Study Desk

Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.

I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.

Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

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

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

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

Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

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

Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than for anyone to nullify my boast.

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

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

To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?