And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.

but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member,

If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.

And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.

It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood?

Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?

For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.

So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.

For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.

Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

For even when we came into Macedonia, our body had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way – struggles from the outside, fears from within.

to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means.

And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you.

For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.