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1 Corinthians 9-11
English Standard Version

Paul Surrenders His Rights

9 (A)Am I not free? (B)Am I not an apostle? (C)Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? (D)Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are (E)the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 (F)Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 (G)Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife,[a] as do the other apostles and (H)the brothers of the Lord and (I)Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 (J)Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? (K)Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, (L)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written (M)for our sake, because (N)the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 (O)If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?

Nevertheless, (P)we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything (Q)rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that (R)those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that (S)those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

15 But (T)I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone (U)deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For (V)necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with (W)a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching (X)I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

19 For (Y)though I am free from all, (Z)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might (AA)win more of them. 20 (AB)To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To (AC)those outside the law I became (AD)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but (AE)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 (AF)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. (AG)I have become all things to all people, that (AH)by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, (AI)that I may share with them in its blessings.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives (AJ)the prize? So (AK)run that you may obtain it. 25 Every (AL)athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we (AM)an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I (AN)do not box as one (AO)beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and (AP)keep it under control,[b] lest after preaching to others (AQ)I myself should be (AR)disqualified.

Warning Against Idolatry

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[c] that our fathers were all under (AS)the cloud, and all (AT)passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and (AU)all ate the same (AV)spiritual food, 4 and (AW)all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for (AX)they were overthrown[d] in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as (AY)they did. 7 (AZ)Do not be idolaters (BA)as some of them were; as it is written, (BB)“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 (BC)We must not indulge in sexual immorality (BD)as some of them did, and (BE)twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ[e] to the test, (BF)as some of them did and (BG)were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, (BH)as some of them did and (BI)were destroyed by (BJ)the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but (BK)they were written down for our instruction, (BL)on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore (BM)let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. (BN)God is faithful, and (BO)he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, (BP)flee from idolatry. 15 I speak (BQ)as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 (BR)The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? (BS)The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are (BT)one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider (BU)the people of Israel:[f] (BV)are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that (BW)an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice (BX)they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 (BY)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and (BZ)the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and (CA)the table of demons. 22 (CB)Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? (CC)Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

23 (CD)“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 (CE)Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 (CF)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For (CG)“the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, (CH)eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean (CI)your conscience, but his. For (CJ)why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that (CK)for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or (CL)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 (CM)Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to (CN)the church of God, 33 just as (CO)I try to please everyone in everything I do, (CP)not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

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

Head Coverings

2 Now I commend you (CR)because you remember me in everything and (CS)maintain the traditions (CT)even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that (CU)the head of every man is Christ, (CV)the head of a wife[g] is her husband,[h] and (CW)the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife[i] who prays or (CX)prophesies (CY)with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same (CZ)as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since (DA)he is the image and glory of God, but (DB)woman is the glory of man. 8 For (DC)man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but (DD)woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[j] 11 Nevertheless, (DE)in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And (DF)all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 (DG)If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do (DH)the churches of God.

The Lord's Supper

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

23 For (DO)I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that (DP)the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[l] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[m] 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death (DQ)until he comes.

27 (DR)Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord (DS)in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning (DT)the body and blood of the Lord. 28 (DU)Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some (DV)have died.[n] 31 (DW)But if we judged[o] ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, (DX)we are disciplined[p] so that we may not be (DY)condemned along with the world.

33 So then, my brothers,[q] when you come together to eat, wait for[r] one another— 34 (DZ)if anyone is hungry, (EA)let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things (EB)I will give directions (EC)when I come.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Greek a sister as wife
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:27 Greek I pummel my body and make it a slave
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:1 Or brothers and sisters
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:5 Or were laid low
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts the Lord
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:18 Greek Consider Israel according to the flesh
  7. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Greek gunē. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context
  8. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Greek anēr. This term may refer to a man or a husband, depending on the context
  9. 1 Corinthians 11:5 In verses 5–13, the Greek word gunē is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture
  10. 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report
  11. 1 Corinthians 11:18 Or I believe a certain report
  12. 1 Corinthians 11:24 Some manuscripts broken for
  13. 1 Corinthians 11:24 Or as my memorial; also verse 25
  14. 1 Corinthians 11:30 Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20)
  15. 1 Corinthians 11:31 Or discerned
  16. 1 Corinthians 11:32 Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord
  17. 1 Corinthians 11:33 Or brothers and sisters
  18. 1 Corinthians 11:33 Or share with
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1 Corinthians 9-11
New International Version

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?(A) Am I not an apostle?(B) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?(C) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?(D) 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal(E) of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink?(F) 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife(G) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers(H) and Cephas[a]?(I) 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas(J) who lack the right to not work for a living?

7 Who serves as a soldier(K) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard(L) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[b](M) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?(N) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,(O) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.(P) 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(Q) 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.(R) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(S) the gospel of Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?(T) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(U)

15 But I have not used any of these rights.(V) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.(W) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(X) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(Y) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(Z) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(AA) and so not make full use of my rights(AB) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free(AC) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(AD) to win as many as possible.(AE) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(AF) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(AG) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(AH) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(AI) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(AJ) I have become all things to all people(AK) so that by all possible means I might save some.(AL) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?(AM) Run(AN) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown(AO) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(AP) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(AQ) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(AR) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(AS) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(AT)

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant(AU) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud(AV) and that they all passed through the sea.(AW) 2 They were all baptized into(AX) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food(AY) 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock(AZ) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.(BA)

6 Now these things occurred as examples(BB) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters,(BC) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[c](BD) 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.(BE) 9 We should not test Christ,[d](BF) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.(BG) 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did(BH)—and were killed(BI) by the destroying angel.(BJ)

11 These things happened to them as examples(BK) and were written down as warnings for us,(BL) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.(BM) 12 So, if you think you are standing firm,(BN) be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[e] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;(BO) he will not let you be tempted[f] beyond what you can bear.(BP) But when you are tempted,[g] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

14 Therefore, my dear friends,(BQ) flee from idolatry.(BR) 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break(BS) a participation in the body of Christ?(BT) 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,(BU) for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices(BV) participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?(BW) 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,(BX) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.(BY) 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?(BZ) Are we stronger than he?(CA)

The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(CB) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.(CC)

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,(CD) 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[h](CE)

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you(CF) without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.(CG) 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom(CH) being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?(CI)

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.(CJ) 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble,(CK) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God(CL)— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way.(CM) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,(CN) so that they may be saved.(CO) 11 1 Follow my example,(CP) as I follow the example of Christ.(CQ)

On Covering the Head in Worship

2 I praise you(CR) for remembering me in everything(CS) and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.(CT) 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,(CU) and the head of the woman is man,[i](CV) and the head of Christ is God.(CW) 4 Every man who prays or prophesies(CX) with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies(CY) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.(CZ) 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

7 A man ought not to cover his head,[j] since he is the image(DA) and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;(DB) 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.(DC) 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[k] head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.(DD)

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.(DE)

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper(DF)

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you,(DG) for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions(DH) among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.(DI) 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers.(DJ) As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God(DK) by humiliating those who have nothing?(DL) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?(DM) Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord(DN) what I also passed on to you:(DO) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,(DP) which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(DQ) in my blood;(DR) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(DS)

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.(DT) 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves(DU) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.(DV) 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.(DW) 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined(DX) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.(DY)

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry(DZ) should eat something at home,(EA) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come(EB) I will give further directions.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, Peter
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts test the Lord
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  7. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  8. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1
  9. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or of the wife is her husband
  10. 1 Corinthians 11:7 Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair
  11. 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or have a sign of authority on her
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