Month: February 2020

Paul’s Example as an Apostle

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

2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the sealof my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this:

4 Don’t we have the right to eat and drink?

5 Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wifelike the other apostles,the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas?

6 Or do Barnabasand I alone have no right to refrain from working?

7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense?Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock?

8 Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an oxwhile it treads out grain.Is God really concerned with oxen?

10 Or isn’t He really saying it for us? Yes, this is written for us,because he who plows ought to plow in hope,and he who threshes should do so in hope of sharing the crop.

11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?

12 If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don’t we even more?

However, we have not made use of this right; instead we endure everythingso that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altarshare in the offerings of the altar?

14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast!

16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrustedwith a stewardship.

18 What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.

19 Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to winmore people.

20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law — though I myself am not under the law— to win those under the law.

21 To those who are without that law,like one without the law — not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law — to win those without the law.

22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.

23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.

24 Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race,but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-controlin everything. However, they do it to receive a crownthat will fade away,but we a crown that will never fade away.

26 Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air.

27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1CO/9-ea6d2344fc4a089c4ee8758fcbdc223b.mp3?version_id=72—

Warnings from Israel’s Past

1 Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fatherswere all under the cloud,all passed through the sea,

2 and all were baptizedinto Mosesin the cloud and in the sea.

3 They all ate the same spiritual food,

4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rockthat followed them, and that rock was Christ.

5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desireevil things as they did.

7 Don’t become idolatersas some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.

8 Let us not commit sexual immoralityas some of them did,and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.

9 Let us not test Christ as some of them didand were destroyed by snakes.

10 Nor should we complainas some of them did,and were killed by the destroyer.

11 Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us,on whom the ends of the ageshave come.

12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful,and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escapeso that you are able to bear it.

Warning against Idolatry

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

15 I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.

16 The cupof blessingthat we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The breadthat we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?

17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are onebody, for all of us share that one bread.

18 Look at the people of Israel.Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?

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

20 No, but I do say that what theysacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons!

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Christian Liberty

23 “Everything is permissible,”but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,”but not everything builds up.

24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

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

26 for the earth is the Lord’s,and all that is in it.

27 If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience.

28 But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it,out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake.

29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judgedby another person’s conscience?

30 If I partake with thanks,why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

32 Give no offenseto the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God,

33 just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,so that they may be saved.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1CO/10-00e3d105779243e4121979c3a0c1671b.mp3?version_id=72—

1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

Instructions about Head Coverings

2 Now I praise youbecause you always remember me and keep the traditionsjust as I deliveredthem to you.

3 But I want you to know that Christ is the headof every man, and the man is the head of the woman,and God is the head of Christ.

4 Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonorshis head.

5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved.

6 So if a woman’s headis not covered, her hair should be cut off. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should be covered.

7 A man, in fact, should not cover his head, because he is God’s imageand glory,but woman is man’s glory.

8 For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man.

9 And man was not created for woman, but woman for man.

10 This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman.

12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God.

13 Judgefor yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

14 Does not even nature itself teachyou that if a man has long hair it is a disgraceto him,

15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?For her hair is given to heras a covering.

16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no othercustom, nor do the churches of God.

The Lord’s Supper

17 Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

18 For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

19 There must, indeed, be factionsamong you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

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

21 For at the meal, each one eats his own supper ahead of others. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk!

22 Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,

24 gave thanks, broke it, and said,“This is My body, which isfor you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

25 In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said,“This cup is the new covenantestablished by My blood.Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

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

Self-Examination

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the bodyand blood of the Lord.

28 So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup.

29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body,eats and drinks judgmenton himself.

30 This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

31 If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged,

32 but when we are judged,we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemnedwith the world.

33 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1CO/11-08594ec07f119cca15188e60ab347089.mp3?version_id=72—

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

1 Now concerning what comes from the Spirit:brothers, I do not want you to be unaware.

2 You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idolsthat could not speak.

3 Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are different gifts,but the same Spirit.

5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.

7 A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each personto produce what is beneficial:

8 to oneis given a message of wisdom

through the Spirit,

to another, a message of knowledge

by the same Spirit,

9 to another, faith by the same Spirit,

to another, gifts of healingby the one Spirit,

10 to another, the performing of miracles,

to another, prophecy,

to another, distinguishing between spirits,

to another, different kinds of languages,

to another, interpretation of languages.

11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.

Unity Yet Diversity in the Body

12 For as the body is oneand has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body — so also is Christ.

13 For we were all baptized byone Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

14 So the body is not one part but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body.

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

18 But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted.

19 And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?

20 Now there are many parts, yet one body.

21 So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you! ” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you! ”

22 But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.

23 And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable,we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation.

24 But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable,

25 so that there would be no divisionin the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.

26 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,and individual members of it.

28 And God has placed these in the church:

first apostles, second prophets,

third teachers,next miracles,

then gifts of healing,helping,

managing, various kinds of languages.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets?

Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?

30 Do all have gifts of healing?

Do all speak in other languages?

Do all interpret?

31 But desirethe greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1CO/12-f8c41fa6a6ef912f61df96faaf9a3bae.mp3?version_id=72—

Love: The Superior Way

1 If I speak human or angelic languages

but do not have love,

I am a sounding gongor a clanging cymbal.

2 If I have the gift of prophecy

and understand all mysteries

and all knowledge,

and if I have all faith

so that I can move mountains

but do not have love, I am nothing.

3 And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor,

and if I give my body in order to boast

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient,love is kind.

Love does not envy,

is not boastful, is not conceited,

5 does not act improperly,

is not selfish,is not provoked,

and does not keep a record of wrongs.

6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness

but rejoices in the truth.

7 It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, enduresall things.

8 Love never ends.

But as for prophecies,

they will come to an end;

as for languages, they will cease;

as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

9 For we know in part,

and we prophesy in part.

10 But when the perfect comes,

the partial will come to an end.

11 When I was a child,

I spoke like a child,

I thought like a child,

I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man,

I put aside childish things.

12 For now we see indistinctly,as in a mirror,

but then face to face.

Now I know in part,

but then I will know fully,

as I am fully known.

13 Now these three remain:

faith, hope,and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1CO/13-459b8055f89b8e372a7c9f1c02dfdc12.mp3?version_id=72—

Prophecy: A Superior Gift

1 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy.

2 For the person who speaks in another languageis not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

3 But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation.

4 The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church.

5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelationor knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

7 Even inanimate things that produce sounds — whether flute or harp— if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?

8 In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.

10 There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.

11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreignerto the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

12 So also you — since you are zealousfor spiritual gifts,seek to excel in building up the church.

13 Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret.

14 For if I pray in another language, my spiritprays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.

16 Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,how will the uninformed personsay “Amen”at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.

18 I thankGod that I speak in other languages more than all of you;

19 yet in the church I would rather speak five wordswith my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.

20 Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

21 It is written in the law:

I will speak to these people

by people of other languages

and by the lips of foreigners,

and even then, they will not listen to Me,

says the Lord.

22 It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign,not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

23 Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.

25 The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”

Order in Church Meetings

26 What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each onehas a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation.All things must be done for edification.

27 If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.

30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent.

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

32 And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets,

33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints,

34 the womenshould be silent in the churches,for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says.

35 And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbandsat home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.

36 Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.

38 But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

39 Therefore, my brothers, be eagerto prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages.

40 But everything must be done decentlyand in order.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1CO/14-14a77cbba1e748e4b9505eaf3134bb9f.mp3?version_id=72—

Resurrection Essential to the Gospel

1 Now brothers, I want to clarifyfor you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your standon it.

2 You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you — unless you believed for no purpose.

3 For I passed on to youas most important what I also received:

that Christ diedfor our sins

according to the Scriptures,

4 that He was buried,

that He was raised on the third day

according to the Scriptures,

5 and that He appeared to Cephas,

then to the Twelve.

6 Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time;

most of them are still alive,

but some have fallen asleep.

7 Then He appeared to James,

then to all the apostles.

8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born,

He also appeared to me.

9 For I am the least of the apostles,unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecutedthe church of God.

10 But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God’s grace that was with me.

11 Therefore, whether it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.

Resurrection Essential to the Faith

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”?

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised;

14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without foundation, and so is your faith.

15 In addition, we are found to be false witnessesabout God, because we have testifiedabout God that He raised up Christ — whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised.

16 For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised.

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

18 Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christhave also perished.

19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Christ’s Resurrection Guarantees Ours

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruitsof those who have fallen asleep.

21 For since deathcame through a man,the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

23 But each in his own order:Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.

24 Then comes the end,when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father,when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power.

25 For He must reignuntil He puts all His enemies under His feet.

26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.

27 For God has put everything under His feet.But when it says “everything” is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception.

28 And when everything is subject to Christ, then the SonHimself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.

Resurrection Supported by Christian Experience

29 Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?

30 Why are we in danger every hour?

31 I affirm by the pride in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: I die every day!

32 If I fought wild animals in Ephesuswith only human hope,what good did that do me?If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

34 Come to your sensesand stop sinning, for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.

The Nature of the Resurrection Body

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come? ”

36 Foolish one! What you sow does not come to lifeunless it dies.

37 And as for what you sow — you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed,perhaps of wheat or another grain.

38 But God gives it a body as He wants,and to each of the seeds its own body.

39 Not all fleshis the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendorof the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones.

41 There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for one star differs from another star in splendor.

42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead:

Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption;

43 sown in dishonor,raised in glory;

sown in weakness, raised in power;

44 sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

45 So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being;the last Adambecame a life-giving Spirit.

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.

47 The first man was from the earth

and made of dust;

the second man isfrom heaven.

48 Like the man made of dust,

so are those who are made of dust;

like the heavenly man,

so are those who are heavenly.

49 And just as we have borne

the imageof the man made of dust,

we will also bear

the image of the heavenly man.

Victorious Resurrection

50 Brothers, I tell you this: Fleshand bloodcannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption.

51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery:

We will not all fall asleep,

but we will all be changed,

52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye,

at the last trumpet.

For the trumpet will sound,

and the dead will be raised incorruptible,

and we will be changed.

53 For this corruptible must be clothed

with incorruptibility,

and this mortal must be clothed

with immortality.

54 When this corruptible is clothed

with incorruptibility,

and this mortal is clothed

with immortality,

then the saying that is written will take place:

Death has been swallowed upin victory.

55 Death, where is your victory?

Death, where is your sting?

56 Now the sting of death is sin,

and the power of sinis the law.

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ!

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work,knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1CO/15-5ea735fd27ff13e58d8d40ad35401bc9.mp3?version_id=72—

Collection for the Jerusalem Church

1 Now about the collectionfor the saints: You should do the same as I instructed the Galatianchurches.

2 On the first day of the week,each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he prospers, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.

3 When I arrive, I will send with lettersthose you recommend to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

4 If it is suitable for me to go as well, they can travel with me.

Paul’s Travel Plans

5 I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia— for I will be traveling through Macedonia —

6 and perhaps I will remain with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go.

7 I don’t want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.

8 But I will stay in Ephesusuntil Pentecost,

9 because a wide doorfor effective ministry has opened for me— yet many oppose me.

10 If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear from you, because he is doing the Lord’s work,just as I am.

11 Therefore, no one should look downon him. Send him on his way in peace so he can come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

12 About our brother Apollos:I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity.

Final Exhortation

13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith,act like a man, be strong.

14 Your every action must be done with love.

15 Brothers, you know the household of Stephanas: They are the firstfruitsof Achaiaand have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you

16 also to submit to such people, and to everyone who works and labors with them.

17 I am pleased to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence.

18 For they have refreshed my spiritand yours. Therefore recognizesuch people.

Conclusion

19 The churches of Asiagreet you.Aquila and Priscillagreet you warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.

20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 This greeting is in my own hand— Paul.

22 If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him.Marana thathat is, Lord, come!

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1CO/16-a35c77f3829f90c07761228b4d8de17a.mp3?version_id=72—

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,and Timothyourbrother:

To God’s church at Corinth,with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.

2 Grace to you and peacefrom God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of Comfort

3 Praisethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of merciesand the God of all comfort.

4 He comforts us in all our affliction,so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

5 For as the sufferingsof Christoverflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.

6 If we are afflicted,it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.

7 And our hopefor you is firm, because we know that as you sharein the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.

8 For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia:we were completely overwhelmed — beyond our strength— so that we even despairedof life.

9 Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in Godwho raisesthe dead.

10 He has deliveredus from such a terrible death,and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again

11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on ourbehalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

A Clear Conscience

12 For this is our confidence: The testimonyof our conscienceis that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshlywisdombut by God’s grace.

13 Now we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely —

14 as you have partially understood us — that we are your reason for pride,as you are ours,in the day of ourLord Jesus.

A Visit Postponed

15 I planned with this confidence to come to you first,so you could have a double benefit,

16 and to go on to Macedoniawith your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by youon my journeyto Judea.

17 So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely humanway so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” simultaneously?

18 As God is faithful,our message to you is not “Yes and no.”

19 For the Son of God,Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me and Silvanusand Timothy — did not become “Yes and no”; on the contrary, a final “Yes” has come in Him.

20 For every one of God’s promisesis “Yes” in Him. Therefore, the “Amen”is also spoken through Him by us for God’s glory.

21 Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointedus.

22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down paymentin our hearts.

23 I call on God as a witness,on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.

24 I do not mean that we have control ofyour faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you standby faith.

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1 In fact, I made up my mind about this:I would not come to you on another painful visit.

2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?

3 I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confidentabout all of you that my joy will also be yours.

4 For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart — not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

A Sinner Forgiven

5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree — not to exaggerate— to all of you.

6 The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person.

7 As a result, you should instead forgiveand comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.

8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

9 I wrote for this purpose: to test your characterto see if you are obedientin everything.

10 If you forgive anyone, I do too. For what I have forgiven — if I have forgiven anything — it is for you in the presence of Christ.

11 I have done this so that we may not be taken advantageof by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

12 When I came to Troasto preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a doorfor me.

13 I had no restin my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus,but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.

A Ministry of Life or Death

14 But thanks be to God,who always puts us on displayin Christand through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

15 For to God we are the fragranceof Christ among those who are being savedand among those who are perishing.

16 To some we are an aroma of deathleading to death, but to others, an aroma of lifeleading to life. And who is competent for this?

17 For we are not like the manywho market God’s messagefor profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

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