Conscience does not, and cannot, tell you what is, or is not, the right thing to do. That is the role of parents, society, education, and for the Christian, the Bible. All human beings have a conscience, but the law that a specific conscience uses to accuse or excuse certain actions or intentions will vary greatly according to the individual’s environment and background. Obviously, the higher the standard that trains the conscience, the more conscience will “accuse.” When the law of God trains the conscience, it is impossible for that conscience ever to approve completely, since that law demands sinless perfection.
John Reisinger

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

{1:1} Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through thewill of God, and Sosthenes our brother, {1:2} unto the church of Godwhich is at Corinth, [even] them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,called [to be] saints, with all that call upon the name of our LordJesus Christ in every place, their [Lord] and ours: {1:3} Grace to youand peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. {1:4} I thankmy God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given youin Christ Jesus; {1:5} that in everything ye were enriched in him, inall utterance and all knowledge; {1:6} even as the testimony of Christwas confirmed in you: {1:7} so that ye come behind in no gift; waitingfor the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; {1:8} who shall alsoconfirm you unto the end, [that ye be] unreproveable in the day of ourLord Jesus Christ. {1:9} God is faithful, through whom ye were calledinto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. {1:10} Now Ibeseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thatye all speak the same thing and [that] there be no divisions among you;but [that] ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the samejudgment. {1:11} For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, mybrethren, by them [that are of the household] of Chloe, that there arecontentions among you. {1:12} Now this I mean, that each one of yousaith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I ofChrist. {1:13} Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or wereye baptized into the name of Paul? {1:14} I thank God that I baptizednone of you, save Crispus and Gaius; {1:15} lest any man should saythat ye were baptized into my name. {1:16} And I baptized also thehousehold of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized anyother. {1:17} For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach thegospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be madevoid. {1:18} For the word of the cross is to them that perishfoolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. {1:19}For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

{1:20} Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputerof this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?{1:21} For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through itswisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishnessof the preaching to save them that believe. {1:22} Seeing that Jews askfor signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: {1:23} but we preach Christcrucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;{1:24} but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ thepower of God, and the wisdom of God. {1:25} Because the foolishness ofGod is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.{1:26} For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after theflesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: {1:27} but Godchose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame themthat are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that hemight put to shame the things that are strong; {1:28} and the basethings of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose,[yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought thethings that are: {1:29} that no flesh should glory before God. {1:30}But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom fromGod, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: {1:31} that,according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

{2:1} And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not withexcellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony ofGod. {2:2} For I determined not to know anything among you, save JesusChrist, and him crucified. {2:3} And I was with you in weakness, and infear, and in much trembling. {2:4} And my speech and my preaching werenot in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spiritand of power: {2:5} that your faith should not stand in the wisdom ofmen, but in the power of God. {2:6} We speak wisdom, however, amongthem that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of therulers of this world, who are coming to nought: {2:7} but we speakGod’s wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden,which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: {2:8} whichnone of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it,they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: {2:9} but as it iswritten,
Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not,And [which] entered not into the heart of man,Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.

{2:10} But unto us God revealed [them] through the Spirit: for theSpirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. {2:11} Forwho among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man,which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save theSpirit of God. {2:12} But we received, not the spirit of the world, butthe spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that werefreely given to us of God. {2:13} Which things also we speak, not inwords which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth;combining spiritual things with spiritual [words]. {2:14} Now thenatural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they arefoolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they arespiritually judged. {2:15} But he that is spiritual judgeth all things,and he himself is judged of no man. {2:16} For who hath known the mindof the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind ofChrist.

{3:1} And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. {3:2} I fed you with milk,not with meat; for ye were not yet able [to bear it]: nay, not even noware ye able; {3:3} for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is amongyou jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk afterthe manner of men? {3:4} For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another,I am of Apollos; are ye not men? {3:5} What then is Apollos? and whatis Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gaveto him. {3:6} I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.{3:7} So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he thatwatereth; but God that giveth the increase. {3:8} Now he that plantethand he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own rewardaccording to his own labor. {3:9} For we are God’s fellow-workers: yeare God’s husbandry, God’s building. {3:10} According to the grace ofGod which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid afoundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heedhow he buildeth thereon. {3:11} For other foundation can no man laythan that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. {3:12} But if any manbuildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay,stubble; {3:13} each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the dayshall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itselfshall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. {3:14} If any man’swork shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward.{3:15} If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but hehimself shall be saved; yet so as through fire. {3:16} Know ye not thatye are a temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?{3:17} If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy;for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye. {3:18} Let no mandeceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in thisworld, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. {3:19} For thewisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, Hethat taketh the wise in their craftiness: {3:20} and again, The Lordknoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain. {3:21} Whereforelet no one glory in men. For all things are yours; {3:22} whether Paul,or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or thingspresent, or things to come; all are yours; {3:23} and ye are Christ’s;and Christ is God’s.

{4:1} Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, andstewards of the mysteries of God. {4:2} Here, moreover, it is requiredin stewards, that a man be found faithful. {4:3} But with me it is avery small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment:yea, I judge not mine own self. {4:4} For I know nothing againstmyself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is theLord. {4:5} Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lordcome, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, andmake manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man havehis praise from God. {4:6} Now these things, brethren, I have in afigure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us yemight learn not [to go] beyond the things which are written; that noone of you be puffed up for the one against the other. {4:7} For whomaketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst notreceived it? {4:8} Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich,ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign,that we also might reign with you. {4:9} For, I think, God hath setforth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we aremade a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men. {4:10} We arefools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but yeare strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor. {4:11} Even unto thispresent hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and arebuffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; {4:12} and we toil,working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted,we endure; {4:13} being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filthof the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now. {4:14} Iwrite not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my belovedchildren. {4:15} For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet[have ye] not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through thegospel. {4:16} I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me. {4:17}For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved andfaithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my wayswhich are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church. {4:18}Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. {4:19} ButI will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not theword of them that are puffed up, but the power. {4:20} For the kingdomof God is not in word, but in power. {4:21} What will ye? shall I comeunto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

{5:1} It is actually reported that there is fornication among you,and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one [ofyou] hath his father’s wife. {5:2} And ye are puffed up, and did notrather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away fromamong you. {5:3} For I verily, being absent in body but present inspirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath sowrought this thing, {5:4} in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye beinggathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,{5:5} to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of theflesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. {5:6}Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneththe whole lump? {5:7} Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a newlump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath beensacrificed, [even] Christ: {5:8} wherefore let us keep the feast, notwith old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, butwith the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. {5:9} I wrote untoyou in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; {5:10} not atall [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetousand extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out ofthe world: {5:11} but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company,if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or anidolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such aone no, not to eat. {5:12} For what have I to do with judging them thatare without? Do not ye judge them that are within? {5:13} But them thatare without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.

{6:1} Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go tolaw before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? {6:2} Or know yenot that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judgedby you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? {6:3} Know yenot that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain tothis life? {6:4} If then ye have to judge things pertaining to thislife, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?{6:5} I say [this] to move you to shame. What, cannot there be [found]among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between hisbrethren, {6:6} but brother goeth to law with brother, and that beforeunbelievers? {6:7} Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, thatye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why notrather be defrauded? {6:8} Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, anddefraud, and that [your] brethren. {6:9} Or know ye not that theunrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived:neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, norabusers of themselves with men, {6:10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nordrunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom ofGod. {6:11} And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye weresanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,and in the Spirit of our God. {6:12} All things are lawful for me; butnot all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I willnot be brought under the power of any. {6:13} Meats for the belly, andthe belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them.But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord forthe body: {6:14} and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up asthrough his power. {6:15} Know ye not that your bodies are members ofChrist? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make themmembers of a harlot? God forbid. {6:16} Or know ye not that he that isjoined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall becomeone flesh. {6:17} But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.{6:18} Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without thebody; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.{6:19} Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spiritwhich is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;{6:20} for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in yourbody.

{7:1} Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for aman not to touch a woman. {7:2} But, because of fornications, let eachman have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. {7:3}Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also thewife unto the husband. {7:4} The wife hath not power over her own body,but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over hisown body, but the wife. {7:5} Defraud ye not one the other, except itbe by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer,and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of yourincontinency. {7:6} But this I say by way of concession, not ofcommandment. {7:7} Yet I would that all men were even as I myself.Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, andanother after that. {7:8} But I say to the unmarried and to widows, Itis good for them if they abide even as I. {7:9} But if they have notcontinency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.{7:10} But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord,That the wife depart not from her husband {7:11} (but should shedepart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to herhusband); and that the husband leave not his wife. {7:12} But to therest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, andshe is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. {7:13} And thewoman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell withher, let her not leave her husband. {7:14} For the unbelieving husbandis sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified inthe brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.{7:15} Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother orthe sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called usin peace. {7:16} For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt savethy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt savethy wife? {7:17} Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as Godhath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.{7:18} Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not becomeuncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not becircumcised. {7:19} Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision isnothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. {7:20} Let eachman abide in that calling wherein he was called. {7:21} Wast thoucalled being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canstbecome free, use [it] rather. {7:22} For he that was called in the Lordbeing a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that wascalled being free, is Christ’s bondservant. {7:23} Ye were bought witha price; become not bondservants of men. {7:24} Brethren, let each man,wherein he was called, therein abide with God. {7:25} Now concerningvirgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, asone that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. {7:26} Ithink therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that isupon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is. {7:27} Artthou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from awife? Seek not a wife. {7:28} But shouldest thou marry, thou hast notsinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall havetribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. {7:29} But this I say,brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that havewives may be as though they had none; {7:30} and those that weep, asthough they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoicednot; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; {7:31} and thosethat use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion ofthis world passeth away. {7:32} But I would have you to be free fromcares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, howhe may please the Lord: {7:33} but he that is married is careful forthe things of the world, how he may please his wife, {7:34} and isdivided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin iscareful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in bodyand in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of theworld, how she may please her husband. {7:35} And this I say for yourown profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which isseemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.{7:36} But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly towardhis virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and ifneed so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let themmarry. {7:37} But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having nonecessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his ownvirgin [daughter], shall do well. {7:38} So then both he that givethhis own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that givethher not in marriage shall do better. {7:39} A wife is bound for so longtime as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free tobe married to whom she will; only in the Lord. {7:40} But she ishappier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that Ialso have the Spirit of God.

{8:1} Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we allhave knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. {8:2} If anyman thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he oughtto know; {8:3} but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.{8:4} Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, weknow that no idol is [anything] in the world, and that there is no Godbut one. {8:5} For though there be that are called gods, whether inheaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; {8:6} yetto us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we untohim; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and wethrough him. {8:7} Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: butsome, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificedto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. {8:8} But foodwill not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse;nor, if we eat, are we the better. {8:9} But take heed lest by anymeans this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. {8:10}For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’stemple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eatthings sacrificed to idols? {8:11} For through thy knowledge he that isweak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. {8:12} Andthus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience whenit is weak, ye sin against Christ. {8:13} Wherefore, if meat causeth mybrother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause notmy brother to stumble.

{9:1} Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus ourLord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? {9:2} If to others I am not anapostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship areye in the Lord. {9:3} My defence to them that examine me is this. {9:4}Have we no right to eat and to drink? {9:5} Have we no right to leadabout a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, andthe brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? {9:6} Or I only and Barnabas,have we not a right to forbear working? {9:7} What soldier ever servethat his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruitthereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of theflock? {9:8} Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saithnot the law also the same? {9:9} For it is written in the law of Moses,Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it forthe oxen that God careth, {9:10} or saith he it assuredly for our sake?Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plowin hope, and he that thresheth, [to thresh] in hope of partaking.{9:11} If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter ifwe shall reap your carnal things? {9:12} If others partake of [this]right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use thisright; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to thegospel of Christ. {9:13} Know ye not that they that minister aboutsacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that waitupon the altar have their portion with the altar? {9:14} Even so didthe Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of thegospel. {9:15} But I have used none of these things: and I write notthese things that it may be so done in my case; for [it were] good forme rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void.{9:16} For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; fornecessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not thegospel. {9:17} For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: butif not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me. {9:18}What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make thegospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in thegospel. {9:19} For though I was free from all [men,] I brought myselfunder bondage to all, that I might gain the more. {9:20} And to theJews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are underthe law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I mightgain them that are under the law; {9:21} to them that are without law,as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ,that I might gain them that are without law. {9:22} To the weak Ibecame weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to allmen, that I may by all means save some. {9:23} And I do all things forthe gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof. {9:24} Knowye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth theprize? Even so run; that ye may attain. {9:25} And every man thatstriveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they[do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. {9:26}I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating theair: {9:27} but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest byany means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should berejected.

{10:1} For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that ourfathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;{10:2} and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;{10:3} and did all eat the same spiritual food; {10:4} and did alldrink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock thatfollowed them: and the rock was Christ. {10:5} Howbeit with most ofthem God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in thewilderness. {10:6} Now these things were our examples, to the intent weshould not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. {10:7} Neitherbe ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people satdown to eat and drink, and rose up to play. {10:8} Neither let uscommit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one daythree and twenty thousand. {10:9} Neither let us make trial of theLord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. {10:10}Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by thedestroyer. {10:11} Now these things happened unto them by way ofexample; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the endsof the ages are come. {10:12} Wherefore let him that thinketh hestandeth take heed lest he fall. {10:13} There hath no temptation takenyou but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not sufferyou to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptationmake also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it. {10:14}Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. {10:15} I speak as to wisemen; judge ye what I say. {10:16} The cup of blessing which we bless,is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break,is it not a communion of the body of Christ? {10:17} seeing that we,who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of theone bread. {10:18} Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they thateat the sacrifices communion with the altar? {10:19} What say I then?that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol isanything? {10:20} But [I say], that the things which the Gentilessacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would notthat ye should have communion with demons. {10:21} Ye cannot drink thecup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the tableof the Lord, and of the table of demons. {10:22} Or do we provoke theLord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? {10:23} All things arelawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; butnot all things edify. {10:24} Let no man seek his own, but [each] hisneighbor’s [good]. {10:25} Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat,asking no question for conscience’ sake, {10:26} for the earth is theLord’s, and the fulness thereof. {10:27} If one of them that believenot biddeth you [to a feast], and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever isset before you, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake. {10:28}But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eatnot, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: {10:29}conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other’s; for why is myliberty judged by another conscience? {10:30} If I partake withthankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?{10:31} Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do allto the glory of God. {10:32} Give no occasions of stumbling, either toJews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: {10:33} even as I alsoplease all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the[profit] of the many, that they may be saved.

{11:1} Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. {11:2}Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast thetraditions, even as I delivered them to you. {11:3} But I would haveyou know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of thewoman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. {11:4} Every manpraying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.{11:5} But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveileddishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she wereshaven. {11:6} For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: butif it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.{11:7} For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch ashe is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of theman. {11:8} For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man:{11:9} for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman forthe man: {11:10} for this cause ought the woman to have [a sign of]authority on her head, because of the angels. {11:11} Nevertheless,neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, inthe Lord. {11:12} For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also bythe woman; but all things are of God. {11:13} Judge ye in yourselves:is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled? {11:14} Doth not evennature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is adishonor to him? {11:15} But if a woman have long hair, it is a gloryto her: for her hair is given her for a covering. {11:16} But if anyman seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither thechurches of God. {11:17} But in giving you this charge, I praise younot, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse.{11:18} For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hearthat divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. {11:19} Forthere must be also factions among you, that they that are approved maybe made manifest among you. {11:20} When therefore ye assembleyourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s supper:{11:21} for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his ownsupper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken. {11:22} What, haveye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God,and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall Ipraise you? In this I praise you not. {11:23} For I received of theLord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in thenight in which he was betrayed took bread; {11:24} and when he hadgiven thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you:this do in remembrance of me. {11:25} In like manner also the cup,after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: thisdo, as often as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me. {11:26} For asoften as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’sdeath till he come. {11:27} Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread ordrink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of thebody and the blood of the Lord. {11:28} But let a man prove himself,and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. {11:29} For hethat eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, ifhe discern not the body. {11:30} For this cause many among you are weakand sickly, and not a few sleep. {11:31} But if we discerned ourselves,we should not be judged. {11:32} But when we are judged, we arechastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.{11:33} Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait onefor another. {11:34} If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; thatyour coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set inorder whensoever I come.

{12:1} Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not haveyou ignorant. {12:2} Ye know that when ye were Gentiles [ye were] ledaway unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might led. {12:3} Wherefore Imake known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith,Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the HolySpirit. {12:4} Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.{12:5} And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord.{12:6} And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, whoworketh all things in all. {12:7} But to each one is given themanifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. {12:8} For to one isgiven through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word ofknowledge, according to the same Spirit: {12:9} to another faith, inthe same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit;{12:10} and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy;and to another discernings of spirits; to another [divers] kinds oftongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: {12:11} but allthese worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each oneseverally even as he will. {12:12} For as the body is one, and hathmany members, and all the members of the body, being many, are onebody; so also is Christ. {12:13} For in one Spirit were we all baptizedinto one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and wereall made to drink of one Spirit. {12:14} For the body is not onemember, but many. {12:15} If the foot shall say, Because I am not thehand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.{12:16} And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not ofthe body; it is not therefore not of the body. {12:17} If the wholebody were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing,where were the smelling? {12:18} But now hath God set the members eachone of them in the body, even as it pleased him. {12:19} And if theywere all one member, where were the body? {12:20} But now they are manymembers, but one body. {12:21} And the eye cannot say to the hand, Ihave no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need ofyou. {12:22} Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem tobe more feeble are necessary: {12:23} and those [parts] of the body,which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundanthonor; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness; {12:24}whereas our comely [parts] have no need: but God tempered the bodytogether, giving more abundant honor to that [part] which lacked;{12:25} that there should be no schism in the body; but [that] themembers should have the same care one for another. {12:26} And whetherone member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or [one] memberis honored, all the members rejoice with it. {12:27} Now ye are thebody of Christ, and severally members thereof. {12:28} And God hath setsome in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdlyteachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments,[divers] kinds of tongues. {12:29} Are all apostles? are all prophets?are all teachers? are all [workers of] miracles? {12:30} have all giftsof healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? {12:31} Butdesire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent wayshow I unto you.

{13:1} If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but havenot love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. {13:2} Andif I have [the gift of] prophecy, and know all mysteries and allknowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but havenot love, I am nothing. {13:3} And if I bestow all my goods to feed[the poor], and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, itprofiteth me nothing. {13:4} Love suffereth long, [and] is kind; loveenvieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, {13:5} dothnot behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked,taketh not account of evil; {13:6} rejoiceth not in unrighteousness,but rejoiceth with the truth; {13:7} beareth all things, believeth allthings, hopeth all things, endureth all things. {13:8} Love neverfaileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall be done away;whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be]knowledge, it shall be done away. {13:9} For we know in part, and weprophesy in part; {13:10} but when that which is perfect is come, thatwhich is in part shall be done away. {13:11} When I was a child, Ispake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that Iam become a man, I have put away childish things. {13:12} For now wesee in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; butthen shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. {13:13} But nowabideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these islove.

{14:1} Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts],but rather that ye may prophesy. {14:2} For he that speaketh in atongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth;but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. {14:3} But he that prophesiethspeaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation. {14:4}He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesiethedifieth the church. {14:5} Now I would have you all speak withtongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he thatprophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret,that the church may receive edifying. {14:6} But now, brethren, if Icome unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless Ispeak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or ofprophesying, or of teaching? {14:7} Even things without life, giving avoice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in thesounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? {14:8} For ifthe trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?{14:9} So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy tounderstood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will bespeaking into the air. {14:10} There are, it may be, so many kinds ofvoices in the world, and no [kind] is without signification. {14:11} Ifthen I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him thatspeaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.{14:12} So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seekthat ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. {14:13} Whereforelet him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret. {14:14}For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding isunfruitful. {14:15} What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and Iwill pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, andI will sing with the understanding also. {14:16} Else if thou blesswith the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearnedsay the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thousayest? {14:17} For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other isnot edified. {14:18} I thank God, I speak with tongues more than youall: {14:19} howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words withmy understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousandwords in a tongue. {14:20} Brethren, be not children in mind: yet inmalice be ye babes, but in mind be men. {14:21} In the law it iswritten, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will Ispeak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith theLord. {14:22} Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them thatbelieve, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying [is for a sign], notto the unbelieving, but to them that believe. {14:23} If therefore thewhole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, andthere come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that yeare mad? {14:24} But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelievingor unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all; {14:25} thesecrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on hisface and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed. {14:26}What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath apsalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath aninterpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. {14:27} If anyman speaketh in a tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most three, and[that] in turn; and let one interpret: {14:28} but if there be nointerpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak tohimself, and to God. {14:29} And let the prophets speak [by] two orthree, and let the others discern. {14:30} But if a revelation be madeto another sitting by, let the first keep silence. {14:31} For ye allcan prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;{14:32} and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;{14:33} for God is not [a God] of confusion, but of peace. As in allthe churches of the saints, {14:34} let the women keep silence in thechurches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them bein subjection, as also saith the law. {14:35} And if they would learnanything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shamefulfor a woman to speak in the church. {14:36} What? was it from you thatthe word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone? {14:37} If anyman thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him takeknowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are thecommandment of the Lord. {14:38} But if any man is ignorant, let him beignorant. {14:39} Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy,and forbid not to speak with tongues. {14:40} But let all things bedone decently and in order.

{15:1} Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which Ipreached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand,{15:2} by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which Ipreached unto you, except ye believed in vain. {15:3} For I deliveredunto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died forour sins according to the scriptures; {15:4} and that he was buried;and that he hath been raised on the third day according to thescriptures; {15:5} and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve;{15:6} then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whomthe greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep; {15:7}then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; {15:8} and last ofall, as to the [child] untimely born, he appeared to me also. {15:9}For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called anapostle, because I persecuted the church of God. {15:10} But by thegrace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon mewas not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yetnot I, but the grace of God which was with me. {15:11} Whether then [itbe] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. {15:12} Now if Christis preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some amongyou that there is no resurrection of the dead? {15:13} But if there isno resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: {15:14}and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, yourfaith also is vain. {15:15} Yea, we are found false witnesses of God;because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raisednot up, if so be that the dead are not raised. {15:16} For if the deadare not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: {15:17} and if Christhath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.{15:18} Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.{15:19} If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all menmost pitiable. {15:20} But now hath Christ been raised from the dead,the firstfruits of them that are asleep. {15:21} For since by man[came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. {15:22}For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.{15:23} But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then theythat are Christ’s, at his coming. {15:24} Then [cometh] the end, whenhe shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shallhave abolished all rule and all authority and power. {15:25} For hemust reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. {15:26}The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. {15:27} For, He putall things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All thingsare put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who didsubject all things unto him. {15:28} And when all things have beensubjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to himthat did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.{15:29} Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If thedead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?{15:30} Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? {15:31} I protestby that glorifying in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus ourLord, I die daily. {15:32} If after the manner of men I fought withbeasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised,let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. {15:33} Be not deceived:Evil companionships corrupt good morals. {15:34} Awake to sobernessrighteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak[this] to move you to shame. {15:35} But some one will say, How are thedead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? {15:36} Thoufoolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except itdie: {15:37} and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body thatshall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some otherkind; {15:38} but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him, and toeach seed a body of its own. {15:39} All flesh is not the same flesh:but there is one [flesh] of men, and another flesh of beasts, andanother flesh of birds, and another of fishes. {15:40} There are alsocelestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of thecelestial is one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial is another.{15:41} There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon,and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from anotherstar in glory. {15:42} So also is the resurrection of the dead. It issown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: {15:43} it is sown indishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raisedin power: {15:44} it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritualbody. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual [body].{15:45} So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul.The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit. {15:46} Howbeit that isnot first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then thatwhich is spiritual. {15:47} The first man is of the earth, earthy: thesecond man is of heaven. {15:48} As is the earthy, such are they alsothat are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that areheavenly. {15:49} And as we have borne the image of the earthy, weshall also bear the image of the heavenly. {15:50} Now this I say,brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. {15:51} Behold, I tellyou a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,{15:52} in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: forthe trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,and we shall be changed. {15:53} For this corruptible must put onincorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. {15:54} But whenthis corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shallhave put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that iswritten, Death is swallowed up in victory. {15:55} O death, where isthy victory? O death, where is thy sting? {15:56} The sting of death issin; and the power of sin is the law: {15:57} but thanks be to God, whogiveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. {15:58} Wherefore,my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding inthe work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vainin the Lord.

{16:1} Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave orderto the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. {16:2} Upon the first day ofthe week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper,that no collections be made when I come. {16:3} And when I arrive,whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carryyour bounty unto Jerusalem: {16:4} and if it be meet for me to go also,they shall go with me. {16:5} But I will come unto you, when I shallhave passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia; {16:6} butwith you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that ye may setme forward on my journey whithersoever I go. {16:7} For I do not wishto see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry a while with you, if theLord permit. {16:8} But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost; {16:9}for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are manyadversaries. {16:10} Now if Timothy come, see that he be with youwithout fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do:{16:11} let no man therefore despise him. But set him forward on hisjourney in peace, that he may come unto me: for I expect him with thebrethren. {16:12} But as touching Apollos the brother, I besought himmuch to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not all [his] willto come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity. {16:13}Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.{16:14} Let all that ye do be done in love. {16:15} Now I beseech you,brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits ofAchaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),{16:16} that ye also be in subjection unto such, and to every one thathelpeth in the work and laboreth. {16:17} And I rejoice at the comingof Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking onyour part they supplied. {16:18} For they refreshed my spirit andyours: acknowledge ye therefore them that are such. {16:19} Thechurches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in theLord, with the church that is in their house. {16:20} All the brethrensalute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss. {16:21} The salutationof me Paul with mine own hand. {16:22} If any man loveth not the Lord,let him be anathema. Maranatha. {16:23} The grace of the Lord JesusChrist be with you. {16:24} My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.Amen.

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