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thee, which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother 11 perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, 12 and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if 13 meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

By himself as an example, Paul

teaches the propriety

of abstaining from

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Am I not an Apostle ? am I not free? have I not seen 9 Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an Apostle unto others, yet doubtless lawful things, for I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the good of others. the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is 3 this. 'Have we not power to eat and to drink? 'have we not power to lead 4, 5 about a sister, a wife, as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to 6 forbear working? Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges? 7 who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these 8 things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written 9 in the law of Moses, "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." Doth God take care for oxen? or saith he it 10 altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual 11 things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others 12 be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power: but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about 13 holy things live of the things of the temple, and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that 14 they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used 15 none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have 16 nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, wo is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a re- 17 ward; but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the 18 gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I 19 made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the 20 'Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not with- 21 out law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law to the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the 22 weak I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker there- 23 of with you. Know ye not, that they which run in a race, run all, but 24 one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man 25 that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so 26 run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I 27 keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away.

:

He warns them

with idolaters and other wicked per

sons.

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MOREOVER, brethren, I would not that ye should be 10 against intercourse ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized 2 unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat 3 the same spiritual meat, ' and did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for 4 they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for 5 they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them: as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of 9 them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, 10 as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are 11 written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. 12 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but 13 God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 14 'I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing 15 which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all par- 17 takers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh are not they 18 which eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar? What say I then? 19 that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they 20 sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the 21 cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger 22 than he ?

When and why totally abstain from things sacrificed to idols.

ALL things are lawful for me, but all things are not 23 Christians should expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man 24 another's wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, 25 that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake: "for the earth is the 26 Lord's, and the fulness thereof." If any of them that believe not bid you 27 to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if any man say unto you, 28 This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience' sake: "for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:" 'conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other. For why 29 is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? for if I by grace be a 30 partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the 31 glory of God give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gen- 32 tiles, nor to the church of God. Even as I please all men in all things, 33 not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 11 Women should not NOW I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me 2 praynor prophesy in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered But I would have you know, that the head 3

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unveiled; nor should men be veiled.

them to you.

of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having 4 his head covered, dishonoreth his head. But every woman that prayeth 5

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or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, 6 let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his 7 head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman 8 of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her 10 head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is the man without 11 the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as 12 the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: Is it comely that a woman pray 13 unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a 14 man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long 15 hair, it is a glory to her for her hair is given her for a covering. But 16 if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

A reproof for eating the Lord's supper in a disorderly manner, with di

rections for its proper

celebration.

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When 20

Now in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not, 17 that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse." For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I 18 hear that there be divisions among you: and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, 19 that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: 21 and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What! have ye not houses 22 to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I de- 23 livered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and 24 said, "Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, 25 when he had supped, saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." For 26 as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink 27 this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that 28 bread, and drink of that cup; for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, 29 eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many 30 sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 'But 31 when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come 33 together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him 34 eat at home that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

The various spiritual gifts, have all the same Donor. Every one should

exercise his gift for

the edification of the whole:

NOW concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would 12 not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, 2 carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speak- 3 ing by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed and

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so the members of a that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the sound body assist each other. Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God, 6 which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to 7 every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word 8 of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 'to 9 another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; 10 to another, discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that one 11 and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For 12 as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one 13 Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. 'If the foot 14 shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the 16 eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole 17 body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one 18 of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one 19 member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet 20 but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need 21 of thee nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, 22 much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary and those members of the body, which we think to be less 23 honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts 24 have no need but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked, that there should be no 25 schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer 26 with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. 'Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God 27 hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all 29 teachers? are all workers of miracles? 'have all the gifts of healing? 30 do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

profitable. The

nature and effects

3

If LOVE be want- BUT covet earnestly the best gifts. And yet show I 31 ing, all gifts are un- unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with 13 the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, of Christian love. I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, 2 and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily 5 provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they 8 shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be

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knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy 9 in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in 10 part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I un- 11 derstood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but 12 then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; 13 but the greatest of these is charity. Follow after charity,

Of the use and abuse of various gifts in the Corinth

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AND desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue, 2 ian church, especially speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man unof the gift of tongues derstandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh and prophecy. mysteries. But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, 6 brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying or by doctrine? And even things without life giving 7 sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? for if the trumpet give 8 an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So like- 9 wise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of 10 them is without signification. Therefore, if I know not the meaning of 11 the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are 12 zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore, let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray 13 that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit 14 prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will 15 pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else, 16 when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say 'Amen' at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, 17 but the other is not edified. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more 18 than ye all: yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my un- 19 derstanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not children in understand- 20 ing howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, " With men of other tongues and other lips will 21 I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD." Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, 22 but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church 23 be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth 24 not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and 25 thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath 26

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