So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy. 009:017 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."{Exodus 9:16} 009:018 So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires. 009:019 You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?" 009:020 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"{Isaiah 29:16; 45:9} 009:021 Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? 009:022 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction, 009:023 and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, 009:024 us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? 009:025 As he says also in Hosea, "I will call them 'my people,' which were not my people; and her 'beloved,' who was not beloved."{Hosea 2:23} 009:026 "It will be that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' There they will be called 'children of the living God.'"{Hosea 1:10} 009:027 Isaiah cries concerning Israel, "If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved; 009:028 for He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth."{Isaiah 10:22-23} 009:029 As Isaiah has said before, "Unless the Lord of Armies{Greek: Sabaoth (for Hebrew: Tze'va'ot)} had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been made like Gomorrah."{Isaiah 1:9} 009:030 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn't follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; 009:031 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness. 009:032 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone; 009:033 even as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed."{Isaiah 8:14; 28:16} 010:001 Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 010:002 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 010:003 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 010:004 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 010:005 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who does them will live by them."{Leviticus 18:5} 010:006 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'{Deuteronomy 30:12} (that is, to bring Christ down); 010:007 or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?'{Deuteronomy 30:13} (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)" 010:008 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;"{Deuteronomy 30:14} that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 010:009 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 010:010 For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 010:011 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed."{Isaiah 28:16} 010:012 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 010:013 For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."{Joel 2:32} 010:014 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? 010:015 And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"{Isaiah 52:7} 010:016 But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"{Isaiah 53:1} 010:017 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 010:018 But I say, didn't they hear? Yes, most certainly, "Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."{Psalm 19:4} 010:019 But I ask, didn't Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."{Deuteronomy 32:31} 010:020 Isaiah is very bold, and says, "I was found by those who didn't seek me. I was revealed to those who didn't ask for me."{Isaiah 65:1} 010:021 But as to Israel he says, "All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."{Isaiah 65:2} 011:001 I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 011:002 God didn't reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel: 011:003 "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."{1 Kings 19:10,14} 011:004 But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."{1 Kings 19:18} 011:005 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 011:006 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 011:007 What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn't obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened. 011:008 According as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day."{Deuteronomy 29:4; Isaiah 29:10} 011:009 David says, "Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them. 011:010 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Bow down their back always."{Psalm 69:22,23} 011:011 I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. 011:012 Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? 011:013 For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry; 011:014 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them. 011:015 For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead? 011:016 If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches. 011:017 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree; 011:018 don't boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you. 011:019 You will say then, "Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in." 011:020 True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don't be conceited, but fear; 011:021 for if God didn't spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 011:022 See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 011:023 They also, if they don't continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 011:024 For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 011:025 For I don't desire you to be ignorant, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} of this mystery, so that you won't be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, 011:026 and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, "There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 011:027 This is my covenant to them, when I will take away their sins."{Isaiah 59:20-21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34} 011:028 Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. 011:029 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 011:030 For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, 011:031 even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy. 011:032 For God has shut up all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all. 011:033 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! 011:034 "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"{Isaiah 40:13} 011:035 "Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?"{Job 41:11} 011:036 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen. 012:001 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 012:002 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. 012:003 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 012:004 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function, 012:005 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 012:006 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 012:007 or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 012:008 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 012:009 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 012:010 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another; 012:011 not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 012:012 rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 012:013 contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality. 012:014 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don't curse. 012:015 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 012:016 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don't set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don't be wise in your own conceits. 012:017 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 012:018 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 012:019 Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."{Deuteronomy 32:35} 012:020 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head."{Proverbs 25:21-22} 012:021 Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 013:001 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 013:002 Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 013:003 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same, 013:004 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 013:005 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 013:006 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God's service, attending continually on this very thing. 013:007 Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor. 013:008 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 013:009 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18} 013:010 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. 013:011 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 013:012 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let's therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let's put on the armor of light. 013:013 Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. 013:014 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts. 014:001 Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. 014:002 One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 014:003 Don't let him who eats despise him who doesn't eat. Don't let him who doesn't eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. 014:004 Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand. 014:005 One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. 014:006 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn't eat, to the Lord he doesn't eat, and gives God thanks. 014:007 For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. 014:008 For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord's. 014:009 For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 014:010 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 014:011 For it is written, "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.'"{Isaiah 45:23} 014:012 So then each one of us will give account of himself to God. 014:013 Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion for falling. 014:014 I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 014:015 Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 014:016 Then don't let your good be slandered, 014:017 for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 014:018 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 014:019 So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up. 014:020 Don't overthrow God's work for food's sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. 014:021 It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak. 014:022 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves. 014:023 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn't of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. (14:24) Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, (14:25) but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; (14:26) to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.{TR places verses 24-26 after Romans 16:24 as verses 25-27.} 015:001 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 015:002 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. 015:003 For even Christ didn't please himself. But, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."{Psalm 69:9} 015:004 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 015:005 Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, 015:006 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 015:007 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you,{TR reads "us" instead of "you"} to the glory of God. 015:008 Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 015:009 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."{2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49} 015:010 Again he says, "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people."{Deuteronomy 32:43} 015:011 Again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him."{Psalm 117:1} 015:012 Again, Isaiah says, "There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope."{Isaiah 11:10} 015:013 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. 015:014 I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others. 015:015 But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, 015:016 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 015:017 I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. 015:018 For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 015:019 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God's Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; 015:020 yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another's foundation. 015:021 But, as it is written, "They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven't heard will understand."{Isaiah 52:15} 015:022 Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you, 015:023 but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you, 015:024 whenever I journey to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 015:025 But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 015:026 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 015:027 Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things. 015:028 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 015:029 I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ. 015:030 Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 015:031 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints; 015:032 that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. 015:033 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. 016:001 I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant{or, deacon} of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, 016:002 that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self. 016:003 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 016:004 who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles. 016:005 Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. 016:006 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 016:007 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 016:008 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 016:009 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 016:010 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 016:011 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 016:012 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. 016:013 Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 016:014 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} who are with them. 016:015 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 016:016 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you. 016:017 Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. 016:018 For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent. 016:019 For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil. 016:020 And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 016:021 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. 016:022 I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. 016:023 Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. 016:024 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen. 016:025 {See Romans 14:23} 016:026 {See Romans 14:23} 016:027 {See Romans 14:23} {TR places Romans 14:24-26 at the end of Romans instead of at the end of chapter 14, and numbers these verses 16:25-27.} Book 46 1 Corinthians 001:001 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 001:002 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours: 001:003 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 001:004 I always thank my God concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 001:005 that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge; 001:006 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 001:007 so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 001:008 who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 001:009 God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. 001:010 Now I beg you, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 001:011 For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 001:012 Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow Christ." 001:013 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? 001:014 I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius, 001:015 so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name. 001:016 (I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don't know whether I baptized any other.) 001:017 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News— not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn't be made void. 001:018 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. 001:019 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing."{Isaiah 29:14} 001:020 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 001:021 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. 001:022 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 001:023 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 001:024 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 001:025 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 001:026 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 001:027 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 001:028 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: 001:029 that no flesh should boast before God. 001:030 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 001:031 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24} 002:001 When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 002:002 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 002:003 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 002:004 My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 002:005 that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 002:006 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. 002:007 But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, 002:008 which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory. 002:009 But as it is written, "Things which an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear, which didn't enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him."{Isaiah 64:4} 002:010 But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 002:011 For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God's Spirit. 002:012 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. 002:013 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. 002:014 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 002:015 But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one. 002:016 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?"{Isaiah 40:13} But we have Christ's mind. 003:001 Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. 003:002 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren't yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, 003:003 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men? 003:004 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly? 003:005 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? 003:006 I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. 003:007 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 003:008 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 003:009 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building. 003:010 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. 003:011 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. 003:012 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; 003:013 each man's work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man's work is. 003:014 If any man's work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. 003:015 If any man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. 003:016 Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you? 003:017 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are. 003:018 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 003:019 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He has taken the wise in their craftiness."{Job 5:13} 003:020 And again, "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless."{Psalm 94:11} 003:021 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 003:022 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, 003:023 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 004:001 So let a man think of us as Christ's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries. 004:002 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful. 004:003 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self. 004:004 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 004:005 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God. 004:006 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. 004:007 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 004:008 You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you. 004:009 For, I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. 004:010 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor. 004:011 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place. 004:012 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 004:013 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now. 004:014 I don't write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 004:015 For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News. 004:016 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me. 004:017 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly. 004:018 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 004:019 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 004:020 For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 004:021 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? 005:001 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father's wife. 005:002 You are puffed up, and didn't rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you. 005:003 For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing. 005:004 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 005:005 are 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 Jesus. 005:006 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump? 005:007 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place. 005:008 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 005:009 I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners; 005:010 yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world. 005:011 But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. Don't even eat with such a person. 005:012 For what have I to do with also judging those who are outside? Don't you judge those who are within? 005:013 But those who are outside, God judges. "Put away the wicked man from among yourselves."{Deuteronomy 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21; 24:7} 006:001 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 006:002 Don't you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 006:003 Don't you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 006:004 If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly? 006:005 I say this to move you to shame. Isn't there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers? 006:006 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers! 006:007 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 006:008 No, but you yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that against your brothers. 006:009 Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 006:010 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. 006:011 Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God. 006:012 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are expedient. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be brought under the power of anything. 006:013 "Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods," but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 006:014 Now God raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power. 006:015 Don't you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 006:016 Or don't you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "The two," says he, "will become one flesh."{Genesis 2:24} 006:017 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 006:018 Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 006:019 Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, 006:020 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 007:001 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 007:002 But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 007:003 Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 007:004 The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife. 007:005 Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 007:006 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. 007:007 Yet I wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind. 007:008 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am. 007:009 But if they don't have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn. 007:010 But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband 007:011 (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife. 007:012 But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her. 007:013 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband. 007:014 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 007:015 Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace. 007:016 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 007:017 Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies. 007:018 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 007:019 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 007:020 Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called. 007:021 Were you called being a bondservant? Don't let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it. 007:022 For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord's free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ's bondservant. 007:023 You were bought with a price. Don't become bondservants of men. 007:024 Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God. 007:025 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. 007:026 I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is. 007:027 Are you bound to a wife? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't seek a wife. 007:028 But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you. 007:029 But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none; 007:030 and those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't possess; 007:031 and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away. 007:032 But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 007:033 but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. 007:034 There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world— how she may please her husband. 007:035 This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction. 007:036 But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn't sin. Let them marry. 007:037 But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well. 007:038 So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn't give her in marriage does better. 007:039 A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord. 007:040 But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit. 008:001 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 008:002 But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know. 008:003 But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him. 008:004 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 008:005 For though there are things that are called "gods," whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many "gods" and many "lords;" 008:006 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him. 008:007 However, that knowledge isn't in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 008:008 But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. 008:009 But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak. 008:010 For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol's temple, won't his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 008:011 And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 008:012 Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 008:013 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I don't cause my brother to stumble. 009:001 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren't you my work in the Lord? 009:002 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 009:003 My defense to those who examine me is this. 009:004 Have we no right to eat and to drink? 009:005 Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 009:006 Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work? 009:007 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn't eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn't drink from the flock's milk? 009:008 Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn't the law also say the same thing? 009:009 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain."{Deuteronomy 25:4} Is it for the oxen that God cares, 009:010 or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope. 009:011 If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things? 009:012 If others partake of this right over you, don't we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ. 009:013 Don't you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar? 009:014 Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News. 009:015 But I have used none of these things, and I don't write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void. 009:016 For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don't preach the Good News. 009:017 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 009:018 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News. 009:019 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. 009:020 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; 009:021 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law. 009:022 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 009:023 Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it. 009:024 Don't you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win. 009:025 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 009:026 I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air, 009:027 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. 010:001 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 010:002 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 010:003 and all ate the same spiritual food; 010:004 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 010:005 However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 010:006 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 010:007 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."{Exodus 32:6} 010:008 Neither let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 010:009 Neither let us test the Lord, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. 010:010 Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 010:011 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 010:012 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall. 010:013 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 010:014 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 010:015 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. 010:016 The cup of blessing which we bless, isn't it a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn't it a communion of the body of Christ? 010:017 Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. 010:018 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don't those who eat the sacrifices have communion with the altar? 010:019 What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 010:020 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have communion with demons. 010:021 You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 010:022 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 010:023 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up. 010:024 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good. 010:025 Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, 010:026 for "the earth is the Lord's, and its fullness."{Psalm 24:1} 010:027 But if one of those who don't believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 010:028 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," don't eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness." 010:029 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other's conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? 010:030 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for that for which I give thanks? 010:031 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 010:032 Give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; 010:033 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved. 011:001 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. 011:002 Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. 011:003 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. 011:004 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 011:005 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. 011:006 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 011:007 For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. 011:008 For man is not from woman, but woman from man; 011:009 for neither was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 011:010 For this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels. 011:011 Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord. 011:012 For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God. 011:013 Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled? 011:014 Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 011:015 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. 011:016 But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God's assemblies. 011:017 But in giving you this command, I don't praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse. 011:018 For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. 011:019 For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you. 011:020 When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 011:021 For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken. 011:022 What, don't you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God's assembly, and put them to shame who don't have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don't praise you. 011:023 For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. 011:024 When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me." 011:025 In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me." 011:026 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 011:027 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 011:028 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 011:029 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body. 011:030 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 011:031 For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn't be judged. 011:032 But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 011:033 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait one for another. 011:034 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come. 012:001 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant. 012:002 You know that when you were heathen{or Gentiles}, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. 012:003 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit. 012:004 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 012:005 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 012:006 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 012:007 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 012:008 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 012:009 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; 012:010 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. 012:011 But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires. 012:012 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. 012:013 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. 012:014 For the body is not one member, but many. 012:015 If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body. 012:016 If the ear would say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," it's not therefore not part of the body. 012:017 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 012:018 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 012:019 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 012:020 But now they are many members, but one body. 012:021 The eye can't tell the hand, "I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need for you." 012:022 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 012:023 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; 012:024 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 012:025 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 012:026 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 012:027 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 012:028 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. 012:029 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 012:030 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? 012:031 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you. 013:001 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 013:002 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. 013:003 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing. 013:004 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 013:005 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 013:006 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 013:007 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 013:008 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 013:009 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 013:010 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. 013:011 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. 013:012 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. 013:013 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love. 014:001 Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 014:002 For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 014:003 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. 014:004 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. 014:005 Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up. 014:006 But now, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? 014:007 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? 014:008 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? 014:009 So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air. 014:010 There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 014:011 If then I don't know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me. 014:012 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly. 014:013 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. 014:014 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 014:015 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 014:016 Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn't know what you say? 014:017 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. 014:018 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all. 014:019 However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language. 014:020 Brothers, don't be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. 014:021 In the law it is written, "By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord."{Isaiah 28:11-12} 014:022 Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe. 014:023 If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy? 014:024 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all. 014:025 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed. 014:026 What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. 014:027 If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. 014:028 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God. 014:029 Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern. 014:030 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. 014:031 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted. 014:032 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 014:033 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints, 014:034 let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says. 014:035 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly. 014:036 What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone? 014:037 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. 014:038 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 014:039 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages. 014:040 Let all things be done decently and in order. 015:001 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, 015:002 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 015:003 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 015:004 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 015:005 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 015:006 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 015:007 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 015:008 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 015:009 For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. 015:010 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 015:011 Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. 015:012 Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 015:013 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. 015:014 If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain. 015:015 Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn't raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. 015:016 For if the dead aren't raised, neither has Christ been raised. 015:017 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. 015:018 Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 015:019 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. 015:020 But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. 015:021 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 015:022 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 015:023 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. 015:024 Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 015:025 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 015:026 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 015:027 For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet."{Psalm 8:6} But when he says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. 015:028 When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all. 015:029 Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren't raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? 015:030 Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? 015:031 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 015:032 If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."{Isaiah 22:13} 015:033 Don't be deceived! "Evil companionships corrupt good morals." 015:034 Wake up righteously, and don't sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. 015:035 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised?" and, "With what kind of body do they come?" 015:036 You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. 015:037 That which you sow, you don't sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. 015:038 But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. 015:039 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 015:040 There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. 015:041 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 015:042 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. 015:043 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 015:044 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body. 015:045 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul."{Genesis 2:7} The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 015:046 However that which is spiritual isn't first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. 015:047 The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 015:048 As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 015:049 As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let's{NU, TR read "we will" instead of "let's"} also bear the image of the heavenly. 015:050 Now I say this, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} that flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. 015:051 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 015:052 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 015:053 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 015:054 But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."{Isaiah 25:8} 015:055 "Death, where is your sting? Hades{or, Hell}, where is your victory?"{Hosea 13:14} 015:056 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 015:057 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 015:058 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 016:001 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. 016:002 On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. 016:003 When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 016:004 If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me. 016:005 But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 016:006 But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. 016:007 For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 016:008 But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, 016:009 for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 016:010 Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 016:011 Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers. 016:012 Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity. 016:013 Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! 016:014 Let all that you do be done in love. 016:015 Now I beg you, brothers (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints), 016:016 that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 016:017 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied. 016:018 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that. 016:019 The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house. 016:020 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 016:021 This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand. 016:022 If any man doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed{Greek: anathema.}. Come, Lord!{Aramaic: Maranatha!} 016:023 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 016:024 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. Book 47 2 Corinthians 001:001 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 001:002 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 001:003 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 001:004 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 001:005 For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. 001:006 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. 001:007 Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort. 001:008 For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. 001:009 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 001:010 who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; 001:011 you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf. 001:012 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you. 001:013 For we write no other things to you, than what you read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end; 001:014 as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. 001:015 In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit; 001:016 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea. 001:017 When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the "Yes, yes" and the "No, no?" 001:018 But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not "Yes and no." 001:019 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes." 001:020 For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Therefore also through him is the "Amen," to the glory of God through us. 001:021 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 001:022 who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts. 001:023 But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn't come to Corinth to spare you. 001:024 Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith. 002:001 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. 002:002 For if I make you sorry, then who will make me glad but he who is made sorry by me? 002:003 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn't have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you. 002:004 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you. 002:005 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all. 002:006 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many; 002:007 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow. 002:008 Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him. 002:009 For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. 002:010 Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 002:011 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 002:012 Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord, 002:013 I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn't find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia. 002:014 Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. 002:015 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish; 002:016 to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 002:017 For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ. 003:001 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 003:002 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 003:003 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. 003:004 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 003:005 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 003:006 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 003:007 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away: 003:008 won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 003:009 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 003:010 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 003:011 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. 003:012 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 003:013 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn't look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. 003:014 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. 003:015 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 003:016 But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 003:017 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 003:018 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. 004:001 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don't faint. 004:002 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 004:003 Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish; 004:004 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. 004:005 For we don't preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake; 004:006 seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness,"{Genesis 1:3} who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 004:007 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. 004:008 We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; 004:009 pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; 004:010 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 004:011 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. 004:012 So then death works in us, but life in you. 004:013 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, "I believed, and therefore I spoke."{Psalm 116:10} We also believe, and therefore also we speak; 004:014 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you. 004:015 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 004:016 Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. 004:017 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; 004:018 while we don't look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 005:001 For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 005:002 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven; 005:003 if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked. 005:004 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 005:005 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit. 005:006 Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 005:007 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 005:008 We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 005:009 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him. 005:010 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 005:011 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences. 005:012 For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart. 005:013 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you. 005:014 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. 005:015 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. 005:016 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 005:017 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 005:018 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 005:019 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. 005:020 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 005:021 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 006:001 Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain, 006:002 for he says, "At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you."{Isaiah 49:8} Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 006:003 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, 006:004 but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 006:005 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 006:006 in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 006:007 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 006:008 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 006:009 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed; 006:010 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 006:011 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. 006:012 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 006:013 Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide. 006:014 Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness? 006:015 What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? 006:016 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."{Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27} 006:017 Therefore, "'Come out from among them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.{Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41} 006:018 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty."{2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8} 007:001 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 007:002 Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one. 007:003 I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together. 007:004 Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction. 007:005 For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. 007:006 Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 007:007 and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced still more. 007:008 For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you sorry, though just for a while. 007:009 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. 007:010 For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death. 007:011 For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter. 007:012 So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God. 007:013 Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 007:014 For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth. 007:015 His affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received him. 007:016 I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you. 008:001 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia; 008:002 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. 008:003 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, 008:004 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. 008:005 This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. 008:006 So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace. 008:007 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace. 008:008 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 008:009 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. 008:010 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing. 008:011 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. 008:012 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don't have. 008:013 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed, 008:014 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality. 008:015 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."{Exodus 16:8} 008:016 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 008:017 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord. 008:018 We have sent together with him