Dr. Paul’s Contemporary History Detailing Important Parts of Jesus’ Kingdom
Introduction:
Dr. Paul writes his 2nd Letter from Ephesus to the congregation of Jesus’ Kingdom in Corinth. There had been much trouble there since Dr. Paul left for Ephesus. The congregation began to develop characteristics quickly that were causing division among them. They wanted to be several different congregations based on who they thought was a better source of Jesus’ ‘new’ Way. Dr. Paul clears this up by sending this Letter and Timothy. There was little effect from the Letter or Timothy, which required Dr. Paul to make a quick visit from Ephesus followed by another Letter (3rd). We do not have that Letter, both of which, also, had little effect. We do have the 4th Letter (called 2nd Corinthians) that Dr. Paul wrote them about their reforming to the Truth that he had explained in the 2nd and 3rd Letters, which Titus had used and directed on his 1st trip with the 3rd Letter. There is much to learn about the kind of efforts/actions needed and necessary to remain a correct congregation of Jesus’ Kingdom, locally, from these two Letters. The activities, directions and reforms are a unique study. Dr. Paul confirms at least 5 times that he has used the exact same Teaching in every congregation he had planted (since Cyprus for sure and probably from Cilicia, his earliest evangelizing and planting congregations). You will note an * at those five statements. Also a double colon (::) is used to note each time Dr. Paul mentions a complete gathering of the local congregation. There is only one congregation of all the saints in the community, that is evangelized, matured, and organized correctly in the 1st century AD by Dr. Paul. Remember he (by the Holy Spirit) taught the exact same thing ‘in every community’ since he began his work for JESUS. Jesus prayed for His kind of ‘unity’, and expects His Kingdom to maintain it, until He returns.
Note: We have provided the Greek tenses of some verbs, as they are different than English verbs. We marked them as follows: present [->], perfect [>|], aorist [x], imperfect [<-], and future [f]. Also, some are marked [s] for singular and some [p] for plural pronouns. Too, [ps], [pt] and [mid] are used to indicate: passive, participle, and middle voice. Word meanings and phrases, also, can be bracketed.
Date: A.D. 55ish
Letter:
(1st) Paul, called an Apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s Will, and Sosthenes [mentioned by Dr. Luke in his contemporary history concerning the acts of the Holy Spirit] our brother, to God’s called-out people existing in Corinth, to those who have continued to be set apart in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all those in every place who themselves are calling on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is their Lord and ours too. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. {1:3}
(2nd) I always thank my God for you, because God’s Grace was given to you all in Christ Jesus. In every way you have been enriched in Him, in every word and in all understanding, as the Testimony of Christ has been confirmed in you all. You fall short in no gift, awaiting eagerly the Disclosure of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will strengthen you until the end, so that you are blameless in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is trustworthy, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. {1:9}
(3rd) I beg you, brothers, by the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that: all of you speak the same thing, and that there be no denominating among you, but that you stay completely joined together in the same mind and in the same understanding; for it has been made known to me, my brothers, by them of the family of Chloe, that there are quarrels among you. I am saying this, that one of you is declaring, “I indeed am of Paul”; or another, “I am of Apollos”; or another, “I am of Cephas”; or another, “I am of Christ.” When did Christ become divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you immersed into Paul’s name? I am thankful to God that I immersed none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that none of you might say that you had been immersed into my name. I also immersed the household of Stephanas, but beyond these I do not know if I immersed anyone else. Christ did not send me to immerse, but more so, to evangelize the Good News, not in wisdom of speech, lest Christ’s cross becomes meaningless. {1:17}
The Message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is God’s power, for it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the intelligent.” [Is.29:14] The wise? The scholar? The skillful debater of this age? Did not God make the world’s wisdom foolish? Since, in God’s wisdom, the world by its wisdom has not understood God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the Proclamation to save the ones who believe. On the other hand, the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, while we continue to proclaim Christ crucified: to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Gentiles foolishness; but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is both the wisdom and the power of God. God’s foolishness is wiser than men, and God’s weakness is stronger than men. Consider your calling, brothers, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many influential, not many of high social status, but more so, God [a] chose the world’s foolish things, that He may humiliate the wise; and God [b] chose the world’s weak things, that He may humiliate the strong things. God [c] chose the inferior things of the world, and [d] the things counted as nothing, ]e] the things that are not, that He might bring down the things that are, so that no flesh may boast before God. And you all are His in Christ Jesus, Who has become to us [a] wisdom from God, and [b] righteousness and [c] dedication and [d] redemption, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” [Jerm.9:24] {1:31}
When I came to you [1st time], brothers, I did not come with high-flown words or wisdom, proclaiming God’s Mysteries. I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and fear and much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but more so, in a display of the Spirit and power, that ‘the Faith’ of you should not be in human wisdom, but more so, in God’s power. {2:5}
However, we do speak wisdom among mature people, a wisdom not of this world, or of its rulers, who are coming to nothing. But more so, we speak God’s wisdom in a Mystery which has been kept secret, and which God predetermined before the ages to our glory; which none of this world’s rulers understood, for if they had understood, they would not have crucified the glorious Lord! It is written, “The things that no eye has seen, which no ear has heard, and which have not entered a human heart: these are the things God has prepared for those who love Him.” [Is.64:4] But God has revealed them to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit examines all things, even God’s deep things. What person knows the things of a person, except his own spirit within him? Likewise, no one understands God’s things except God’s Spirit. We have not received the world’s spirit, but more so, God’s Spirit, that we might know the things which God has given to us. We are not speaking in words taught by human wisdom, but more so, in words taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. The natural person does not receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot discern them, for they are judged spiritually; the spiritual man [under Holy Spirit’s influence] judges all things, but he himself is judged by no one. “Who has known the Lord’s mind? Who will advise him?”[Is.40:13] But, we have the mind of Christ. {2:16}
Yet I, brothers, cannot speak to you all as to spiritual, but more so, as to fleshly, as to infants in Christ. I have given you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it; but more so, neither can you now, because you are still fleshly. Since jealousy and strife are in you, are you not fleshly, and must live as humans? When anyone says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I of Apollos,” are you not human [ in reasoning]? Who, therefore, is Apollos? Who is Paul? They are servants by whom you believed, even as the Lord has given to each one of them. I planted, Apollos watered, but more so, God caused the increase. Neither is he who plants important, nor he who waters, but more so, God! Who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters are united, and each will receive his own reward according to his own work. We are God’s co-workers, and you are God’s garden. You also are God’s building, and according to God’s Grace which was given to me as a wise expert builder [his 1 authority], I have laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. But each one must be particular how he builds, for no man can lay another foundation other than the one laid, which is Jesus Christ. [Is28:16] If anyone builds gold, silver, precious stones, timber, hay, or straw on the foundation, the work of each one will be seen: the Day will show it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire [at Judgement using ‘only’ His Word] will prove the nature of each one’s work. If the work anyone built remains, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work will be burned, he will suffer a loss; but he himself will be saved, though as through fire. Do you still not know that you are [p] God’s Temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you all? If anyone destroys God’s Temple, God will destroy him; for God’s Temple is sacred, and you are His Temple. {3:17}
It is imperative that no one deceives himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this world, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. This world’s wisdom is foolishness with God, as it is written, “He catches the wise in their own cunning,” [Job5:13] and again, “The Lord understands that the thoughts of the wise are worthless.” [Ps.94:11] So, you must not let anyone boast in mankind. All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future, all are yours; and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. {3:23}
A person must consider us as Christ’s servants and as trustees of God’s Mysteries [His Apostle]. It is required in trustees that they be found trustworthy. It matters very little to me that I should be judged by you, or by a human court; but more so, I do not judge myself. I am aware of nothing against myself, but more so, I am not by this proved to be right, for He Who judges me is the Lord. So, you must not judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the intentions of hearts. ‘Then’ approval will come to each one from God. {4:5}
Brothers, I have transferred these things to myself and to Apollos for your sake that you may learn in us not to think of men higher than what is Written, that you may not be puffed up against one another. Who makes you superior? Do you have anything that you did not receive? If you received, why do you boast as though you did not? You have already become fully content; you have already become rich; you have reigned without us. (I wish that you did reign, that we might reign with you.) I think that God has placed us, the Apostles, last as condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to mankind. We are foolish for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are respected, but we are despised. Until this hour we both hunger and thirst; we are poorly clothed, beaten, and homeless; we labor, working with our hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we encourage. We have become as the refuse of the world, the scum of all things, even until now. I do not write these things to embarrass you, but more so, to teach you, as my cherished children. Though you may have thousands of guides in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for I have begotten you in Christ Jesus through the Good News. I therefore beg you, you all must become imitators of me. For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, even as *I teach everywhere in every congregation. Certain ones have become puffed up, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you right away, if the Lord Wills; and I will understand, not the word of those who have become puffed up, but more so, the power; for God’s Kingdom is not in word, but more so, in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and with a gentle spirit? {4:21}
(4th) Fornication is, actually, reported among you, such fornication as is not among the Gentiles: that a certain man has his father’s wife. Further, you are puffed up, and have not mourned instead, so that the one who has done this deed might be expelled from you. Though I am absent in body, yet am I present in spirit; and I have already judged, as though I was present, the one who has done this. In the Name of our Lord Jesus and of my spirit, when all of you have assembled together:: [x] with [together with] the power of our Lord Jesus, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? You must remove the old leaven, that you may be fresh dough, even as you are without leaven. Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. So, we should observe the Festival, not with old leaven, or with the leaven of evil and wickedness, but more so, with the unleavened bread of sincerity and Truth. I wrote to you in the [1st] letter not to associate with fornicators, not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and greedy, or with idolaters; for otherwise you would have to get out of the world. But now I write [2nd] to you not to associate with a fornicator or a covetous man or an idolater or a slanderer or a drunkard or a greedy person if he is named a brother; do not eat with him. What have I to do with judging those who are on the outside? Do you not judge those who are within? God will judge those who are outside. You must expel the evil man from among you. {5:13}
Does any one of you who has a lawsuit against another dare to be judged by the unrighteous, and not by saints? Do you not know that saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge trivial matters? Do you not know that we will judge angels, not to speak of matters involving everyday life? If therefore you have cases involving everyday life, must you appoint as judges those who are least esteemed in the congregation? I speak to your shame. Is there not one wise man among you, who will be able to judge between his brothers? But more so, a brother goes to law against his brother, and that before unbelievers. It is an utter defeat for you that you have lawsuits among yourselves. Why not rather take wrong? Why not rather be cheated? But more so, you behave unjustly and cheat, and that your brothers. Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the Kingdom of God? You must not deceive yourselves. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers, will inherit God’s Kingdom. Some of you were these, but more so, you were washed [x], you were set apart [x], you were justified [x] in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful for me, but more so, not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but more so, I will not be made subject to any. Foods are for the stomach, and the stomach is for foods, but God will do away with both. The body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. God raised the Lord, and He will raise us by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ, and make them members of a prostitute? Absolutely not! Do you not know that one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body? For, He said, “The two will be one flesh.” But he who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit. It is imperative that you all run away from fornication! Every sin a person commits is outside the body, but he who fornicates sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and you are not your own? You were bought with a price; therefore, you must honor God in your body. {6:20}
(5th) Now, about the things you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman; but because of fornication, each man must have his own wife, and each woman must have her own husband. The husband must give to his wife what is due, and likewise also the wife to the husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but more so, the husband; and likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but more so, the wife. You must not deprive each other, except for a time by mutual consent, that you may have leisure for prayer; and then be together again, that Satan might not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
I say this as a concession, not as a commandment; for I wish that all people were as I. But more so, each one has his own endowment from God: one has this kind, and another that kind. I say to the unmarried and the widows that it is good to remain even as I. But if they do not exercise self-control, they must marry, for it is better to marry than to burn. To the married I give a charge (not I, but the Lord): that the wife not be separated from her husband; but if she is separated, she must remain unmarried, or must be reconciled to her husband; and that the husband not leave his wife. To the rest I say (not the Lord), if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. And if a wife has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. The unbelieving husband has still been set apart in his wife, and the unbelieving wife still has been set apart in the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now are they set apart. If the unbeliever separates himself, he himself must be separated, the brother or sister still is not under obligation in such cases, but God still has called you in peace. Who knows, wife, if you will save your husband? Who knows, husband, if you will save your wife? But, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God still has called him, so he must live. So, I give instruction in *all the congregations. Has anyone been called who has been circumcised? He must not remove the marks of circumcision. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He must not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but more so, the obeying of God’s commands. Each one must remain in the station of life in which he was called. Were you called as a slave? You must not allow it to be a concern. But more so, if you can become free, you must make use of it. The one called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman; likewise, the one called as a freedman is Christ’s slave. Since you were bought with a price, you yourselves must not become slaves of men. Brothers, each one must remain with God in the station in which he was called.
I have no instruction from the Lord about virgins, but I give my advice, as one who has received the Lord’s mercy to be trustworthy. I therefore think it is good – because of the still present crisis – for a person to remain as he is. Are you still bound to your wife? You must not seek a release. Are you still free of a wife? You must not seek one. But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such will have trouble in the flesh, and I want to spare you. Brothers, I say this: the time has grown short, so that, from now on, those who have wives may be as though they did not; and those who weep as though they did not; and those who rejoice as though they did not; and those who buy as though they did not keep; and those who use the world as though they really did not use it, for the present form of this world is disappearing. I want you to be free from worry. The unmarried man cares about the Lord’s things, how he may please the Lord; the married man cares about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. The unmarried woman and the virgin care about the Lord’s things, that they may be dedicated, both in body and spirit. But she who has married cares about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. I say this for your benefit, not that I might restrict you, but more so, for good order and devotion to the Lord without distraction.
If anyone thinks he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin, if she is mature, and it ought to be so, he must do what she wishes; she is not sinning; let them marry. But he who stands firm in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart to keep his own virgin, he will do well. So, he who gives his own virgin in marriage will do well, but he who does not give in marriage will do better. A wife is still bound as long as her husband lives; but if he dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my advice, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit. {7:40}
Now, about the sacrifices to idols. We know we all have understanding. Understanding puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines having understood anything, he has not yet understood, as he must come to understand. If anyone loves God, God still acknowledges him. As to the eating of the things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is only one God. Even though there are those that people call gods, either in heaven, or on the earth, as there are many gods and many lords, but more so, to us there is one God the Father, from Whom are all things, and we are unto Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we are through Him. But more so, everyone does not understand this. Some people are still accustomed to idols, and they eat as though the meat was sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. Now, food will not bring us into God’s presence; neither are we inferior if we do not eat; nor superior if we eat. But be careful, so that your liberty does not become a stumbling block to the weak. If anyone sees you – one who understands – dining in an idol’s temple, will not his weak conscience be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to an idol? The weak brother for whom Christ died is destroyed by your understanding. As you sin against the brothers in this manner, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Consequently, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never again eat flesh, so that I do not cause my brother to stumble. {8:13}
Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Have I not seen our Lord Jesus? Are not you my work in the Lord? If I am not an Apostle to others, certainly I am to you, for you are the proof of my Apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who are examining me: do we not have a right to eat and drink? Do we not have a right to take along a wife (a sister), even as the other Apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Do only Barnabas and I have no right not to work? What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and does not eat the fruit? Who shepherds a flock and does not drink milk from the flock? Do I speak these things as a man, or does not the Law also say these things? In Moses’ Law it is written, “You shall not muzzle the threshing ox.” [Deut.25:4] Did God only care for the oxen? Or did He not certainly speak for our sake? Indeed, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope; and he who threshes, in hope of partaking. If we sowed spiritual things among you all, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others among you partake of this right, do not we even more have this right? But more so, we have not exercised this right. We have asked for nothing, that we might not hinder the Good News of Christ. Do you not know that those who serve in the temple eat of the sacrifices? And they who wait at the altar share the sacrifices on the altar? The Lord has commanded in this manner, that they who proclaim the Good News should live by the Good News. But I have not used any of these things, and I did not write these things in order that they be done for me, for it is better for me to die, rather than for someone to deprive me of my reason for boasting. Though I evangelize the Good News, I have no reason to boast, because compulsion presses hard upon me; yes, woe is to me, if I do not evangelize the Good News. If I do this willingly, I have a reward; if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward? That I might evangelize the Good News without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the Good News. Though I am free of all, yet I have enslaved myself to all, that I might gain the more. To the Jews, I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those under the Law, I became as one under the Law (not being under the Law), that I might gain those under the Law; to those without the Law, I became as one without the Law (not being without God’s Law, but more so, under Christ’s Law), that I might gain those not under the Law; I became weak to those who are weak, that I might gain the weak: I have become all things to all men, that by all means I might save some. I do all things for the sake of the Good News, that I might be a fellow partaker of It. Do you not know that all of those who run in a stadium indeed run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a manner that you might win. Everyone who competes exercises self-control in all things: they indeed do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable. I do not run as without an aim; I box, but not as beating the air. But more so, I buffet and enslave my body, so that I might not be rejected after I have proclaimed to others. {9:27}
I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, that all of our fathers were under the cloud, and passed through the sea, and all were immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and drank the same spiritual drink. They were drinking from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. But more so, God was not pleased with the most of them, and they were struck down in the desert. Now these things became warnings unto us, that we should not desire evil things, as they desired them. You must not become idolaters, as some of them did, as it written, “The people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to dance in revelry.” [Ex.32:6] Let us not fornicate, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the snakes. You must not grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them as warnings, and were written for our instruction, to whom the completion of the ages has arrived. The one who thinks he stands must be on guard, so that he does not fall. No temptation has taken hold of you, except what is common to humanity; and God is trustworthy, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability, but more so, with the temptation He will provide an escape, so that you all can endure. {10:13}
My beloved, it is imperative that you run from idolatry. I speak as to wise people: you must judge what I say. The consecrated cup, for which we give thanks, is it not a sharing of Christ’s blood? The bread which we break, is it not a sharing of Christ’s body? Because there is one bread, we, the many, are one body, for we all eat of the one bread. Consider Israel after the flesh: do not those who eat the sacrifices partake of the altar? Am I saying that a sacrifice to an idol, or an idol itself, is anything? No, but more so, what they sacrifice, they are sacrificing to evil spirits, and not to God; and I do not want you to partake of evil spirits. You cannot drink the Lord’s cup, and the cup of evil spirits; you cannot eat at the Lord’s table, and at the table of evil spirits. Do we make the Lord jealous? We are not stronger than He, are we? All things are lawful, but more so, all things do not benefit. All things are lawful, but more so, all things are not upbuilding. No one must seek what is his own, but more so, what is another’s. Eat whatever is sold in the market, questioning nothing for the sake of conscience, because “the Earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.” [Ps.24:1] If an unbeliever does invite you, and you wish to go, eat whatever is placed before you, questioning nothing for the sake of conscience. But if anyone says to you, “This is a temple sacrifice,” you all must not eat, for the sake of the one who told you, and because of conscience. But more so, I do not speak of your own conscience, but of the other. Why should my freedom be judged by the conscience of another? If I eat thankfully, why am I criticized for eating something for which I give thanks? Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to God’s praise. You must not offend the Jews or the Greeks or God’s called out people, even as I also please all men in everything, not seeking my own advantage, but more so, that of the many that they may be saved. You all must be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. {11:1}
(6th) I commend you, because you have remembered me in all things, and because you continue to hold fast *the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is exactly as though her head were shaved. If the woman does not cover her head, she ought to be sheared; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be sheared or shaved, she ought to cover her head. A man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the likeness and splendor of God, but the woman is the splendor of the man. The man is not of the woman, but the woman is of the man; the man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man. For this reason, the woman ought to have authority upon her head because of the angels. Nevertheless, the woman is not without the man in the Lord, neither is the man without the woman. As the woman is of the man, so the man is by the woman, and all things are of God. You ought to judge among yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman wears long hair, it is glory to her, because the long hair instead of a covering has been given to her. However, if anyone is disposed to be quarrelsome, we have no such custom, neither do God’s congregations*. {11:16}
As I command this, I am not commending you, because you have not come together:: for the better, but more so, for the worse. First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you assemble in a congregation::, and I partially believe it. Factions must exist among you, that those who are approved might be revealed. When you come together:: in the same place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for each one begins eating his own supper ahead of time, and one is hungry, and another has drunk freely. Do you not have houses for eating and drinking? Or do you look down on God’s congregation, and humiliate the ones who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you? I do not commend you in this. {11:22}
I received from the Lord what I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. You all must do this in memory of Me.” Likewise, He also took the cup after eating, and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. Whenever you drink, you must do this in memory of Me.” Whenever you eat this bread, and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death; until He comes. Whoever eats the bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in an improper manner will be guilty of sin against the body and the blood of the Lord. A person must examine himself, and he must eat of the bread, and he must drink of the cup in the appropriate manner. If one eats and drinks who does not recognize the Lord’s body, he eats and drinks condemnation to himself. On this account many among you are weak and sick, and many are asleep. If we discern ourselves, we are not being judged; but, while we are being judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined, so that we might not be condemned with the world. So, my brothers, when you come together:: to eat, you must wait one for another. If anyone is hungry, he must eat at home, in order that you do not come together:: for condemnation. And when I come, I will instruct you about the other things. {11:34}
(7th) Brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed about spiritual matters. You know that when you were Gentiles, you were led astray to idols which cannot speak. This is why I declare to you that no one who speaks by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus [is] accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus [is] Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are varieties of serving, but the same Lord. There are varieties of workings, but the same God, Who works everything among all. The revelation of the Spirit is given to each one for that which is benefiting. To one, indeed, through the Spirit is given the word of wisdom; and to another, the word of understanding by the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healings by the one Spirit; and to another, workings of miracles; and to another, prophecy; and to another, recognition of spirits; and to another, kinds of languages; and to another, interpretation of languages. The One and the same Spirit works in all these things according to His Will, distributing to each one individually. Just as there is one body that has many members and all the many members of the body are one body, so also is Christ; for we were all immersed into the one body by the one Spirit, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or freemen; and we all have been given to drink of one Spirit. The body is not one member, but more so, many. Even if the foot says, “Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not part of the body? If the ear says, “Because I am not the eye, I am not part of the body,” is it therefore not part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would be the sense of smell? But now God has placed each one of the members in the body, as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? Now, indeed, there are many members, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you”; neither the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” But more so, the members of the body which appear to be weaker are much more necessary, and we give more honor to the members of the body which we think are less honorable; and our unpresentable members are more presentable, while our presentable members have no need. But more so, God has put the body together and has given greater honor to the member that is lacking, that there should be no division in the Body, but more so, the members should have the same care one for another. If one member suffers, all the members sympathize, and if one member is praised, all the members rejoice together. You are Christ’s body, and members individually. God has placed some in the called-out group: first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then workers of miracles; then those with gifts of healings; those who are helpful, those who lead, those who speak languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak in languages? Do all interpret? But you all must strive for the greater gifts. {12:31}
And yet I show you all a far more excellent way. If I speak in the languages of men and of angels but do not love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and I know all the Mysteries and all understanding, and if I have all ‘the Faith’, so as to remove mountains, but I have not love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body that I may boast, but I do not have love, I am accomplishing nothing. Love waits patiently. Love is kind, is not jealous. Love does not boast, is not puffed up, is not rude, is not selfish, is not irritable, holds no grudges, does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the Truth; throws a cloak of silence over what is displeasing in another person, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, Love never dies. But whether there are: gifts of prophecy, they will pass away; or languages, they will cease; or understanding, it will pass away. We understand incompletely, and we prophesy incompletely; but when that which is complete comes, then that which is incomplete will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, thought as a child, and reasoned as a child; but when I became a man, I stopped childish behavior. Now we see indistinctly in a mirror; but then face to face. I now partially understand, but then I shall understand fully, even as I was fully understood. Faith, hope, and love, now remain, these three; and Love is the greatest of these. You all must pursue Love! {14:1}
Yet, you should strive for spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. The one who speaks in a language does not speak to men, but more so, to God; no one understands him, since he speaks Mysteries by the Spirit. The one who prophesies edifies and encourages and brings good cheer to men. The one who speaks in a language builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the congregation. I want all of you to speak in languages, but rather that you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in a language, unless he interprets, that the congregation might be built up. Brothers, if I come to you speaking in languages, how will I help you, unless I speak either in a revelation, or in understanding, or in prophecy, or in teaching? Even inanimate things give a sound, as a flute or a harp; but if they do not give a difference in their sounds, how will the sound of the flute or of the harp be understood? If a trumpet gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? In the same manner also, if you do not utter intelligible speech through the language, how will what is spoken be understood? You will be as speaking into the air. There are so many kinds of voices in the world, and none is meaningless; but if I do not understand the voice, I will be a foreigner to him who is speaking, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. In the same manner also, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, you must strive for the upbuilding of the congregation, that you may abound. Therefore, the one who speaks in a language, he must pray that he may interpret. If I pray in a language, my spirit prays, but my mind is barren. So, what is it? I will pray in my spirit, and I will also pray in my mind; I will sing in my spirit, and I will also sing in my mind. Otherwise, how shall the one who sits in the place of the inquirer* say “Amen” at your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you said? Indeed, you may give thanks well enough, but more so, the other one is not built up. I thank God that I speak in languages more than all of you; but more so, in the congregation I would rather speak five words with understanding (that I might teach others) than ten thousand words in a language.
Brothers, you must not be children in thinking. But more so, you must be infants in wrongdoing, and must be adults in thinking. It is written in the Law, “I will speak in other languages and with strange lips to this people; but even so, they will not obey Me.”, says the Lord. So, languages are unto a sign, not to believers but more so, to unbelievers; while prophecy is not for unbelievers, but more so, for believers. If the whole congregation has come together:: at the same place, and all are speaking in languages, and the inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say, “You are out of you mind!”? But, if all are prophesying, and an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in, he is convinced by all, is judged by all. The secrets of his heart are revealed, and he will fall down on his face and worship God, exclaiming, “God is truly among you!” So, brothers, what is it? When you come together::, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a language, an interpretation. All things must be for edifying. If one speaks in a language, it must be by two, or at the most three, and one at a time; and one must interpret. But if there is no interpreter, he must be silent in the congregation::; he must speak (only) to himself and to God. The prophets, two or three, (only) must speak, and the others must judge. If a revelation comes to another man who is sitting down, the first man must be silent. You can all prophesy one by one, that all might be taught, and all might be encouraged. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. God is not the source of disorder, but more so, of peace. As in all the congregations* of the saints::, the women must be silent in the congregations, for they are not allowed to speak. But more so, they must be in subjection, even as the Law also says. If they wish to question anything, they must ask their husbands at home, for it is a disgrace for a woman to speak in the congregation::. Did God’s Message come from you, or did it come only to you? If a man thinks he is a prophet or is spiritual, he must acknowledge that I am writing to you the Lord’s Command! If anyone continues to be uniformed, let him be uninformed. So, my brothers, you must strive to prophesy, and must not forbid languages. So, all things must be done fittingly and orderly. {14:40}
(8th)Brothers, I brought to your understanding the Good News which I evangelized to you all, which also you accepted, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold fast the certain Message which I evangelized to you, unless you have believed in vain. I gave to you – as the most important things – what I had also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; that He was buried; and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures; and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more that five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the Apostles; and last of all He appeared to me as to one who was prematurely born. I am the least of the Apostles, and not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted God’s called-out people. But I am what I am by God’s Grace, and His Grace to me was not in vain: I worked harder than any of them; yet not I, but God’s Grace which was with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preached, and so you believed. {15:11}
If it is preached that Christ was raised from the dead, why do some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is empty, as also is ‘the Faith’ of you all. Further, we are also found to be false witnesses of God, because we have testified, according to God, that He raised the Christ, Whom He did not raise, if indeed the dead are not raised. So, if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, ‘the Faith’ of you all is vain, and you are still in your sins. Also, those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only in this life we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most pitiable.
But Christ has now been raised, the firstfruits of those who are asleep. Since death came by man, by man also is the resurrection of the dead. As in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive, and each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits, then, at His coming, those who belong to Christ. Then, is the ‘end’, when He delivers the Kingdom to God, even the Father, when He will destroy [1] all rule and all authority and power. He must reign until He has placed all enemies under His feet. The last enemy He destroys is death, for “He has subjected all things under his feet.” {Ps.8:6} When He said all things are subjected, it is clear that the One Who subjected all things is the exception. When He has subjected all things to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One Who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all. Otherwise, what will they do who are being immersed, because of the dead? If the dead are not actually raised, why are they being immersed because of them? Why are we in danger every hour? As certainly as I am proud of you in Christ Jesus our Lord, brothers, I affirm that I die every day. If I fought with wild beasts in Ephesus like an ordinary man, what is the gain to me? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for we die tomorrow.” Do not be deceived: “Bad associations ruin upright morals.” Come fully to your senses, and do not continue to sin, for some do not understand God. I say this to shame you. {15:34}
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised, and with what sort of body will they come?” Senseless man, what you sow, if it does not die, [it] is not made alive; and you do not sow the body that shall be, but more so, a bare grain: maybe of wheat, or of one of the others. God gives to it a body as He has desired, and to each of the seeds its own body. Not all flesh is the same: but more so, [1] there is one of men, [2] another of cattle, [3] another of birds, and [4] another of fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies: but more so, the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one; that of the earthly is another. [1] The splendor of the sun is one,[2] the splendor of the moon is another, and [3] the splendor of the stars is another. Each star has a splendor all its own. The resurrection of the dead is like this: [1] it is sown in decay but raised in immortality; [2] it is sown in humiliation but raised in splendor; [3] it is sown in weakness but raised in power; [4] it is sown a physical body but raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. It is also written in this manner, “The first man Adam became a living soul” [Gen2:7]; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. But more so, the spiritual was not first, but more so, the natural; then the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; but the second is of heaven. Those who are made of dust are like the one who was made of dust; and those who are heavenly are like the One who is heavenly. As we have worn the image of the one who was made of dust; we will also wear the image of the One who is heavenly. I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s Kingdom, neither can mortality inherit immortality. Behold! I show you a Mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be transformed, [a] in an instant, [b] in the blinking of an eye, [c] at the last trumpet; for it will sound, and the dead shall be raised immortal, and we will be transformed. This perishable must put on imperishability, and this mortal must put on immortality. When this perishable has clothed itself with imperishability, and when this mortal has clothed itself with immortality, then the written prediction shall take place: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Death, where is your victory? Where, Death, is your sting?” [Hos13:14LXX] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my beloved brothers, be firm, unshakable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not vain. {15:58}
(9th) Now, concerning the collection for the saints, you must do the same thing that I commanded* the Galatian congregations: every 1st [day] of the week, each one of you must be setting aside by himself, if he earns anything, and put it in a treasury; so that there will be no collections when I come. When I arrive, I will send to Jerusalem the ones whom you approve by letters, to carry the expression of your kindness. If it is fitting for me also to go, they will go with me. I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. It may be that I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, that you may help me on my way wherever I may go. I do not want to see you now in passing, for I hope to stay with you awhile, if the Lord allows. I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, [AD57] for a great and powerful door has been opened to me, though there are many opponents. If Timothy comes, you must make sure that he is free from fear while among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work just as I am. Therefore let no one look down on him; but you must help him on his way in peace, that he may come to me, for I expect him with the brothers. Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I earnestly insisted that he come to you with the brothers. However, it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has an opportunity.
[A] You must stay alert. [B] You must stand firm in ‘the Faith’.[C] You must act yourselves as men.[D] These must be strong. [E] Everything that you do must be done in love. I encourage you, brothers, [1] to get acquainted with the household of Stephanas, because [a] it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and [b] they have set themselves to serve the saints. [2] You should submit to such people; and [3] to everyone who works and cooperates. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaichus, because these have made up your deficiency. They have refreshed my spirit and yours. [4] So, recognize such people. The Asian congregations greet you. Aquila and Prisca, with whom I am lodging, and the congregation in their house greet you heartily in the Lord. All the brothers greet you. You ought to greet one another with a sacred kiss.
The greeting of Paul with my hand. If anyone does not have strong affection for the Lord, he must be accursed. Our Lord, (has) come! May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. My love is with all of you in Christ Jesus.