The Readable Bible: 1 & 2 Corinthians

The Readable Bible

1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians

From Iron Stream Media

The Readable Bible will be available as a complete Bible, in portions, in individual books as below, and as a twenty-seven volume set.

The Holy Bible 978-1-56309-531-3

The Readable Bible: Pentateuch

The Readable Bible: Genesis 978-1-56309-578-8

The Readable Bible: Exodus 978-1-56309-579-5

The Readable Bible: Leviticus 978-1-56309-580-1

The Readable Bible: Numbers 978-1-56309-581-8

The Readable Bible: Deuteronomy 978-1-56309-582-5

The Readable Bible: Historical Books

The Readable Bible: Joshua, Judges, Ruth 978-1-56309-583-2

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Samuel 978-1-56309-584-9

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Kings 978-1-56309-585-6

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Chronicles 978-1-56309-586-3

The Readable Bible: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther 978-1-56309-587-0

The Readable Bible: Wisdom Books

The Readable Bible: Job 978-1-56309-588-7

The Readable Bible: Psalms 978-1-56309-564-1

The Readable Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs 978-1-56309-565-8

The Readable Bible: Prophets

The Readable Bible: Isaiah 978-1-56309-589-4

The Readable Bible: Jeremiah, Lamentations 978-1-56309-590-0

The Readable Bible: Ezekiel, Daniel 978-1-56309-592-4

The Readable Bible: Minor Prophets 978-1-56309-593-1

The Readable Bible: New Testament

The Readable Bible: Matthew 978-1-56309-566-5

The Readable Bible: Mark 978-1-56309-567-2

The Readable Bible: Luke 978-1-56309-568-9

The Readable Bible: John 978-1-56309-570-2

The Readable Bible: Acts 978-1-56309-571-9

The Readable Bible: Romans 978-1-56309-572-6

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Corinthians 978-1-56309-573-3

The Readable Bible: Galatians–Philemon 978-1-56309-575-7

The Readable Bible: Hebrews–Jude 978-1-56309-576-4

The Readable Bible: Revelation 978-1-56309-577-1

Visit www.ironstreammedia.com for more information.

The

Bible

1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians

A Call to Purity and Unity

Translated and Edited by Rodney S. Laughlin Brendan I. Kennedy, PhD

Birmingham, Alabama

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Corinthians

Iron Stream

An imprint of Iron Stream Media 100 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 www.ironstreammedia.com

Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin

The Readable Bible text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred verses without express written permission of the publisher provided that (a) the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the total work in which they are quoted, (b) no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted, (c) all quotations conform accurately to The Readable Bible text, and (d) one of the following credit lines appears on the copyright page or title page of the work:

Scripture quotations marked TRB are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

When quotations from The Readable Bible text are used in not-for-sale media (e.g., church bulletins, orders of service, newsletters, digital presentations), a copyright notice is not required, but the initials “TRB” must appear at the end of each quotation. Websites and blogs may quote up to five hundred verses without express written permission provided they include the initials “TRB” at the end of each quotation and provided that the verses quoted account for not more than 25 percent of any web page upon which they appear and that no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted.

Quotations not covered by the above guidelines must be approved in writing by Iron Stream Media. Send requests to info@ironstreammedia.com or to the address above.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938636

Cover design: twoline | | Studio

Interior designer/illustrator: Clyde Adams (www.clydeadams.com)

Map geographic features courtesy of Bible Mapper (www.biblemapper.com).

Typeface: Veritas AE from Altered Ego Fonts, a division of Aespire

A Call to Unity Under

B. Lawsuits

Believers

Sinful Pursuit of Personal

Part 4. Answers to the Corinthians’ Questions

A. Counsel for the Married

Counsel for the Unmarried

Counsel for All

Corinthians 7

9

10

11

Serve God as You Are 11

Circumcision or Uncircumcision

Slave or Free Is Nothing

Be Devoted to God

Nothing

Regarding Virgin Daughters 12

Corinthians 8

D. Can We Eat Food Sacrificed to Idols? 12

Help Others Not Stumble by Giving Up Your Rights

Corinthians 9

12

Follow Paul’s Example of Giving Up Rights............................................ 13

Do Not Follow Our Ancestors’ Example 15

Corinthians 10

No, Do Not Eat Meat Sacrificed to Idols 16

Limit Your Freedom

Should Women Cover Their Heads?

Part 5. Other Concerns

A. The Lord’s Supper and Church Unity

Corinthians 11

16

17

18

Corinthians 12

B. Relationships of Spiritual Gifts 19

Value Each Gift and Each Other Equally

Love Is the Most Excellent Way

The Role of Tongues and Prophecy

Corinthians 13

Corinthians 14

19

21

22

C. Order in Worship 24

Regarding Tongues

24

Regarding Prophecy 24

Regarding Women

24

A Rebuke 25

Corinthians 15

D. Resurrection Theology 25

The Resurrection of Jesus

25

The Resurrection of the Dead 26

The Resurrection Body

E. The Collection for Jerusalem

Miscellaneous Plans, Thoughts, and Greetings

Corinthians 16

29

Part 1. Introduction

A. Praise to the God of All Comfort

B. Paul’s Change of Plans

Paul’s Forgiveness for the Offender

Part 2. Paul’s Ministry (I)

A. A Ministry of Competence from God

B. A Ministry of the Greater Glory of the New Covenant

C. A Ministry of Openness

D. A Ministry in the Old Body

A Ministry of Reconciliation

F. A Ministry with Opposition

Partnering with Unbelievers

Waiting for the New Body

Corinthians

Corinthians 2

Corinthians 3

Corinthians 4

Corinthians 5

Corinthians 6

Part 3. Other Concerns

Corinthians 7

His Relationship with the Corinthian Church

Corinthians 8

The Collection for Jerusalem 40

What to Do and Why

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

Generosity Encouraged

Part 4. Paul’s Ministry (II)

G. A Ministry of Spiritual Battle

A Ministry from God for Your Benefit

God Assigned Us to You

The “Super-Apostles” Are False Apostles

We Are Qualified Suffering Servants

God Is Active in Our Lives

Our Concern Is for You

Part 5. Final Warnings and Greetings

Corinthians 9

Corinthians 10

Corinthians 11

Corinthians 12

Corinthians 13

Preface

To the Reader

One day I was standing in an airport bookstore looking for a book to read. I asked myself, “Why am I looking for something to read when I have a Bible in my briefcase?” I answered, “The Bible is hard to read. I want to read something easier.” Then I asked myself, “Why is it so hard to read? You’re a seminary graduate, a former pastor, a Bible teacher!” Thus began a quest that has led to The Readable Bible—the Bible as it would look if Moses, Joshua, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and the other writers had been sitting in front of a computer when God spoke through them.

It seems to me that the Bible is hard to read because all material is presented in sentence format. Today we use tables to present census information and charts for genealogies. When we want something built, we draw up a specification document. Law codes are organized in outline form. We use bullet points, bold text, and other aids to help us grasp information. Yet in today’s Bibles, all the information is still presented in sentence format in plain text. Surely those men of old would have used modern formats if they had known about them when God spoke through them. Modern formatting does not change the information; it simply presents it in a way that makes it easier to grasp. The Readable Bible brings you the biblical text in modern formats.

You may struggle with the idea of Scripture in modern formats. Actually, all of today’s Bibles present the text in a form much different from that of the original manuscripts. Consider how many format changes that were developed over the past two thousand years led to the format considered normal today. Each change was radical in its time:

• Vowels: The earliest Hebrew manuscripts have no vowels; they were added hundreds of years later.

• Capital Letters: The Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament manuscripts have no uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Punctuation: The original manuscripts have no punctuation (no commas or periods!).

• Chapter Numbers: These were not common in Bibles until the thirteenth century AD.

• Verse Numbers: The first verse-numbering system was developed over a thousand years after the last Bible book was written. It had one-third of today’s verse numbers, making verses three or four times longer. Today’s Christian Bible numbering system was not developed until the sixteenth century.

• Paragraphs: The first paragraphed King James Bible was published in the mid-1800s.

So presenting the words of Scripture in tables, cascading the text of long, complex sentences, and using other modern formatting techniques is simply continuing the long-term trend of making the Bible easier to understand.

Our hope is that people who have never read the Bible will decide to read this version because it is so approachable. Please give a copy to someone who struggles to understand the Bible and, especially, to those who do not read the Bible.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to all the members of our editing team, our volunteer development team, and the many others who have donated funds and worked to bring The Readable Bible to completion.

A big “thank you” to my designer and partner in this project, Clyde Adams, for joining me in this faith venture. He has turned the translation into well-laid-out text and my formatting concepts into reality. The maps, tables, charts, book layout, and cover are all his work.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Rebecca, for her ideas, her love, and her strong support of this endeavor over the past twelve years.

Dedication

And now I dedicate to our Lord this translation of his holy Word, humbly asking him to grant that it may bring forth fruit to his glory and the building up of his people.

L

Before You Read

Before reading the text, please browse the glossary. You will find interesting information about words that appear frequently in this book, as well as important information regarding the words “Jesus” and “Christ.”

Words in italics are additions to the biblical text. Text enclosed in brackets is spurious—not in the oldest, most reliable manuscripts. Read “Note on Spurious Text” in the back of the book for more information.

Read lists in the text from top to bottom in the first column then the next column. In the context of commands, rules, and regulations, “shall,” “must,” and “are/is” are equal terms, all the same strength.

We encourage you to read “Translation Notes” and “Format and Presentation Notes” in the back of the book. They are easy reading and will increase your understanding of the text.

Remember, Jesus was and is Jewish. The disciples and the women around him were Jewish. So “Jews” in the text oftentimes refers not to all Jews but only to Jesus’ opponents.

How to Read a New Testament Letter

Imagine you are living in the first century AD, and you have become a believer. You put your faith in Jesus. You believe he died for your sins, you accepted him as your Lord, and you attend worship services in a home or small building. Your congregation has little written material—certainly not enough for everyone to be reading every day. You do not have time for that anyway, as you are exhausted by your work for six days a week (and you have no light to read at night).

One evening you go to a meeting of believers to share pieces of Scripture you or others have copied—some Old Testament writings, maybe a letter from an apostle, or a copy of one of the Gospels. Your pastor announces that he received a letter to the church from John the apostle, and he begins to read. You sit in awe, with a sense of expectation.

Now, read this letter with that attitude, that of a listener, as though someone is speaking to you. Look for what God has to say to you. The letter is personal. It is to you. It is theological—about God’s heart, his character, and his truth. God wants to speak to you through his Word. Open your heart and mind, and let God speak to you.

Introduction to 1 and 2 Corinthians

The Writer

The apostle Paul was a highly educated Jewish Roman citizen who met the resurrected Jesus and became a believer when he was on the way to Damascus to continue his persecution of Christians.a After taking some time to get grounded in the faith, he dedicated his life to missionary work, planting churches throughout Asia Minor and in lands just to the west. Twelve of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are letters like this one, written to encourage, admonish, and teach the churches he founded and the men he mentored.

The City

Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia (encompassing today’s southern Greece). Due to its location by trade routes and its good harbors on each side of the Isthmus of Corinth, it became a center of industry, trade, and entertainment. While Athens, fifty miles to the east, was known as an intellectual center, Corinth was known for its trade and its “anything goes” culture. The city had a mixed population, primarily Romans, Greeks, and Jews—more than fifty thousand people (twice that of Athens). It had the Roman Empire’s largest public marketplace and boasted of a theater that seated fourteen thousand people. Its formerly glorious (but then broken-down) temple of Aphrodite had one thousand cult prostitutes at its peak, and the cult’s influence was still substantial in Paul’s day.

Paul’s First Letter to Corinth

In about AD 52, on his second missionary journey, Paul founded a church in Corinth. He spent at least eighteen months there on his first visit. However, within three years the church had fallen into disrepute. There were divisions among the believers, abuse of the Lord’s Supper, sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, and drunkenness. So Paul wrote a letter (now lost) telling the church not to associate with people who practiced such behaviors.b

Paul’s Second Letter to Corinth (1 Corinthians)

While he was in Ephesus on his third missionary journey, Paul learned that his first letter had been misunderstood and that divisions continued in the church. Then three Corinthian church leaders (Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus) came to Paul with some questions. To try to correct the church’s behavior and answer their questions, he wrote the church the letter we now call “1 Corinthians.” Timothy, whom Paul had been mentoring, delivered it to the church. Some people repented upon receiving Paul’s letter but not all; some false apostles led the church away from Paul’s teaching toward heresy. So he visited Corinth a second time. The visit was painful. We do not have any record of this visit, but we

know he made it, as twice in 2 Corinthians he refers to his upcoming planned visit as his third one (see 12:14 and 13:1).

Paul’s Third Letter to Corinth

Later Paul wrote the Corinthians a strong letter a (now lost), again in hopes of their repentance. He sent Titus with the letter by sea while he traveled through Macedonia on the way to Corinth. While on his way there, Paul met Titus returning. Titus told him many had repented, so Paul canceled his visit.

Paul’s Fourth Letter to Corinth (2 Corinthians)

Paul wrote the church a fourth letter (which we now call “2 Corinthians”) to encourage the repentant and urge the unrepentant to repent. The severity of his language in 13:2–3 indicates that there were still many problems. Titus carried the letter to Corinth.

Application to Today

These letters should be reminders to us that no church is perfect. We tend to idealize the first-century church, resting on the words of Acts 2:44, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” But churches have always had problems and always will be imperfect. However, we have a perfect God who chooses to dwell in our bodies and tells us to “consider how we may stir up one another to love and good deeds, not abandoning meeting together.”b So let’s follow Paul’s example and writings by maintaining fellowship with our imperfect fellow church members, calling unrepentant believers to repent, and fully following our Lord.

a See 2 Corinthians 2:3–4.

b See Hebrews 10:24–25a.

Part 1. Introduction

Address, Greetings, Thanksgiving

1 From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and from our brother Sosthenes,a

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:b

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always concerning you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in him you have been enriched in every way, in all kinds of speech and in all kinds of knowledge, 6 for in this way the testimony I spoke about Christ was confirmed as true in you, 7 so you do not lack any spiritual gift c as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

8 He will also sustain you to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God—by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord—is faithful.

Part 2. A Call to Unity Under God

A. Follow Christ, Not Individuals

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agreed and that there be no divisions among you, that you be united in the same mind and same judgment.

11 For, my brothers and sisters, it has been reported to me by Chloe’s peoplee that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: Each of you says, “I belong to

a “Sosthenes”: Probably the same Sosthenes who was a leading believer in Corinth (see Acts 18:17). Perhaps Paul dictated the letter to him (Paul indicates in 1 Corinthians 16:21 that he wrote by hand only the closing greeting, dictating the rest).

b Literally, “theirs and ours.”

c “Spiritual gift”: See chapter 12.

d Literally, “all speak the same thing.”

e Literally, “concerning you by those of Chloe.” Nothing else is known about Chloe.

Paul,” “I belong to Apollos,”a “I belong to Cephas (i.e., Peter),” or “I belong to Christ.”

13 Has Christ been divided? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaiusb 15 so that no one may say that they were baptized in my name. 16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanas;c beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel—and not with wise words, so the cross of Christ would not be emptied of its power.

B. God’s Wisdom Differs from Human Wisdom

18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; I will frustrate the intelligence of the intelligent.”d 20 Where is the wise person? e

Where is the teacher of the Jewish law? f Where is the philosopher of this age?g

Hasn’t God made the wisdom of this world look foolish?

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased to use the “foolishness” of what was preachedh to save those who believe.

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.

24 For to those who are called by God, both Jews and Gentiles,i Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, 25 for the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of humans, and the weakness of God is stronger than the strength of humans.

26

Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise by human standards.j Not many were powerful. Not many were of noble birth.

a Apollos was an Alexandrian Jew who became a believer. He taught in Ephesus after Paul left, evidently drawing a following due to his eloquent speech. See Acts 18:24.

b Crispus had been a prominent Jew and head of the Corinth synagogue. See Acts 18:8. Gaius was Paul’s host while he stayed in Corinth. The church met in his house. See Romans 16:23.

c Stephanas was a leading Corinthian believer. See 1 Corinthians 16:15.

d See Isaiah 29:14.

e This and the following two questions are an echo of Isaiah 33:18 in the Septuagint.

f Literally, “the scribe.”

g Literally, “the debater of this age.”

h Literally, “pleased through the foolishness of the proclamation.”

i Literally, “Greeks.”

j Literally, “wise according to the flesh.”

Rather, God chosea the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, the weak things of the world to shame the strong, 28 the lowly things of this world, the despised things, and the things that are considered “nothing” to bring to nothing the “somethings”b 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.c

30 Because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”d

Corinthians 2

1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming God’s mystery e with lofty speech f or human wisdom. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

3 I was with you in weakness, fear, and much trembling.

4 My message and my preaching were not spoken with wise, persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power g 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power.

6 We, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age (who are coming to nothing). 7 Rather, we declare God’s wisdom, previously hidden in a mystery that God appointed beforehand, before time began,h for our glory,

8 that none of the rulers of this age understood; for if they had understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written:i

a “God chose” is repeated twice in verse 27 and at the start of verse 28. b Literally, “the things that are.”

c Literally, “so that all flesh might not boast before him.”

d See Jeremiah 9:24.

e Some manuscripts, “God’s testimony.”

f “Lofty”: in the sense of “impressive” or “overbearing” speech.

g Or “of the Holy Spirit’s power.” h Literally, “before the ages.”

i The following quote appears to be a combination of Isaiah 52:15; 64:4; Ezekiel 40:4 and 44:5, along with 1:10 from the apocryphal book of Sirach.

10 For God has revealed them to us by the Holy Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among people knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

12 We have not received the spirit of the world, but we have received the Spirit who is from God so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

13 We speak about these things, not in words taught by human wisdom but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-led words

14 The natural personb does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to them. They are not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 The spiritual person examines everything, yet such a person is spiritually examined by no one,

16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”c But we have the mind of Christ.

3 1 Corinthians

C. We Are All Coworkers Who Belong to God

1 As for me, brothers and sisters, when I was with you, I could not speak to you as spiritual people but as worldly people—infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready to receive it. In fact, you are still not ready, 3 for you are still worldly people. As long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly and living according to the standard of nonbelieving people? 4 For when someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not acting like mere humans? d

5 Who, after all, is Apollos? Or who is Paul? Only servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each his ministry. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters are one in purpose, and each will receive their own reward

a Literally, “has not entered into the heart of man.”

b “Natural person”: a person without the Spirit of God.

c See Isaiah 40:13 in the Septuagint.

d Literally, “not fleshly.”

“What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human mind has imagined,a these are what God has prepared for those who love him.”

according to their own labor. 9 For we are coworkers who belong to God; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10 I laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, by the grace God has given to me, and someone else is building on it.

But let each person take care how he builds upon it.

11 For nobody can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12

If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each person’s work will become evident, because the day of judgment will disclose it. For it will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each person’s work.

14 If the work that anyone built upon the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward.

15 If anyone’s work is burned up, that person will suffer loss, but that particular person will be saved, however, only as one escaping through fire.

16 Don’t you know that youa are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you?b

17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves.

If any one of you thinks you are wise in the opinion of this age, then you must become “foolish” so that you may become wise.

19 For this world’s wisdom is foolishness in God’s sight.c

As it is written:

“He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness.”d

20 And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are useless.”e

21 So let nobody boast about following a human.

All things are yours—

22 whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world or life or death, or things present or the things to come—all are yours, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.f

a “You”: The Greek is second-person plural, referring to all believers, the church as a whole. And verse 17. b Or “among you.”

c Literally, “is foolishness with God.”

d See Job 5:13.

e See Psalm 94:11.

f

Literally, “you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”

D. God, Not People, Will Judge His Stewards

1 This then is how a person should regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But to me, it is the smallest matter if I am judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear,a but I am not found innocent by this. The one who judges me is the Lord.

5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and he will expose the purposes of the heart; then each person will receive their praise from God.

6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your sake, that you may learn from us not to exceed what is written in Scripture, that not one of you will be puffed up, favoring one over the other.

7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not receive it?

8 You are already full; already you have become rich. Without us you have already become kings. I wish that you really did reign so that we also might reign with you.

9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display last, as those appointed to die,b because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to humans.

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you think you are wise in Christ.

We are weak, but you think you are strong. We are dishonored, but you are honored. 11 To this present hour we hunger and thirst; we are poorly dressed; we are brutally treated and homeless.

12 We toil, working with our own hands; we bless when we are cursed;c we endure when we are persecuted;

13 we answer kindly when we are slandered.

We have become like the scumd of the world, the garbage e of all the world right up to now.

a Literally, “I am conscious of nothing against myself.”

b “Those appointed to die”: When a victorious commander was allowed to have a victory parade in Rome, they displayed the condemned prisoners at the end of the parade.

c Literally, “are reviled,” to be criticized in an abusive, angrily insulting manner.

d Or “the scapegoat.”

e Or “the off-scouring”: something scraped off, as off of a dirty pot or sandal.

14 I am writing these things not to shame you but to warn you as my beloved children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand tutorsa to instruct you in Christ, you do not have many fathers but just one; for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you; become imitators of me. 17 That is why I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I’ll find out not only what these arrogant people are saying but also the measure of their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or in love with a gentle spirit?

Part 3. Behavior Problems in the Church

Corinthians 5

A. Sexual Immorality

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, such sexual immorality that it is not even done among the pagans. One man has been sleeping with his father’s wife, 2 and you are proud! Instead, shouldn’t you have mourned so that the one who did this thing would be put out of your midst? 3 Though, indeed, I am absent in body, I am present in spirit. I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you have assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Note: Boasting

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? b 7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let’s celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter c not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral, unbelieving people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would have to leave the world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a believer d but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Don’t even eat with such a person.

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Isn’t it those inside the church you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “You must purge the evil from among you.”

e

a “Tutors”: The Greek word, paidagogous, refers to a slave assigned to teach and discipline his owner’s son.

b See Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21.

c There is no other record of this previous letter’s existence.

d Literally, “anyone who bears the name.”

e This quote appears seven times in Deuteronomy: 13:5; 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21, 24; 24:7.

B. Lawsuits Between Believers

1 If any of you has a matter against another believer, do you dare go to court before the unrighteous and not before the saints!

2 Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? a

And if the world is going to be judged by you, aren’t you competent for the smallest cases?

3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels?

How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore I ask this: Why do you appoint unrighteous judges when you have such cases, those whose way of life is despised by the church?

5 I am saying this to your shame.

Is there no one wise among you who will be able to settle a dispute between believers?

6 But instead believer goes to court against believer! And this in front of unbelievers! 7 The fact that you have lawsuits against one another is already a complete defeat for you.

Why not just suffer wrong?

Why not rather be cheated?

8 Instead, you cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.

9 Or don’t you know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?b

C. Sinful Pursuit of Personal Pleasure

Do not be deceived:

– Neither the sexually immoral, –10 nor thieves, nor even the greedy, – nor idolaters, – nor drunkards, – nor adulterers, – nor slanderers, – nor homosexuals,c – nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

12 All things are permissible for me,d but not everything is beneficial.

Yes, all things are permissible for me, but I will not be dominated by anything.

13 Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will do away with both food and the stomach.e

a See Daniel 7:22.

b Or “that the unrighteous.”

c “Homosexuals” renders two Greek words that convey the active and passive homosexual acts.

d In the context of the previous paragraph, and of Scripture, clearly “all things” is referring to things not forbidden by God.

e Literally, “both one and the other.”

The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord cares about a the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord, and he will raise us also.

15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are membersb of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them part of a prostitute? Never! 16 Don’t you know that anyone who joins their body with a prostitute is one with the prostitute’s body? For the Scripture says,c “The two will become one flesh.”

17 But whoever is joined to the Lord is one with him in spirit.d 18 Flee from sexual immorality.

Every nonsexual sin a person commits is outside the body, but anyone who sins sexually sins against their own body.

19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

And you are not your own.

20 For you were bought for a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Part 4: Answers to the Corinthians’ Questions

Corinthians 7

A. Counsel for the Married

1 Now, concerning the matters you wrote about, “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations withe a woman.”

2 But because of the dangers of sexual immorality, each man is to have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman is to have sexual relations with her own husband.

3 The husband is to fulfill his marital duty to his wife. And likewise, the wife is to fulfill her marital duty to her husband.

4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does.

The husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

5 Do not deprive one another, except by mutual consent for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 I say this as a concession, not a command. 7 I wish that all people were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, one has that one.

7:8–9 are in section B below

a Literally, “the Lord is for.”

b “Members”: pieces of a whole.

c Literally, “For it says.” See Genesis 2:24.

d Or “one in the spirit.” Literally, “is one spirit.”

e Literally, “to touch.”

10

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord):

A wife must not leave her husband.

11 But if she does leave, let her either remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband.

A husband must not divorce his wife.

12

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):

If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, then let him not divorce her. 13 Likewise if a woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, then let her not divorce him.

14 Otherwise your children are unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let them go.

The brother or the sister is not bound in such cases; God has called us to live in peace.

16 For how do you know,a wife, whether you will lead your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will lead your wife to salvation?b

7:17–24 are in section C below

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes but only someone in the Lord. 40 In my opinion, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

B. Counsel for the Unmarried

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say:

It is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

25 Concerning virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present distress, I think that this is good advice:

It is good for a person to remain as they are.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released.

Are you released from a wife? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned.

If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have trouble in this life,c and I would spare you this. 29 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is that the time is shortened—

a Literally, “what do you know.” And after “husband” in the next sentence.

b Literally, “whether you will save the husband.” And “save the wife.”

c Literally, “But such ones will have tribulation in the flesh.”