Study Desk

But I say this, that each of you is saying, "I am with Paul," and "I am with Apollos," and "I am with Cephas," and "I am with Christ."

For whenever anyone says, "I am with Paul," and another, "I am with Apollos," are you not merely human?

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord.

I am not writing these things to shame you, but admonishing you as my dear children.

But I am coming to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk of the ones who have become arrogant, but the power.

For although I am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already passed judgment on the one who has done this in this way, as if I were present.

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

Now concerning virgins I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.

Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service 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 to others I am not an apostle, yet indeed I am to you, for you are my seal of apostleship in the Lord.

I am not saying these things according to a human perspective. Or does the law not also say these things?

But I have not made use of any of these rights. And I am not writing these things in order that it may be thus with me. For it would be better to me rather to die than for anyone to deprive me of my reason for boasting.

For although I am free from all people, I have enslaved myself to all, in order that I may gain more.

I have become like a Jew to the Jews, in order that I may gain the Jews. To those under the law I became as under the law (although I myself am not under the law) in order that I may gain those under the law.

To those outside the law I became as outside the law (although I am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law.

I am speaking as to sensible people; you judge what I am saying.

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

Now I am not speaking about your own conscience, but the conscience of the other person. For why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?

If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?