New King James Version (NKJV)

A Pattern of Self-Denial

1 AmI not an apostle? Am I not free?Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?Are you not my work in the Lord?

2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you arethe seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this:

4 Do we have no right to eat and drink?

5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, asdoalso the other apostles,the brothers of the Lord, andCephas?

6 Orisitonly Barnabas and Iwhohave no right to refrain from working?

7 Who evergoes to war at his own expense? Whoplants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or whotends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8 Do I say these things as amereman? Or does not the law say the same also?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses,“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

10 Or does He sayitaltogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt,thisis written, thathe who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown spiritual things for you,isita great thing if we reap your material things?

12 If others are partakers ofthisright over you,arewe not even more?

# Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all thingslest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eatofthethingsof thetemple, and those who serve at the altar partake oftheofferingsofthe altar?

14 Even sothe Lord has commandedthat those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 ButI have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; foritwouldbebetter for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, fornecessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 For if I do this willingly,I have a reward; but if against my will,I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

18 What is my reward then? Thatwhen I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that Imay not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

19 For though I amfree from allmen,I have made myself a servant to all,that I might win the more;

20 andto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to thosewhoareunder the law, as under the law, that I might win thosewhoareunder the law;

21 tothosewhoarewithout law, as without law(not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win thosewhoarewithout law;

22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak.I have become all things to allmen,that I might by all means save some.

23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it withyou.

Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?Run in such a way that you may obtainit.

25 And everyone who competesfortheprizeis temperate in all things. Now theydoitto obtain a perishable crown, but weforan imperishablecrown.

26 Therefore I run thus:not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not asonewhobeats the air.

27 But I discipline my body andbringitinto subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should becomedisqualified.

Old Testament Examples

1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were underthe cloud, all passed throughthe sea,

2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3 all ate the samespiritual food,

4 and all drank the samespiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, fortheirbodieswere scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things asthey also lusted.

7 And do not become idolaters asweresome of them. As it is written,“The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, assome of them did, andin one day twenty-three thousand fell;

9 nor let us tempt Christ, assome of them also tempted, andwere destroyed by serpents;

10 nor complain, assome of them also complained, andwere destroyed bythe destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, andthey were written for our admonition,upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

12 Thereforelet him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; butGodisfaithful,who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bearit.

Flee from Idolatry

14 Therefore, my beloved,flee from idolatry.

15 I speak as towise men; judge for yourselves what I say.

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

17 Forwe,thoughmany, are one breadandone body; for we all partake of that one bread.

18 ObserveIsraelafter the flesh:Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

19 What am I saying then?That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything?

20 Rather, that the things which the Gentilessacrificethey sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord andthe cup of demons; you cannot partake of theLord’s table and of the table of demons.

22 Or do weprovoke the Lord to jealousy?Are we stronger than He?

All to the Glory of God

23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things arehelpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

24 Let no one seek his own, but each onethe other’swell-being.

25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;

26 for“the earthistheLord’s, and all its fullness.”

27 If any of those who do not believe invites youtodinner,and you desire to go,eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat itfor the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for“the earthistheLord’s, and all its fullness.”

29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. Forwhy is my liberty judged by anotherman’sconscience?

30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of forthefoodover which I give thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,

33 justas I also please allmenin allthings,not seeking my own profit, but theprofitof many, that they may be saved.

1 Imitateme, just as I alsoimitateChrist.

Head Coverings

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I deliveredthemto you.

3 But I want you to know thatthe head of every man is Christ,the head of womanisman, and thehead of ChristisGod.

4 Every man praying orprophesying, havinghishead covered, dishonors his head.

5 But every woman who prays or prophesies withherhead uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head wereshaved.

6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it isshameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.

7 For a man indeed ought not to coverhishead, sincehe is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

8 For man is not from woman, but womanfrom man.

9 Nor was man created for the woman, but womanfor the man.

10 For this reason the woman ought to haveasymbolofauthority onherhead, because of the angels.

11 Nevertheless,neitherisman independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.

12 For as womancamefrom man, even so man alsocomesthrough woman; but all things are from God.

13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; forherhair is given to her for a covering.

16 Butif anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom,nordothe churches of God.

Conduct at the Lord’s Supper

17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praiseyou,since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

18 For first of all, when you come together as a church,I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

19 Forthere must also be factions among you,that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.

21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead ofothers;and one is hungry andanother is drunk.

22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despisethe church of God andshame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praiseyou.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

23 ForI received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you:that the Lord Jesus on thesamenight in which He was betrayed took bread;

24 and when He had given thanks, He brokeitand said,“Take, eat;this is My body which isbrokenfor you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

25 In the same mannerHealsotookthe cup after supper, saying,“This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drinkit,in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s deathtill He comes.

Examine Yourself

27 Therefore whoever eatsthis bread or drinksthiscup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 Butlet a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

30 For this reason manyareweak and sick among you, and many sleep.

31 Forif we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

32 But when we are judged,we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

33 Therefore, my brethren, when youcome together to eat, wait for one another.

34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

1 Nowconcerning spiritualgifts,brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

2 You knowthat you were Gentiles, carried away to thesedumb idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, andno one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are diversities of gifts, butthe same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same Godwho works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profitofall:

8 for to one is giventhe word of wisdom through the Spirit, to anotherthe word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to anothergifts of healings by the same Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to anotherprophecy, to anotherdiscerning of spirits, to anotherdifferentkinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things,distributing to each one individuallyas He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body

12 Foras the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body,so alsoisChrist.

13 Forby one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—andhave all been made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole bodywerean eye, wherewouldbethe hearing? If the wholewerehearing, wherewouldbethe smelling?

18 But nowGod has set the members, each one of them, in the bodyjust as He pleased.

19 And if they were all one member, wherewouldthe bodybe?

20 But now indeedtherearemany members, yet one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

23 And thosemembersof the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentablepartshave greater modesty,

24 but our presentablepartshave no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to thatpartwhich lacks it,

25 that there should be no schism in the body, butthatthe members should have the same care for one another.

26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer withit;or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice withit.

27 Nowyou are the body of Christ, andmembers individually.

28 AndGod has appointed these in the church: firstapostles, secondprophets, third teachers, after thatmiracles, thengifts of healings,helps,administrations, varieties of tongues.

29 Areall apostles?Areall prophets?Areall teachers?Areall workers of miracles?

30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

31 Butearnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

The Greatest Gift

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I havethegiftofprophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith,so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 Andthough I bestow all my goods to feedthepoor,and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers longandiskind; lovedoes not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely,does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, butrejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whetherthereareprophecies, they will fail; whethertherearetongues, they will cease; whetherthereisknowledge, it will vanish away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 Fornow we see in a mirror, dimly, but thenface to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of theseislove.

Prophecy and Tongues

1 Pursue love, anddesire spiritualgifts,but especially that you may prophesy.

2 For he whospeaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understandshim;however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 But he who prophesies speaksedification andexhortation and comfort to men.

4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesiesisgreater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Tongues Must Be Interpreted

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either byrevelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?

7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of themiswithout significance.

11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speakswillbea foreigner to me.

12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritualgifts, let it befor the edification of the churchthatyou seek to excel.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he mayinterpret.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What istheconclusionthen? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.I will sing with the spirit, and I will also singwith the understanding.

16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen”at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

20 Brethren,do not be children in understanding; however, in malicebe babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 In the law it is written:

# “Withmenofother tongues and other lips

I will speak to this people;

And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

says the Lord.

22 Therefore tongues are for asign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come inthosewhoareuninformed or unbelievers,will they not say that you are out of your mind?

24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.

25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down onhisface, he will worship God and reportthat God is truly among you.

Order in Church Meetings

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm,has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation.Let all things be done for edification.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue,lettherebetwo or at the most three,eachin turn, and let one interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, andlet the others judge.

30 But ifanythingis revealed to another who sits by,let the first keep silent.

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

32 Andthe spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33 For God is nottheauthorof confusion but of peace,as in all the churches of the saints.

34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; buttheyareto be submissive, as thelaw also says.

35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

36 Or did the word of God comeoriginallyfrom you? Orwasityou only that it reached?

37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Therefore, brethren,desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospelwhich I preached to you, which also you received andin which you stand,

2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unlessyou believed in vain.

3 ForI delivered to you first of all thatwhich I also received: that Christ died for our sinsaccording to the Scriptures,

4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third dayaccording to the Scriptures,

5 and that He was seen by Cephas, thenby the twelve.

6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

7 After that He was seen by James, thenby all the apostles.

8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 For I amthe least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, becauseI persecuted the church of God.

10 Butby the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all,yet not I, but the grace of Godwhichwaswith me.

11 Therefore, whetheritwasI or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Risen Christ, Our Hope

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead,then Christ is not risen.

14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preachingisempty and your faithisalso empty.

15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, becausewe have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.

16 For ifthedead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.

17 And if Christ is not risen, your faithisfutile;you are still in your sins!

18 Then also those who have fallenasleep in Christ have perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Last Enemy Destroyed

20 But nowChrist is risen from the dead,andhas becomethe firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21 Forsince by mancamedeath,by Man alsocamethe resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shallbe made alive.

23 Buteach one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward thosewhoareChrist’s at His coming.

24 Thencomesthe end, when He deliversthe kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

25 For He must reigntill He has put all enemies under His feet.

26 The last enemythatwill be destroyedisdeath.

27 For“He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put underHim,”itisevident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, thenthe Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Effects of Denying the Resurrection

29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

30 Andwhy do we stand in jeopardy every hour?

31 I affirm, bythe boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord,I die daily.

32 If, in the manner of men,I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageisitto me? Ifthedead do not rise,“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

33 Do not be deceived:“Evil company corrupts good habits.”

34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin;for some do not have the knowledge of God.I speakthisto your shame.

A Glorious Body

35 But someone will say,“How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?”

36 Foolish one,what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.

37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some othergrain.

38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

39 All fleshisnot the same flesh, butthereisonekindof flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish,andanother of birds.

40 Therearealso celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestialisone, and thegloryof the terrestrialisanother.

41 Thereisone glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; foronestar differs fromanotherstar in glory.

42 So alsoisthe resurrection of the dead.Thebodyis sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.

43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written,“The first man Adam became a living being.”The last Adambecamea life-giving spirit.

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.

47 The first manwasof the earth,madeof dust; the second Manisthe Lordfrom heaven.

48 Aswasthemanof dust, so alsoarethosewhoaremadeof dust;and asisthe heavenlyMan,so alsoarethosewhoareheavenly.

49 Andas we have borne the image of themanof dust,we shall also bear the image of the heavenlyMan.

Our Final Victory

50 Now this I say, brethren, thatflesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery:We shall not all sleep,but we shall all be changed—

52 in 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 shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, andthis mortalmustput on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “ODeath, whereisyour sting?

O Hades, whereisyour victory?”

56 The sting of deathissin, andthe strength of sinisthe law.

57 But thanksbeto God, who gives usthe victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowingthat your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Collection for the Saints

1 Now concerningthe collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:

2 On the firstdayof the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

3 And when I come,whomever you approve byyourletters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.

4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

Personal Plans

5 Now I will come to youwhen I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia).

6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you maysend me on my journey, wherever I go.

7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you,if the Lord permits.

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus untilPentecost.

9 Fora great and effective door has opened to me, andtherearemany adversaries.

10 Andif Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; forhe does the work of the Lord, as I alsodo.

11 Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journeyin peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

12 Now concerningourbrotherApollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

Final Exhortations

13 Watch,stand fast in the faith, be brave,be strong.

14 Let allthatyoudobe done with love.

15 I urge you, brethren—you knowthe household of Stephanas, that it isthe firstfruits of Achaia, andthatthey have devoted themselves tothe ministry of the saints—

16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works andlabors withus.

17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus,for what was lacking on your part they supplied.

18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Thereforeacknowledge such men.

Greetings and a Solemn Farewell

19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord,with the church that is in their house.

20 All the brethren greet you.

# Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.

22 If anyonedoes not love the Lord Jesus Christ,let him be accursed.O Lord, come!

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christbewith you.

24 My lovebewith you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.