Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

Have we not power to eat and to drink?

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.