Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them.

From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother,

so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name!

But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.

The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.

If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward.

Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.

We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,

when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.

Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called.

But if someone loves God, he is known by God.

Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well?

For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.

I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.

And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.