1Corinthians:1:18-2
Seeker Overlay ON
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For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing ,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God .
*
For it is written : "
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise ,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent ."
*
Where is the wise ?
Where is the scribe ?
Where is the disputer of this age ?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ?
*
For since ,
in the wisdom of God ,
the world through wisdom did not know God ,
it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe .
*
For Jews request a sign ,
and Greeks seek after wisdom ;
*
but we preach Christ crucified ,
to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness ,
*
but to those who are called ,
both Jews and Greeks ,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God .
*
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men ,
and the weakness of God is stronger than men .
*
For you see your calling ,
brethren ,
that not many wise according to the flesh ,
not many mighty ,
not many noble ,
are called .
*
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise ,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty ;
*
and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen ,
and the things which are not ,
to bring to nothing the things that are ,
*
that no flesh should glory in His presence .
*
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus ,
who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption --
*
that ,
as it is written , "
He who glories ,
let him glory in the LORD ."
*
Moreover ,
brethren ,
I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud ,
all passed through the sea ,
*
all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea ,
*
all ate the same spiritual food ,
*
and all drank the same spiritual drink .
For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them ,
and that Rock was Christ .
*
But with most of them God was not well pleased ,
for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness .
*
Now these things became our examples ,
to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted .
*
And do not become idolaters as were some of them .
As it is written , "
The people sat down to eat and drink ,
and rose up to play ."
*
Nor let us commit sexual immorality ,
as some of them did ,
and in one day twenty-three thousand fell ;
*
nor let us tempt Christ ,
as some of them also tempted ,
and were destroyed by serpents ;
*
nor complain ,
as some of them also complained ,
and were destroyed by the destroyer .
*
Now all these things happened to them as examples ,
and they were written for our admonition ,
upon whom the ends of the ages have come .
*
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall .
*
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man ;
but God is faithful ,
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 bear it .
*
Therefore ,
my beloved ,
flee from idolatry .
*
I speak as to wise men ;
judge for yourselves what I say .
*
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 ?
*
For we ,
though many ,
are one bread and one body ;
for we all partake of that one bread .
*
Observe Israel after the flesh :
Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar ?
*
What am I saying then ?
That an idol is anything ,
or what is offered to idols is anything ?
*
Rather ,
that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God ,
and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons .
*
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons ;
you cannot partake of the Lord '
s table and of the table of demons .
*
Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy ?
Are we stronger than He ?
*
All things are lawful for me ,
but not all things are helpful ;
all things are lawful for me ,
but not all things edify .
*
Let no one seek his own ,
but each one the other '
s well-being .
*
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market ,
asking no questions for conscience '
sake ;
*
for "
the earth is the LORD '
s ,
and all its fullness ."
*
If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner ,
and you desire to go ,
eat whatever is set before you ,
asking no question for conscience '
sake .
*
But if anyone says to you , "
This was offered to idols ,"
do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you ,
and for conscience '
sake ;
for "
the earth is the LORD '
s ,
and all its fullness ."
* "
Conscience ,"
I say ,
not your own ,
but that of the other .
For why is my liberty judged by another man '
s conscience ?
*
But if I partake with thanks ,
why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks ?
*
Therefore ,
whether you eat or drink ,
or whatever you do ,
do all to the glory of God .
*
Give no offense ,
either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God ,
*
just as I also please all men in all things ,
not seeking my own profit ,
but the profit of many ,
that they may be saved .
*
Imitate me ,
just as I also imitate Christ .
*
Now I praise you ,
brethren ,
that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you .
*
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ ,
the head of woman is man ,
and the head of Christ is God .
*
Every man praying or prophesying ,
having his head covered ,
dishonors his head .
*
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head ,
for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved .
*
For if a woman is not covered ,
let her also be shorn .
But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved ,
let her be covered .
*
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head ,
since he is the image and glory of God ;
but woman is the glory of man .
*
For man is not from woman ,
but woman from man .
*
Nor was man created for the woman ,
but woman for the man .
*
For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head ,
because of the angels .
*
Nevertheless ,
neither is man independent of woman ,
nor woman independent of man ,
in the Lord .
*
For as woman came from man ,
even so man also comes through woman ;
but all things are from God .
*
Judge among yourselves .
Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered ?
*
Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair ,
it is a dishonor to him ?
*
But if a woman has long hair ,
it is a glory to her ;
for her hair is given to her for a covering .
*
But if anyone seems to be contentious ,
we have no such custom ,
nor do the churches of God .
*
Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you ,
since you come together not for the better but for the worse .
*
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 .
*
For there must also be factions among you ,
that those who are approved may be recognized among you .
*
Therefore when you come together in one place ,
it is not to eat the Lord '
s Supper .
*
For in eating ,
each one takes his own supper ahead of others ;
and one is hungry and another is drunk .
*
What !
Do you not have houses to eat and drink in ?
Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing ?
What shall I say to you ?
Shall I praise you in this ?
I do not praise you .
*
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you :
that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread ;
*
and when He had given thanks ,
He broke it and said , "
Take ,
eat ;
this is My body which is broken for you ;
do this in remembrance of Me ."
*
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper ,
saying , "
This cup is the new covenant in My blood .
This do ,
as often as you drink it ,
in remembrance of Me ."
*
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup ,
you proclaim the Lord '
s death till He comes .
*
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord .
*
But let a man examine himself ,
and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup .
*
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself ,
not discerning the Lord '
s body .
*
For this reason many are weak and sick among you ,
and many sleep .
*
For if we would judge ourselves ,
we would not be judged .
*
But when we are judged ,
we are chastened by the Lord ,
that we may not be condemned with the world .
*
Therefore ,
my brethren ,
when you come together to eat ,
wait for one another .
*
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 .
*
Now concerning spiritual gifts ,
brethren ,
I do not want you to be ignorant :
*
You know that you were Gentiles ,
carried away to these dumb idols ,
however you were led .
*
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed ,
and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit .
*
There are diversities of gifts ,
but the same Spirit .
*
There are differences of ministries ,
but the same Lord .
*
And there are diversities of activities ,
but it is the same God who works all in all .
*
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all :
*
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit ,
to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit ,
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to another faith by the same Spirit ,
to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit ,
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to another the working of miracles ,
to another prophecy ,
to another discerning of spirits ,
to another different kinds of tongues ,
to another the interpretation of tongues .
*
But one and the same Spirit works all these things ,
distributing to each one individually as He wills .
*
For as the body is one and has many members ,
but all the members of that one body ,
being many ,
are one body ,
so also is Christ .
*
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks ,
whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit .
*
For in fact the body is not one member but many .
*
If the foot should say , "
Because I am not a hand ,
I am not of the body ,"
is it therefore not of the body ?
*
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 ?
*
If the whole body were an eye ,
where would be the hearing ?
If the whole were hearing ,
where would be the smelling ?
*
But now God has set the members ,
each one of them ,
in the body just as He pleased .
*
And if they were all one member ,
where would the body be ?
*
But now indeed there are many members ,
yet one body .
*
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 ."
*
No ,
much rather ,
those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary .
*
And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable ,
on these we bestow greater honor ;
and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty ,
*
but our presentable parts have no need .
But God composed the body ,
having given greater honor to that part which lacks it ,
*
that there should be no schism in the body ,
but that the members should have the same care for one another .
*
And if one member suffers ,
all the members suffer with it ;
or if one member is honored ,
all the members rejoice with it .
*
Now you are the body of Christ ,
and members individually .
*
And God has appointed these in the church :
first apostles ,
second prophets ,
third teachers ,
after that miracles ,
then gifts of healings ,
helps ,
administrations ,
varieties of tongues .
*
Are all apostles ?
Are all prophets ?
Are all teachers ?
Are all workers of miracles ?
*
Do all have gifts of healings ?
Do all speak with tongues ?
Do all interpret ?
*
But earnestly desire the best gifts .
And yet I show you a more excellent way .
*
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels ,
but have not love ,
I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal .
*
And though I have the gift of prophecy ,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge ,
and though I have all faith ,
so that I could remove mountains ,
but have not love ,
I am nothing .
*
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor ,
and though I give my body to be burned ,
but have not love ,
it profits me nothing .
*
Love suffers long and is kind ;
love does not envy ;
love does not parade itself ,
is not puffed up ;
*
does not behave rudely ,
does not seek its own ,
is not provoked ,
thinks no evil ;
*
does not rejoice in iniquity ,
but rejoices in the truth ;
*
bears all things ,
believes all things ,
hopes all things ,
endures all things .
*
Love never fails .
But whether there are prophecies ,
they will fail ;
whether there are tongues ,
they will cease ;
whether there is knowledge ,
it will vanish away .
*
For we know in part and we prophesy in part .
*
But when that which is perfect has come ,
then that which is in part will be done away .
*
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 .
*
For now we see in a mirror ,
dimly ,
but then face to face .
Now I know in part ,
but then I shall know just as I also am known .
*
And now abide faith ,
hope ,
love ,
these three ;
but the greatest of these is love .
*
Pursue love ,
and desire spiritual gifts ,
but especially that you may prophesy .
*
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God ,
for no one understands him ;
however ,
in the spirit he speaks mysteries .
*
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men .
*
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself ,
but he who prophesies edifies the church .
*
I wish you all spoke with tongues ,
but even more that you prophesied ;
for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues ,
unless indeed he interprets ,
that the church may receive edification .
*
But now ,
brethren ,
if I come to you speaking with tongues ,
what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation ,
by knowledge ,
by prophesying ,
or by teaching ?
*
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 ?
*
For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound ,
who will prepare for battle ?
*
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 .
*
There are ,
it may be ,
so many kinds of languages in the world ,
and none of them is without significance .
*
Therefore ,
if I do not know the meaning of the language ,
I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks ,
and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me .
*
Even so you ,
since you are zealous for spiritual gifts ,
let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel .
*
Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret .
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For if I pray in a tongue ,
my spirit prays ,
but my understanding is unfruitful .
*
What is the conclusion then ?
I will pray with the spirit ,
and I will also pray with the understanding .
I will sing with the spirit ,
and I will also sing with the understanding .
*
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 ?
*
For you indeed give thanks well ,
but the other is not edified .
*
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all ;
*
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 .
*
Brethren ,
do not be children in understanding ;
however ,
in malice be babes ,
but in understanding be mature .
*
In the law it is written : "
With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people ;
And yet ,
for all that ,
they will not hear Me ,"
says the Lord .
*
Therefore tongues are for a sign ,
not to those who believe but to unbelievers ;
but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe .
*
Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place ,
and all speak with tongues ,
and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers ,
will they not say that you are out of your mind ?
*
But if all prophesy ,
and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in ,
he is convinced by all ,
he is convicted by all .
*
And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed ;
and so ,
falling down on his face ,
he will worship God and report that God is truly among you .
*
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 .
*
If anyone speaks in a tongue ,
let there be two or at the most three ,
each in turn ,
and let one interpret .
*
But if there is no interpreter ,
let him keep silent in church ,
and let him speak to himself and to God .
*
Let two or three prophets speak ,
and let the others judge .
*
But if anything is revealed to another who sits by ,
let the first keep silent .
*
For you can all prophesy one by one ,
that all may learn and all may be encouraged .
*
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets .
*
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace ,
as in all the churches of the saints .
*
Let your women keep silent in the churches ,
for they are not permitted to speak ;
but they are to be submissive ,
as the law also says .
*
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 .
*
Or did the word of God come originally from you ?
Or was it you only that it reached ?
*
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 .
*
But if anyone is ignorant ,
let him be ignorant .
*
Therefore ,
brethren ,
desire earnestly to prophesy ,
and do not forbid to speak with tongues .
*
Let all things be done decently and in order .
*
Moreover ,
brethren ,
I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you ,
which also you received and in which you stand ,
*
by which also you are saved ,
if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain .
*
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received :
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures ,
*
and that He was buried ,
and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures ,
*
and that He was seen by Cephas ,
then by the twelve .
*
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 .
*
After that He was seen by James ,
then by all the apostles .
*
Then last of all He was seen by me also ,
as by one born out of due time .
*
For I am the least of the apostles ,
who am not worthy to be called an apostle ,
because I persecuted the church of God .
*
But by 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 God which was with me .
*
Therefore ,
whether it was I or they ,
so we preach and so you believed .
*
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 ?
*
But if there is no resurrection of the dead ,
then Christ is not risen .
*
And if Christ is not risen ,
then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty .
*
Yes ,
and we are found false witnesses of God ,
because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ ,
whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise .
*
For if the dead do not rise ,
then Christ is not risen .
*
And if Christ is not risen ,
your faith is futile ;
you are still in your sins !
*
Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished .
*
If in this life only we have hope in Christ ,
we are of all men the most pitiable .
*
But now Christ is risen from the dead ,
and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep .
*
For since by man came death ,
by Man also came the resurrection of the dead .
*
For as in Adam all die ,
even so in Christ all shall be made alive .
*
But each one in his own order :
Christ the firstfruits ,
afterward those who are Christ '
s at His coming .
*
Then comes the end ,
when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father ,
when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power .
*
For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet .
*
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death .
*
For "
He has put all things under His feet ."
But when He says "
all things are put under Him ,"
it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted .
*
Now when all things are made subject to Him ,
then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him ,
that God may be all in all .
*
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 ?
*
And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour ?
*
I affirm ,
by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord ,
I die daily .
*
If ,
in the manner of men ,
I have fought with beasts at Ephesus ,
what advantage is it to me ?
If the dead do not rise , "
Let us eat and drink ,
for tomorrow we die !"
*
Do not be deceived : "
Evil company corrupts good habits ."
*
Awake to righteousness ,
and do not sin ;
for some do not have the knowledge of God .
I speak this to your shame .
*
But someone will say , "
How are the dead raised up ?
And with what body do they come ?"
*
Foolish one ,
what you sow is not made alive unless it dies .
*
And what you sow ,
you do not sow that body that shall be ,
but mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other grain .
*
But God gives it a body as He pleases ,
and to each seed its own body .
*
All flesh is not the same flesh ,
but there is one kind of flesh of men ,
another flesh of animals ,
another of fish ,
and another of birds .
*
There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies ;
but the glory of the celestial is one ,
and the glory of the terrestrial is another .
*
There 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 .
*
So also is the resurrection of the dead .
The body is sown in corruption ,
it is raised in incorruption .
*
It is sown in dishonor ,
it is raised in glory .
It is sown in weakness ,
it is raised in power .
*
It is sown a natural body ,
it is raised a spiritual body .
There is a natural body ,
and there is a spiritual body .
*
And so it is written , "
The first man Adam became a living being ."
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit .
*
However ,
the spiritual is not first ,
but the natural ,
and afterward the spiritual .
*
The first man was of the earth ,
1made of dust ;
the second Man is the Lord from heaven .
*
As was the man of dust ,
so also are those who are made of dust ;
and as is the heavenly Man ,
so also are those who are heavenly .
*
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust ,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man .
*
Now this I say ,
brethren ,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ;
nor does corruption inherit incorruption .
*
Behold ,
I tell you a mystery :
We shall not all sleep ,
but we shall all be changed --
*
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 .
*
For this corruptible must put on incorruption ,
and this mortal must put on immortality .
*
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 ."
* "
O Death ,
where is your sting ?
O Hades ,
where is your victory ?"
*
The sting of death is sin ,
and the strength of sin is the law .
*
But thanks be to God ,
who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ .
*
Therefore ,
my beloved brethren ,
be steadfast ,
immovable ,
always abounding in the work of the Lord ,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord .
*
Now concerning the collection for the saints ,
as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia ,
so you must do also :
*
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside ,
storing up as he may prosper ,
that there be no collections when I come .
*
And when I come ,
whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem .
*
But if it is fitting that I go also ,
they will go with me .
*
Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (
for I am passing through Macedonia ).
*
And it may be that I will remain ,
or even spend the winter with you ,
that you may send me on my journey ,
wherever I go .
*
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 .
*
But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost .
*
For a great and effective door has opened to me ,
and there are many adversaries .
*
And if Timothy comes ,
see that he may be with you without fear ;
for he does the work of the Lord ,
as I also do .
*
Therefore let no one despise him .
But send him on his journey in peace ,
that he may come to me ;
for I am waiting for him with the brethren .
*
Now concerning our brother Apollos ,
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 .
*
Watch ,
stand fast in the faith ,
be brave ,
be strong .
*
Let all that you do be done with love .
*
I urge you ,
brethren--you know the household of Stephanas ,
that it is the firstfruits of Achaia ,
and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints --
*
that you also submit to such ,
and to everyone who works and labors with us .
*
I am glad about the coming of Stephanas ,
Fortunatus ,
and Achaicus ,
for what was lacking on your part they supplied .
*
For they refreshed my spirit and yours .
Therefore acknowledge such men .
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The churches of Asia greet you .
Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord ,
with the church that is in their house .
*
All the brethren greet you .
Greet one another with a holy kiss .
*
The salutation with my own hand--Paul '
s .
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If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ ,
let him be accursed .
O Lord ,
come !
*
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you .
*
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus .
Amen .