For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him.

How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.

For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died.

For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God.

Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.

For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power.

In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals,

“All things are lawful for me” – but not everything is beneficial. “All things are lawful for me” – but I will not be controlled by anything.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.

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

For it is written in the law of Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” God is not concerned here about oxen, is he?

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea,