Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

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 if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience –

just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.

If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you assemble it does not lead to judgment. I will give directions about other matters when I come.

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.

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?

It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come.

So then, let no one treat him with contempt. But send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him with the brothers.

I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.

and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result of the glory that was made ineffective.

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you,

But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them.