I

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ.

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,

For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.

I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.

Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!

I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.

Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.

Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.

I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?

“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!

I say this as a concession, not as a command.

I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.

But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?

Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.

To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.

I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.

I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.

Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?

No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

…the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?

If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

…as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.