The New Testament Part 30

[6:14]But far be it from me to glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world.

[6:15]For in Christ Jesus neither is circ.u.mcision any thing, nor uncirc.u.mcision, but a new creation. [6:16]And whoever walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of G.o.d.

7 [6:17]Finally, let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus. [6:18]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers; amen.

FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.

EPHESUS, A.D. 57. (ACTS, 19:10.)

CHAPTER I.

SALUTATION, EXHORTATION TO UNITY, THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, ETC.

1 [1:1]PAUL, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of G.o.d, and Sosthenes the brother, [1:2]to the church of G.o.d which is at Corinth, to the sanctified in Jesus Christ, called to be saints, with all that call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours. [1:3]Grace and peace be to you from G.o.d our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 [1:4]I thank my G.o.d always for you, for the grace of G.o.d given you in Christ Jesus, [1:5]that in every thing you are enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge, [1:6]as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, [1:7]so that you are behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, [1:8]who also will confirm you to the end, without blame, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [1:9]G.o.d is faithful by whom you are called into the society of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 [1:10]I exhort you, brothers, by 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 in the same mind and the same will.

[1:11]For I have been informed of you, my brothers, by the family of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [1:12]I mean this; that each one of you says I indeed am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. [1:13]Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? [1:14]I thank G.o.d I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius; [1:15]that no one may say that I baptized in my name. [1:16]And I also baptized the family of Stepha.n.u.s; besides I do not know that I baptized any other. [1:17]For Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the good news, not with a wisdom of speech lest the cross of Christ should be without effect.

[1:18]For the word of the cross is to the lost foolishness, but to the saved the power of G.o.d. [1:19]For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the intelligent. [1:20]Where is the wise? where the scribe? where the disputer of this life? Has not G.o.d made foolish the wisdom of the world? [1:21]For since, in the wisdom of G.o.d, the world by wisdom knew not G.o.d, G.o.d was pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe; [1:22]and since the Jews seek signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom, [1:23]we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews indeed an offense, and to the gentiles foolishness, [1:24]but to the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of G.o.d and wisdom of G.o.d; [1:25]for the foolishness of G.o.d is wiser than men, and the weakness of G.o.d is stronger than men. [1:26]For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many n.o.ble [are called]; [1:27]but G.o.d has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world has G.o.d chosen to put to shame the mighty, [1:28]and the ign.o.ble things of the world and things that are despised has G.o.d chosen, and things that are not, to destroy things that are, [1:29]that no flesh may glory in the sight of G.o.d. [1:30]But you are of him in Christ Jesus, who has become to us wisdom from G.o.d, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption, [1:31]that as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

4 [2:1]And when I came to you, brothers, I came not with excellency of speech, or wisdom, declaring to you the mystery of G.o.d. [2:2]For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [2:3]And I was with you in weakness, and with fear and with much trembling, [2:4]and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the spirit and power, [2:5]that your faith might not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of G.o.d.

5 [2:6]But we speak wisdom among the perfect, but not the wisdom of this life, nor of the rulers of this life, who are destroyed; [2:7]but we speak a wisdom of G.o.d hid in mystery, which G.o.d appointed from eternity for our glory, [2:8] which none of the rulers of this life knew, for if they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; [2:9]but as it is written, An eye has not seen, an ear has not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which G.o.d has prepared for those that love him; [2:10]but G.o.d has revealed them to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of G.o.d. [2:11]For who knows the [things] of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? So also no one knows the [things] of G.o.d except the Spirit of G.o.d. [2:12]And we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of G.o.d, that we may know the things given us by G.o.d, [2:13]which we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [2:14]But the natural man receives not the [things] of the Spirit of G.o.d, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them, for they are spiritually discerned. [2:15]But the spiritual man discerns all things, and is himself perceived by no one.

[2:16] For who has known the mind of the Lord, who shall instruct him?

But we have the mind of Christ.

6 [3:1]And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as spiritual, but as carnal, as babes in Christ. [3:2]I have fed you milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able; but you are not able even now; [3:3]for you are yet carnal. For when there is envy and strife among you are you not carnal and walk as men? [3:4]For when one says, I am of Paul, and another, I, of Apollos, are you not men? [3:5]Who then is Apollos? and who is Paul? but ministers by whom you believed, and to each as the Lord gave. [3:6]I planted, Apollos watered, but G.o.d caused [the seed] to grow; [3:7]so neither is he that plants any thing, nor he that waters, but G.o.d that causes it to grow. [3:8]He that plants and he that waters are one; and each shall receive his reward according to his labor. [3:9] For we are G.o.d's co-laborers; you are G.o.d's field, G.o.d's building.

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

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

9 [4:1]Let a man so regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of G.o.d. [4:2]But, moreover, it is required of stewards that one should be found faithful. [4:3]But it is of little account to me that I should be judged by you or by man's day [judgment]; but I judge not myself; [4:4]for I am not conscious to myself [of wrong], but I am not on this account justified; but he that judges me is the Lord.

[4:5]Judge nothing therefore before the time, till the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden deeds of darkness, and make known the purposes of the hearts; and then shall each one have praise from G.o.d.

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

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

[4:21]What do you wish? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of meekness?

CHAPTER II.

INCEST, LITIGATION, EXPEDIENCY, AND CHASt.i.tY.

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

2 [5:9]I wrote to you in the epistle not to a.s.sociate with fornicators; [5:10] not altogether the fornicators of this world, or the covetous and rapacious, or idolaters, since then you would have to go out of the world. [5:11]But now I have written to you not to a.s.sociate, if any one called a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or rapacious, even to eat with such a one.

[5:12]For what business have I to judge those without? Do you not judge those within? [5:13]but those without, G.o.d judges. Remove therefore the evil man from among you.

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

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

[6:20]For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify G.o.d in your body.

CHAPTER III.

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

1 [7:1]CONCERNING what you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman; [7:2]but on account of fornications, let each man have his wife, and each woman have her husband. [7:3]Let the husband render to the wife her due, and in like manner also the wife the husband.

[7:4]The wife has not the right to her body, but the husband; and in like manner the husband has not the right to his body, but the wife.

[7:5]Withhold not yourselves from one another, except by agreement for a time that you may be at leisure for prayer, and come together again, that Satan may not tempt you by your incontinence. [7:6]But this I say by suggestion, not by command. [7:7]For I wish that all men were even as I am; but each one has his gift from G.o.d, and one is of one kind and another of another.

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

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

4 [7:17]Unless as the Lord has imparted to each one, as G.o.d has called each one, so let him walk; and so I appoint in all the churches.

[7:18]Is any one called being circ.u.mcised, let him not be uncirc.u.mcised; is any one called in uncirc.u.mcision, let him not be circ.u.mcised. [7:19]Circ.u.mcision is nothing, and uncirc.u.mcision is nothing, but keeping G.o.d's commandments. [7:20]Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called; [7:21]were you called being a servant, care not for it; but if you can be free, use it rather.

[7:22]For the servant called in the Lord is the Lord's freeman; in like manner the called freeman is Christ's servant. [7:23]You are bought with a price; be not servants of men. [7:24]Let each one continue, brothers, in the calling in which he was called under G.o.d.

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

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

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

8 [8:1]And concerning things offered to idols we all have knowledge.

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. [8:2]And if any one thinks he knows any thing, he yet knows nothing as he ought to know; [8:3]but if any one loves G.o.d, this [man] is known by him. [8:4]Concerning eating things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other G.o.d but one. [8:5]For even if there are those called G.o.ds, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many G.o.ds and many lords, [8:6]yet to us there is one G.o.d the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and we through him. [8:7]But all have not this knowledge; and some with the conscience [unenlightened] even till now eat an idol's [sacrifice] as an idol's sacrifice, and their conscience being weak is defiled. [8:8]But food does not commend us to G.o.d; for neither if we eat not are we worse, nor if we eat are we better.

[8:9]But beware lest your liberty should become an offense to the weak.

[8:10]For if any one sees you who have knowledge reclining in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him that is weak be emboldened to eat things offered to idols? [8:11]And will not the weak brother for whom Christ died perish by your knowledge? [8:12]But when you thus sin against the brothers, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. [8:13] Wherefore, if food offends my brother, I will eat no meat forever, that I may not offend my brother.

CHAPTER IV.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY ENt.i.tLED TO A SUPPORT, PAUL'S LABORS WITHOUT CHARGE.

1 [9:1]AM I not a freeman? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord? [9:2]If I am not an apostle to others, I certainly am to you; for you are a seal of my apostles.h.i.+p in the Lord. [9:3]My defense to those who condemn me is this; [9:4]Have we not a right to eat and drink? [9:5]Have we not a right to lead about a sister, a wife, as also the other apostles; and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? [9:6]Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to abstain from labor? [9:7]Who ever goes on a military expedition at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and eats not the fruit of it? or who feeds a flock and eats not of the milk of the flock? [9:8] Do I say these things in the manner of men? or does not the law also say the same? [9:9]For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes. Does G.o.d care for oxen? [9:10]or does he speak entirely for our sakes? For our sakes, doubtless, it was written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and that he who threshes in hope should partake of it. [9:11]If we have sown for you spiritual things, is it too much if we reap your earthly things? [9:12]And if others have this right, do we not have it more?

But we have not used this right, but endure all things, that we may not impede the gospel of Christ. [9:13]Know you not that those who perform sacred rites eat from the temple? Those who wait on the altar partake of the altar? [9:14]So also the Lord has appointed to those who preach the gospel to live by the gospel. [9:15]But I have used none of these things, and I have not written these things that it should be so done to me; for I prefer to die, rather than that any one should make my boasting vain.