К Коринфянам первое послание Апостола Павла

Corinth was the main city of the Roman province of Achaia, with a mixed population consisting of Greeks, Jews and newcomers from the whole of Italy. The city was famous for its trade, the luxury of its holidays and games, famous throughout the world, and was famous for its high culture and extreme debauchery. The Christian church in Corinth was founded by the Apostle Paul while he was residing in Corinth on his second journey (Acts 13), and this first epistle was written by him, in all likelihood, from Ephesus, during his third journey (Acts 19), about 54 A.D. Rumors reached him about disagreements and strife that arose in the young Corinthian community (1 Cor. 1), and at the same time they wrote to him from there, demanding answers on various subjects of church life. Paul, called by the will of God to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ, and Sosthenes brother: the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who were sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, and to all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, among them and among us. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God, for your sake, for the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus: in Him you have been enriched in everything, both in the power of speech and in all understanding, and the testimony of Christ is established in you, so that you are not lacking in any talent, waiting for the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will establish you to the end, and so you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by Him you were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Reproach for division of opinions I pray to you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you stand in one word, and that there be no division among you, and that you be established in the same spirit and in the same thoughts. And from the household of Chloe I learned, my brethren, that there are divisions among you. Exactly what everyone says about himself: I am Pavlov; I am Apollosov, I am Cephas, and I am Khristov. Was Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in Paul’s name? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one could say that he baptized in my name. I also baptized Stephen’s house; However, I don’t know whether I baptized anyone else. Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, and not in the wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ be abolished 28 . For the word about the Cross is only foolishness (madness) for those who are perishing, but for us who are being saved it is the power of God. So it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and destroy the understanding of the prudent” (Is. 29). Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the questioner of this century? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into foolishness? For when the world through its wisdom did not know God in the wisdom of God, God deigned through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. The Jews demand miracles, the Greeks seek wisdom, But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block for the Jews, and foolishness for the Greeks, for those who were called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolish with God is wiser than men, and the weak with God is stronger than men. Look, brothers, who you are called to be. There are few among you who are wise in the flesh, some who are strong, some who are noble. But God has chosen the foolish things in the world, that he may confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things in the world, that he may confound the strong, God has chosen what is base in the world and what is base, and He will bring to naught what is noble in the world - so that no flesh should boast before God. From Him you also are in Christ Jesus: He became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Let it be as it is written: let him boast in the Lord (Jer. 9). Chapter 2. Human wisdom and revelation And when I came to you, brethren, I came to proclaim to you the testimony of God, not in excellence of speech or wisdom, for when he was with you, he decided not to know anything except Jesus Christ and Christ crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in great trembling. And my word and preaching are not in convincing speeches of human wisdom, but in the manifestation of the spirit and power, let your faith not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. And we preach wisdom to those who are perfect (in faith); but not the wisdom of this age and the powers that are perishing in this age. But we preach the wisdom of God, hidden in mystery: God ordained it before the ages for our glory. And none of the princes of this age understood it: if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written: “What eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and what has not entered into the heart of man, that God has prepared for those who love Him” (Is. 64). God revealed to us by His Spirit: the Spirit penetrates everything and into the depths of God. And who among people knows what is in a person - only the spirit of a person living in him. Likewise, no one knows God, only the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of this world, but the Spirit from God, Let us understand what has been given to us from God, which we proclaim not with the learned speeches of human wisdom, but with the science of the Holy Spirit, reasoning spiritually about spiritual things. But a spiritual person does not accept anything from the Spirit of God: it seems to him madness, and he cannot understand it, because there can only be spiritual reasoning about spiritual things. A spiritual person can judge everything, but no one can judge him. And who has known the mind of the Lord to judge about him (Is. 40)? We have the mind of Christ. Chapter 3. The title and work of the apostle And I could not speak to you, brethren, as spiritual, but as carnal, as babes in Christ. He fed you with milk, and not with solid food: you were not yet strong, and even now you are not strong—you are still carnal. When there is envy and jealousy and strife among you, are you not acting carnally and according to human morals? Now, when one says: I am Pavlov, and the other: I am Apollosov, are you not carnal? Who is Pavel? Who is Apollos? Only the ministers from whom you received the faith, and those to whom the Lord has given as much. I planted, Apollos watered, and God increased. Therefore, the one who planted and the one who watered means nothing, but everything comes from God, who gives growth. In this it is one and who planted and who watered; but each one will receive his wages according to his work. After all, we are co-workers with God, and you are God’s field, God’s building. I, by the grace of God given to me, like a wise builder, laid the foundation, and another builds, but each one watch how he builds. For no one can lay any other foundation than that which lies, Jesus Christ. Does anyone build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, reeds, each one's work will be revealed: the day (of the Lord) will reveal everything in fire, and the fire will test everyone's work as to what it is. Whoever's business survives, he will accept the bribe; Whoever’s work is burned, his work will be lost, but he himself will be saved, as if he were saved from the fire. Or don’t you know that you are the church of God and the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys the church of God, the Lord will destroy him, for the church of God is holy, and you are the church of God. Let no one deceive himself: whoever among you thinks to be wise in this age must be foolish, that he may remain wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, as it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” (Job.5), and again: “The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vanity” (Ps. 93). So let no one boast about men, for all is yours: and Paul and Apollos and Cephas and the world and life and death, and the present and the future - all yours. You are Christ's; Christ is God's. So let every person understand us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. What is required of the housebuilder is to be faithful. It means little to me how you and every human court judge me; and I don’t judge myself. And although I don’t know anything about myself, this does not justify me; The Lord is my judge. Therefore, do not judge in any way before the time when the Lord comes: He will reveal in the light everything that was hidden in darkness, and will reveal the intentions of the heart, and then praise will come to everyone from God. All this, brothers, I applied to myself and to Apollos for your sake, so that you would learn from us not to philosophize above what is written, and not to be proud of one another. Who distinguishes you (from others)? What do you have that you wouldn’t get (for free)? And if you received it, why do you boast as if you didn’t receive it? Or have you already become fed up, already become rich, and begun to reign without us? Oh, if only you would reign in truth: and we would reign with you! And I think that God revealed us, the last Apostles, as if we were doomed to death, for we became a disgrace to the world and to Angels and men. We are fools for Christ's sake, and you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong; you are in glory, and we are in dishonor. Until this hour we hunger and thirst and are naked and endure beatings and wander, and we work, working with our own hands. They revile us, and we bless; they persecute us, we endure; they blaspheme us, we beg; We are like rabble to the world, trash, to this day trampled upon by everyone. I do not want to shame you with my writing, but I admonish you as my beloved children. For although you have thousands of teachers in Christ, you have not many fathers, but I gave birth to you in Christ Jesus through the gospel. So I pray to you: imitate me, as I imitate Christ. For this reason I sent Timothy to you, my beloved and faithful son in the Lord: he will bring you to remember my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach everywhere and in every church. Some of you became proud when they saw that I was not coming to you. But I will come soon, if the Lord wills, and I will test those who are proud, not their words, but the strength (which is in them); for the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of meekness? Chapter 5. A Case of Extreme Immorality There is a rumor from many that fornication has appeared among you, and such fornication as is not heard even among the pagans, as if a man lives with his father’s wife. And you are still proud: it would be better to cry so that whoever is guilty of such a thing is removed from your midst. And although I am absent in body, I live with you in spirit, and have already judged, as if in my presence, about the person who did such a thing - so that in your assembly in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, together with my spirit, by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, you deliver it to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, may his spirit be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have nothing to boast about. Don’t you know that there is little kvass, but all the dough is leavened? Cleanse out the old leaven so that your dough may be new, since you are unleavened, for our Passover, Christ, was sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate, not in the old leaven, not in the leaven of malice and wickedness, but in unleavened bread (with unleavened bread) of purity and truth 29 I wrote to you in a letter - do not associate with fornicators. However, not in general with the fornicators of this world or the covetous or predators or idolaters, for then it would be necessary to come out of this world. But I wrote to you today - do not communicate with someone who, while calling himself a brother, is a fornicator or a covetous person or an idolater or a slanderer or a drunkard or a predator: do not eat with such a person. Why should I judge those outside (those outside the church)? Shouldn’t you judge those who are inside (the church), but God judges those outside. Therefore, remove the corrupt from among you. Chapter 6. Litigation between Christians When any of you has dealings with another, dare he go to court before the wicked and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you really unworthy to judge unimportant matters? Don’t you know that we will judge angels, much less the deeds of this life? And you, when you have everyday disputes, make the most insignificant people in the church your judges. To your shame I say: Or is there no one intelligent among you who could judge between his brothers? But brother and brother are suing, and even before the infidels. And it is already shameful for you that you have litigation among yourself. Wouldn't it be better to bear the insult? suffer deprivation? But you yourself are creating offense, you are delaying it yourself, and even from your brothers. Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators nor idolaters, neither adulterers, nor wicked people, nor homosexuals, nor greedy people, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Everything is allowed to me, but not everything is for my benefit. Everything is allowed to me, but nothing should possess me. Food is for the belly and the belly is for food, but God will abolish both. The body is not for harlotry, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. God raised the Lord (Christ), and He will resurrect us by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Well, shall I take away the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? It won't happen. Or do you not know that whoever has sex with a harlot is one body with the harlot? for it is said: “They will both become one flesh.” And whoever is united with the Lord is one spirit with the Lord. Flee fornication; every sin that a person commits, except the body; but the fornicator sins against his own body. Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit living in you - you have it from God and are no longer your own (you are not free in yourself), for they were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your bodies and in your souls - they are God's. Chapter 7. Marriage and celibacy And about what you wrote to me, I will say: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But so as not to fall into fornication, let each one have his own wife and each one her own husband. Let the husband have due love for his wife; also the wife to her husband. The wife has no power over her body: the husband has power over it; Likewise, the husband has no power over his body, but his wife has power. Do not separate from each other, except by mutual agreement and for a while, for freedom, for the sake of fasting and prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan does not tempt you with your intemperance. But I say this as advice, not a command. I wish all people were like me; but everyone has his own gift from God - one this way, the other another. To the celibates and widows I will say: it is good for them to remain as I am. But if they cannot abstain, let them marry: it is better to marry than to be inflamed by passion. And for those who are bound by marriage, the command is not from me, but from the Lord: the wife should not be separated from her husband. If she separates, let her remain celibate or be reconciled with her husband; and a husband should not allow his wife to divorce. To the rest I say, and not the Lord: if a brother has an unbelieving wife, and she wants to live with him, let him not leave her, and the wife, if her husband is an unbeliever and wants to live with her, should not leave him; For an unbelieving husband is sanctified by a faithful wife, and an unbelieving wife is sanctified by a faithful husband: otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. If an infidel wants to get a divorce, let him get a divorce: a brother or sister is not bound by this - the Lord has called us to peace. And why do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? And husband, why do you know if you can save your wife? Christianity does not depend on worldly title In any case, each one should live in what God has determined for him, and each one in what the Lord has called him to live in: this is what I command throughout all the churches. If any of those who are circumcised are called, do not hide your circumcision. If you are called from among the uncircumcised, do not circumcise. Circumcision means nothing and uncircumcision means nothing, but everything is in keeping the commandments of God. Let everyone remain in the rank in which he was called. You are called to be a slave - do not be embarrassed; but if you can get yourself freedom, do what you know best. For a servant called in the Lord is a free man of the Lord; and he who is called from among the free is a servant of Christ. You were bought with a price: do not become slaves of men. In whatever rank one is called, brethren, abide in that before God. The hardships and worries of married life Regarding virgins, I do not have a command from the Lord, but I give advice, because I have received mercy from the Lord - to be faithful. I think that it is better for a person to remain as he is due to his current needs. If you are united with your wife, do not seek permission from the bond. If you have renounced your wife, do not look for a wife. Even if you get married, you will not sin; Even a girl will not sin if she gets married. But such will have sorrows in the flesh, and I have pity on you. This is what I tell you, brethren: the time is short, so those who have wives must be treated as if they do not have one, and those who weep as if they were not weeping, and those who rejoice as if they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as if they were not possessing, and those who seek the needs of the things of this world, as if they have no need; for the image of this world is passing away. And I want you to be free from worries. An unmarried man worries about the Lord, how to please the Lord; but a married man worries about worldly things, how to please his wife. And it’s one thing for a married woman, another for a girl. An unmarried woman cares about the Lord, how to please the Lord, to keep herself holy in both body and spirit; but a married woman worries about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your benefit, not to put bonds on you, but so that you can serve the Lord gracefully and unceasingly without distraction. If anyone considers it dishonest for his girl to remain as she is when she has passed the age, let him do as he knows: he will not sin if she gets married. If someone firmly decided in his heart and, having no need, powerful in his will, decided in his heart to keep his virgin, he acts rightly. So whoever brings his virgin to marriage does good; and whoever doesn’t bring his own will do even better. A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; and when her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wants, only in the Lord (for a faithful one). But she will be happier if she remains like this, according to my advice; but I think that I also have the Spirit of God. Chapter 8. Question of conscience about idolatry sacrifices We know about food sacrificed to idols (what they mean), because we have all knowledge. But knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. He who thinks he knows something does not yet know anything as he should know; but whoever loves God is in the knowledge of Him. And about how to eat meat sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world (in reality) and that there is no other God but the One. Even if there were so-called gods either in heaven or on earth (after all, there are many gods and many lords), but we have one God the Father, from Worthless we are all for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, from Worthless we all (live). But not everyone has the knowledge: some to this day, with a conscience that recognizes idols, eat idols’ meat as a sacrifice to idols, and their conscience, weak, becomes defiled. But food does not bring us closer to God; We gain nothing from food, and we lose nothing from not eating. However, be careful that this freedom of yours does not become a temptation for the weak. If someone sees you, as you, having knowledge, recline in an idol’s church, and his weak conscience is disposed and he eats an idol’s sacrifice, - then, from your knowledge, the weak brother for whose sake Christ died will perish. Thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. And therefore, if food tempts my brother, I will never eat meat at all, so as not to tempt my brother. Chapter 9. Example of Apostolic Ministry Am I not an Apostle? Aren't you free? Have you not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Aren't you my business about the Lord? If he is not an Apostle to others, then he is an Apostle to you, for the seal of my apostleship is you, in the Lord. This is my defense against those who judge me. Or do we have no power to eat and drink? Or do we not have the authority to bring our sister and wife with us, like the other Apostles, like the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do I and Barnabas alone have no right not to be fed by the labor of our hands? What kind of warrior serves beyond his pay? Who, having planted grapes, does not eat its fruit? Who, while tending a flock, does not eat milk from the flock? And am I speaking only from human reasoning? Isn't that what the law says? In the Law of Moses it is written: “Do not stop the mouth of an ox while it is threshing” (Deut. 25). Does God care about oxen? Or, of course, it’s said for us? Thus, it is written for us: whoever plows must plow with hope, and whoever threshes must reap the fruit of hope with hope. If we have sown spiritual things in you, is it great that we will reap bodily things from you? If others have the power to do this over you, how much less do we? But we did not use such power: we endure everything so that there is no hindrance from us to the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who officiate are fed from the sanctuary? And those who serve the altar have a share from the altar? So the Lord commanded the preachers of the gospel to live from the gospel. But I didn't use anything. And I’m not writing this to arrange something for myself: it’s better for me to die than for someone to ruin my praise. If I preach the gospel, then I have nothing to boast about - this is my duty, and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. If I do it with my own good will, there will be a reward for me; and if not on my own, involuntarily, then such service has been entrusted to me. What is my reward for that? This is what it means: when preaching the Gospel, I preach the gospel of Christ freely, so that the power of the gospel does not prevail in me. So, although I am free from everyone, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win many. He was like a Jew to the Jews, in order to gain the Jews; for those under the law as under the law, in order to gain those under the law; for those who do not know the law, as one who is stranger to the law, not being without law before God, but under the law of Christ - in order to win those who are strangers to the law; He was like one who is weak to the weak, so that he might gain the weak. I became everything to everyone, so that I could save whoever I could in every possible way. And I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may be a participant in the gospel. Don’t you know how everyone runs on the lists, but one gets an honorary award. So you run to reach your goal. Every ascetic in the struggle abstains from everything: those for the perishable crown, and we for the imperishable crown. And therefore I run, not without a goal, as if it were not true, I strive without punching only the air; but I break and enslave my body, so that, while preaching to others, I myself may not remain unworthy. Chapter 10. Instructive Images from the History of the People of God I do not want to leave you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and they all ate the same spiritual food, and they all drank spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual stone that followed (behind them): the stone was Christ. But God was not pleased with many of them, for they were slain in the wilderness. All this was a way for us, so that we, like them, would not have such a lust for evil. And do not be idolaters, like some of them, about whom it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play” (Ex. 32). And let us not commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them perished (Num. 25). And we will not tempt Christ, as some of them tempted and died from snakes (Num. 21). Do not grumble, as some of them grumbled and died by the deadly hand (Num. 14). All this figuratively happened to them, and was written for instruction to us who have reached the last centuries. So let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. The temptation that befell you is the same as it happens to all people, and God is faithful, He will not send you a temptation beyond your strength, but along with the temptation He will also send you a way of deliverance, so that you can endure it. Final Instructions So, my beloved brethren, flee from idolatry. I tell you as sensible people: judge for yourself what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion of the Blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a communion of the Body of Christ? We, many, are one bread and one body, for we all partake of one bread. Look at Israel according to the flesh: those who eat the sacrifices, are they not participants in the altar service? But what do these words of mine mean? Is it that an idol is something that exists, or does something sacrificed to an idol mean something? No, but the pagans, making sacrifices. They bring it to the demons, but I don’t want you to be accomplices to the demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the demonic table. Or we will irritate the Lord. Are we stronger than Him? Everything is allowed to me, but not everything is for my benefit; everything is allowed to me, but not everything is for the creation of the soul. No one seeks his own, but everyone seeks the benefit of his neighbor. Eat everything that is sold in the marketplace without any doubt, according to your conscience, for “the earth is the Lord’s and the fulfillment thereof” (Deut. 10; Ps. 23). If one of the infidels calls you and you want to go, eat everything that is offered to you without any doubt, according to your conscience. But if someone says to you, “This is from an idol’s sacrifice,” then do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of your conscience, for the earth is the Lord’s and its fulfillment. I don’t mean my own conscience, but a friendly one: why should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience? If I eat with thanksgiving, why should they blaspheme me for giving thanks? So, whether you eat, drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Do not give offense to Jews, Greeks, or the church of God, just as I am favorable to everyone in everything, not seeking the benefit of myself, but of many, so that they may be saved. Chapter 11. Instruction on Prayer Meetings. Head cover Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. I praise you, brethren, for remembering all that is mine and keeping the traditions as I handed them down to you. But I want you to know that the head of every husband is Christ, the head of a wife is the husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head. And every woman, when she prays or prophesies with her head uncovered, disgraces her head, no matter how much she had been shorn. If the wife does not want to cover herself, then let her cut her hair; and if it is shameful for a wife to have her hair cut or shaved, 30 let her cover herself. So the husband should not cover his head - he is the image of God and the glory of God; and the wife is the glory of the husband, for man is not from woman, but woman is from man, and the husband was not created for the sake of the wife, but the wife for the sake of the husband. Therefore, the wife should have a sign of subordination on her head, for the sake of the Angels. However, neither is a husband without a wife, nor a wife without a husband, O Lord. For as the wife is from the husband, so is the husband through the wife (born of the wife); - and everything is from God. Judge for yourself whether it is worthy for a wife to pray with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a husband grows his hair, it is a dishonor for him, but if a wife grows her hair, it is an honor to her, since the growth of hair is given to her as a covering. And if anyone wanted to argue about this, then there is no such custom either among us or in the Church of God. But I say all this for your instruction. And I do not praise you, because your meetings do not lead to better things, but to worse things. I hear, firstly, that when you come together to church, there are divisions between you, which I partly believe. True, there also needs to be differences of opinion between you, so that proven people will open up among you. And when you gather together, it happens that it is unworthy to eat the Lord’s supper. Everyone is in a hurry to eat and celebrate their supper before others, so that some are hungry, and others are drunk. Don't you have your own houses where you can eat and drink? Or do you neglect the church of God and disdain the poor? What should I tell you? Should I praise you for that? I won't praise you. For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed, having taken bread and given thanks, broke it, and said: Take, eat, this is My Body, which was broken for you: do this in remembrance of Me. Also take the cup after supper, saying: This cup of the New Testament is in My Blood - do this always, as you drink, in My remembrance. Thus, whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until HE comes. Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. So let a man examine himself (in his heart) and only in this way shall he eat of this bread and drink from this cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily, judges himself (condemnation) by eating and drinking without considering the Body of the Lord. That is why many of you are weak and sick, and not a few are falling asleep. And if we judged ourselves truthfully, we would not be judged. And when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned in peace. So, my brothers, when you come together to eat supper, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you do not come to condemnation. I'll arrange the rest when I come. Chapter 12. Diversity and unity of spiritual gifts I do not want to leave you, brothers, in ignorance about spiritual gifts. You know, when you were pagans, you went to silent idols, where someone took you. Therefore I tell you that whoever speaks by the Holy Spirit will not utter anathema against Jesus, and no one can say “Lord Jesus” except by the Holy Spirit. but the Spirit is one and the same; and the services are different, but the Lord is one and the same; and the actions are different, but God is one and the same and acts all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for the benefit: to one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to others the grace of healings by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another divers tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. Yet all this is acted by one and the same Spirit, powerfully distributing to each according to His will. For just as the body is one, but has many members, and all the members of one body in all their multitude are one body, so is Christ. And we were all baptized with one Spirit into one body—Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, and all were filled with one Spirit. The body is not made of one member, but of many. If the foot says: I am not a hand and do not belong to the body, does it not therefore belong to the body? And if the ear says: I am not an eye and do not belong to the body, does it not therefore belong to the body? If the whole body is an eye, then where is the hearing? If everything is a rumor? then where is the sense of smell? But God arranged the members, each one within the body, according to His purpose. And if everyone had one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand: I don’t need you, or the head to the feet: I don’t need you. No! On the contrary, those members of the body which seem the weakest are necessary for it, and those who are not in our honor, we take more care of them; And we cover the ugly ones with good looks, but the good ones don’t require it. But God proportioned the body in such a way that the worst parts are given more honor - so that there is no division in the body, and all members equally care for each other. So, when one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, and when one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it. And you are the body of Christ, and all individual members of the body. And God appointed others in the church - firstly, apostles, secondly, prophets, thirdly, teachers; further, to others he gave miraculous powers, also gifts of healing, help, government, and the gifts of different languages. Are all Apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? Are everyone miracle workers? Does everyone have the gift of healing? do everyone speak in tongues? Are all interpreters of tongues? But be zealous for even higher talents, and I will show you the path of the most excellent ones. Chapter 13. Above all gifts is love If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but do not have love, then I am like a ringing brass or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and have all knowledge and all faith, so that I could move mountains, but do not have love, then I am nothing. And if I give away all my property and give up my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good. Love is patient and kind, love does not envy, love is not arrogant, is not proud, does not act outrageously, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not think evil, does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices over the truth; covers everything, trusts everything, hopes everything, endures everything. Love never ceases, even though prophecy ceases and tongues are silent and knowledge is abolished, For our knowledge is imperfect, and our prophecy is imperfect; when the perfect comes, then everything imperfect (partially existing) will be abolished. When I was a baby, I spoke like a baby, I thought like a baby, I reasoned like a baby, and when I became a husband, I left childishness behind. Now we see as through a glass in fortune-telling, but then we will see face to face; Now my knowledge is incomplete (partly), but then I will know, since I myself was known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, love, and the greatest of them is love. Chapter 14. The gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy (sermon) Achieve love; be zealous for spiritual gifts, especially for prophecy. He who speaks in tongues (by the gift of tongues) speaks not to men, but to God; no one understands him, but in spirit he speaks of secrets. And whoever prophesies speaks to people for edification, admonition and comfort. He who speaks in tongues edifies himself, and he who prophesies edifies the church. I want you all to speak in tongues; but it is better that you prophesy: ​​whoever prophesies is more important than he who speaks in tongues, unless he also interprets, so that there is edification for the church. Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in different languages, and there is no revelation, explanation, prophecy or teaching in my word, what benefit will I bring you? Even soulless things that produce sound, a pipe or a harp, if they do not produce separate tones, how can one recognize that they are playing a pipe or a harp? And if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? So, if you pronounce incomprehensible words with your tongue, how will they understand what you are saying? You will talk into the wind. Look, there are so many different verbal sounds in the world, and not a single one is without meaning; but if I do not understand the meaning of the words, then I will be a stranger to the speaker, and he will be a stranger to me. So you too, being zealous for spiritual gifts, try to become rich in them for the edification of the church. And therefore, whoever speaks in tongues, pray to God for the gift of interpretation. When I pray with one tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind remains fruitless. What to do? I will pray with my spirit, but also with my mind; I will sing in spirit, but I will also sing in mind. If your blessing is only in the spirit, then how will a simple person (not a pagan) standing at the place of prayer say “Amen” at your thanksgiving? He won't understand what you're saying. Your thanksgiving is reverent, but your neighbor will not be edified by it. I thank my God: I speak in (different) tongues more than all of you; but in church I would rather say five words with my mind, so that others may receive instruction, than thousands of words in different languages. Brethren! do not be like children in mind; Be childish to evil, but be perfect in mind. It is written in the law: “I will speak with other tongues and other lips to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord” (Is. 28). So, tongues are a sign not for believers, but for unbelievers, and prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers. If the whole church comes together and everyone begins to speak in different languages, and those who do not know languages ​​or those who are unfaithful come in, will they not say that you are mad? But when everyone prophesies, and someone who is unfaithful or does not know languages comes in, he is convicted of sin by everyone and receives judgment from everyone. and so the secrets of his heart are revealed (to him), and he will fall on his face and worship God and say: “Truly God is with you.” So what, brothers? When you come together, you all have something - some have a psalm, some have a sermon, some have the gift of tongues, some have a revelation, some have an interpretation - let all of this serve for edification. If anyone has the gift of tongues, speak two, many three, and separately, and let one explain. If there is no one to explain, let him remain silent in church, and speak to himself and to God. And let two or three prophets speak, and let others reflect on what is said. If there is a revelation to anyone else sitting here, then let the first one remain silent. You can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone will learn and everyone will be comforted. And the spirit operating in the prophet obeys the prophet: The God of peace is not the God of disorder. “This is the custom in all the churches of the saints.” Let your wives be silent in church, for they are not ordered to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law says. If they want to learn something, let them ask their husbands about it at home: it is indecent for a wife to speak in church. – Has the word of God come from you? or did it reach you alone? If anyone thinks of himself that he has the gift of prophecy or another spiritual gift, let him understand that what I am writing to you is that these are the commandments of the Lord. If anyone does not understand, let him be foolish. So, my brothers, be zealous for prophecy, but do not forbid speaking in different tongues. Only everything should be neat and in order. Chapter 15. Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead I remind you, brethren, of the gospel that I preached to you: this you received, and in it you stand, by this you are saved, if, as I told you, you all contain my gospel within yourself, unless you believed in vain. At the very beginning I delivered to you what I myself accepted: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures (as was foretold in the Scriptures), and he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time (most of them are still alive, while others have died); then he appeared to James, and also to all the Apostles, and after all, he appeared to me as if he were some kind of monster; for I am the least of the Apostles and am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace in me was not in vain, but I labored more than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me. So, whether I or they, this is how we preach, and this is how you believe. If it is preached about Christ that He rose from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. If Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. And we would turn out to be false witnesses about God, for we testified about God that He raised Christ, and He, therefore, did not raise Him if the dead do not rise. If the dead do not rise, then Christ has not risen. And if Christ has not risen, then your faith is vain: you are still in your sins; and, therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ also perished. If we only hope in Christ in this life, then we are the most miserable of all people. But behold, Christ has risen from the dead, the firstborn (of the resurrection) from the dead. For just as death came through man, so through man came the resurrection of the dead. Just as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive, each in his own order - Christ the firstborn, then those who are Christ's at His coming. And then the end, when He will hand over the Kingdom to God and the Father, abolishing all authority and all authority and power. For it is fitting for Him to reign until (God) makes “all His enemies His footstool” (Ps. 109). The last enemy will be abolished - death; for He has put all things under His feet. (When it is said that all things are subject to Him, then it is clear that all things are except Him who put all things under Him). When he subdues everything to Him, then the Son Himself will submit to Him who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all. Otherwise, what do those who are baptized for the dead do? If the dead do not rise at all, then why are the dead baptized? Why are we subjected to troubles every hour? Every day I am subject to death: my praise for you, brethren, testifies to this, my praise in Christ Jesus our Lord. If only because of humanity I fought with the beast in Ephesus, what good is it to me when the dead do not rise? If we eat and drink, we will die tomorrow. Do not be deceived: bad society corrupts good morals. Be sober in the truth and do not sin: to your shame I will tell you that some of you do not know God. Another may say: how can the dead be resurrected? And in what body will they come? Foolish man! for what you eat will not come to life unless it dies. And when you eat, you do not eat the future body, but a bare grain, whatever it happens to be, wheat or something else. But God gives him a body as he pleases, and to each seed his own body. Not all flesh is the same flesh; but there is another kind of flesh for men, another for cattle, another for fish, and another for birds. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but there is another glory for those in heaven and another for those on earth. There is another glory for the sun, and another glory for the moon, and another for the stars: and star differs from star in glory. So it is in the resurrection of the dead: it is eaten in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; eaten in dishonor, raised in glory; eaten in weakness, raised in strength; the spiritual body is eaten, the spiritual body is raised. There is a spiritual body, and there is a spiritual body. So it is written: “There was the first Adam, and there became a living soul” (Gen. 2); the last Adam is the life-giving spirit. And not the spiritual first, but the spiritual, then the spiritual. The first man from the earth is earthy; the second person is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, so are the earthy; and as is the heavenly, so are the heavenly; and just as we have borne the image of the earthly, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. But I tell you this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, and corruption does not inherit incorruption. Behold, a mystery, I proclaim to you: we will not all fall asleep (by the dormition of death), but we will all change—suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise incorruptible, but we will be changed, for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. When this corruptible puts on incorruption and this mortal puts on immortality, then the word that is written will come true: “death is swallowed up in victory” (Is. 25). "Death! where is your sting! Hell, where is your victory! (Os.13). The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. Thanks be to God, who gave us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my beloved brothers, be strong, immovable, always prosper in the work of the Lord: you know that your labor is not in vain before the Lord. Chapter 16. Collections for poor brothers In making collections for the saints, do as I decreed in the churches of Galatia. On the first day of the week, let each of you put aside and save what you can according to your condition, so as not to make collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you designate in writing, I will send them to deliver your donation to Jerusalem. Upcoming Church Tours And if it is worthy for me to go, they will go with me. I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia, for I will go through Macedonia. If I have to, I’ll stay with you or spend the winter so that you can see me where I go. I don’t want to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay with you for a while, if the Lord wills. I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, For a great door has been opened for me to do many things, and there are many adversaries. If Timothy comes to you, see that he is with you without fear (without hindrance): he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. Therefore, no one despises him, but lead him in peace on his way to me, for I am waiting for him with the brethren. I very much asked Brother Apollos to go to you with the brethren; but he did not want to go now, but will come when he is free. Stay awake, stand firm in the faith, take courage, be strong. May everything be done with love. And I ask you, brethren: you know the house of Stephen, that it is the firstfruits (of the faith) in Achaia (in Greece) and that they dedicated themselves to the service of the saints. Be respectful to them and to everyone who contributes and works. I was delighted by the arrival of Stefan, Fortunatus and Achaic: they made up for your absence for me: they calmed both my and your spirit. Greetings to you from the churches of Asia. Greetings to you in the Lord, zealous, from Aquila and Priscilla with their home church. Greetings to you from all brothers. Kiss each other with a holy kiss. My greetings to you, with my hand - Pavlova. Whoever does not love the Lord Jesus Christ is anathema, maran-ephah. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and my love is with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. “Not in the wisdom of speech,” therefore, not in philosophical language. And in general, by wisdom (Hellenic) one can understand philosophy everywhere. In philosophical language, the Cross of Christ would lose its meaning, and therefore would be abolished. Without leaven means unleavened bread, on which the Passover of the Jews was celebrated, and the Apostle gives images of the Passover holiday. Like shameless women cutting their hair. You might be interested in: