rkjnt 1Corinthians:1:18-2 SEEK
Seeker Overlay ON
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For the preaching of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness ;
but to those of us who are being saved it is the power of God .
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For it is written ,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise ,
and frustrate the cleverness of the clever .
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Where is the wise man ?
where is the scribe ?
where is the debater of this age ?
has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ?
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For since ,
in the wisdom of God ,
the world by its wisdom did not come to know God ,
it pleased God through the foolishness of our preaching to save those who believe .
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For Jews require a sign ,
and Greeks seek after wisdom :
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But we preach Christ crucified ,
to the Jews a stumbling block ,
and to the Greeks foolishness ;
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But to those who are called ,
both Jews and Greeks ,
Christ the power of God ,
and the wisdom of God .
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Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men ;
and the weakness of God is stronger than men .
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For consider your calling ,
brethren :
that not many were wise according to the flesh ,
not many mighty ,
not many noble :
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But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise ;
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are mighty ;
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And God has chosen base things of the world ,
and things which are despised ,
and things which are not ,
to reduce to nothing things that are :
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That no flesh should boast in his presence .
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But because of him you are in Christ Jesus ,
who became for us wisdom from God ,
and righteousness ,
and holiness ,
and redemption :
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So that ,
just as it is written ,
Let him who boasts ,
boast in the Lord .
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For I do not want you to be ignorant ,
brethren ,
that all our fathers were under the cloud ,
and all passed through the sea ;
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And were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea ;
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And all ate the same spiritual food ;
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And all drank the same spiritual drink :
for they drank from that spiritual Rock that followed them :
and that Rock was Christ .
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But with many of them God was not well pleased :
for they were overthrown in the wilderness .
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Now these things are examples for us ,
so we should not lust after evil things ,
as they lusted .
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Nor be idolaters ,
as were some of them ;
as it is written ,
The people sat down to eat and drink ,
and rose up to play .
*
Let us not commit sexual immorality ,
as some of them did ,
and twenty-three thousand fell in one day .
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Nor let us tempt the Lord ,
as some of them did ,
and were destroyed by serpents .
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Nor grumble ,
as some of them did ,
and were destroyed by the destroyer .
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Now all these things happened to them as examples :
and they were written for our instruction ,
upon whom the end of the ages has come .
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Therefore ,
let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall .
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No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man :
but God is faithful ,
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to endure ;
but with the temptation will also make a way to escape ,
that you may be able to bear it .
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Therefore ,
my dearly beloved ,
flee from idolatry .
*
I speak as to sensible men ;
judge for yourselves what I say .
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The cup of blessing which we bless ,
is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ ?
The bread which we break ,
is it not a sharing in the body of Christ ?
*
Because there is one bread ,
we who are many are one body :
for we are all partakers of that one bread .
*
Behold the people of Israel :
are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers in the altar ?
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What do I say then ?
that an idol is anything ,
or that food offered in sacrifice to idols is anything ?
*
No ,
but I say ,
that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice ,
they sacrifice to devils ,
and not to God :
and I do not want you to have fellowship with devils .
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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord ,
and the cup of devils :
you cannot be partakers of the Lord '
s table ,
and of the table of devils .
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Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy ?
are we stronger than he ?
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All things are lawful for me ,
but not all things are beneficial :
all things are lawful for me ,
but not all things are constructive .
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Let no man seek his own good ,
but the good of others .
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Eat whatever is sold in the meat market ,
without asking questions for conscience sake :
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For the earth is the Lord '
s ,
and all it contains .
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If any of those who do not believe ask you to a meal ,
and you are disposed to go ;
eat whatever is set before you ,
without asking questions for conscience sake .
*
But if any man says to you ,
This has been offered in sacrifice to idols ,
do not eat ,
for the sake of the one who informed you ,
and for conscience sake :
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I do not mean your conscience ,
but his :
for why is my liberty judged by another man '
s conscience ?
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If I partake with thankfulness ,
why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks ?
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Therefore ,
whether you eat ,
or drink ,
or whatever you do ,
do all to the glory of God .
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Do not give offence to the Jews ,
or to the Greeks ,
or to the church of God :
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Just as I try to please all men in all things ,
not seeking my own good ,
but that of the many ,
that they may be saved .
*
Be imitators of me ,
just as I am of Christ .
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Now I praise you ,
brethren ,
that you remember me in all things ,
and keep the traditions ,
just as I delivered them to you .
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But I would have you know ,
that the head of every man is Christ ;
and the head of the woman is the man ;
and the head of Christ is God .
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Every man praying or prophesying ,
while having his head covered ,
dishonours his head .
*
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head :
for it is the same as if her head were shaven .
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For if the woman will not be covered ,
let her also be shorn :
but if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaven ,
let her be covered .
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For a man ought not to cover his head ,
since he is the image and glory of God :
but the woman is the glory of the man .
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For the man is not from the woman ;
but the woman from the man .
*
Neither was the man created for the woman ;
but the woman for the man .
*
For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head ,
because of the angels .
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Nevertheless ,
in the Lord ,
the woman is not independent of the man ,
nor is the man independent of the woman .
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For as the woman was made from the man ,
even so the man is born from the woman ;
but all things are from God .
*
Judge for yourselves :
is it proper for a woman pray to God uncovered ?
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Does not even nature itself teach you ,
that ,
if a man has long hair ,
it is a shame to him ?
*
But if a woman has long hair ,
it is a glory to her :
for her hair is given her for a covering .
*
But if any man is inclined to be contentious ,
we have no other custom ,
nor do the churches of God .
*
Now in the following instructions I do not praise you ,
for you come together not for the better ,
but for the worse .
*
For ,
first of all ,
when you come together as the church ,
I hear that there are divisions among you ;
and I partly believe it .
*
For there must be factions among you ,
so that those who are approved may be made evident among you .
*
When you come together in one place ,
it is not to eat the Lord '
s supper .
*
For in eating every one goes ahead with his own supper :
and one is hungry ,
and another is drunken .
*
What ?
do you not have houses in which to eat and to drink ?
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 will not .
*
For I have received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you ,
That the Lord Jesus ,
on the night he was betrayed ,
took bread :
*
And when he had given thanks ,
he broke it ,
and said ,
This is my body ,
which is for you :
do this in remembrance of me .
*
In the same manner he took the cup ,
after supper ,
saying ,
This cup is the new covenant in my blood :
do this ,
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 until he comes .
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Therefore ,
whoever shall eat this bread ,
and drink this cup of the Lord ,
unworthily ,
shall be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord .
*
Let a man examine himself before he eats of the bread ,
and drinks of the cup .
*
For he who eats and drinks unworthily ,
not discerning the Lord '
s body ,
eats and drinks judgement upon himself .
*
For this reason many are weak and sickly among you ,
and many sleep .
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For if we would judge ourselves ,
we should not be judged .
*
But when we are judged ,
we are chastened by the Lord ,
that we should not be condemned with the world .
*
Therefore ,
my brethren ,
when you come together to eat ,
wait for one another .
*
And if any man is hungry ,
let him eat at home ;
so you do not come together to be condemned .
And the rest I will set in order when I come .
*
Now concerning spiritual gifts ,
brethren ,
I would not have you be ignorant .
*
You know that when you were pagans ,
you were carried away by these dumb idols ,
however you were led .
*
Therefore ,
I want you to understand ,
that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed :
and that no man can say that Jesus is Lord ,
except by the Holy Spirit .
*
Now there are various kinds of gifts ,
but the same Spirit .
*
And there are various kinds of service ,
but the same Lord .
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And there are various kinds of working ,
but it is the same God who works all of them in all men .
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But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each man for the common good .
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For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom ;
to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit ;
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To another faith by the same Spirit ;
to another the gifts of healing by that one Spirit ;
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To another the working of miracles ;
to another prophecy ;
to another discerning of spirits ;
to another various kinds of tongues ;
to another the interpretation of tongues :
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But all these things are by one and the same Spirit ,
who distributes to every man as he wills .
*
For just as the body is one ,
and has many members ,
and all the members of the body ,
though many ,
are one body :
so it is with Christ .
*
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body ,
whether Jews or Greeks ,
whether slave or free ;
and have all been made to drink of one Spirit .
*
For the body is not one member ,
but many .
*
If the foot shall say ,
Because I am not the hand ,
I am not part of the body ;
is it therefore not part of the body ?
*
And if the ear shall say ,
Because I am not the eye ,
I am not part of the body ;
is it therefore not part of the body ?
*
If the whole body were an eye ,
where would the hearing be ?
If the whole were hearing ,
where would the sense of smell be ?
*
But now God has set the members ,
every one of them ,
in the body ,
as it has pleased him .
*
And if they were all one member ,
where would the body be ?
*
But as it is ,
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 .
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No ,
those members of the body ,
which seem to be more feeble ,
are the most necessary :
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And those members of the body ,
which we think to be less honourable ,
upon these we bestow more abundant honour ;
and our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty ,
*
Of which our presentable parts have no need :
but God has composed the body ,
giving more abundant honour to that part which lacked it :
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That there should be no division 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 honoured ,
all the members rejoice with it .
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Now you are the body of Christ ,
and individually members of it .
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And God has appointed in the church ,
first apostles ,
second prophets ,
third teachers ,
after that workers of miracles ,
then those with gifts of healing ,
helpers ,
administrators ,
and those who speak in different tongues .
*
Are all apostles ?
are all prophets ?
are all teachers ?
are all workers of miracles ?
*
Do all have gifts of healing ?
do all speak with tongues ?
do all interpret ?
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But earnestly desire the best gifts :
and yet I will show you a more excellent way .
*
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels ,
but have not love ,
I have become a noisy gong ,
or a clanging cymbal .
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And if I have the gift of prophecy ,
and understand all mysteries ,
and all knowledge ;
and if I have all faith ,
so that I can remove mountains ,
but have not love ,
I am nothing .
*
And if I give all my goods to feed the poor ,
and if I give my body to be burned ,
but have not love ,
I gain nothing .
*
Love is patient ,
and is kind ;
love does not envy ;
love does not boast ,
and is not arrogant ;
*
It is not rude ,
does not insist on its own way ,
is not easily provoked ,
it keeps no account of wrongs suffered ;
*
It does not rejoice in injustice ,
but rejoices in the truth ;
*
Bears all things ,
believes all things ,
hopes all things ,
endures all things .
*
Love never fails :
but where there are prophecies ,
they shall pass away ;
where there are tongues ,
they shall cease ;
where there is knowledge ,
it shall vanish away .
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For we know in part ,
and we prophesy in part .
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But when that which is perfect comes ,
then that which is partial shall pass away .
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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 .
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For now we see in a mirror dimly ;
but then face to face :
now I know in part ;
but then I shall know fully ,
even as I am fully known .
*
And now abide faith ,
hope ,
love ,
these three ;
but the greatest of these is love .
*
Follow after love ,
and desire spiritual gifts ,
but especially that you may prophesy .
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For he who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to men ,
but to God :
for no man understands him ;
yet in the spirit he speaks mysteries .
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But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification ,
and exhortation ,
and comfort .
*
He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself ;
but he who prophesies edifies the church .
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I would like for you all to speak in tongues ,
but even more that you would prophesy :
for greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues ,
unless he interprets ,
so that the church may be edified .
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Now ,
brethren ,
if I come to you speaking with tongues ,
how will I benefit you ,
unless I shall speak to you some revelation ,
or knowledge ,
or prophesy ,
or instruction ?
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Even lifeless things which give sound ,
such as the pipe or harp ,
unless they make a distinction in the sounds ,
how shall it be known what is played ?
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For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound ,
who shall prepare himself for the battle ?
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So likewise you ,
unless you utter by the tongue words that are easy to understand ,
how shall it be known what is spoken ?
for you shall speak into the air .
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There are ,
it may be ,
many kinds of languages in the world ,
and none of them is without meaning .
*
But if I do not know the meaning of the language ,
I shall be to him who speaks a foreigner ,
and he who speaks shall be a foreigner to me .
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So with you ,
since you are zealous for spiritual gifts ,
seek to excel in edifying the church .
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Therefore ,
let him who speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret .
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For if I pray in an unknown tongue ,
my spirit prays ,
but my mind is unfruitful .
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What am I to do ?
I will pray with the spirit ,
and I will pray with the mind also :
I will sing with the spirit ,
and I will sing with the mind also .
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Otherwise when you bless with the spirit ,
how shall he who is ungifted say Amen to your giving of thanks ,
seeing that he does not understand what you say ?
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For you may truly give thanks well ,
but the other man is not edified .
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I thank my God ,
that I speak with tongues more than all of you :
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Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding ,
that by my voice I might teach others also ,
than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue .
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Brethren ,
do not be children in understanding :
in evil be infants ,
but in understanding be men .
*
In the law it is written ,
By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people ;
and yet for all that they will not hear me ,
says the Lord .
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Therefore tongues are a sign ,
not for those who believe ,
but for those who do not believe :
but prophesy is not only for those who do not believe ,
but also for those who do believe .
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Therefore ,
if the whole church comes together in one place ,
and all speak in tongues ,
and those who are ungifted ,
or unbelievers ,
come in ,
will they not say that you are mad ?
*
But if all prophesy ,
and one comes in who does not believe ,
or is ungifted ,
he is convicted by all ,
he is judged by all :
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The secrets of his heart are disclosed ;
and so falling down on his face he will worship God ,
and report that God is really among you .
*
What then ,
brethren ?
when you come together ,
every one of you has a psalm ,
has a teaching ,
has a tongue ,
has a revelation ,
has an interpretation .
Let all things be done for edification .
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If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue ,
let there be two ,
or at the most three ,
and each in turn ;
and let one interpret .
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But if there is no interpreter ,
let him keep silent in the church ;
and let him speak to himself ,
and to God .
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Let two or three prophets speak ,
and let the others judge .
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If anything is revealed to another who sits by ,
let the first hold his peace .
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For you may all prophesy one by one ,
that all may learn ,
and all may be encouraged .
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And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets .
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For God is not a God of confusion ,
but of peace .
As in all churches of the saints ,
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Let the women keep silent in the churches :
for it is not permitted for them to speak ;
but they should be subordinate ,
as the law says .
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And if they wish to learn anything ,
let them ask their husbands at home :
for it is a disgrace for women to speak in the church .
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What ?
did the word of God come forth from you ?
or has it come only to you ?
*
If any man thinks he is a prophet ,
or spiritual ,
let him acknowledge that what I write to you is a commandment of the Lord .
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But if any man does not recognize this ,
he is not recognized .
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Therefore ,
brethren ,
desire to prophesy ,
and do not forbid speaking in tongues .
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But let all things be done decently and in order .
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Now ,
brethren ,
I would remind you of the gospel which I preached to you ,
which you have received ,
and in which you stand ;
*
By which you are also saved ,
if you hold fast to what I preached to you ,
unless you believed in vain .
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For I delivered to you as of first importance that which I received ,
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures ;
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And that he was buried ,
and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures :
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And that he appeared to Cephas ,
then to the twelve :
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After that ,
he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at once ;
of whom the greater part are still alive ,
though some have fallen asleep .
*
After that ,
he appeared to James ;
then to all the apostles .
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And last of all he appeared to me also ,
as to one untimely born .
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For I am the least of the apostles ,
and 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 which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ;
but I laboured more abundantly than all of them :
yet not I ,
but the grace of God which was with me .
*
Therefore ,
whether it was I or they ,
this we preach ,
and this you believed .
*
Now if Christ is preached ,
that he rose from the dead ,
how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection from the dead ?
*
But if there is no resurrection of the dead ,
then Christ has not risen :
*
And if Christ has not risen ,
then our preaching is in vain ,
and your faith is also in vain .
*
Yea ,
and we are found to be false witnesses of God ;
because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ ,
whom he has raised not up ,
if it is true that the dead do not rise .
*
For if the dead are not raised ,
then Christ has not been raised :
*
And if Christ has not been raised ,
your faith is in vain ;
you are still in your sins .
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Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished .
*
If for this life only we have hope in Christ ,
we are of all men most miserable .
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But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead ,
the first-fruits of those who sleep .
*
For since by man came death ,
by man also came the resurrection of the dead .
*
For just as in Adam all die ,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive .
*
But every man in his own order :
Christ the first-fruits ;
afterward those who are Christ '
s at his coming .
*
Then comes the end ,
when he delivers up the kingdom to God the Father ;
after he has destroyed all rule and all authority and power .
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For he must reign ,
until he has put all enemies under his feet .
*
The last enemy that shall 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 clear that he himself is excepted ,
who put all things under him .
*
And when all things shall be subjected to him ,
then shall the Son himself be subject to him who put all things under him ,
that God may be all in all .
*
Otherwise ,
what shall they do who are baptized for the dead ,
if the dead are not raised at all ?
why then are they baptized for the dead ?
*
And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour ?
*
I assure you ,
just as I rejoice in you through Christ Jesus our Lord :
I die daily .
*
If for merely human reasons I fought beasts in Ephesus ,
what advantage is that to me ,
if the dead are not raised ?
let us eat and drink ;
for tomorrow we die .
*
Do not be deceived :
bad company corrupts good morals .
*
Awaken to sobriety ,
and do not sin ;
for some do not have the knowledge of God :
I speak this to your shame .
*
But some will say ,
How are the dead raised up ?
and with what kind of body will they come ?
*
You fool ,
that which you sow does not come to life ,
unless it dies :
*
And that which you sow is not the body that shall be ,
but a bare seed ,
perhaps of wheat ,
or of some other grain :
*
But God gives it a body as he has determined ,
and to every kind of seed its own body .
*
All flesh is not the same flesh :
but there is one flesh of men ,
another flesh of beasts ,
another of fish ,
and another of birds .
*
There are also celestial bodies ,
and terrestrial bodies :
but the glory of the celestial is of one kind ,
and the glory of the terrestrial is of another .
*
There is one glory of the sun ,
and another glory of the moon ,
and another glory of the stars :
for star differs from star in glory .
*
So also is the resurrection of the dead .
It is sown perishable ;
it is raised imperishable :
*
It is sown in dishonour ;
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 .
If there is a natural body ,
there is also a spiritual body .
*
And so it is written ,
The first man ,
Adam ,
was made a living being ;
the last Adam ,
a life-giving spirit .
*
Yet ,
it is not that which is spiritual that is first ,
but that which is natural ;
and afterward that which is spiritual .
*
The first man was of the earth ,
made of dust :
the second man is from heaven .
*
As was the man of dust ,
so it is with those who are of dust :
and as is the man of heaven ,
so it is with those who are of heaven .
*
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust ,
we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven .
*
Now this I say ,
brethren ,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ;
nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable .
*
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 shall sound ,
and the dead shall be raised imperishable ,
and we shall be changed .
*
For the perishable must put on the imperishable ,
and the mortal must put on immortality .
*
When the perishable has put on the imperishable ,
and the 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 grave ,
where is your victory ?
*
The sting of death is sin ;
and the power 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 labour is not in vain in the Lord .
*
Now concerning the collection for the saints ,
as I have directed the churches of Galatia ,
so you do also .
*
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay aside and save something ,
as he has prospered ,
that there need be no collections when I come .
*
And when I come ,
whomever you shall approve I will send with letters ,
to take your gift to Jerusalem .
*
And if it seems fitting that I go also ,
they shall go with me .
*
Now I will come to you ,
after I pass through Macedonia :
for I intend to pass through Macedonia ;
*
And it may be that I will stay with you a while ,
or even spend the winter ,
that you may speed me on my journey ,
wherever I go .
*
For I do not want to see you now just in passing ;
but I hope to stay some time with you ,
if the Lord permits .
*
But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost ,
*
For a wide door for effectual work has opened to me ,
and there are many adversaries .
*
Now if Timothy comes ,
see that he has no cause for fear while he is with you :
for he is doing the work of the Lord ,
as I am .
*
Therefore ,
let no man despise him :
but send him forth in peace ,
that he may come to me :
for I am expecting him with the brethren .
*
Regarding our brother Apollos ,
I strongly urged him to go to you with the brethren :
but it was not at all his desire to go at this time ;
but he will come when he has the opportunity .
*
Be watchful ,
stand fast in the faith ,
act like men ,
be strong .
*
Let all that you do be done in love .
*
I urge you ,
brethren , (
you know that those of the house of Stephanas were the first-fruits of Achaia ,
and that they have devoted themselves to serving the saints ,)
*
That you submit yourselves to such as these ,
and to everyone who helps in the work ,
and labours earnestly .
*
I am glad that Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus have come :
for that which was lacking from you they have supplied .
*
For they have refreshed my spirit and yours :
therefore acknowledge such men .
*
The churches of Asia greet you .
Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord ,
along with the church that is in their house .
*
All the brethren greet you .
Greet one another with a holy kiss .
*
I ,
Paul ,
write this greeting with my own hand .
*
If any man does not love the Lord ,
let him be accursed .
Our Lord ,
come .
*
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you .
*
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus .
Amen .