I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.

I say this as a concession, not as a command.

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

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.”

To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.

Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, ¹  or does the law not say this as well?

I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians? ¹ 

But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”

Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, ¹  how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?

Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God – I say this to your shame!

So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?

And I say this, brothers and sisters: ¹  The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none,

So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift ¹  say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

To the rest I say – I, not the Lord ¹  – if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her.

Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!

Now I mean this, that ¹  each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.”

If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.

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.

I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.