [5:14]For the love of Christ constrains us, judging this, that if one died for all then were all dead; [5:15]and he died for all, that those who live should no more live for themselves but for him that died for them and rose again. [5:16]So that from henceforth we know no man after the flesh; and if we have known Christ after the flesh, we now know him no more. [5:17]So that if any one is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. [5:18]And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given us the ministry of the reconciliation, [5:19]to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their offenses, and has given to us the word of reconciliation. [5:20]We are embassadors therefore for Christ, as though God besought you by us; we pray you, for Christ, be reconciled to God. [5:21]For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.

17 [6:1]And being also co-laborers we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain,— [6:2]for he says, In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you; behold, now is an acceptable time, behold, now is a day of salvation,— [6:3]giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry may not be blamed, [6:4]but in every thing commending ourselves as ministers of God, in great patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, [6:5]in stripes, in imprisonments, in dissensions, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, [6:6]in purity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, [6:7]in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the arms of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, [6:8]with honor and dishonor, with evil report and good report; as deceivers and true, [6:9]as unknown and well-known, as dying and behold we live, as chastened and not killed, [6:10]as grieving but always rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and possessing all things.

18 [6:11]Our mouth is opened to you, Corinthians, our heart is enlarged; [6:12] you are not straitened in us, but you are straitened in your own souls; [6:13] and now as a return of benefits, I speak as to children, do you also be enlarged.

19 [6:14]Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what participation has righteousness with wickedness? or what communion has light with darkness? [6:15] and what agreement has Christ with Beliar, or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? [6:16]and what agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God; as God said, I will dwell in them, and I will walk in them, and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people. [6:17]Go out therefore from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the impure; and I will receive you, [6:18]and will be to you a father, and you shall be to me sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. [7:1] Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

20 [7:2]Receive us; we have injured no one, we have destroyed no one, we have defrauded no one. [7:3]I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts both to die and live together. [7:4]I have great boldness towards you, and great glorying on your account; I am full of comfort, I have a super-abounding joy in all our afflictions. [7:5]For when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were distressed on every hand; without were conflicts, within fears; [7:6]but God who comforts the humble comforted us by the coming of Titus; [7:7]and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted on your account, telling us of your great desire, your deep sorrow, your zeal for me, so that I rather rejoiced. [7:8]For if I even grieved you by the epistle, I do not repent, though I did repent; for because I see that the epistle grieved you but for a time, [7:9]now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you grieved to a change of mind; for you were grieved in a godly manner, to suffer injury from us in nothing. [7:10]For godly sorrow produces a change of mind to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world produces death. [7:11]For behold, this same thing, that you grieved in a godly manner, how great diligence it produced in you, what a defense, what indignation, what fear, what desire, what zeal, what a punishment! In every thing you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

21 [7:12]If therefore I wrote to you, it was not on account of him that did the wrong, nor on account of him that suffered wrong, but that our diligence in your behalf might be manifest before God. [7:13]On this account we were comforted. And in addition to our comfort, we rejoiced more abundantly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all; [7:14]for if I had boasted of you to him I was not ashamed, but as we said all things to you in truth, so also the boasting of you to Titus was truth. [7:15]And his affection is more abundant for you, remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. [7:16]I rejoice that I have confidence in you in every thing.



CHAPTER II.

A CONTRIBUTION SOLICITED FOR THE SAINTS AT JERUSALEM.

1 [8:1]AND I make known to you, brothers, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, [8:2]that in much trying affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. [8:3]For according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, of their own accord, [8:4]with much entreaty they desired of us the favor of a participation in the service to the saints; [8:5]and not as we hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God, [8:6]so that we requested Titus, as he before began, that he would complete also this charity with you. [8:7]But as you abound in every thing, in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us, [we desire] that you may abound in this grace also.

2 [8:8]I do not speak by command, but on account of the diligence of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love; [8:9]for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he became poor, though rich, that you by his poverty might be rich. [8:10]And in this case I give an opinion; for this is expedient for you, who began before to act in this matter and to act willingly a year ago. [8:11]And now, therefore, perform the doing also, that as there was a readiness to will, so also there may be a performance from what you have. [8:12]For if there is a willing mind, a man is acceptable according to what he has, and not according to what he has not. [8:13]Not that others may be relieved and you burdened, [8:14]but that there may be an equality; that at the present time your abundance may supply their deficiency, and that their abundance may supply your deficiency, that there may be an equality, [8:15]as it is written; He that [gathered] much had nothing over, and he that [gathered] little had no deficiency.

3 [8:16]But thanks be to God, who put this care for you into the heart of Titus, [8:17]for he received the exhortation, and being extremely diligent went to you of his own accord. [8:18]And we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches, [8:19]and not only so, but he has also been chosen by the churches as our travelling companion in this charity ministered by us for the glory of the same Lord and our promptitude, [8:20] guarding against this, that no one may blame us in this abundance administered by us; [8:21]for we provide things honorable not only before the Lord, but also before men. [8:22]And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved in many services to be diligent, and who is now much more diligent from the great confidence in you. [8:23]If [any one inquires] respecting Titus, he is my companion and co-laborer for you; if our brothers, they are apostles of churches and the glory of Christ. [8:24]Show them therefore the proof of your love, and of our boasting of you before the churches.

4 [9:1]For concerning the service for the saints it is superfluous for me to write to you; [9:2]for I know your readiness, of which I boasted in your behalf to the Macedonians that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has excited many. [9:3]But I sent the brothers, that our boasting of you may not be in vain in this respect, as I said you were prepared, [9:4]lest if the Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to say you, should be ashamed of this confidence. [9:5]I thought it necessary, therefore, to exhort the brothers to go to you before, and to make ready your free gift before announced, that it may be ready as a free gift and not as an exaction.

5 [9:6]And [consider] this, He that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he that sows liberally shall reap also liberally. [9:7]Let each one contribute as he chooses in his heart, not with regret or from necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. [9:8]And God is able to make every favor abound to you, that having always every sufficiency in every thing you may abound in every good work; [9:9]as it is written, He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness continues forever. [9:10]And may he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating multiply your grain, and increase the products of your righteousness; [9:11]that you may be enriched in every thing for all liberality, which produces through us thanksgiving to God. [9:12]For the performance of this service not only supplies the need of the saints, but also abounds with the thanksgivings of many to God; [9:13][they] glorifying God on account of the proof of this ministry for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ and the liberality of the contribution to them and to all, [9:14]and by their prayer for you, greatly longing for you on account of the abounding grace of God upon you. [9:15]Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.



CHAPTER III.

PAUL'S REPLY TO HIS DETRACTORS.

1 [10:1]I PAUL also exhort you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in appearance am humble among you, but being absent am bold towards you; [10:2]and I desire that I may not be bold when present, with that confidence which I design to use against some who speak of us as if we walked according to the flesh. [10:3]For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh, [10:4]for the arms of our warfare are not of flesh, but mighty with God to the pulling down of strongholds, [10:5]destroying [false] reasonings and every height which is exalted against the knowledge of God, and subjecting every thought to the obedience of Christ, [10:6]and being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is completed.

2 [10:7]You see things according to appearances. If any one trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider again with himself that as he is Christ's so also are we. [10:8]For if I should even boast some of our authority which the Lord gave for your edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed. [10:9][But I forbear,] that I may not seem as though I would terrify you by epistles. [10:10]For the epistles, say they, are weighty and powerful, but the bodily presence is weak and speech contemptible. [10:11]Let such a one think, that such as we are in word by epistles when absent, such also will we be in work when present. [10:12]For we dare not judge or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves with themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise. [10:13]But we will not boast of things not measured, but according to the measure of the rule which God has given us, to come even to you. [10:14]For we do not stretch ourselves out too far, as if we had not come to you, for we came even to you with the gospel of Christ; [10:15]not boasting of things unmeasured in the labors of others, but having a hope, your faith being increased, that we shall be magnified among you according to our rule abundantly, [10:16]to preach the gospel in the parts beyond you, not to boast of things prepared by another's rule. [10:17]But let him that glories glory in the Lord; [10:18]for not he that commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.

3 [11:1]I wish you would bear a little with my folly; and indeed do bear with me. [11:2]For I am zealous for you with a godly zeal, for I joined you, a chaste virgin, to one husband, to present to Christ; [11:3]but I fear lest as the serpent deceived Eve with his craftiness, so also your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. [11:4]For if he that comes preaches another Jesus whom we did not preach, or you receive another spirit which you did not receive, or another gospel which you did not receive, you might well bear it; [11:5]for I judge that I am not behind the chief of the apostles. [11:6]And even if I am rude in speech, I certainly am not in knowledge, but we have been made fully manifest to you in all things. [11:7] Have I done wrong to humble myself that you might be exalted, that I preached the gospel of God to you gratuitously? [11:8]I robbed other churches taking wages to serve you; [11:9]and when I was with you and was in want, I was burdensome to no one; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied beforehand my need; and in every thing I kept myself without being burdensome to you, and will keep myself so.

4 [11:10]As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting in respect to myself shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. [11:11]Why? Because I love you not? God knows. [11:12]But what I do I also will do, that I may take away an occasion from those who wish an occasion, that wherein they boast they may be found even as we are. [11:13]For such false apostles, deceitful laborers, transform themselves into apostles of Christ. [11:14]And no wonder; for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. [11:15]It is no great thing, therefore, if his ministers transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

5 [11:16]Again, I say let no one think me to be foolish; but if otherwise, even as a foolish man bear with me that I may boast a little. [11:17]What I say, I do not say according to the Lord, but as it were in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. [11:18]Since many boast of the flesh, I also will boast. [11:19]You endure fools patiently being wise; [11:20]for you endure it if any one reduces you to servitude, if any one devours you, if any one takes from you, if any one exalts himself against you, if any one beats you in the face.

6 [11:21]I speak of reproach as if we were weak; wherein any one is bold, I speak foolishly, I am bold also. [11:22]Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the posterity of Abraham? so am I. [11:23]Are they ministers of Christ? I speak foolishly, I am more; in labors most abundant, in stripes above measure, in imprisonments most abundant, in deaths often; [11:24]five times I received of the Jews forty [stripes] lacking one, [11:25] thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice have I been shipwrecked, a night and a day have I spent in the deep; [11:26]often on journeys, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from [my own] race, in dangers from gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers on the sea, in dangers among false brothers, [11:27]in labor and weariness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. [11:28]Besides things without, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [11:29]Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I am not displeased? [11:30]If it is necessary to boast, I will boast of my infirmities. [11:31]The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I lie not. [11:32]In Damascus, the ethnarch, when Aretas was king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, desiring to take me, [11:33]and I was let down in a rope-basket, by a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

7 [12:1]It is not expedient therefore for me to boast [of these things]; for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. [12:2]I know a man, in Christ above fourteen years, whether in the body I know not, or out of the body I know not, God knows,—such a one caught up to the third heaven. [12:3]I know even such a man,—whether in the body or out of the body I know not, God knows,— [12:4]that he was caught up to paradise, and heard unutterable words, which it is not lawful for man to speak. [12:5]Of such a one will I boast, but of myself I will not boast except of my infirmities. [12:6]For if I shall wish to boast I shall not be foolish, for I will tell the truth. But I forbear, lest any one should think of me beyond what he sees or hears of me.

8 [12:7]And that I might not be elated with my extraordinary revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me, that I should not be too much exalted. [12:8]For this I besought the Lord thrice that it might leave me. [12:9]And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you; for power is perfected in weakness. [12:10]Most gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I am well pleased with infirmities, with injuries, with necessities, with persecutions, with distresses for Christ; for when I am weak, then am I strong.

9 [12:11]I have become foolish; you compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing am I behind the chief of the apostles, though I also am nothing. [12:12]The signs of an apostle were performed among you with all patience, in miracles, and prodigies, and mighty works. [12:13]For what is there in which you were inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

10 [12:14]Behold, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children. [12:15]And I most gladly will spend and will be spent for your souls, even if the more abundantly I love you the less I am loved. [12:16]Be it so, I was not burdensome to you; but being crafty I caught you with deceit. [12:17]Did I make any thing out of you by any of those I sent to you? [12:18]I requested Titus, and sent the brother with him; did Titus make any thing out of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit, in the same steps?



CHAPTER IV.

PROPOSED VISIT, ETC.

1 [12:19]Do you again think that we are defending ourselves? We speak in Christ before God; all these things, beloved, are for your edification. [12:20]For I fear lest when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found such as you wish not; lest there shall be strife, envy, anger, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, pride, dissensions; [12:21]lest when I come again my God shall humble me before you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned, and not changed their minds, in respect to impurity and fornication and lewdness which they have committed.

2 [13:1]This third time I am coming to you; by the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. [13:2]I have said before, and I now foretell as if present a second time, although absent, to those who have already sinned and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare; [13:3]since you seek a proof in me of Christ speaking, who is not weak to you but powerful in you; [13:4]for though he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; and we also are weak in him, but live with him by the power of God in you.

3 [13:5]Try yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves; or know you not yourselves that Christ is in you unless you are reprobates? [13:6]But I hope you will know that we are not reprobates. [13:7]We wish to God that you may do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do good though we should be as reprobates. [13:8]For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. [13:9]For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong; and we desire this, your perfection. [13:10]For this reason, being absent, I write these things, that I may not use sharpness when present, with the power which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down.

4 [13:11]Finally, brothers, rejoice, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. [13:12]Salute one another with a holy kiss. [13:13]All the saints salute you. [13:14]The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.



THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

CORINTH, A.D., 58. (ACTS, 18:1)



CHAPTER I.

HIMSELF, JESUS CHRIST, AND THE GOSPEL.

1 [1:1]PAUL, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart to the gospel of God,— [1:2]which he promised by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures,— [1:3]concerning his Son born of the posterity of David as to the flesh, [1:4]declared to be the Son of God in power as to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead,—Jesus Christ our Lord,— [1:5]through whom we have received grace and an apostleship for the obedience of the faith in all nations in behalf of his name, [1:6]among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ,— [1:7]to all who are at Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 [1:8]First, indeed, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed in all the world. [1:9]For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how incessantly I make mention of you, always in my prayers [1:10]asking if by any means I may now at some time have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you. [1:11]For I greatly desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, that you may be strengthened, [1:12]that is, that I may be comforted in you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

3 [1:13]But I wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, that I often purposed to come to you, and was hindered hitherto, that I might have some fruit also among you, as among the other gentiles. [1:14]I am a debtor both to the Greeks and the Barbarians, both to the wise and the ignorant; [1:15]so that as far as depends upon me I am ready also to preach the gospel to those at Rome. [1:16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel; for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes, the Jew first and also the Greek. [1:17]For God's righteousness is revealed in it by faith in the faith [the gospel]; as it is written; The righteous shall live by faith.



CHAPTER II.

WICKEDNESS DESTROYS GENTILES AND JEWS.

1 [1:18]FOR the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all impiety and wickedness of men who hold the truth in wickedness, [1:19]because what can be known of God is manifest among them; for God has manifested [himself] to them. [1:20]For his invisible [attributes] are clearly seen from the creation of the world, being perceived by the things which are made, even his eternal power and deity, so that they have no defense, [1:21]because having known God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful, but became vain in their reasonings and their ignorant mind was darkened. [1:22]Saying that they were wise they became foolish, [1:23]and changed the glory of the imperishable God into the likeness of the image of perishable man, and of birds, and quadrupeds, and reptiles.

2 [1:24]Wherefore God also gave them up with the desires of their hearts to impurity, to disgrace their bodies among themselves, [1:25]who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creation more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, amen.

3 [1:26]Therefore God gave them up to infamous affections; for their females changed a natural enjoyment for that which is against nature, [1:27]and in like manner also the males, leaving the natural enjoyment of the female, became the subjects of inordinate desires for each other, males with males committing indecency, and receiving in return the recompense of their error which was fit.

4 [1:28]And as they did not choose to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do things which are not proper, [1:29]being filled with all wickedness, malice, covetousness, vice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions, whisperers, [1:30]evil speakers, haters of God, injurious, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [1:31]unintelligent, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful, [1:32]who knowing the ordinance of God, that those who do such things deserve death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in those who do them.

5 [2:1]Wherefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge, for in that in which you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge do the same things. [2:2]But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who do such things. [2:3]But do you think this, O man, who judge those doing such things and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God? [2:4]or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to a change of mind? [2:5]But according to your hardness and unchanged heart you treasure up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and of a revelation of the righteous judgment of God, [2:6]who will render to each according to his works; [2:7]to those who by patience in good works seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; [2:8]but to those who are contentions and disobey the truth, and obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. [2:9]Affliction and distress [shall be] on every soul of man that does evil, both the Jew first and the Greek; [2:10] and glory and honor and peace to every one that does good, both the Jew first and the Greek.

6 [2:11]For there is no respect of persons with God. [2:12]For as many as have sinned without the law shall perish without the law, and as many as have sinned with the law shall be judged by the law,— [2:13]for not the hearers of the law are righteous with God, but the doers of the law shall be justified; [2:14]for when the nations which have not the law perform by nature [the commandments] of the law, these who have not the law are a law to themselves, [2:15]and they show the work of the law written in their minds, their consciences testifying with them, and their judgments mutually accusing or defending one another;— [2:16]in the day when God shall judge the secret [doings] of men according to my gospel through Jesus Christ.

7 [2:17]But [what] if you are called a Jew and rest on the law, and boast of God, [2:18]and know his will, and approve of things which are excellent, being instructed by the law, [2:19]and believe yourself to be a guide of the blind, a light of those in darkness, [2:20]an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law; [2:21]you that teach another, do you not teach yourself? You that preach not to steal, do you steal? [2:22]You that command not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege? [2:23]You who boast of the law, by the transgression of the law do you dishonor God? [2:24]For the name of God is blasphemed on your account among the nations as it is written.

8 [2:25]For circumcision indeed is profitable if you perform the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. [2:26]If therefore the uncircumcision keeps the ordinances of the law, shall not its uncircumcision be accounted for circumcision? [2:27]And the uncircumcision by nature which keeps the law shall judge you who with the written law and circumcision are a transgressor of the law. [2:28]For not that which is external is the Jew, nor is that which is external in the flesh circumcision. [2:29]But that which is in secret is the Jew, and circumcision of the heart is in the spirit not in the writing, the commendation of which is not of men but of God.

9 [3:1]What then is the preeminence of the Jew? or what the profit of circumcision? [3:2]Much in every way. For first, indeed, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. [3:3]For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief destroy the faith of God? [3:4]By no means; but let God be true, and every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mayest be justified in thy sayings and overcome when thou art judged.

10 [3:5]But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak as a man;— [3:6] by no means;—since [if he was] how shall God judge the world? [3:7]For if the truth of God abounded by my falsehood to his glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner? [3:8]And as we are falsely accused and as some declare that we say, [do we say] Let us do evil that good may come? Whose judgment is just.

11 [3:9]What defense then have we? None at all; for we before asserted that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, [3:10]as it is written, There is none righteous not one, [3:11]there is none that understands, there is none that seeks God; [3:12]all have turned aside, they have together become unprofitable; there is no one that does good, there is not even one; [3:13]their throat is an opened tomb, with their tongues they practise deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips. [3:14]Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. [3:15] Their feet are swift to shed blood, [3:16]destruction and misery are in their ways, [3:17]and the way of peace they have not known. [3:18]There is no fear of God before their eyes. [3:19]But we know that whatever the law says, it says to those having the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world become guilty before God. [3:20]Wherefore by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified is his sight, for by the law there is an acknowledgment of sin.



CHAPTER III.

GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH SAVES BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES.

1 [3:21]BUT now God's righteousness has been made manifest without the law, being testified to by the law and the prophets, [3:22]but God's righteousness is through the faith of Jesus Christ, in all and upon all that believe. For there is no difference; [3:23]for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, [3:24]being justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, [3:25]whom God set forth [to be] a propitiator through faith in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing by of the errors committed previously in the forbearance of God, [3:26]to show his righteousness at the present time, that he may be righteous and justify him that is of faith.

2 [3:27]Where then is the boasting [of the Jew]? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No; but by the law of faith. [3:28]We conclude then that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law. [3:29]Is God [a God] of the Jews alone? and not also of the gentiles? Yes, also of the gentiles, [3:30] since there is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through the [same] faith. [3:31]Do we then abrogate the law by the faith? By no means; but we establish the law.