Warning Against Idolatry

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,¹ that our fathers were all under the ^xcloud, and ^yall passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and ^zall ate the same spiritual food, 4 and ^aall drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for ^bthey were overthrown² in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples ^cfor us, that we might not desire evil ^das they did. 7 Do not be idolaters ^eas some of them were; as it is written, ^f“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality ^gas some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not ^hput Christ³ to the test, ⁱas some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 ^jnor ^kgrumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the ^lDestroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore ^mlet anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 ⁿThe cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? ^oThe bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, ^pwe who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel:⁴ are not those who ^qeat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or ^rthat an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice ^sthey offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 ^tYou cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we ^uprovoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

23 ^v“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 ^wLet no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 ^xEat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For ^y“the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the ^zunbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, ^aeat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 ^bBut if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that ^cfor which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you ^deat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 ^eGive no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to ^fplease ^geveryone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

11 ^hBe imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Head Coverings

2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the ⁱtraditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the ^jhead of every man is Christ, ^kthe head of a wife¹ is her husband,² and ^lthe head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or ^mprophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife³ who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the ⁿimage and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For ^oman was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but ^pwoman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.⁴ 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And ^qall things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, ^rnor do the churches of God.

The Lord’s Supper

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are ^sdivisions among you. And I believe it in part,⁵ 19 for there must be factions among you ^tin order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23 ^uFor I ^vreceived from the Lord what I also ^wdelivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for⁶ you. Do this in remembrance of me.”⁷ 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the ^xnew covenant in 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 death until he comes.

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 ^yLet a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.⁸ 31 But if we judged⁹ ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are ^zdisciplined¹⁰ so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

33 So then, my brothers,¹¹ when you come together to eat, ^await for¹² one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions ^bwhen I come.

Spiritual Gifts

12 ^cNow concerning^{1 d}spiritual gifts,² brothers,³ I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to ^emute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say ^f“Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are ^gvarieties of gifts, but ^hthe same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the ⁱsame Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who ^jempowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another ^kfaith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of ^lmiracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to ^mdistinguish between spirits, to another ⁿvarious kinds of tongues, to another the ^ointerpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually ^pas he wills.

One Body with Many Members

12 ^qFor 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. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, ^rslaves⁴ or free—and ^sall were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, ^tthere are many parts,⁵ yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no ^udivision in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 ^vIf one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now ^wyou are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church ^xfirst apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But ^yearnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

The Way of Love

13 If I ^zspeak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have ^aprophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all ^bknowledge, and if I have all ^cfaith, ^dso as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I ^egive away all I have, and if I deliver up my body ^fto be burned,¹ but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is ^gpatient and ^hkind; love ⁱdoes not envy or boast; it is not ^jarrogant 5 or rude. ^kIt does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;² 6 it does not ^lrejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 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 ^mgave up childish ways. 12 For now we ⁿsee in a mirror dimly, but then ^oface to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as ^pI have been fully known.

13 ^qSo now ^rfaith, hope, and love abide, these three; but ^sthe greatest of these is love.

Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love, and ^tearnestly desire the ^uspiritual gifts, especially that you may ^vprophesy. 2 For one who ^wspeaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters ^xmysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their ^yupbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, ^zbut even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone ^ainterprets, so that the church may be built up.

6 Now, brothers,¹ if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some ^brevelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider² say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, ^cdo not be ^dchildren in your thinking. ^eBe infants in evil, but in your thinking be ^fmature. 21 In the Law it is written, ^g“By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign³ not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, ^hwill they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are ⁱdisclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and ^jdeclare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others ^kweigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of ^lconfusion but of ^mpeace.

As in all the churches of the saints, 34 ⁿthe women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or ^ospiritual, he should acknowledge that ^pthe things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, ^qearnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But ^rall things should be done decently and ^sin order.