1st Corinthians

Agreeing With God

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1^st Corinthians 1 Greetings

¹Thank You for Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through Your will, O God, and our brother Sosthenes. ²Thank You for Your assembly which was at Corinth; those who were 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. ³Thank You for grace to me and peace from You, my Father, and from my Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴I (like Paul) always thank You, my God, concerning other Christians, for Your grace which was given us in Christ Jesus; ⁵that in everything I am enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge; ⁶even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in me: ⁷so that I have everything that I need; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; ⁸Who will also confirm me until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You Are Faithful

⁹God, You are faithful, through Whom I was called into the fellowship of Your Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Divisions

¹⁰Now, I beg you, Father, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that we Christians all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among us, but that we be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

¹¹For it had been reported to Paul concerning the Corinthians, his siblings, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there were contentions among them. ¹²Now, I understand that each one of them said, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow

Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.” ¹³I agree that Christ is not divided. I agree that Paul was not crucified for us? I was not baptized into the name of Paul. ¹⁴I understand Paul’s thanking You that he baptized none of them, except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵so that no one should say that he had baptized anyone into his own name. ¹⁶(He also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, he did not know whether he baptized any other.)

Foolishness of the Cross

¹⁷For Christ sent me (like Paul) not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. ¹⁸For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is Your power, O God. ¹⁹For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”

²⁰Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Have not You, my God, made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹For seeing that in Your wisdom, the world through its wisdom did not know You, it was Your good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. ²²For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, ²³but I (like Paul) preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, ²⁴but to those of us who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is Your power, O God, and Your wisdom. ²⁵Because Your foolishness is wiser than people, and Your weakness is stronger than people.

²⁶For I see my calling, with my Christian siblings, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; ²⁷but You chose the foolish things of the world that You might put to shame those who are wise. You chose the weak things of the world, that You might put to shame the things that are strong; ²⁸and You chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that You might bring to nothing the things that are: ²⁹that no flesh should boast before You, God. ³⁰Because of You, I am in Christ Jesus, Who was made to me wisdom from You, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: ^3[1]that, according as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in You, Lord.”

1^st Corinthians 2 Your Wisdom

am with my brothers and sisters in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

⁴My speech and my preaching (like his) is not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of Your Spirit and of power, ⁵that other’s faith would not stand in the wisdom of people, but in Your power, O God. ⁶We 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. ⁷But we speak Your wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which You foreordained before the worlds for our glory, ⁸which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they would not have crucified the

Lord of glory. ⁹But as it is written,“Things which an eye did not see, and an ear did not hear, which did not enter into the heart of man, these You have prepared for those of us who love You.”

The Holy Spirit

¹⁰But to us, God, You revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, Your deep things. ¹¹For who among people knows the things of a person, except the spirit of the person, which is in him? Even so, no one knows Your things, my God, except the Holy Spirit.

¹²But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from You, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by You. ¹³Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. ¹⁴Now, I agree that the natural person does not receive the things of Your Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can not know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  ¹⁵But I also agree that the person who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one. ¹⁶“For a person of the world has not known Your mind, O Lord, that he should instruct anyone?” But thank You that we have Christ’s mind.

1^st Corinthians 3 Divisions

¹Father, You could not speak to me as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to a baby in Christ. ²You (through Paul) fed me with milk, not with meat; for I was not yet ready. Indeed, not even now am I ready, ³for I am still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions in my life, I am fleshly, and I sometimes walk in the ways of men. ⁴For when one of my siblings says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” we are fleshly.

⁵Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom we believed; and each with abilities that You gave to him? ⁶Paul planted. Apollos watered. But God, You gave the increase.

Labor That Lasts

⁷So then, I agree that neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but You Who give the increase. ⁸Now, I declare that he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹For we are Your fellow workers. We are Your farming, Your building. ¹⁰According to Your grace which was given to Paul, as a wise master builder he laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each person be careful how he builds on it.

¹¹For I agree that no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; ¹³each person’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 person’s work is including mine. ¹⁴If my work, which I built, remains, I will receive a reward. ¹⁵If my work is burned, I will suffer loss, but I myself will be saved, but as through fire.

Your Temple

¹⁶I do know that we are a temple of Yours, and that Your Spirit lives in us? ¹⁷I agree that if anyone destroys Your temple, O God, You will destroy him; for Your temple is holy, which we are. ¹⁸I agree to not deceive myself. If I think that I am wise among other in this world, let me become a fool, that I may become wise. ¹⁹For I completely agree that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with You. For it is written, “You have taken the wise in their craftiness.” ²⁰And again, “You, Lord, know the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”

²¹Therefore, let me not boast in people. For all things are mine, ²²whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are mine, ²³and I am Christ’s, and Christ is Yours.

1^st Corinthians 4

Human Judgments

¹So let people think of me as Christ’s servant, and a steward of Your mysteries. ²Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful. ³But with me (like Paul) it is a very small thing that I should be judged by other Christians, or by human judgment. Yes, I do not judge my own self. ⁴For I (like Paul) know nothing against myself. Yet, I am not justified by this, but He Who judges me is You, Lord. ⁵Therefore, I choose to judge nothing before the time, until Jesus comes, Who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each person will get his praise from You.

Fools For Christ

⁶Now, these things, Father, Paul had in a figure transferred to himself and Apollos for our sakes, that in them we might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of us be puffed up against one another. ⁷For who makes me different? And what do I have that I did not receive? But if I did receive it, why do I boast as if I had not received it? ⁸I am already filled. I have already become rich. I (like the Corinthians) have come to reign without Paul and Apollos. Yes, and Paul wished that we did reign, that they also might reign with us.

⁹For, I think (with Paul) that You have displayed the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For they were made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. ¹⁰I agree that the apostles were fools for Christ’s sake, but we are wise in Christ. They were weak, but we are strong. We have honor, but they had dishonor. ¹¹Even to the writing of this epistle they hungered, thirsted, were without enough clothing, were beaten, and had no certain dwelling place. ¹²They toiled, working with their own hands. When people cursed them, they blessed. Being persecuted, they endured. ¹³Being defamed, they entreated. They were made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all. ¹⁴I do not believe that Paul wrote these things to shame me, but to admonish me as his beloved child. ¹⁵For though I (like the Corinthians) have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, Paul became our father through the Good News. ¹⁶I beg You, therefore, help me be an imitators of Paul.

¹⁷Because of this I understand that Paul sent Timothy to Corinth, who was his beloved and faithful child in You, Lord, who reminded them of Paul’s ways which are in Christ, even as he taught everywhere in every assembly. ¹⁸Now, I also understand that, some of the Christians in Corinth were puffed up, as though he was not coming to them. ¹⁹But he did plan to come to them shortly, if You, Lord, were willing. And Paul would know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. ²⁰For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. ²¹I know what I would want. I would not want Paul to come to me with a rod, but rather in love and a spirit of gentleness.

1^st Corinthians 5

Sexual Immorality

¹I understand that it was actually reported that there was sexual immorality among the Corinthian Christians, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one had his father’s wife. ²Some of them were puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among them. ³For Paul most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, had already, as though he were present, judged him who has done this thing. ⁴In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, they being gathered together, and Paul’s spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁵were 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.

⁶I agree that their boasting was not good. I do know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump. ⁷I agree that we must purge out the old yeast, that we may be a new lump, even as we are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

⁸Therefore, 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. ⁹Paul wrote to the Christians (including me) in his letter to have no company with sexual sinners; ¹⁰yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then we would have to leave the world. ¹¹But as it is, he wrote to us 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. I agree to not even eat with such a person. ¹²For I agree that I have nothing to do with also judging those who are outside. I do have a responsibility to judge those who are within. ¹³But those who are outside, God, You judge. You say in the book of Deuteronomy “Put away the wicked person from among yourselves.”

1^st Corinthians 6

Lawsuits

¹I dare not, having a matter against my neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints. ²I do know that the saints will judge the world. And if the world is judged by us, are we unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³I also know that we will judge angels. How much more, things that pertain to this life?

⁴If then, we Christians have to judge things pertaining to this life, do we set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly? ⁵Paul said this to move me to shame. Paul asked if there was not even one wise person among us who would be able to decide between his siblings? ⁶But brother goes to law with brother, and that before     unbelievers!

⁷Therefore, it is already altogether a defect in us, that we have lawsuits one with another. I would rather be wronged. I would rather be defrauded. ⁸No, I agree myself to not do wrong, and defraud, and that against my brothers.

⁹I do know that the unrighteous will not inherit Your Kingdom, O God. I agree to not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit Your Kingdom, O God.

¹¹Such were some of us, but we were washed. But we were sanctified. But we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in Your Spirit, O God. ¹²“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.

Sexual Immorality

¹³“Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but You will bring to nothing both it and them. But I agree that the body is not for sexual immorality, but for You, Lord; and You, Lord, for the body. ¹⁴Now, You raised up the Lord Jesus, and will also raise us up by Your power.

¹⁵I do know that our bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! ¹⁶I also know that anyone who is joined to a prostitute is one body. For, “The two,” You say, “will become one flesh.” ¹⁷But each of us who is joined to You, Lord, is one spirit.

¹⁸I choose to flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a person does is outside the body,” but anyone who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Your Temple

¹⁹I know that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in me, which I have from You? I am not my own, ²⁰for I was bought with a price. Therefore, I will glorify You in my body and in my spirit, which are Yours.

1^st Corinthians 7

Marriage

¹Now concerning the things about which The Corinthian Christians wrote to Paul: He wrote that it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ²But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ³Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. ⁴The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise, also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. ⁵I agree that we not deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that we may give ourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan does not tempt us because of our lack of self-control.

⁶But this Paul said by way of concession, not of commandment. ⁷Yet he wished that all men were like him. However, each man has his own gift from You, one of this kind, and another of that kind. ⁸But I understand that Paul said to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as he was. ⁹But whoever does not have self-control, let them marry. For I agree that it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰But to the married Paul commanded—not him, but You, Lord—that the wife not leave her husband ¹¹(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

¹²But to the rest Paul—not You, Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her. ¹³The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband. ¹⁴For I agree with Paul that the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise, their children would be unclean, but now they are holy. ¹⁵Yet, if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but You, O God, have called us in peace. ¹⁶For how does a wife know whether she will save her husband? Or how does a husband know whether he will save his wife? ¹⁷Only, as You, Lord, have distributed to each person, as You have called each, so let him walk. So Paul command this in all the assemblies.

Circumcision

¹⁸Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹I agree that circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. The important thing is the keeping of Your commandments, O God.

Slaves, Servants, Employees

²⁰I agree for each person to stay in the calling in which we were called. ²¹If I am called being a bondservant I choose to not let that bother me, but if I get an opportunity to become free, I would use it. ²²For those of us who were called in the Lord Jesus being a bondservant are the Lord’s free people. Likewise, those of us who were called being free are Christ’s bondservants. ²³I was bought with a price. I will not become bondservants of people. ²⁴Father, let each person, in whatever condition we were called, stay in that condition with You.

Virgins

²⁵Now concerning virgins, Paul had no commandment from You, Lord, but he gave his judgment as one who had obtained mercy from You to be trustworthy. ²⁶He thought, therefore, because of the distress that was on them, that it was good for a man to be unmarried as he was. ²⁷He wrote, “Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned.” Yet, I agree with Paul that such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want (like Paul did) to spare others.

²⁹But I say (with Paul) this, Father: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives should stay as free as possible for You, Lord. ³⁰Sadness or happiness or money should not keep any of us from doing Your work; ³¹and we should not stop to enjoy the things that this world has to offer.

For I know that the form of this world passes away. ³²But I (like Paul) desire to have others to be free from worry. He who is unmarried is concerned for Your things, O Lord, how he may please You; ³³but he who is married has divided interests and is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

³⁴There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about Your things, 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. ³⁵This Paul said for our own profit; not that he might keep us from marring, but to help us be in the best situation that we may attend to You, Lord, without distraction.

³⁶But Paul taught that if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his woman friend, because she is getting older, and he is having difficulty controlling his passions, he should marry her. He does not sin. Let them marry. ³⁷But he who has decided to live unmarried, and has the ability to do it, having control over his passions to keep a pure relationship with the woman to whom he has loyalty, does well.

³⁸So then, I understand that the person who marries does well , and the person who does not marry does better.

³⁹I understand that 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 You, Lord. ⁴⁰But in Paul’s judgment, a widow is happier if she stays as she is, and he thought that he also had Your Spirit.

1^st Corinthians 8

Conscience & Stumbling Blocks

¹Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: I agree that we know that we all have knowledge. I also agree that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ²But if I think that I know anything, I do not yet know as I ought to know. ³But when I love You, my God, I am known by You.

⁴Therefore, concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, I know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but You. ⁵For though there are things that are called “gods,” whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many “gods” and many “lords;” ⁶yet to me there is only You, the one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we for You; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we live through Him.

⁷However, that knowledge is not in all people. But some are very conscious of the idol, even now, and think that they would be eating an idol’s sacrifice, and their conscience, being weak, would be defiled.

⁸But food will not commend me to You. For neither, if I do not eat, am I the better; nor, if I eat, am I the worse. ⁹But I must be careful that by no means does this liberty of mine become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰For if a person sees me who has knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? ¹¹And through my knowledge, my weak Christian sibling, for whose sake Christ died, perishes.

¹²Thus, if I should sin against my brothers and sisters, and wound their conscience when it is weak, I agree that I sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, if food causes my sibling to stumble, I (like Paul) will eat no meat forevermore, that I do not cause others to stumble.

1^st Corinthians 9

Paid Ministry

¹I agree that Paul was free. I agree that he was an apostle. I believe that he had seen Jesus Christ, our Lord. I believe that the Corinthian Christians and I are his work in the Lord. ²If to others he was not an apostle, yet at least he was to me; for I (along with others ) am the seal of his apostleship in the Lord Jesus. ³His defense to those who examined him was this. ⁴He had the right to eat and to drink. ⁵He had the right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas.

⁶Paul and Barnabas were not the only ones who had a right to not work. ⁷I agree that no soldier ever serves at his own expense. I agree that whoever plants a vineyard has the right to eat of its fruit. I also agree that whoever feeds a flock has the right to drink from the flock’s milk.

⁸I agree that Paul spoke these things according to the ways of men and that the law also says the same thing. ⁹For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that You, my God, care, ¹⁰or do You say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because the person who plows ought to plow in hope, and the person who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.

¹¹If Paul and Barabbus sowed to us spiritual things, I agree that it is not a great thing if they reap our fleshly things. ¹²If others partook of this right over the Corinthian Christians, I agree that they should have received even more. Nevertheless, I understand that they did not use this right, but they bore all things, that they may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.

¹³I do know, Father, 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. ¹⁴Even so You, Lord, ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.

¹⁵But Paul had used none of these things, and he did not write these things that it may be done so in his case; for I believe that Paul would rather die, than that anyone should make his boasting void.  

¹⁶For if I (like Paul) preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I do not preach the Good News. ¹⁷For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I (like Paul) have a stewardship entrusted to me. ¹⁸What 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.

Preaching the Good News

¹⁹For though I (like Paul) am free from all, I too brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. ²⁰I agree that to the Jews Paul became as a Jew, that he might gain Jews; to those who were under the law, as under the law, that he might gain those who were under the law; ²¹to those who were without law, as without law (not being without law toward You, O God, but under law toward Christ), that he might win those who were without law. ²²To the weak I know that Paul became as weak, that he might gain the weak. I appreciate, Father, that Paul became all things to all people, that he might by all means save some.

²³Now, I (like Paul) do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it. ²⁴I do know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize. I choose to run like that, that I may win. ²⁵Every person who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now, they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but I an incorruptible. ²⁶Father, I, therefore, run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air, ²⁷but I (like Paul) beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

1^st Corinthians 10

Old Testament Examples

¹Now I know that You are not ignorant, Father, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; ²and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³and all ate the same spiritual food; ⁴and all drank the same spiritual drink. For I agree that they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. ⁵However, with most of them, You were not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

⁶Now I understand that these things are my examples, to the intent that I should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. ⁷Neither should I be an idolater, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” ⁸Father, help me to not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twentythree thousand fell. ⁹Neither let me test You, Lord, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. ¹⁰Please help me to not grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.

¹¹Now, I agree that all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for my admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹²Therefore, let me be careful and not be one who thinks he stands and then falls.

Temptation

¹³I agree that no temptation has taken me except what is common to mankind. Thank You that You are faithful and will not allow me to be tempted above what I am able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that I may be able to endure it.

¹⁴Therefore, my beloved God, help me flee from idolatry. ¹⁵Speak to me as to a wise person. Help me judge what You say.

The Blood & the Body of Christ

¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, I agree that it is a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, I also agree that it is a sharing of the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. ¹⁸Father, help me consider Israel according to the flesh. Help me see how those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar.

¹⁹Please help me understand what Paul was saying that a thing sacrificed to idols is nothing, and that an idol is nothing. ²⁰But Paul said that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to You, and he did not desire that I would have fellowship with demons. ²¹I agree that I can not both drink the cup of the Lord Jesus and the cup of demons. I can not both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. ²²Or do I provoke You to jealousy? Am I stronger than You?

Conscience & Stumbling Blocks

²³I agree with Paul that, “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. ²⁴Let me not seek my own pleasure, but my neighbor’s good. ²⁵I agree that whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, ²⁶for “the earth is Yours, Lord, and its fullness.” ²⁷But if one of those who do not believe invites me to a meal, and I am inclined to go, I plan to eat whatever is set before me, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. ²⁸But if anyone says to me, “This was offered to idols,” I plan to not eat it for the sake of the one who told me, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is Yours, Lord, and all its fullness.”

²⁹Conscience, I understand that Paul said, not my own, but the conscience of another. Father, why is my liberty judged by another conscience? ^[2]0If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for that for which I give thanks? ³¹Whether, therefore, I eat, or drink, or whatever I do, I do all to Your glory, O God. ³²Yet, I agree to give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to Your assembly, my God; ³³even as I also (like Paul) please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

1^st Corinthians 11

Imitating Paul

¹I agree to be an imitators of Paul, even as He also was of Christ. ²Now I (like Paul) praise my Christian siblings that remember Paul in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as Paul delivered them to us.

Head Coverings

woman is the man, and that You are the head of Christ. ⁴I agree that every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. ⁵But I also agree that every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head.

Although, it is hard for me to understand, I agree that it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. ⁶For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But as it is shameful in my culture for a woman to be shorn or shaved, I agree that she should be covered. ⁷For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is Your image and glory, O God, but the woman is the glory of the man. ⁸For I understand that man is not from woman, but woman from man; ⁹for neither was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. ¹⁰Help me understand that for this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels.

Man & Woman Interdependence

¹¹Nevertheless, I agree with You that neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in You, Lord. ¹²For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from You, O God. ¹³I judge for myself. I agree that it is not appropriate that a woman pray to You unveiled. ¹⁴Even nature itself teaches us that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him. ¹⁵But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. ¹⁶But if any person does not see it this way, help neither Your assemblies or me to be contentious.

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁷But in giving the Corinthian Christians this command, he did not praise them, because they came together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸For first of all, I understand that when they came together in the assembly, Paul heard that divisions existed among them, and I (with Paul) partly believe it. ¹⁹For there also must have been factions among them, so that those who saw themselves as always being right might become recognized and known.

²⁰When, therefore, they assembled themselves together, it was not the Lord’s supper that they ate. ²¹For in their eating each one took his own supper first. One was hungry, and another was drunken. ²²I agree that they would have been better off by eating in their own houses. I agree that it is not right to despise Your assembly, and put them to shame who do not have something to eat. What should Paul have told them? Should he have praised them? In this he did not praise them.

The Blood & the Body of Christ

²³For Paul received from You, Lord, that which also he delivered to us, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread. ²⁴When 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.” ²⁵In 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.” ²⁶For as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

²⁷Therefore, I agree that whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸But I agree to examine myself, and so let me eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. ²⁹For if I eat and drink in an unworthy way, I would eat and drink judgment to myself, if I do not discern the Lord’s body.

³⁰I understand that for this cause many among us are weak and sickly, and many die prematurely. ^3[3]For if we discerned ourselves, we would not need to be judged. ³²But when we are judged, we are punished by You, Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

³³Therefore, my Father, when we come together to eat, help us to wait for one another. ³⁴But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest our coming together be for judgment. The rest Paul was to set in order whenever he came.

1    Corinthians 12

Spiritual Gifts

³Therefore, I agree with You that no person speaking by Your Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. ⁴Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

⁺⁵I understand that there are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. ⁶There are various kinds of workings, but You, the same God, Who works all things in all. ⁷But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; ⁹to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; ¹⁰and 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. ¹¹But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as He desires.

One Body

¹²For I agree that 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. ¹³For 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. ¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many.

¹⁵If the foot would say, “Because I am not the hand, I am not part of the body,” is it not, therefore, not part of the body? ¹⁶If the ear would say, “Because I am not the eye, I am not part of the body,” is it not, therefore, not part of the body? ¹⁷I understand that if the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? ¹⁸But now You, O God, have set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as You desired.

¹⁹If we were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰But now we are many members, but one body. ²¹The eye can not tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” ²²No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow extra honor; and our unpresentable parts need more protection; ²⁴whereas our presentable parts do not require special care.

But God, You composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, ²⁵that there should be no division in the body, but that we members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶When one member suffers, all of us members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all of us members rejoice with it.

Spiritual Gifts

²⁷Now we are the body of Christ, and members individually. ²⁸You have set some of us in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? ³¹But earnestly I desire the best gifts. Moreover, thank You for showing a most excellent way to me.

1^st Corinthians 13

Love

¹If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. ²If 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 do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

⁴I agree, Father, that love is patient and is kind; love does not envy. Love does not brag, is not proud, ⁵does not behave itself inappropriately, does not seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸Love 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.

⁹For I know in part, and I prophesy in part; ^[4]0but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. ¹¹When I (like Paul) was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become an adult, I have put away childish things. ¹²For now I 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. ¹³But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. I agree that the greatest of these is love.

1^st Corinthians 14

Spiritual Gifts

who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to You, O God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit the person speaks mysteries. ³But anyone who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. ⁴Anyone who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

⁵Now, I realize that Paul desired to have us all speak with other languages, but rather that we would prophesy. For the person is greater who prophesies than the one who speaks with other languages, unless someone interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

⁶But now, Father, if I come to others speaking with other languages, what would I profit them, unless I spoke to them either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? ⁷Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

⁹So also I, unless I uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For I would be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning. ¹¹If then I do not know the meaning of the sound, I would be to the person who speaks a foreigner, and the person who speaks would be a foreigner to me.

¹²Since I am zealous for spiritual gifts, help me to seek that I may abound to the building up of Your assembly. ¹³Therefore, let anyone who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I (like Paul) pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵What is it then? I will (like Paul) 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. ¹⁶Otherwise if I bless with the spirit, how will the person who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at my giving of thanks, seeing he does not know what I say? ¹⁷For I would most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

¹⁸I thank You, my God, that Paul spoke with other languages more than all the

Corinthians. ¹⁹However, I understand that in the assembly he would rather speak five words with his understanding, that he might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

²⁰Father, do not let me be a child in thoughts, yet in malice may I be a baby, but in thoughts I want to be mature. ²¹In 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,” You say, O Lord.

²²Therefore, I agree that other languages are for a sign, not to us who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to us who believe.

²³If therefore, the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, I can see how that they would say that we are crazy. ²⁴But if all prophesy, preaching Your Word, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he will be reproved by all that he hears, and he will be convicted by it in his heart. ²⁵And as he listens, I believe that the secrets of his heart will be revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship You, declaring that You are among us indeed.

²⁶What is it then, Father? When we come together, each one of us has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. I agree that all things should be done to build each other up. ²⁷If any person speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. ²⁸But if there is no interpreter, I agree that he should keep silent in the assembly, and that the person speak to himself, and to You, O God.

²⁹I agree that the prophets speak, two or three, and others should discern. ³⁰But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, the first should keep silent. ³¹For we all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted. ³²I firmly agree that the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, ³³for You are not a God of confusion, but of peace.

As in all the assemblies of the saints, ³⁴let our 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. ³⁵If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to give her opinion in the assembly. ³⁶What? Paul asked if it was from the Corinthians that Your Word went out. He asked if it came to them alone.

³⁷If any person thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which Paul wrote to us, that they are Your commandment, O Lord. ³⁸But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. ³⁹Therefore, Father, I (like Paul) desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking with other languages. ⁴⁰I agree that all things be done decently and in order.

1^st Corinthians 15

The Gospel

¹Now, I (like Paul) declare to You, Father, the Good News which I have preached to others, which also they received, in which they also stand, ²by which also they are saved, if they hold firmly the word which was preached to them—unless they believed in vain. ³For I deliver (as Paul delivered) to people first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶Then He appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until the time Paul wrote this letter, but some had also fallen asleep. ⁷Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, He appeared to Paul also.

⁹For Paul was the least of the apostles, who was not worthy to be called an apostle, because he persecuted Your assembly, O God. ¹⁰But by Your grace he was what he was. Your grace which was bestowed on him was not futile, but he worked more than all of them; yet not he, but Your grace which was with him. ¹¹Whether then it is Paul or I, so we preach, and so others believe.

The Resurrection

¹²Now, I agree that if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead,  no one can say that there is no resurrection of the dead. ¹³But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. ¹⁴If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and other’s faith also is in vain. ¹⁵Yes, we are found false witnesses of You, our God, because we testified about You that You raised up Christ, Whom You did not raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. ¹⁶For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. ¹⁷If Christ has not been raised, our faith is vain; we are still in our sins. ¹⁸Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹I agree with Paul that if we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all people most pitiable.

²⁰But now, Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. ²¹For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. ²²For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ²³But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s, at His coming. ²⁴Then the end comes, when He will deliver up Your Kingdom to You, His Father; when He will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶The last enemy that will be abolished is death. ²⁷For, “He put all things in subjection under His feet.”

But when You say, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that You are excepted since You subjected all things to Jesus. ²⁸When all things have been subjected to Him, then Your Son will also Himself be subjected to You Who subjected all things to Him, that You, O God, may be all in all.

²⁹Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? ³⁰Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? ³¹I affirm (with Paul), by the boasting in the Corinthian Christians which he had in Christ Jesus our Lord, I (like him) die daily. ³²If he fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what did it profit him? If the dead are not raised, then “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

³³I choose to not be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” ³⁴I choose to wake up righteously, and not sin, for some have no knowledge of You. I say this to their shame. ³⁵But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶I do not want to be a foolish one, that which I myself sow is not made alive unless it dies. ³⁷That which I sow, I do not sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. ³⁸But You give it a body even as it pleases You, and to each seed a body of its own.

³⁹All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. ⁴⁰There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. ⁴¹There 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. ⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. I understand that it is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. ⁴³It is sown in dishonor; 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. I affirm that there is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.

Adam

⁴⁵So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶However, that which is spiritual is not first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷I agree that the first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸As is the one made of dust, such are we who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are we also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹As we have borne the image of those made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰Now I say this, Father, that flesh and blood can not inherit Your Kingdom, O God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

The Resurrection

⁵¹Behold, Paul told us a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵²in 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. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴But 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.”

⁵⁵“Death, where is your sting? Hell, where is your victory?”

⁵⁶I agree that the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to You, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved Father, I choose to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work, because I know that my labor is not in vain in You, Lord.

1^st Corinthians 16

Giving

¹Now concerning the collection for the saints, as Paul commanded the assemblies of Galatia, the Corinthian Christians were to do likewise. ²On the first day of the week, each one of them was to put aside, as he had prospered, that no collections be made when Paul came. ³When he arrived, He would send whoever they approved with letters to carry their gracious gift to Jerusalem. ⁴If it was appropriate for Paul to go also, they would go with him.

⁵But I understand that Paul was to come to them when he had passed through Macedonia, for he was passing through Macedonia. ⁶But Paul wanted to spend time with them, or maybe even wintered there, that they might send him on his journey wherever he went. ⁷For Paul did not wish to see them at that time in passing, but he hoped to stay a while with them, if Lord, You permitted. ⁸But he planned to stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹for a great and effective door had been opened to him, and there were many adversaries.

Greetings

¹⁰Now if Timothy came, Paul wanted the church to make him feel at home, for Timothy did Your work, as Paul also did. ¹¹Therefore, no one was to ignore him. But they were to set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to Paul; for Paul expect Timothy to come with the brothers.

¹²Now concerning Apollos, the brother, Paul strongly urged him to come to the

Corinthians with other brothers; and it was not at all Apollos’ desire to come at that time; but he would come when he had an opportunity.

¹³I agree with Paul to watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! ¹⁴Let all that we do be done in love.

¹⁵Now, I know that Paul begged the Christians (they knew the house of Stephanas, that it was the first fruits of Achaia, and that they had set themselves to serve the saints), ¹⁶that the Corinthians also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.

¹⁷Paul rejoiced at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on the church’s part, they supplied. ¹⁸For they refreshed his spirit and that of the church. Therefore, I (with Paul) acknowledge people who are like that.

¹⁹Thank You that the assemblies of Asia greeted me. Aquila and Priscilla greeted Christians (including me) much in You, Lord, together with the assembly that was in their house. ²⁰All the siblings greeted us. I plan to greet another Christians with holy affection.

²¹I affirm that this greeting was by Paul, with his own hand.

²²If any person does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, I agree with Paul to let that person be accursed.

Maranatha! Come, Lord!

²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with us.

²⁴Along with Paul, I also give my love to all of those who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] When Paul came to the Corinthian Christians, Father, he did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to them Your testimony. ²For I (like Paul) am also determined not to know anything among my Christian siblings, except

Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. ³I (like Paul)

[2] But I agree with You, Father, that the head of every man is Christ, and that the head of the

[3] Now, concerning spiritual things, Father, I do not want to be ignorant. ²I know that when I was a heathen, I was led away to those mute idols, however I might be led.

[4] Father, please help me to follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that I may prophesy. ²For anyone