Category: 1 Corinthians

Christian Order

1 Imitate me, just as IimitateChrist.

2 I praiseandappreciate you because you remember me in everything and you firmly hold to thetraditions [the substance of my instructions], just as I have passed them on to you.

3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head (authority over) of every man, and man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ.

4 Every man who prays orprophesies withsomethingon his head dishonors his head [and the One who is his head].

5 And every woman who prays or prophesies when she has herhead uncovered disgraces her head; for she is one and the same as thewoman whose head is shaved [in disgrace].

6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; andif it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head.

7 A man ought not have his head covered [during worship], since he is the image and [reflected] glory of God; but the woman is [the expression of] man’s glory.

8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;

9 for indeed man was not created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man.

10 Therefore the woman ought to have asign ofauthority on her head,for the sake of the angels [so as not to offend them].

11 Nevertheless, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

12 For as the woman originates from the man, so also man is born through the woman; and all things [whether male or female] originate from God [as their Creator].

13 Judge for yourselves; is it proper for a woman to offer prayer to God [publicly] with her head uncovered?

14 Does not common sense itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,

15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her ornamentandglory? For her long hair is given to her as a covering.

16 Now if anyone is inclined to be contentious [about this], we have no other practice [in worship than this], nor do the churches of God [in general].

17 But in giving this next instruction, I do not praise you, because when you meet together it is not for the better but for the worse.

18 For, in the first place, when you meet together in church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and in part I believe it,

19 for [doubtless] there have to be factions among you, so that those who are of approved character may be clearly recognized among you.

20 So when you meet together, it is not to eat theLord’s Supper,

21 for when you eat, each one hurries to get his own supper first [not waiting for others or the poor]. So one goes hungry while another gets drunk.

22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those [impoverished believers] who have nothing? What will I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? In this I will not praise you!

The Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,“This is (represents) My body, which is[offered as a sacrifice]for you. Do this in[affectionate]remembrance of Me.”

25 In the same way, after supperHe tookthe cup, saying,“This cup is the new covenant[ratified and established]in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in[affectionate]remembrance of Me.”

26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].

27 So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

29 For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does notrecognize the body [of Christ].

30 That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death].

31 But if we evaluatedandjudged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged.

32 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined [by undergoing His correction] so that we will not be condemned [to eternal punishment] along with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat [the Lord’s Supper], wait for one another [and see to it that no one is left out].

34 If anyone is too hungry [to wait], let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment [on yourselves]. About the remaining matters [of which I was informed], I will take care of them when I come.

The Use of Spiritual Gifts

1 Now about the spiritualgifts[the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit], brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

2 You know that when you were pagans,you wereled off after speechless idols; however you were led off [whether by impulse or habit].

3 Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the [power and influence of the] Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is [my] Lord,” except by [the power and influence of] the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are [distinctive] varieties ofspiritualgifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers].

5 And there are [distinctive] varieties of ministriesandservice, but it is the same Lord [who is served].

6 And there are [distinctive] ways of working [to accomplish things], but it is the same God who produces all things in allbelievers[inspiring, energizing, and empowering them].

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good.

8 To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledgeandunderstanding according to the same Spirit;

9 to another [wonder-working] faith [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of healings by the one Spirit;

10 and to another the working ofmiracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to anothervariouskinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.

11 All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses.

12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, soit is with Christ.

13 For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed—united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life].

14 For the [human] body does not consist of one part, but of many [limbs and organs].

15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am nota partof the body,” is it not on the contrary stilla partof the body?

16 If the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am nota partof the body,” is it not on the contrary stilla partof the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole [body] were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

18 But now [as things really are], God has placedandarranged the parts in the body, each one of them, just as He willedandsaw fit [with the best balance of function].

19 If they all were a singleorgan,where would [the rest of] the body be?

20 But now [as things really are] there are many parts [different limbs and organs], but a single body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

22 But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary;

23 and as for thosepartsof the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty,

24 while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it,

25 so that there would be no divisionordiscord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.

26 And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it.

27 Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function].

28 So God has appointedandplaced in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers invariouskinds of [unknown] tongues.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

31 But earnestly desireandstrive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal].

And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love].

The Excellence of Love

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have notlove [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].

2 And if I havethe gift ofprophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.

3 If I give all my possessions to feedthe poor,and if I surrender my bodyto be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.

4 Love endures with patienceandserenity, love is kindandthoughtful, and is not jealousorenvious; love does not brag and is not proudorarrogant.

5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrongendured.

6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].

7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete].

10 But when that which is completeandperfect comes, that which is incompleteandpartial will pass away.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].

13 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

Prophecy a Superior Gift

1 Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desireandcultivate the spiritualgifts[to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you mayprophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

2 For one who speaks in anunknowntongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands himorcatches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things].

3 But [on the other hand] the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification [to promote their spiritual growth] and [speaks words of] encouragement [to uphold and advise them concerning the matters of God] and [speaks words of] consolation [to compassionately comfort them].

4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church [promotes growth in spiritual wisdom, devotion, holiness, and joy].

5 Now I wish that all of you spoke inunknowntongues, butevenmore [I wish] that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translatesorexplains [what he says], so that the church maybe edified [instructed, improved, strengthened].

6 Now, believers, if I come to you speaking inunknowntongues, how will I benefit you unless I also speak to you [clearly] either by revelation [revealing God’s mystery], or by knowledge [teaching about God], or by prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], or by instruction [teaching precepts that develop spiritual maturity]?

7 Yetevenlifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct [musical] tones, how will anyone [listening] know what is piped or played?

8 And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

9 So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligibleandclear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]!

10 There are, I suppose, a great many kinds of languages in the world [unknown to us], and none is lacking in meaning.

11 But if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will [appear to] be aforeigner to the one who is speaking [since he knows exactly what he is saying], and the one who is speaking will [appear to] be a foreigner to me.

12 So it is with you, since you are so very eager to have spiritual giftsandmanifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church [spiritually].

13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [be gifted to] translateorexplain [what he says].

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying].

15 Then what am I to do? I will pray with thespirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will pray with the mind [using words I understand]; I will sing with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will sing with the mind [using words I understand].

16 Otherwise if you bless [and give thanks to God] in the spirit only, how will any outsiderorsomeone who is not gifted [in spiritual matters] say the “Amen” [of agreement] to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

17 You are giving thanks well enough [in a way that God is glorified], but the other person [who does not understand you] is not edified [and spiritually strengthened since he cannot join in your thanksgiving].

18 I thank God that I speak in [unknown] tongues more than all of you;

19 nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say fiveunderstandablewords in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].

Instruction for the Church

20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults].

21 It is written in the Law, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreignersIwill speak to this people,and not even then will they listen toMe,” says the Lord.

22 Therefore, [unknown] tongues are [meant] for a [supernatural] sign, not to believers but to unbelievers [who might be receptive]; while prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people] is not for unbelievers but for believers.

23 So then, if the whole church gathers together and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and outsidersorthose who are not gifted [in spiritual matters] or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

24 But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said];

25 the secrets of his heart are laid bare. And so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.

26 What then isthe right course,believers? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a tongue,oran interpretation. Let everything be constructiveandedifyinganddone for the good of all the church.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue,it should be limitedto two or at the most three, andeach one speakingin turn, and one must interpret [what is said].

28 But if there is no one to interpret, the one [who wishes to speak in a tongue] must keep silent in church; let him speak to himself and to God.

29 Let two or three prophets speak [as inspired by the Holy Spirit], while the rest pay attentionandweigh carefully what is said.

30 But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent.

31 For [in this way] you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may be instructed and everyone may be encouraged;

32 for the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets [the prophecy is under the speaker’s control, and he can stop speaking];

33 for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is nota Godof confusionanddisorder but of peaceandorder.

As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people),

34 thewomen should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says.

35 If there is anything they want to learn [that is, if they have questions about anything being said or taught], they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for awoman to talk in church.

36 Did the word of the Lord originate from you [Corinthians], or has it come to you only [so that you know best what God requires]?

37 If anyone thinksandclaims that he is a prophet [a true spokesman for God] or spiritually astute [filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit], let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.

38 If anyone does not recognize this [that it is a command of the Lord], he is not recognized [by God].

39 Therefore, believers, desire earnestly to prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people], and do not forbid speaking inunknowntongues.

40 But all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.

The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

1 Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomedandaccepted and on which you stand [by faith].

2 By thisfaithyou are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].

3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],

4 and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],

5 and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to theTwelve.

6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death].

7 Then He was seen by James, then by all the apostles,

8 and last of all, as to oneuntimely (prematurely, traumatically) born, He appeared to me also.

9 For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressedandviolently persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the [remarkable] grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not without effect. In fact, I worked harder than all of the apostles, though it was not I, but the grace of God [His unmerited favor and blessing which was] with me.

11 So whether it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believedandtrusted inandrelied on with confidence.

12 Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how is it thatsome among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised;

14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain [useless, amounting to nothing], and your faith is also vain [imaginary, unfounded, devoid of value and benefit—not based on truth].

15 We are even discovered to be false witnesses [misrepresenting] God, because we testified concerning Him that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, either;

17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthlessandpowerless [mere delusion]; you are still in your sins [and under the control and penalty of sin].

18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

19 If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserableandto be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

20 But now [as things really are] Christ hasin factbeen raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death].

21 For since [it was] by a man that deathcame[into the world], it is also by a Man that the resurrection of the deadhas come.

22 For just asin Adam all die, so alsoin Christ all will be made alive.

23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s [own will be resurrected with incorruptible, immortal bodies] at His coming.

24 After that comes the end (completion), when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after He has made inoperativeandabolished every ruler and every authority and power.

25 For Christ must reign [as King] until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

26 The last enemy to be abolishedandput to an end is death.

27 For He(the Father)has put all things in subjection underHis(Christ’s)feet. But when He says, “All things have been put in subjection [under Christ],” it is clear that He (the Father) who put all things in subjection to Him (Christ) is excepted [since the Father is not in subjection to His own Son].

28 However, when all things are subjected to Him (Christ), then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One (the Father) who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all [manifesting His glory without any opposition, the supreme indwelling and controlling factor of life].

29 Otherwise, what will those do who are beingbaptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people even baptized for them?

30 [For that matter] why are we [running such risks and putting ourselves]in danger [nearly] every hour [if there is no resurrection]?

31 I assure you, believers, by the pride which I have in you in [your union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily [I face death and die to self].

32 What good has it done me if, [merely] from a human point of view, Ifought with wild animals at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised [at all],let us eat and drink[enjoying ourselves now],for tomorrow we die.

33 Do not be deceived:“Bad company corrupts good morals.”

34 Be sober-minded [be sensible, wake up from your spiritual stupor] as you ought, and stop sinning; for some [of you] have no knowledge of God [you are disgracefully ignorant of Him, and ignore His truths]. I say this to your shame.

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

36 You fool! Every time you plantseedyou sow something that does not come to life [germinating, springing up and growing] unless itfirstdies.

37 The seed you sow is not the body (the plant) which it is going to become, but it is a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain.

38 But God gives it a body just as He planned, and to each kind of seed a body of its own [is given].

39 All flesh is not the same. There is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

40 There are also heavenly bodies [sun, moon and stars] and earthly bodies [humans, animals, and plants], but the gloryandbeauty of the heavenly is one kind, and thegloryof the earthly is another.

41 There is a gloryandbeauty of the sun, another glory of the moon, and yet another [distinctive] glory of the stars; and one star differs from another in gloryandbrilliance.

42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The [human] body that is sown is perishableandmortal, it is raised imperishableandimmortal.

43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in strength;

44 it is sown a natural body [mortal, suited to earth], it is raised a spiritual body [immortal, suited to heaven]. As surely as there is a physical body, there is also a spiritualbody.

45 So it is written [in Scripture], “The firstman, Adam,became a living soul(an individual);” the last Adam (Christ)becamea life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life].

46 However, the spiritual [the immortal life] is not first, but the physical [the mortal life]; then the spiritual.

47 The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy [made of dust]; the second Man [Christ, the Lord] is from heaven.

48 As is the earthly man [the man of dust], so are those who are of earth; and as is the heavenly [Man], so are those who are of heaven.

49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthly [the man of dust],we will also bear the image of the heavenly [the Man of heaven].

The Mystery of Resurrection

50 Now I say this, believers, that flesh and blood cannot inheritnorbe part of the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (mortal) inherit the imperishable (immortal).

51 Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed],

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed].

53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death].

54 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, “Death is swallowed upin victory (vanquished forever).

55 Odeath,where is your victory? Odeath,where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law;

57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], beingcontinuallyaware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futilenorwasted [it is never without purpose].

Instructions and Greetings

1 Now concerning the money collected for [the relief of] the saints [in Jerusalem], you are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatiato do.

2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put something aside, in proportion to his prosperity, and save it so that no collections [will need to] be made when I come.

3 When I arrive, I will send whomever you approve with letters [of authorization] to take your gift [of charity and love] to Jerusalem;

4 and if it is fitting for me to go too, they will accompany me.

5 I will visit you after I go through Macedonia, for I am only passing through Macedonia;

6 but it may be that I will stay with you [for a while], or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way to wherever I may goafterward.

7 For I do not wish to see you right nowjustin passing, but I hope to remain with you for some time [later on], if the Lord permits.

8 But I will stay in Ephesus untilPentecost,

9 because a wide door for effective service has opened to me [in Ephesus, a very promising opportunity], and there are many adversaries.

10 If Timothy comes, see to it that [you put him at ease, so that] he has nothing to fear in regard to you, for he is [devotedly] doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.

11 So allow no one to treat him with disdain [as if he were inconsequential]. But send him off [cordially, and speed him on his way] in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am expecting him [to come along] with theotherbrothers.

12 As for our brother Apollos, I have strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. It was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.

13 Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] menandbe courageous; be strong.

14 Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].

15 Brothers and sisters, you know thatthose ofthe household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry toGod’s people—now I urge you

16 to be subject to such leaders [treating them with courtesy and respect], and to everyone who helps in the work and labors [for the benefit of yourselves and the church].

17 I rejoice because Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus have arrived, for they have made up for your absence.

18 They have refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So fully acknowledge such menanddeeply appreciate them.

19 The churches of Asia send you their greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church [that meets] in their house, send you their warm greetings in the Lord.

20 All the believers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.

22 If anyone does not love the Lord [does not obey and respect and believe in Jesus Christ and His message], he is to be accursed. Maranatha (O our Lord, come)!

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus [His unmerited favor, His spiritual blessing, His profound mercy] be with you.

24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.