Study Desk

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it.

But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

For I am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord.

Therefore I urge you, be imitators of me.

All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

But I have used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make my boast an empty one!

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I handed them down to you.

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

In the same way He also 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."

And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible to me.

In the Law it is written: "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.

and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, LET'S EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.

and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.