Greetings from Paul

Salutation

1 This letter is from Paul, a missionary of Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, and from our brother, Sosthenes.

2 [ref]It’s written to God’s assembly there in Corinth—to those believers in Messiah Yeshua who’ve been declared guiltless and who’ve been called to live holy lives, along with all those who appeal to the power of our and their master Yeshua Messiah, everywhere.

3 Grace and peace to you all from God our father and from the master Yeshua Messiah.

4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace that he’s given you in Messiah Yeshua—5 thanking him that through him, you’ve all been enriched in every way: in all speech and in all knowledge 6 as our testimony about the messiah[fn] was confirmed in you all 7 so that you all aren’t missing out on any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our master Yeshua Messiah to be revealed. 8 He will sustain you to the end, so that you all will be blameless at the return of our master Yeshua Messiah. 9 The God who called you into fellowship with his son Yeshua Messiah, our master, is faithful.

10 Now brothers and sisters, I appeal to you in the name of our master Yeshua Messiah, that you all agree together so that there’ll be no divisions among you, but rather that you’ll be united in your thinking and in your purpose, 11 because, my brothers and sisters, it’s been made clear to me by some from Chloe’s household, that you are quarrelling among yourselves. 12 What I am talking about is how many of you are claiming that you belong to Paul’s group, for example, or that you belong to Apollos’ group, or that you belong to Cephas’ group, or that you belong to Messiah’s group.[ref] 13 Has the messiah been divided? Was it Paul who was executed for you? Or were you immersed in water in the Paul’s name?

14 I thank God that I didn’t immerse any of you other than Crispus and Gaius,[ref] 15 so that no one can say that I had immersed you into my own name. 16 (Oh yes, I also immersed Stephanas and his household, but I don’t think I immersed anyone else.)[ref] 17 Because Messiah didn’t send me to immerse people in water, but to preach the good message—but not with words of wisdom just in case the messiah’s execution on the stake gets deprived of importance.

18 Because the account about the execution on a stake seems just stupid to non-believers, but on the contrary to us being saved, it’s God’s power, 19 because it was written:[ref]

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and I will nullify the understanding of the intelligent.’

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God turned the wisdom of the world into foolishness?[ref]

21 Because since the world, in God’s wisdom, didn’t know about God through their wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the ‘foolish’ message that was preached. 22 Jews ask for miraculous signs and Greeks search for wisdom, 23 but we preach about how Messiah was executed—something the Jews can’t logic out, and which the Greeks see as total foolishness. 24 Yet to those who God calls, whether Jews or Greeks, Messiah is both God’s power and his wisdom, 25 because God’s foolishness is better than humankind’s wisdom, and God’s weakness is greater than humankind’s strength.

26 So brothers and sisters, think about how God called you. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, and not many were of noble birth, 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame those considered to be wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame those considered to be strong. 28 He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no human can boast to God. 30 But because of him, you are in Messiah Yeshua, who was made to become wisdom from God for us, and to become righteousness, and also sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as per the scriptures: ‘Let anyone who boasts, boast about Yahweh.’[ref]

2 Brothers and sisters, when I visited you all, I didn’t try to impress you with flowery words or great wisdom when I taught you about God’s incredible plan, 2 because I had decided in advance to display knowledge about nothing else other than Yeshua Messiah and his execution. 3 And so I came to you all in weakness and fear and with a lot of trembling,[ref] 4 and my message and my preaching wasn’t delivered with persuasive words of wisdom, but rather demonstrating God’s spirit and power, 5 so that your faith wouldn’t be based on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

6 However, when we’re with mature believers, we speak wisdom—not the wisdom of this age, and not the wisdom of the rulers of this age who will come to nothing. 7 Instead we speak about God’s mysterious and hidden wisdom, which he had planned before creation to enable us to enter his kingdom. 8 None of the rulers of this present age understood it, because if they had, they wouldn’t have crucified the master of that kingdom, 9 but as scripture says:[ref]

‘No eye has seen and no ear has heard,

and it’s never entered any person’s mind,

all the things that God has prepared for those who love him.’

10 But God has revealed it to us through his spirit, because his spirit strives to know the meaning of everything, even the deep things of God. 11 Yes, what person knows what other people are thinking. Only the spirit of the person themself knows that. So too, no one knows God’s thoughts other than God’s own spirit. 12 No, we haven’t received the world’s spirit, but rather God’s spirit so that we can recognise everything that God has freely given to us.

13 We don’t speak about these things from our human wisdom, but rather, saying what God’s spirit teaches—teaching spiritual things from spiritual sources. 14 Secular people don’t accept things about God’s spirit because they seem foolish to them, and they can’t understand them because it requires spiritual awareness, 15 but spiritual people can discern all these things, even though others can’t correctly discern about them. 16 This was stated in scripture:[ref]

‘Who can understand Yahweh’s mind?

Who’s able to instruct him?’

But we do know the messiah’s mind!

3 So brothers and sisters, because you were baby Christians when I visited, I wasn’t able to speak to you all like spiritual people, but only like worldly people. 2 I gave you all milk to drink, because you weren’t ready for solid food, in fact, you still aren’t[ref] 3 because you’re still worldly, because seeing the jealousy and dissension among you tells us that you’re all still worldly and just living by human values. 4 Yes, when one person says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another person says, ‘I follow Apollos’, doesn’t that show that you’re just worldly?[ref]

5 Indeed, who’s Apollos? Who’s Paul? We’re just servants who brought you all the message when you believed, each one as the master led them.[fn] 6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.[ref] 7 That means that neither the planter or the waterer counts for anything, only the grower, God. 8 The planter and the waterer work together, and each of them will be rewarded for their work, 9 because we are God’s co-workers.

You all are God’s field, or in a different image, his building. 10 Using the gifts that God has given me as a wise master-builder, I laid down a foundation and then someone else is building on it. But they need to take care about how they build on it 11 because no one can lay a different foundation than the one already laid down, and that foundation is Yeshua Messiah. 12 Now if anyone builds on top of the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 then their work will become obvious because it will be revealed on the day of judgement because it will be shown up by fire. The fire will expose what sort of building their work created: 14 if anyone’s work that they built survives the fire, those people will be rewarded, 15 but if their work is incinerated, those people will lose out, although they themselves will be saved but as if they’ve been through the flames.

16 Don’t you realise that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s spirit lives inside you all?[ref] 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, then God will destroy that person because his temple is sacred, as are all of you.

18 Don’t let any of you fool yourselves. If anyone of you thinks they’re wise by worldly standards, then let those people become ‘foolish’ so that they really can become wise 19 because this world’s wisdom is foolishness with God, because as it’s written: ‘He catches out the wise in their craftiness.’[ref] 20 And further: ‘Yahweh knows that the thoughts of wise people are useless.’[ref] 21 So then, don’t let anyone boast about people, because everything already belongs to all of you. 22 Don’t boast about Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future. All of them belong to you, 23 and you belong to Messiah, and Messiah belongs to God.

4 So then, people should regard us as servants of Messiah and as stewards of God’s mysteries. 2 What’s more, stewards are expected to be trustworthy. 3 But it makes virtually no difference to me whether I’m being judged by you all, or by a human court, because I don’t even judge myself. 4 Yes, my conscience is clear, but that won’t mean that I’m declared ‘not guilty’, because it’s Yahweh who’ll be examining me. 5 So don’t make judgements ahead of time, but wait until the master comes—the one who’ll bring to light what’s hidden in the darkness, and who will expose people’s true motives. At that time, God will praise each person who’s acted faithfully.

6 Now brothers and sisters, I applied these things to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that through us you all might learn this: ‘Not beyond what is written,’ so that no one would be puffed up in favour of one against the other, 7 because who makes you better than others? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? And if it was given to you, why would you boast as if it hadn’t been given to you?

8 Are you all full already? Have you all already become rich? You think you’re kings already, and don’t need us—I wish you all were really reigning as kings, so we could reign with you, 9 because it seems that God has exhibited us missionaries last of all, as if sentenced to death—because we have become a spectacle to the world—both to God’s messengers and to men. 10 We appear as fools for Messiah’s sake, but you all are wise in Messiah. We are weak, but you all are strong. You all are honoured, but we are dishonoured. 11 Right up to the present time, we’re hungry and thirsty, we’re poorly clothed and brutally beaten, and we’re homeless 12 and working hard—working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless them, and when they persecute us, we put up with it.[ref] 13 When people slander us, we answer gently. We’ve become like the scum of the world, the world’s trash, even until now.

Fatherly Admonition

14 I’m not writing this to shame you all, but to correct you as if you were my own dear children, 15 because if you all would have thousands of guardians in Messiah, yet you wouldn’t have many ‘fathers’, because I fathered you in Messiah Yeshua by means of the good message. 16 That’s why I urge you all to imitate me,[ref] 17 and that’s why I sent Timothy to visit you. He’s like my own dear son in Yahweh, and he’ll remind you all about my ways in Messiah Yeshua, just like I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some of you have become arrogant, as if I’m not able to come back to see you all, 19 but if the master allows it, I’ll come and visit you all again soon. Then I won’t just see what any puffed-up people are saying, but I’ll also see what power they have, 20 because God’s kingdom isn’t just mere words, but it’s a demonstration of power. 21 What would you all prefer: should I come to you all with a rod, or come with love and a gentle spirit?

5 Actually, we’ve been hearing that there’s sexual immorality there among you all, and so bad that even non-believers don’t do it: a man is sleeping with his step-mother![ref] 2 Then instead of being upset, you all seem proud of it. This man should have been expelled out of your group, 3 because even though I’m not there physically, I am present in the spirit, and I’ve already made my judgement about the man who’s doing this, as if I were present. 4 When you assemble together in the name of our master Yeshua, my spirit is there along with the master Yeshua’s power, 5 then you should hand this man over to Satan to punish his body, so that his spirit can be saved for when the master returns.

6 It isn’t good how you all boast. Don’t you realise that a little bit of yeast can raise a whole loaf of bread?[ref] 7 Get rid of the old yeast so that you’ll all become fresh dough, just as you are unleavened bread. For Messiah, our Passover lamb, has also been sacrificed[ref] 8 so that we can be feasting, not with old yeast or with yeast of evil and wickedness, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.[ref]

Sexual Immorality Must Be Judged

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people, 10 but certainly not meaning worldly people who are sexually immoral or swindlers or idolaters, because that would mean that you’d all have to leave this world. 11 No, I’m writing to tell you all not to associate with any so-called believer who’s sexually immoral or greedy or an idolater or verbally abusive or a drunkard or a swindler. Don’t even have a meal with such a person.

12 Why would it be my job to judge outsiders—no, shouldn’t it be those inside the assemblies that you judge? 13 God will judge the outsiders, but:[ref] ‘Expel evil people from among yourselves.’

6 If anyone among you all has a case against another believer, how dare they go to a secular court in front of an unbelieving judge instead of to believers. 2 Don’t you realise that in the future, believers will judge the world, and if the world’s going to be judged by all of you, surely you’re competent enough now to judge smaller cases? 3 Don’t you realise that we’ll judge God’s messengers? So surely we can judge things of this life? 4 So then, if you have legal disputes about things of this life, why do you appoint people with no standing in the assembly as judges? 5 I say that to your shame. Don’t you have anyone among you all who can arbitrate between believers? 6 But instead, one believer goes to court against another, and it’s in front of unbelievers!

7 Actually, you’re all disgraced already for having lawsuits among yourselves. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 But you’re all wronging and cheating others, including fellow believers.

Avoiding Sexual Sin

9 Or don’t you all know that ≈those who disobey God won’t inherit his kingdom? Don’t let yourselves be deceived: those who are sexually immoral or idolaters, or adulterers or male prostitutes or homosexuals, 10 or thieves or greedy, or drunkards or slanderers or swindlers, will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 Now some of you all were like that, but now you’ve been washed and declared guiltless, and been declared innocent by the authority of the master Yeshua Messiah, and by our God’s spirit.

12 Some might say, ‘Everything is permissible for me,’ but not everything is beneficial. Everything might be permissible for me, but I don’t want those things to have control over me.[ref] 13 You might say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food,’ but God will eventually abolish them both. Also, the body is not meant to be used for sexual immorality, but rather, for the master, and the master for the body. 14 Actually, God made the master come alive again, and by his power, he’ll also do that for us.

15 Surely you all know that your bodies are parts of messiah’s body? Because of that, you shouldn’t take your body back and then join it to a prostitute’s body. May it never happen! 16 Or don’t you know that having sex with a prostitute is a joining together, because it says:[ref] ‘The two will become one body.’ 17 But a person joining with the master, becomes one spirit with him.

18 Don’t just walk away from sexual immorality, but run away from it, because other forms of disobeying God are outside the body, but sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19 Surely you all know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit who comes from God and lives within you.[ref] No, you don’t actually own yourselves 20 because a price was paid to buy you, so honour God with your bodies.

7 Now concerning what you all wrote to me: “It’s good for a man not to touch a woman.” 2 However, because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 Both husbands and wives have a marital duty to each other in terms of sexual needs: 4 wives’ bodies belong to their husbands, not to themselves, and similarly, husbands’ bodies belong to their wives, not to themselves. 5 Don’t deprive each other, except by mutual agreement so that you may devote yourselves to prayer for an agreed time, and then be together again, so that Satan can’t easily tempt you all because of your lack of self-control.

6 But that isn’t a command—I’m only suggesting that it’s good to do,[fn] 7 and I wish everyone could be like me. But each person has their own gift from God—one has such-and-such a gift while someone else has a different one.

8 Now to the unmarried and to the widows I say that it’s good if they remain like me,[fn] 9 but if they don’t have self-control, they should marry because it’s better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

10 Now I (well, not I, but the master) command married people that a wife is not to be separated from her husband[ref] 11 (but even if she might be separated, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to the husband), and a husband is not to divorce a wife.

12 But to the rest I say (I, not the master) that if any believing husband has an unbelieving wife and she agrees to live with him, he shouldn’t divorce her. 13 Similarly, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he agrees to live with her, she shouldn’t divorce him. 14 You see, the unbelieving husband is exposed to faith through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is exposed to faith through the believing husband, otherwise your children would be ‘defiled’, but now they are declared innocent. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let that person go. In such cases, the believing spouse is not tied down to serving their departed spouse, but rather God has called us to peace. 16 You see, how do you know, woman, whether you will cause your husband to be saved? Or how do you know, man, whether you will cause your wife to be saved?

17 Nevertheless, each person should live according to how the master has assigned them and how God has called them. That’s what I teach in all the assemblies. 18 Anyone who was called and who was previously circumcised, shouldn’t become ‘uncircumcised’. Anyone who was called who was uncircumcised, shouldn’t get circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should maintain the position they were in when they were called: 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t be concerned about that (but indeed, if you’re able to become free, then take the opportunity) 22 because anyone who was a slave when they were called by Yahweh is free in Yahweh’s sight. Conversely, anyone who was free when they were called is the messiah’s slave. 23 You all were bought by God for a price, so don’t become slaves of people. 24 Again[ref] brothers and sisters, each person should remain in the position they were in when they were called, but now serving God.

25 Now concerning unmarried women, I don’t have instructions from Yahweh but I’ll give my opinions as someone who’s trustworthy thanks to Yahweh’s mercy.

26 Therefore, I think it’s good because of the distress that’s about to come, that people should stay as they are currently. 27 If you’re married, then don’t try to get out of it. If you’re not committed, don’t look for a spouse. 28 But if a single guy or single girl get married, that’s not a sin, but they’ll likely face difficult circumstances and I’m trying to spare you from that.

29 But brothers and sisters, I will say this: the time is short, so from now on, even those who are married should live as if they’re not. 30 Those who are mourning should act as if they’re not, those who are celebrating should act as if they’re not, and those who are buying act as if they don’t own anything, 31 and those who are using this world, as if they’re not using it, because the present form of this world will soon pass away.

32 But I’d like you to be free from concern. Single men are concerned about things of the master—pleasing the master—33 but married men are concerned about worldly affairs—wanting to please their wives—so they’re divided. And unmarried or single women 34 are concerning about things of the master—so that both their bodies and their spirits can be separate from the world—but married women are concerned about worldly affairs—wanting to please their husbands.

35 Now I said all that for your benefit—not to load you all with rules, but to act in ways that are appropriate and devoted to the master without any distractions.

36 However, if a man thinks he’s made the wrong decisions about his unmarried woman,[fn] if she’s reached the age of marriage and it should proceed, then he should do what he planned—he’s not sinning—they should get married. 37 But if the man has made up his mind and isn’t forced, but makes his own decision, and he’s firmly decided to keep his own woman unmarried, then that would also be a good decision. 38 That way, anyone allowing his unmarried woman to marry does well, but anyone who doesn’t, makes a better decision.

39 A wife is committed to her husband as long as he lives, but if he passes away, she’s free to marry whoever she wants to, as long as he’s a believer. 40 However, in my opinion, she’d be happier if she didn’t marry again, and I think it’s God’s spirit that wants me to say that.