4 I thank Yehovah continually on your behalf for the compassion of Yehovah that is given to you in Yeshua Messiah, 5 that in everything you are enriched by Him, in everything you say and in all your knowledge, 6 even as the Testimony of Messiah was confirmed among you, 7 so you aren’t deprived in any of His gifts, but are waiting for the appearance of our Master Yeshua Messiah, 8 who will stabilize you to the very end, so that you can be blameless on the Day of our Master Yeshua Messiah. 9 Yehovah, who has called you by name into the fellowship of His Son, Yeshua Messiah, our Master, is faithful.
10 I implore you Friends, in the name of our Master Yeshua Messiah to all have one doctrine, so that there are no schisms [Gr. schisma] among you, but that you’ll become perfectly of one mind, and of one way of thinking. 11 Friends, members of Chloe’s household have reported to me that there is some strife among you. 12 I’m telling you that one of you says, “I’m of Paul”, and another says, “I follow Paul”, and another says, “I follow Apollos”, and another says, “I follow Cephas”, and another says, “I follow the Messiah”.
13 Now was the Messiah divided? Or was Paul crucified for you? Or were you immersed in the name of Paul? 14 I thank Yehovah that I didn’t immerse any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say that I immersed in my own name. 16 I also immersed the household of Stephanas, but beyond that, I don’t know that I immersed anyone else. 17 The Messiah didn’t send me to immerse, but to proclaim the Good News, not with supreme intelligence, because the cross of the Messiah could be deprived of force.
18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those of us who are being Rescued, it is the power of Yehovah. 19 The Scriptures say, “I’ll destroy the sophistication [Gr. sophia] [1] of the sophists [Gr. sophos].”
20 Where is the sophist? Or where is the Torah teacher? Or where is the skeptic of this world? Look, hasn’t Yehovah shown that the world’s sophistry is moronic [Gr. moraino]? 21 In the wisdom of Yehovah, because the world couldn’t come to know Yehovah by its wisdom, it pleased Him to preserve those who believe by the “foolishness” of heralding. 22 The Jews ask for signs, and the Arameans demand wisdom. 23 Yet we herald the Messiah as crucified—a stumbling block to the Jews and “foolishness” to the nations, 24 but to those of us who are invited, both Jews and Arameans, the Messiah is the power of Yehovah and the true knowledge of Yehovah. 25 Because the “foolishness” of Yehovah is more sophisticated [Gr. sophos] than humanity, and the “feebleness” of Yehovah is stronger than humanity.
26 Consider your own invitation Friends, that not many of you are eloquent speakers (according to worldly people), and not many of you are influential, and not many of you are from notable families. 27 But Yehovah has chosen the “morons” [Gr. moros] [2] of the world to shame the sophisticated, and He has chosen the “weaklings” of the world to shame the strong, 28 and He has chosen the “commoners” of the world and “no accounts” and those who are “nothing” to unemploy those who are “something”, 29 so that no mortal would be praised in His presence. 30 But you belong to Him in Yeshua Messiah, who has become wisdom from Yehovah for us, and righteousness and dedication, and deliverance— 31 so that as the Scriptures say, “Anyone who boasts should boast in Yehovah.”
[1] Listening to eloquent public orators (sophists) was a popular form of entertainment in Greek culture. These celebrities were well paid. Constantine made professional oratory the norm, as a way to increase the attendance in the massive church buildings that he built—replacing interactivity. Sophistry evolved into giving sermons. Sermons later fell out of use, under Catholicism, until the Protestant Reformation. [2] Paul isn’t belittling the faithful, or Yehovah, he’s using sarcasm. He is referring to what the world thinks of us—“morons”, “weaklings”, “no accounts”, “commoners” and “nothing”. We will “unemploy” them by filling their leadership positions in the Kingdom.
6 But we do have sophisticated discussions with those striving for perfection—not the sophisticates of this world, or the authorities of this world who will be eradicated. 7 Rather, we speak the sophistication of Yehovah as a mystery that was kept secret, something Yehovah predestined before the world came into existence, for our splendor. 8 None of the leaders of this world knew about it, because had they known they wouldn’t have crucified the Master of splendor. 9 As the Scriptures say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the greatly prepared things that Yehovah has for those who love Him.”
But Yehovah has revealed them to us by His spirit, because the spirit examines everything, even the deepest things of Yehovah. 11 Who understands a person’s thoughts other than the person’s own spirit within them [2]? Similarly, who understands Yehovah’s thoughts, except the spirit of Yehovah. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from Yehovah, so that we can understand the gifts that are given to us freely by Yehovah. 13 We don’t describe these things with words of human sophistry, but with words given to us by the spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 Mortal humanity doesn’t grasp spiritual things because they are seemingly foolishness to them. They don’t understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But the Spiritual One discerns everything, yet no one can discern Him. 16 Who understands the mind of Yehovah, so that they can instruct Him? But we have the mind of the Messiah.
[1] The Greek says “testimony” instead of “mysteries”. [2] This is a reference to Job 32:8.
5 Who is Paul, or who is Apollos, but the “deacons” who helped you to believe, as Yehovah has granted His gift to each of you? 6 I planted and Apollos watered, but Yehovah produced the growth. 7 Not that the one who planted is special, or the one who watered, because Yehovah produced the growth. 8 The one who planted and the one who irrigated are equal, each receives their compensation in proportion to their labor. 9 We labor with Yehovah, and you are Yehovah’s cultivated field and Yehovah’s building.
10 According to the compassion of Yehovah that was given to me, I laid the foundation like a skilled architect, and another builds on it, but each of you should see how He builds on it. 11 No one can lay another foundation that differs from what is laid—Yeshua Messiah. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble, 13 their work will be exposed to view, because the Judgment Day will expose it, and it will be tested by fire. The fire will reveal everyone’s work, what kind it is. 14 The builder whose work survives will receive his compensation. 15 The one whose work is burned up will be injured, yet they’ll survive by coming thru the fire.
16 Don’t you know that you are the Temple of Yehovah, and that the spirit of Yehovah lives in you? 17 If anyone defiles the Temple of Yehovah, Yehovah will destroy them, because the Temple of Yehovah is dedicated to Aloha, and you are that temple.
18 Don’t fool yourselves. If any of you believes that you are sophisticated in this world, you should become a “moron” so that you can really become sophisticated. 19 The sophistication of this world is moronic [moria] to Yehovah, because it is written, “He catches the sophisticated in their own false wisdom.” 20 Again, Yehovah knows that the inward thoughts of the sophists are useless. 21 So no one should boast about humanity, because everything is Yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the cosmos or life or death or things present or things to come—everything is Yours. 23 And you are the Messiah’s, and the Messiah is Yehovah’s.
6 Friends, I have used these things about myself and Apollos as an illustration for your sakes, so that you can learn from our example not to think of anyone beyond the Scriptures, so that no one will inflate their egos by comparing themselves to others. 7 Who differentiates you? What do you have that you didn’t receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if you didn’t simply receive it?
8 Now you are satiated and rich, and you have reigned like kings without us! And I wish you were reigning so that we could reign with you. 9 I’m of the opinion that Yehovah has exposed us, the envoys last, doomed to death, since we have become exhibits to the world, to the spirit messengers and to humanity. 10 We are called fools because of the Messiah, but you are intelligent in the Messiah! We are feeble but you are strong! You are lauded, we’re condemned. 11 Even now we hunger and thirst, we’re poorly clothed and mistreated and we wander around. 12 We are exhausted, working with our own hands. Being reproached, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 13 They revile us and we comfort them. Right now we’re considered the filth of the world, to be purged for everyone.
14 I don’t write these things to shame you, but to instruct you as dear children. 15 Tho you have thousands of guardians in the Messiah, you don’t have many fathers, because in Yeshua Messiah, I have fathered you by announcing the Good News. 16 So I admonish you to imitate me! 17 This is why I sent Timothy, my dear son to you, who is faithful in Yehovah, so that he can remind you of my ways in the Messiah, just as I teach in all the assemblies.
18 Now some of the “lofty ones” act as if I wouldn’t dare come to you. 19 Yet I’ll come to you soon, if Yehovah is willing, and I won’t consider what the “lofty ones” are saying, but what power they have. 20 The Kingdom of Yehovah isn’t by words, but by power. 21 What do you prefer? Should I come to you with a rod or with love and a gentle spirit?
6 Your bragging isn’t good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out your old leaven so that you can be a new batch of dough, as you are unleavened. The Messiah, our Passover, was offered in our place. 8 So let’s celebrate the Feast, not with the old leaven or with the leaven of wickedness and bitterness, but with the unleavened bread of purity and dedication.
9 I wrote to you by letter not to befriend a male prostitute. 10 But I don’t mean with the male prostitutes who are in the world or with the greedy or predators or idol worshipers, otherwise you would have to leave the planet. 11 But now I have written to you not to befriend anyone who calls himself a Friend who is a male prostitute or greedy or worships money or those who use abusive language or a drunkard or an extortioner—don’t even share a meal with those kinds of people.
12 What business do I have judging those on the outside? But you must judge those within the body 13 and remove the wicked ones from among you, (Yehovah judges those outside).
7 So you condemn yourselves by litigating against each other. Why not prefer to chance suffering wrong? Why not prefer to be defrauded? 8 But you commit wrong yourselves and you even cheat your Friends.
9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous won’t inherit the Kingdom of Yehovah? Don’t be deceived, no male prostitutes or idolaters or adulterers or effeminate men or sodomites 10 or greedy people or thieves or drunkards or those who use abusive language or predators will inherit the Kingdom of Yehovah. 11 Some of you have been these things, but you have been washed and made pure and righteous in the name of our Master Yeshua Messiah by the spirit of Aloha.
12 Everything is in my power, but not everything is helpful for me. Everything is in my power, but nothing should overpower me. 13 Food is for the belly and the belly is for food, but Yehovah will do away with them both. The body isn’t for illicit sex, but for Yehovah, and Yehovah for the body. 14 Yehovah has raised up our Master and He’ll also raise us up by His power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members [parts] of the Messiah? Will someone take away a member of the Messiah and then make it a member of a prostitute’s body? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that whoever unites with a prostitute is one body with her? As it is said, “The two will be one body.” 17 Anyone who unites themself with Yehovah is one spirit!
18 Flee illicit sex. Every other sin that humanity commits is outside of their body, but anyone who commits illicit sex sins against their own body. 19 Don’t you know that your body is the Temple of the that [not who] is in you, that you have received from Yehovah? You aren’t your own. 20 You were bought with a price. So praise Yehovah with your body and your spirit. They belong to Yehovah.
8 I say to those who don’t have wives and to widows, that it is better for them to remain as I am. 9 If they can’t endure it, they should marry, because it is better to take a wife than to burn with passion. 10 To those who have wives I will pass this along—not from me, but from Yehovah—that the woman shouldn’t leave her husband. 11 If she does leave, she should either not remarry or be reconciled to her husband, and the man shouldn’t send his wife away.
12 To the rest, I say—not I but Yehovah—that if there is a brother who has a wife who doesn’t believe and she wants to live with him, he shouldn’t send her away. 13 A woman who has an unbelieving husband who wants to live with her shouldn’t leave her husband. 14 The husband who doesn’t believe is made 'special' by the wife who believes and the wife who doesn’t believe is made 'special' to Yehovah by the husband who believes, otherwise their children would be impure, but presently they are pure.
15 If the unbeliever wants a divorce, they should divorce. A brother or sister isn’t enslaved in such cases, because Yehovah has called us to peace. 16 How do you know, ‘as a’ wife, whether you’ll keep your husband from perishing? Or you husband, how do you know whether you’ll keep your wife from perishing?
17 Everyone should live out the allotment that Yehovah has given them, and everyone as Yehovah has invited them. I have taught this in all the assemblies. 18 When a circumcised person is called, he shouldn’t revert to being uncircumcised, and when someone uncircumcised is called, he shouldn’t be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, nor is uncircumcision, but obeying Yehovah’s Commandments is. 20 Everyone should continue in the state they were invited from. 21 If you were invited as a servant, don’t let it trouble you. But if you can be freed, choose freedom rather than servitude. 22 Anyone who is invited by Yehovah as a servant has been released from servitude by Yehovah, similarly, anyone invited who was born free is the Messiah’s servant. 23 You are bought with a price, so don’t become the servants of others. 24 Friends, everyone should continue with Yehovah in whatever state they were invited.
25 Concerning virginity, I have no instruction from Yehovah, but I’ll give my counsel as a man who has obtained mercy from Yehovah and is trustworthy. 26 I think it is best, because of the impending distress, for a person to remain as they are. 27 Are you bound to your wife? Don’t try to be divorced. Are you divorced from a wife? Don’t seek a wife. 28 If you marry, you don’t sin. And if a marriageable woman is given in marriage to a husband, she isn’t sinning. But those in these circumstances will suffer physical tribulation [1b], and I would spare you.
29 Friends, I tell you that time is running out, so those who have wives should live as if they had none, 30 and those who are mourning as if they weren’t mourning, and those who celebrate as if they weren’t celebrating, and those who buy as if they hadn’t bought, 31 and those preoccupied with this world, not becoming dependent on it, because the sensations of this world are disappearing.
32 I would prefer for you to be free of distractions since the man who doesn’t have a wife concentrates on the things of Yehovah—how he can please Yehovah. 33 A married man is busy caring for the things of this world, about how he can please his wife. 34 There is also a difference between a wife and an unmarried woman. The unmarried woman can concentrate on things pertaining to Yehovah, so that she can be pure in her body and in her spirit. But the married woman thinks of things pertaining to the world, and how she can please her husband. 35 I’m telling you this to help you, I’m not laying a snare for you, but I’m stressing that you should remain dedicated to Yehovah, without distractions.
36 If a man feels he isn’t doing what is right for his virgin daughter, because she is passing her prime of life, and he hasn’t given her in marriage, and he feels obligated to change this, he should do as he desires, he’s not sinning by allowing her to marry. 37 The man who has firmly determined in his own mind, with no imposing circumstances, can do as he wants, he has the power of free will, so that the man who keeps his virgin daughter single does well. 38 So the man who gives his virgin daughter in marriage does well, and the man who doesn’t give his virgin daughter in marriage does even better.
39 A woman, while her husband lives, is bound by the Torah, but if her husband sleeps [in death], she is free to marry whoever she wants, yet only in Yehovah. 40 She will be happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is. And further, I’m of the opinion that I have the spirit of Yehovah.
[1a,b] Some of the advice of the next few chapters was given strictly because the persecution of the Great Tribulation was thought to be “imminent” as mentioned here and in 10:11, and persecution had certainly begun. But later, after the envoys realized that they were mistaken about the timing, they reversed their advice: (1 Timothy 5:14).
4 Now about eating food left over from pagan z, we know that an idol represents nothing in the world, and that there is no other Aloha but the One. 5 Tho there are so-called alohee [elohim, gods] in the expanse of the sky and on earth, (as there are many claiming to be Aloha and masters), 6 yet for us there is one Aloha, the Father. Everything exists by Him, and we exist for Him, and one Master, Yeshua Messiah. Everything, including we ourselves exist because of Him.
7 Not everyone has this knowledge because there are some who even now struggle with idolatry in their memory. They believe they are eating food as an actual zebak to an idol, and because their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 Food doesn’t bring us near to Yehovah, we don’t excel if we eat it, nor are we left behind if we dont.
9 Be careful that your freedom of choice doesn’t somehow become an obstacle for the weak. 10 If someone happens to see you, someone knowledgeable, eating in an idol’s church, won’t their conscience, if they are weak, encourage them to eat an animal ze’bak [sacrifice]? 11 Should a weak brother who the Messiah died for be destroyed because of your knowledge? 12 When you sin against your Friends and wound the consciences of the feeble, you sin against the Messiah. 13 So if what I eat is an obstacle for my Friend, I won’t ever eat meat again, in order to keep my Friend from stumbling.
3 This is my defense to those who would interrogate me: 4 Don’t we have the right to eat and to drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to travel with a sister, a wife, just like the other envoys, and the brothers of our Master, and like Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who don’t have the freedom to stop working to earn our living?
7 Who goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and doesn’t eat the fruit? Who tends sheep but doesn’t eat the produce of his flocks? 8 Is it only by my human judgment that I say these things? doesn’t the Torah say the same thing. 9 It is written in the Torah of Moses, “You must never muzzle the ox that is threshing grain.” Is Yehovah only concerned about oxen? 10 Isn’t it apparent that He said it for our sake? Indeed it was written for our sake because the tiller should till with expectation, and the thresher also expects a share of the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much to ask if we harvest our physical necessities from you? 12 If others have expectations from you, shouldn’t our expectations be even greater? Yet we have not exercised our rights, but we’d put up with anything rather than hinder the Good News of the Messiah.
13 Don’t you realize that those who serve in the Temple are fed by the Temple, and those who serve at the altar are given a portion of what is on the altar? 14 So in the same way, Yehovah has arranged for those who proclaim His Good News to earn their living by His Good News.
15 I haven’t exercised any of these rights, and I’m not writing so that anyone would do this for me, because it would be better for me to actually die than have anyone deprive the force of my “bragging” and make it useless. 16 If I announce the Good News, I have nothing to brag about, because I have an obligation to do it. But pity me if I don’t announce the Good News! 17 If I announce it voluntarily, I’m compensated, but if I’m unwilling to do it, the administration is still entrusted to me. 18 So what is my compensation? It is the satisfaction of announcing the Good News without cost, without demanding the compensation that belongs to those who announce the Good News.
19 Tho I was born free, I’ve made myself a servant to everyone, so that I can gain many. 20 With the Judean Jews, I was living as a Judean Jew, so that I could win over the Judean Jews, and with others obeying sectarian law I was as living under sectarian law, so that I could win over those obeying sectarian law. 21 To those living without sectarian law, I was able to relate to someone without sectarian law, (altho I’m not without Yehovah’s Torah, indeed I’m bound to the Torah of the Messiah), so that I can gain those who are without sectarian law. 22 I appeared to the weak, as weak, so that I could win the weak. I was everything to everyone, endeavoring by all means to Rescue everyone [1]. 23 I’m doing this for the sake of the Good News, so that I can participate with you in its fulfillment.
24 Don’t you know that all the runners in a stadium run, but only one is the winner? So run to win! 25 Everyone who enters an athletic contest is well disciplined in every regard. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we, one that is imperishable. 26 So that is how I run, but not with an uncertain goal. That is how I box, not like someone shadow boxing. 27 Like a boxer with many bruises, I slave away, so that I won’t be considered a counterfeit after I have heralded to others!
[1] The Greek says “save some”. But in the Aramaic it says that Paul endeavored to “rescue everyone” from their sins, all the while knowing that even he could possibly fall away, and “be considered a counterfeit” (v.27).
6 Now these things have become examples for us, so that we won’t crave evil things like they did. 7 Nor should we be idolaters as some of them were, as the Scriptures say, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 Nor should we commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9 Nor should we tempt the Messiah as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 Nor complain as some of them did, and perish by the will of the One who destroyed them.
11 All of these things that happened to them are an example for us, and were written as a lesson for those of us WHO HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE AGE. 12 So if you think you are standing securely, be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has come on you that isn’t common to humanity. Yehovah is faithful and He won’t allow you to be tested more than you are able to stand, but will provide a way of escape so that you can endure it.
14 So dear Friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I’m speaking to the wise, so judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of thanksgiving that we bless, isn’t it the fellowship of the blood of the Messiah? And the loaf of bread [1] that we break, isn’t it the fellowship of the body of the Messiah? 17 Since there is one loaf of bread, we are all one body, and we are all ‘nourished’ by the same loaf.
18 Look at ‘physical’ Israel, aren’t those who eat the ze’bakim [sacrifices] brought into fellowship with the altar? 19 So what am I saying? Is an idol anything? Is an idol’s ze’bak anything? No. 20 Pagans present their zebak to demons and not to Yehovah. And I don’t want you to associate with demons. 21 You can’t drink the cup of our Master and the cup of demons, and you can’t fellowship at our Master’s table and at the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to provoke our Master to rivalry? Are we stronger than He is?
23 Everything is in my power [2], but not everything is beneficial. Everything is in my power, but not everything builds a foundation. 24 No one should only seek their own benefit without also seeking the benefit of others.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without any questions for conscience sake, 26 because the earth is Yehovah’s and everything in it.
27 If an unbeliever invites you for a meal, and you would like to go, eat whatever is set before you without asking questions for conscience sake. 28 But if someone tells you, “This was offered to idols”, don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, for conscience’s sake. 29 I’m not talking about your conscience, but the other person’s. But why should my liberty be limited by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I’m thankful for what I eat, why should I be criticized for what I’m thankful for?
31 Whether you eat, or drink, or you do anything else, do everything for the splendor of Yehovah! 32 Don’t offend the Jews or the Arameans or the assembly of Aloha, 33 just as I strive to accommodate everyone, not seeking what is beneficial for me, but what benefits the many, so that they can be Rescued.
[2] The Greek says, “Everything is lawful for me”, rather than, “Everything is in my power.” The literal Greek would contradict vs. 6-14, and many other verses. Murdock’s “Everything is in my power” makes more sense, since he wasn’t advocating that raping and pillaging were “lawful”.
1 CORINTHIANS 11 continues here.Compare the Testimony of Yeshua Version of this book with the 1851 Murdock or the 1849 Etheridge Versions of “The Testimony of Yeshua” (New Testament).