1 Corinthians 11-16

English Standard Version

11 ^(A)Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Head Coverings

² Now I commend you ^(B)because you remember me in everything and ^(C)maintain the traditions ^(D)even as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to understand that ^(E)the head of every man is Christ, ^(F)the head of a wife^[a] is her husband,^[b] and ^(G)the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, ⁵ but every wife^[c] who prays or ^(H)prophesies ^(I)with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same ^(J)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 ^(K)he is the image and glory of God, but ^(L)woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For ^(M)man was not made from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ Neither was man created for woman, but ^(N)woman for man. ¹⁰ That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.^{[d] 11} Nevertheless, ^(O)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 ^(P)all 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 (Q)If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do ^(R)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, ^(S)I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,^{[e] 19} for ^(T)there must be factions among you in order ^(U)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, ^(V)another gets drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise ^(W)the church of God and ^(X)humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

²³ For ^(Y)I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that ^(Z)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 for^[f] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”^{[g] 25} In the same way also 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.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death ^(AA)until he comes.

^27 (AB)Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord ^(AC)in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning ^(AD)the body and blood of the Lord. ^28 (AE)Let 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 ^(AF)have died.^{[h] 31 (AG)}But if we judged^[i] ourselves truly, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged by the Lord, ^(AH)we are disciplined^[j] so that we may not be ^(AI)condemned along with the world.

³³ So then, my brothers,^[k] when you come together to eat, wait for^[l] one another— ^34 (AJ)if anyone is hungry, ^(AK)let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things ^(AL)I will give directions ^(AM)when I come.

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now ^(AN)concerning^[m] spiritual gifts,^[n] brothers,^[o] I do not want you to be uninformed. ² You know that ^(AO)when you were pagans ^(AP)you were led astray to ^(AQ)mute idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I want you to understand that ^(AR)no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is ^(AS)accursed!” and ^(AT)no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now ^(AU)there are varieties of gifts, but ^(AV)the same Spirit; ⁵ and ^(AW)there are varieties of service, but ^(AX)the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is ^(AY)the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ^7 (AZ)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 ^(BA)wisdom, and to another the utterance of ^(BB)knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹ to another ^(BC)faith by the same Spirit, to another ^(BD)gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another ^(BE)the working of miracles, to another ^(BF)prophecy, to another ^(BG)the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another ^(BH)various kinds of tongues, to another ^(BI)the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, ^(BJ)who apportions to each one individually ^(BK)as he wills.

One Body with Many Members

¹² For just as ^(BL)the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, ^(BM)so it is with Christ. ¹³ For ^(BN)in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^(BO)Jews or Greeks, slaves^[p] or free—and ^(BP)all 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, ^(BQ)God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, ^(BR)as he chose. ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts,^[q] 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 division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, ^(BS)all rejoice together.

²⁷ Now ^(BT)you are the body of Christ and individually ^(BU)members of it. ²⁸ And ^(BV)God has appointed in the church first ^(BW)apostles, second ^(BX)prophets, third teachers, then ^(BY)miracles, then ^(BZ)gifts of healing, ^(CA)helping, ^(CB)administrating, and ^(CC)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 ^(CD)earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

The Way of Love

13 If I speak 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 ^(CE)prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, ^(CF)so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ^3 (CG)If I give away all I have, and ^(CH)if I deliver up my body to be burned,^[r] but have not love, I gain nothing.

^4 (CI)Love is patient and ^(CJ)kind; love ^(CK)does not envy or boast; it ^(CL)is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It ^(CM)does not insist on its own way; it ^(CN)is not irritable or resentful;^{[s] 6} it ^(CO)does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but ^(CP)rejoices with the truth. ^7 (CQ)Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, ^(CR)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 ^(CS)we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but ^(CT)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 gave up childish ways. ¹² For ^(CU)now we see in a mirror dimly, but ^(CV)then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as ^(CW)I have been fully known.

¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Prophecy and Tongues

14 ^(CX)Pursue love, and ^(CY)earnestly desire the ^(CZ)spiritual gifts, especially that you may ^(DA)prophesy. ² For ^(DB)one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. ³ On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding 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, but ^(DC)even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

⁶ Now, brothers,^[t] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some ^(DD)revelation or knowledge or prophecy or ^(DE)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 ^(DF)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 ^(DG)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 ^(DH)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; ^(DI)I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will ^(DJ)sing with my mind also. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider^[u] say ^(DK)“Amen” to ^(DL)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, ^(DM)do not be children in your thinking. ^(DN)Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be ^(DO)mature. ^21 (DP)In the Law it is written, ^(DQ)“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 sign^[v] not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, ^(DR)will 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 (DS)the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, ^(DT)falling on his face, he will worship God and ^(DU)declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

²⁶ What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has ^(DV)a hymn, ^(DW)a lesson, ^(DX)a revelation, ^(DY)a tongue, or ^(DZ)an interpretation. ^(EA)Let all things be done for building up. ²⁷ If any speak in ^(EB)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 ^(EC)weigh what is said. ³⁰ If a revelation is made to another sitting there, ^(ED)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 ^(EE)confusion but of peace.

As in ^(EF)all the churches of the saints, ^34 (EG)the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but ^(EH)should be in submission, as ^(EI)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 (EJ)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the 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, ^(EK)earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ^40 (EL)But all things should be done decently and ^(EM)in order.

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now I would remind you, brothers,^[w] of the gospel ^(EN)I preached to you, which you received, ^(EO)in which you stand, ² and by which ^(EP)you are being saved, if you ^(EQ)hold fast to the word I preached to you—^(ER)unless you believed in vain.

³ For ^(ES)I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died ^(ET)for our sins ^(EU)in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised ^(EV)on the third day ^(EW)in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that ^(EX)he appeared to Cephas, then ^(EY)to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to ^(EZ)James, then ^(FA)to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, ^(FB)he appeared also to me. ⁹ For ^(FC)I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because ^(FD)I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, ^(FE)I worked harder than any of them, ^(FF)though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, ^(FG)how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, ^(FH)then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. ¹⁵ We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that ^(FI)he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and ^(FJ)you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who ^(FK)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in Christ we have hope^[x] in this life only, ^(FL)we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But in fact ^(FM)Christ has been raised from the dead, ^(FN)the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For as ^(FO)by a man came death, ^(FP)by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For ^(FQ)as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then ^(FR)at his coming ^(FS)those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when he delivers ^(FT)the kingdom to God the Father after destroying ^(FU)every rule and every authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign ^(FV)until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be ^(FW)destroyed is death. ²⁷ For ^(FX)“God^[y] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸ When ^(FY)all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that ^(FZ)God may be all in all.

²⁹ Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? ³⁰ Why are we ^(GA)in danger every hour? ³¹ I protest, brothers, by ^(GB)my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, ^(GC)I die every day! ³² What do I gain if, humanly speaking, ^(GD)I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, ^(GE)“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” ^33 (GF)Do not be deceived: ^(GG)“Bad company ruins good morals.”^{[z] 34 (GH)}Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For ^(GI)some have no knowledge of God. ^(GJ)I say this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask, ^(GK)“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶ You foolish person! ^(GL)What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷ And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. ³⁹ For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰ There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. ⁴¹ 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.

^42 (GM)So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; ^(GN)it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ Thus it is written, ^(GO)“The first man Adam became a living being”;^{[aa] (GP)}the last Adam became a ^(GQ)life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. ^47 (GR)The first man was from the earth, ^(GS)a man of dust; ^(GT)the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, ^(GU)so also are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹ Just ^(GV)as we have borne the image of the man of dust, ^(GW)we shall^[ab] also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Mystery and Victory

⁵⁰ I tell you this, brothers: ^(GX)flesh and blood ^(GY)cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold! I tell you a mystery. ^(GZ)We shall not all sleep, ^(HA)but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For ^(HB)the trumpet will sound, and ^(HC)the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and ^(HD)this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and ^(HG)the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, ^(HH)who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58 (HI)Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in ^(HJ)the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord ^(HK)your labor is not in vain.

The Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning^{[ac] (HL)}the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. ² On ^(HM)the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, ^(HN)as he may prosper, ^(HO)so that there will be no collecting when I come. ³ And when I arrive, I will send ^(HP)those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

Plans for Travel

^5 (HQ)I will visit you after passing through ^(HR)Macedonia, for ^(HS)I intend to pass through Macedonia, ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(HT)help me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now ^(HU)just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, ^(HV)if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will stay in Ephesus until ^(HW)Pentecost, ⁹ for ^(HX)a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and ^(HY)there are many adversaries.

^10 (HZ)When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for ^(IA)he is doing ^(IB)the work of the Lord, as I am. ¹¹ So ^(IC)let no one despise him. ^(ID)Help him on his way ^(IE)in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

Final Instructions

¹² Now concerning ^(IF)our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will^[ad] to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

^13 (IG)Be watchful, ^(IH)stand firm in the faith, ^(II)act like men, ^(IJ)be strong. ^14 (IK)Let all that you do be done in love.

¹⁵ Now I urge you, brothers^[ae]—you know that ^(IL)the household^[af] of Stephanas were ^(IM)the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves ^(IN)to the service of the saints— ^16 (IO)be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. ¹⁷ I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for ^(IP)your absence, ¹⁸ for they ^(IQ)refreshed my spirit as well as yours. ^(IR)Give recognition to such people.

Greetings

¹⁹ The churches of Asia send you greetings. ^(IS)Aquila and Prisca, together with ^(IT)the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. ²⁰ All the brothers send you greetings. ^(IU)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ I, Paul, write ^(IV)this greeting with my own hand. ²² If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be ^(IW)accursed. Our Lord, come!^{[ag] 23 (IX)}The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.