Study Desk

Nevertheless, God was not well-pleased with most of them, for they were scattered along the ground in the wilderness [because their lack of self-control led to disobedience which led to death].

What do I mean then? That a thing offered to idols is anything [special or changed simply because it is offered], or that an idol is anything?

If I take my share [of food] with thankfulness, why am I accused because of something for which I give thanks?

I praise and appreciate you because you remember me in everything and you firmly hold to the traditions [the substance of my instructions], just as I have passed them on to you.

But in giving this next instruction, I do not praise you, because when you meet together it is not for the better but for the worse.

If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," is it not on the contrary still a part of the body?

If the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," is it not on the contrary still a part of the body?

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying].

But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said];

For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressed and violently persecuted the church of God.

We are even discovered to be false witnesses [misrepresenting] God, because we testified concerning Him that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

because a wide door for effective service has opened to me [in Ephesus, a very promising opportunity], and there are many adversaries.

I rejoice because Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus have arrived, for they have made up for your absence.

my spirit could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there; so saying goodbye to them, I left for Macedonia.

Now if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones [the covenant of the Law which led to death because of sin], came with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, [a brilliance] that was fading,

Indeed, what had glory [the Law], in this case no longer has glory because of the glory that surpasses it [the gospel].

But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ.

But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died;

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].