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Today's Bible Reading :: 1 Corinthians 9 - 11 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 9Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 10Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 11Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 9

Paul Surrenders His Rights

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:1 - Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:2 - If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:3 - This is my defense to those who would examine me.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:4 - Do we not have the right to eat and drink?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:5 - Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife,[fn] as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:6 - Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:7 - Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:8 - Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:9 - For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:10 - Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:11 - If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:12 - If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:13 - Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:14 - In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:15 - But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:16 - For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:17 - For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:18 - What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:19 - For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:20 - To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:21 - To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:22 - To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:23 - I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:24 - Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:25 - Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:26 - So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 9:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 9:27 - But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[fn] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
ESV Footnotes
Greek a sister as wife
Greek I pummel my body and make it a slave

1 Corinthians 10

Warning Against Idolatry

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:1 - For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[fn] that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:2 - and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:3 - and all ate the same spiritual food,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:5 - Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown[fn] in the wilderness.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:6 - Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:7 - Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:8 - We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:9 - We must not put Christ[fn] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:10 - nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:11 - Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:12 - Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:14 - Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:15 - I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:16 - The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:17 - Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:18 - Consider the people of Israel:[fn] are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:19 - What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:20 - No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:21 - You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:22 - Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

(cf. Psa 24:1 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:23 - “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:24 - Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:25 - Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:26 - For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:27 - If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:28

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:28 - But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:29

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:29 - I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:30

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:30 - If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:31

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:32

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:32 - Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 10:33

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 10:33 - just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
ESV Footnotes
Or brothers and sisters
Or were laid low
Some manuscripts the Lord
Greek Consider Israel according to the flesh

1 Corinthians 11

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Head Coverings

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:2 - Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:3 - But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife[fn] is her husband,[fn] and the head of Christ is God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:4 - Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:5 - but every wife[fn] who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:6 - For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:7 - For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:8 - For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:9 - Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:10 - That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:11 - Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:12 - for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:13 - Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:14 - Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:15 - but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:16 - If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

The Lord’s Supper

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:17 - But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:18 - For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:19 - for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:20 - When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:21 - For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:22 - What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
(Mat 26:26–29; Mar 14:22–25; Luk 22:14–23 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:23 - For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:24 - and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[fn] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:25 - In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:26 - For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:27 - Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:28

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:28 - Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:29

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:29 - For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:30

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:30 - That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:31

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:31 - But if we judged[fn] ourselves truly, we would not be judged.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:32

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:32 - But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined[fn] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:33

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:33 - So then, my brothers,[fn] when you come together to eat, wait for[fn] one another—

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 11:34

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 11:34 - if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
See the ESV Preface
ESV Footnotes
Greek guně. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context
Greek aněr. This term may refer to a man or a husband, depending on the context
In verses 5–13, the Greek word guně is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture
Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report
Or I believe a certain report
Some manuscripts broken for
Or as my memorial; also verse 25
Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20)
Or discerned
Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord
Or brothers and sisters
Or share with
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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