And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread.

Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?

If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me,

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord –

Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.

Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia,

And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.