Study Desk

For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me.

Even though I am absent in the body, I am present in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who has been doing such a thing.

When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one person has this gift, another has that.

I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, because you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing?

For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach—and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a commission.

Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people.

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law.

To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law.

I am speaking as to sensible people. Judge for yourselves what I am saying.

What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks?

If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.