First Corinthians
Chapter 1
1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus
Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2Unto
the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in
Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place
call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3Grace
be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I thank my God always on your
behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5That
in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in
all knowledge; 6Even as the testimony of Christ was
confirmed in you: 7So that ye come behind in no gift;
waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8Who shall
also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the
day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by
whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord.
10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that
there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly
joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For
it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which
are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now
this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of
Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ
divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name
of Paul?
14
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but
Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had
baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the
household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any
other.
17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to
preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ
should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the
cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved
it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy
the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of
the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is
the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God
made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in
the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by
the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For
the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But
we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto
the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because
the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how
that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many
noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And
base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God
chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought
things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his
presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God
is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that
glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Chapter 2
1
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not
with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the
testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing
among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was
with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And
my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of
man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That
your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of
God.
6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are
perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this
world, that come to nought: 7But we speak the wisdom of God
in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained
before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes
of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written, Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But
God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For
what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is
in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,
but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are
freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for
they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is
spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For
who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we
have the mind of Christ.
Chapter 3
1
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as
unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in
Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for
hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye
able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is
among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and
walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and
another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the
increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth any thing,
neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8Now
he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall
receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9For we
are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are
God’s building. 10According to the grace of God which is
given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation,
and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he
buildeth thereupon.
11
For other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon
this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every
man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every
man’s work of what sort it is. 14If any man’s work
abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If
any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and
that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man
defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God
is holy, which temple ye are.
18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among
you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he
may be wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness
with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own
craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of
the wise, that they are vain.
21
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all
things are yours; 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or
the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come;
all are yours; 23And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is
God’s.
Chapter 4
1
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers
of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover
it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But
with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of
man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4For I
know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that
judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the
time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden
things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts:
and then shall every man have praise of God. 6And these
things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to
Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of
men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up
for one against another.
7
For who maketh thee to differ from another?
and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst
receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings
without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign
with you. 9For I think that God hath set forth us the
apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a
spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10We are
fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are
weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are
despised. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and
thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain
dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands:
being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being
defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are
the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14
I write not these things to shame you, but as
my beloved sons I warn you. 15For though ye have ten
thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers:
for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16Wherefore
I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17
For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus,
who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you
into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where
in every church. 18Now some are puffed up, as though I
would not come to you. 19But I will come to you shortly, if
the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed
up, but the power. 20For the kingdom of God is not
in word, but in power. 21What will ye? shall I come unto
you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Chapter 5
1
It is reported commonly that there is
fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named
among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2And
ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done
this deed might be taken away from among you. 3For I
verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already,
as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this
deed, 4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are
gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of
the Lord Jesus. 6Your glorying is not good. Know ye
not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may
be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is
sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not
with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but
with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company
with fornicators: 10Yet not altogether with the fornicators
of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with
idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11But
now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is
called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to
eat. 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are
without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them
that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves
that wicked person.
Chapter 6
1
Dare any of you, having a matter against
another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2Do
ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world
shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more
things that pertain to this life? 4If then ye have
judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are
least esteemed in the church. 5I speak to your shame. Is it
so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be
able to judge between his brethren? 6But brother goeth to
law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7Now
therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one
with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer
yourselves to be defrauded? 8Nay, ye do wrong, and
defraud, and that your brethren.
9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not
inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves
with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards,
nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And
such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but
ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of
our God.
12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things
are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be
brought under the power of any. 13Meats for the belly, and
the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the
body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for
the body. 14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will
also raise up us by his own power. 15Know ye not that your
bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of
Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What?
know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two,
saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto
the Lord is one spirit. 18Flee fornication. Every sin that
a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication
sinneth against his own body. 19What? know ye not that your
body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye
have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought
with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God’s.
Chapter 7
1
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto
me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2Nevertheless,
to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let
every woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render
unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the
husband. 4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the
husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body,
but the wife. 5Defraud ye not one the other, except it
be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting
and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your
incontinency. 6But I speak this by permission, and
not of commandment. 7For I would that all men were even as
I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this
manner, and another after that. 8I say therefore to the
unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9But
if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than
to burn.
10
And unto the married I command, yet not
I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11But
and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her
husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12But
to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that
believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put
her away. 13And the woman which hath an husband that
believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not
leave him. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by
the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else
were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15But if
the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not
under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16For
what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?
or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17
But as God hath distributed to every man, as
the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in
all churches. 18Is any man called being circumcised? let
him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him
not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and
uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was
called. 21Art thou called being a servant? care not
for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22For
he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s
freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is
Christ’s servant. 23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye
the servants of men. 24Brethren, let every man, wherein he
is called, therein abide with God.
25
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment
of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy
of the Lord to be faithful. 26I suppose therefore that this
is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good
for a man so to be. 27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not
to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28But
and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she
hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh:
but I spare you. 29But this I say, brethren, the time is
short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they
had none; 30And they that weep, as though they wept not;
and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy,
as though they possessed not; 31And they that use this
world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth
away. 32But I would have you without carefulness. He that
is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may
please the Lord: 33But he that is married careth for the
things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34There
is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried
woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in
body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of
the world, how she may please her husband. 35And
this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon
you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the
Lord without distraction.
36
But if any man think that he behaveth himself
uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age,
and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them
marry. 37Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his
heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath
so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38So
then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that
giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth;
but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom
she will; only in the Lord. 40But she is happier if she so
abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of
God.
Chapter 8
1
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we
know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity
edifieth.
2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing,
he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3But if any man
love God, the same is known of him.
4
As concerning therefore the eating of those
things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol
is
nothing in the world, and that
there is none other God but one.
5For though there be that are called gods, whether in
heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6But
to us
there is but one God, the Father, of whom
are all
things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
are
all things, and we by him.
7
Howbeit
there is not in every man that
knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat
it
as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is
defiled.
8But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither,
if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the
worse.
9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of
yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10For
if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s
temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to
eat those things which are offered to idols;
11And through
thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12But
when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience,
ye sin against Christ.
13Wherefore, if meat make my brother
to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make
my brother to offend.
Chapter 9
1
Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not
seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2If
I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the
seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5Have we
not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles,
and
as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or I
only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7Who
goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard,
and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and
eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8Say I these things as
a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9For it is
written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox
that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10Or
saith he
it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt,
this
is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that
thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11If we
have sown unto you spiritual things,
is it a great thing if we
shall reap your carnal things?
12If others be partakers of
this
power over you,
are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not
used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the
gospel of Christ.
13Do ye not know that they which minister
about holy things live
of the things of the temple? and they
which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14Even
so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should
live of the gospel.
15
But I have used none of these things: neither
have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for
it
were better for me to die, than that any man should make my
glorying void.
16For though I preach the gospel, I have
nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto
me, if I preach not the gospel!
17For if I do this thing
willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation
of
the gospel is committed unto me.
18What is my reward
then?
Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the
gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the
gospel.
19
For though I be free from all
men, yet
have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And
unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them
that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that
are under the law;
21To them that are without law, as
without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to
Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22To
the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all
things to all
men, that I might by all means save some.
23And
this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof
with
you.
24
Know ye not that they which run in a race run
all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.
Now they
do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
incorruptible.
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so
fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27But I keep
under my body, and bring
it into subjection: lest that by any
means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Chapter 10
1
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should
be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all
passed through the sea;
2And were all baptized unto Moses
in the cloud and in the sea;
3And did all eat the same
spiritual meat;
4And did all drink the same spiritual
drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and
that Rock was Christ.
5But with many of them God was not
well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6
Now these things were our examples, to the
intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7Neither
be ye idolaters, as
were some of them; as it is written, The
people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8Neither
let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one
day three and twenty thousand.
9Neither let us tempt
Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10Neither
murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the
destroyer.
11Now all these things happened unto them for
ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come.
12Wherefore let him that thinketh he
standeth take heed lest he fall.
13There hath no temptation
taken you but such as is common to man: but God
is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will
with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to
bear
it.
14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from
idolatry.
15
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16The
cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood
of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the
body of Christ?
17For we
being many are one bread,
and
one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18Behold
Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices
partakers of the altar?
19What say I then? that the idol is
any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any
thing?
20But I
say, that the things which the
Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I
would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21Ye
cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
22Do
we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23
All things are lawful for me, but all things
are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify
not.
24Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s
wealth.
25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles,
that eat,
asking no question for conscience sake:
26For the earth
is
the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them
that believe not bid you
to a feast, and ye be disposed to go;
whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience
sake.
28But if any man say unto you, This is offered in
sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for
conscience sake: for the earth
is the Lord’s, and the fulness
thereof:
29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the
other: for why is my liberty judged of another
man’s
conscience?
30For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I
evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory
of God.
32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to
the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33Even as I please
all
men in all
things, not seeking mine own profit, but
the
profit of many, that they may be saved.
Chapter 11
1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also
am
of Christ.
2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me
in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered
them to
you.
3But 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.
4Every man praying or prophesying,
having
his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5But
every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with
her head uncovered
dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn:
but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be
covered.
7For a man indeed ought not to cover
his
head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is
the glory of the man.
8For the man is not of the woman; but
the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the
woman; but the woman for the man.
10For this cause ought
the woman to have power on
her head because of the angels.
11Nevertheless
neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the
man, in the Lord.
12For as the woman
is of the man,
even so
is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13Judge
in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14Doth
not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is
a shame unto him?
15But if a woman have long hair, it is a
glory to her: for
her hair is given her for a covering.
16But
if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the
churches of God.
17
Now in this that I declare
unto you I
praise
you not, that ye come together not for the better, but
for the worse.
18For first of all, when ye come together in
the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly
believe it.
19For there must be also heresies among you,
that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20When
ye come together therefore into one place,
this is not to eat
the Lord’s supper.
21For in eating every one taketh
before
other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is
drunken.
22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?
or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What
shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise
you
not.
23
For I have received of the Lord that which
also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the
same night
in which he was betrayed took bread:
24And when he had
given thanks, he brake
it, and said,
Take,
eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance
of me. 25After the same manner also
he took
the cup, when he had supped, saying,
This cup is
the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it,
in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this
bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink
this
cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of
the Lord.
28But let a man examine himself, and so let him
eat of
that bread, and drink of
that cup.
29For
he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation
to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30For this
cause many
are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31For
if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32But
when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not
be condemned with the world.
33Wherefore, my brethren, when
ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34And if
any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto
condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
Chapter 12
1
Now concerning spiritual
gifts,
brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2Ye know that ye
were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were
led.
3Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man
speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and
that
no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4Now
there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5And
there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6And
there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which
worketh all in all.
7But the manifestation of the Spirit is
given to every man to profit withal.
8For to one is given
by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by
the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to
another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To
another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another
divers kinds of tongues; to
another the interpretation of tongues:
11But all these
worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will.
12
For as the body is one, and hath many members,
and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so
also
is Christ.
13For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether
we be Jews or Gentiles, whether
we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many.
15If
the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;
is it therefore not of the body?
16And if the ear shall
say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore
not of the body?
17If the whole body
were an eye,
where
were the hearing? If the whole
were hearing, where
were the smelling?
18But now hath God set the
members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19And
if they were all one member, where
were the body?
20But
now
are they many members, yet but one body.
21And
the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again
the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22Nay, much
more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are
necessary:
23And those
members of the body, which we
think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant
honour; and our uncomely
parts have more abundant comeliness.
24For
our comely
parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body
together, having given more abundant honour to that
part which
lacked:
25That there should be no schism in the body; but
that
the members should have the same care one for another.
26And
whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one
member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.
28And God hath set some in the church, first
apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles,
then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29Are
all apostles?
are all prophets?
are all teachers?
are
all workers of miracles?
30Have all the gifts of healing?
do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31But covet
earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent
way.
Chapter 13
1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, and have not charity, I am become
as sounding brass, or
a tinkling cymbal.
2And though I have
the gift of
prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing.
3And though I bestow all my goods to
feed
the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have
not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4
Charity suffereth long,
and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5Doth
not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil;
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but
rejoiceth in the truth;
7Beareth all things, believeth all
things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8
Charity never faileth: but whether
there be
prophecies, they shall fail; whether
there be tongues, they
shall cease; whether
there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9For
we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that
which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done
away.
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man,
I put away childish things.
12For now we see through a
glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then
shall I know even as also I am known.
13And now abideth
faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these
is
charity.
Chapter 14
1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual
gifts,
but rather that ye may prophesy.
2For he that speaketh in
an
unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no
man understandeth
him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh
mysteries.
3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men
to
edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4He that
speaketh in an
unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that
prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all
spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater
is
he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he
interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking
with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you
either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by
doctrine?
7And even things without life giving sound,
whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds,
how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8For if the
trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the
battle?
9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue
words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for
ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so
many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them
is without
signification.
11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the
voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that
speaketh
shall be a barbarian unto me.
12Even so ye,
forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual
gifts, seek that ye
may excel to the edifying of the church.
13Wherefore let
him that speaketh in an
unknown tongue pray that he may
interpret.
14For if I pray in an
unknown tongue, my
spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15
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.
16Else
when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the
room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he
understandeth not what thou sayest?
17For thou verily
givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18I thank
my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19Yet in the
church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that
by
my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an
unknown
tongue.
20Brethren, be not children in understanding:
howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21
In the law it is written, With
men of
other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet
for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22Wherefore
tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that
believe not: but prophesying
serveth not for them that believe
not, but for them which believe.
23If therefore the whole
church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues,
and there come in
those that are unlearned, or unbelievers,
will they not say that ye are mad?
24But if all prophesy,
and there come in one that believeth not, or
one unlearned, he
is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25And thus are
the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on
his
face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26
How is it then, brethren? when ye come
together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a
tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be
done unto edifying.
27If any man speak in an
unknown
tongue,
let it be by two, or at the most
by three, and
that
by course; and let one interpret.
28But if there be no
interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to
himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or
three, and let the other judge.
30If
any thing be
revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31For
ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be
comforted.
32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to
the prophets.
33For God is not
the author of
confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34
Let your women keep silence in the churches:
for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but
they are commanded
to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35And if they
will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a
shame for women to speak in the church.
36
What? came the word of God out from you? or
came it unto you only?
37If any man think himself to be a
prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I
write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38But if
any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39Wherefore,
brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40Let
all things be done decently and in order.
Chapter 15
1
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the
gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and
wherein ye stand;
2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep
in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3For
I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4And
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to
the scriptures:
5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of
the twelve:
6After that, he was seen of above five hundred
brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present,
but some are fallen asleep.
7After that, he was seen of
James; then of all the apostles.
8And last of all he was
seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9For I am
the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
10But by the grace
of God I am what I am: and his grace which
was bestowed upon me
was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not
I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11Therefore
whether
it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from
the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the
dead?
13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then
is Christ not risen:
14And if Christ be not risen, then
is
our preaching vain, and your faith
is also vain.
15Yea,
and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of
God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the
dead rise not.
16For if the dead rise not, then is not
Christ raised:
17And if Christ be not raised, your faith
is
vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18Then they also which are
fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19If in this life
only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20
But now is Christ risen from the dead,
and
become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21For since by
man
came death, by man
came also the resurrection of the
dead.
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all
be made alive.
23But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24Then
cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to
God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all
authority and power.
25For he must reign, till he hath put
all enemies under his feet.
26The last enemy
that
shall be destroyed
is death.
27For he hath put all
things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under
him,
it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under
him.
28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then
shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things
under him, that God may be all in all.
29Else what shall
they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?
why are they then baptized for the dead?
30And why stand we
in jeopardy every hour?
31I protest by your rejoicing which
I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32If after
the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what
advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to
morrow we die.
33Be not deceived: evil communications
corrupt good manners.
34Awake to righteousness, and sin
not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak
this to
your shame.
35
But some
man will say, How are the dead
raised up? and with what body do they come?
36Thou
fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37And
that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but
bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other
grain:
38But
God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own
body.
39All flesh
is not the same flesh: but
there
is one
kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts,
another of fishes,
and another of birds.
40There
are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory
of the celestial
is one, and the
glory of the
terrestrial
is another.
41There is one glory
of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the
stars: for
one star differeth from
another star in
glory.
42So also
is the resurrection of the dead. It
is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43It
is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness;
it is raised in power:
44It is sown a natural body; it is
raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a
spiritual body.
45And so it is written, The first man Adam
was made a living soul; the last Adam
was made a quickening
spirit.
46Howbeit that
was not first which is
spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is
spiritual.
47The first man
is of the earth, earthy:
the second man
is the Lord from heaven.
48As
is
the earthy, such
are they also that are earthy: and as
is
the heavenly, such
are they also that are heavenly.
49And
as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image
of the heavenly.
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption
inherit incorruption.
51
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must
put on immortality.
54So when this corruptible shall have
put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory.
55O death, where
is thy
sting? O grave, where
is thy victory?
56 The sting
of death
is sin; and the strength of sin
is the law.
57But
thanks
be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that
your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Chapter 16
1
Now concerning the collection for the saints,
as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2Upon
the first
day of the week let every one of you lay by him in
store, as
God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings
when I come.
3And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve
by
your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto
Jerusalem.
4And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go
with me.
5
Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass
through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
6And it
may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring
me on my journey whithersoever I go.
7For I will not see
you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord
permit.
8But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
9For
a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and
there are
many adversaries.
10
Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with
you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also
do.
11Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth
in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the
brethren.
12As touching
our brother Apollos, I
greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will
was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall
have convenient time.
13
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you
like men, be strong.
14Let all your things be done with
charity.
15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of
Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and
that they
have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
16
That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth
with
us, and laboureth.
17 I am glad of the coming
of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking
on your part they have supplied.
18For they have refreshed
my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
19
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and
Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in
their house.
20All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one
another with an holy kiss.
21The salutation of
me
Paul with mine own hand.
22If any man love not the Lord
Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
23The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.
24My love
be
with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from
Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and
Timotheus.>]5095]