1 Corinthians 15:1-58 Paul Tells Others He's Not Worthy to Be Called an Apostle

 

Paul Tells Others He's Not Worthy to Be Called an Apostle

1 Corinthians 15:1-58   Paul's 1st Epistle to the Corinthians [in Smaller Chunks]

[Also,] brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] I declare to you the Gospel [that] I preach to you, which you have also received, & [in which] you stand, [a.k.a. in agreement.] [This Gospel:] by which you are also saved, if you [remember] what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain. [Acts 13:46-48 Then, Paul & Barnabas [grew] bold, & said, It was necessary that the Word of God should 1st have been spoken to you. But [since] you put it from you, & judge yourselves unworthy of Everlasting Life, [look,] we turn to the Gentiles. *For the Lord [has] commanded us so, saying, I have [put] you to be a light [for] the Gentiles, [so] that you [should] be for salvation to the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, & glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as believed, were ordained, [a.k.a. appointed,] to Eternal Life.]

*For I first delivered to you, all [of] [what] I also received, & how Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. [Isaiah 53:5-7 *But He was wounded for our [sins,]  & He was bruised for our iniquities. The [discipline for] our peace was upon Him. And we are healed with His stripes, [a.k.a. whip marks.] *All we, like sheep, have gone astray. We have, everyone, turned to his own [ways.] And the Lord [has] laid the [sin] of us all on Him. *He was oppressed, & He was afflicted, & [still] He [didn't] open His mouth. He is brought [like] a lamb to the slaughter. And like a sheep is dumb, [a.k.a. mute,] before [its] shearers, so He [didn't] open His mouth.]

And that [Christ] was buried & He rose again the 3rd day, according to the Scriptures. [Psalm 16:9-10 Therefore, My heart is glad, & My glory [rejoices.] My flesh shall also rest in hope. *For You [won't] leave My soul in hell. Neither [will] You [allow] Your Holy One to see corruption, [a.k.a. decay.]

And that [Jesus Christ] was seen [by] Cephas, [a.k.a. Simon Peter;] & then [by] the 12. After that, He was seen [by over] 500 brethren at once; of whom the greater part, [a.k.a. the majority,] remain [until] this [day,] but some [have] fallen asleep, [a.k.a. died.] [Acts 1:1-3 I have made the [previous report], O Theophilus [about] all that Jesus began to do & teach, until the day in which He was taken up through the Holy Ghost, [a.k.a. Holy Spirit,] after He had given commandments to the apostles, whom He had chosen. To whom, He also [demonstrated] Himself [to be] alive by many infallible proofs, being seen [by] them 40 days, & speaking [about] the things [related] to the Kingdom of God, after His passion, [a.k.a. suffering.]

After that, He was seen [by] James, & then [by] all the apostles. And last of all, He was also seen [by] me, [like] one born out of due time, [a.k.a. like a baby that is past due.] For I am the least of the apostles, that [I'm] not fit, [a.k.a. worthy,] to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [Acts 8:13-16 Then, Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many [about] this man, & how much evil he [has] done to Your saints [in] Jerusalem. And [Saul] has authority here from the chief priests to bind, [a.k.a. tie up,] all, [who] call upon Your Name. But the Lord said to him, Go [on] your way: for [Saul, a.k.a. Paul,] is a chosen vessel [for] Me, to bear, [a.k.a. carry,] My Name before the Gentiles; kings; & the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel. For I will [declare] [to] him, [what] great things he must suffer for My Name's sake.]

But [through] the grace of God, I am what I am. And His grace bestowed, [a.k.a. presented to,] me, wasn't in vain, [a.k.a. ineffective.] But I abundantly [labored] more than all [of] [them.] [Still,] not I, but [this was accomplished through] the grace of God, [Who] was with me. Therefore, whether I [preach,] or [it's] they [who preach this Gospel to you,] we preach [this,] so [that] you believed.

Now, if [it] is preached that Christ rose from the dead, how [do] some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if [there's] no resurrection of the dead, then Christ isn't risen. And if Christ [hasn't] risen, then our preaching is vain, [a.k.a. worthless,] & your faith is also vain.

[Yes,] & we [would] [be] found false witnesses of God; because we have testified [about] God, & that He raised up Christ. [If] [God [didn't raise Christ] up, if [that's] so, [it would] be that the dead [don't] rise.

For if the dead [don't] rise, then Christ is not raised. And if Christ [is] not raised, your faith is vain; & you are [still] in your sins. Then, also all [those, who have] fallen asleep, [a.k.a. have died,] in Christ, [have] perished.

If we only have hope in Christ in, [a.k.a. during,] this life, we are all [very] miserable, [a.k.a. distressed,] men. [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] I wouldn't have you to be ignorant, [a.k.a. unaware, about those, who] are asleep, [a.k.a. dead,] [so] that you [aren't sowrrowful,] even [like] others, [who] have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died & rose again, even so [those] [who believe] in Jesus, & also sleep, [a.k.a. have died,] God will bring with Him. For we say this to you [through] the Word of the Lord, [so] that we [who] are alive, & remain [until] the Lord [comes,] shall not prevent [those, who] are [dead.] For the Lord, Himself, shall descend from heaven with a shout, & with the voice of the Archangel, & with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then, we, [a.k.a. believers in Christ, who] are alive & remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And we shall [always] be so with the Lord. [For this reason,] comfort one another with these words.]

[Since] Christ is now risen from the dead, & [became] the first-fruits, [a.k.a. the first of the whole harvest,] of [those, who] slept, [a.k.a. died.] For since death came [through] man, also the resurrection of the dead came [through] Man.

For [like] in [Adam's] [sin,] all die, even so all, [who believe,] shall be made alive in Christ. But every man in his own order, [a.k.a. time.] Christ the first-fruits; [afterwards, those who] are Christ's, at His coming.

*[When] the end [comes,] then He shall have delivered up the kingdom: to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all: [rulers; authorities; & powers.] [1 Peter 3:22 [Christ,] Who [has] gone into heaven, & is on the right hand [side] of God. Angels, authorities, & powers being made subject to, [a.k.a. under the authority of Jesus Christ.]

*For [Jesus Christ] must rule, [until] He [has] put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. *For [God] has put all things under [Jesus Christ's] feet. But when He [says] all things are put under Him, it is manifest, [a.k.a. apparent,] that He is [excluded, Who puts] all things under Him. [Ephesians 1:22-23 *And [God] [has] put all things under [Jesus Christ's] feet, & gave Him to be the head over all things [connected] to the church, which is His body, & the fulness of Him, [Who fulfills] all [things] in all.]

*And when all things shall be subdued to Him, [a.k.a. under His control,] then shall the Son, Himself, also be subject to Him, [Who] put all things under Him, [so] that God may be all, in all. [1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head [over] every man is Christ. And the head [over] the woman is the man. And the head [over] Christ is God.]

Else, what shall [those, who] are baptized do for the dead, if the dead [don't] rise at all? Then, why are they baptized for [the resurrection of] the dead? And why [do] we stand in jeopardy every hour? [2 Corinthians 11:24-26 I received [39] stripes, [a.k.a. whip marks, from] the Jews 5 times. [Three times,] I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned, & [three times] I suffered shipwreck. I have been in the deep [waters] 1 night & 1 day. Often [I've been] [on journeys,] & in perils, [a.k.a. in danger, from;] robbers; my own countrymen; the heathen; in the city; in the wilderness; in the sea; & among false brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers.]

I protest, [at] your rejoicing, [a.k.a. boasting,] [about your faith] in Christ Jesus our Lord, which I [also] have, & I die, [a.k.a. risk my life,] daily [in order to share my faith in Him.]

What [does] it [benefit] me, [even] after I have fought [in the] [custom] of men, with [wild animals] at Ephesus, if the dead [don't] rise. Let's eat & drink; for tomorrow we [may] die.

[Don't] be deceived by evil communications, [a.k.a. wicked talk,] [which] [corrupts] good manners, [a.k.a. habits.] Awake to righteousness, & [don't] sin. For some [don't] have the knowledge [about] God. I speak, [a.k.a. say,] this to your shame. [Ephesians 4:29-30 Let no corrupt communication, [a.k.a. words, come from] your mouth, but [only] [what] is good to use [for] edifying, [a.k.a. enlightening, so] that it may minister grace to the hearers. And [don't] grieve the Holy Ghost, [a.k.a. Holy Spirit,] of God, [by Whom] you are sealed [until] the Day of Redemption.]

But some [men] will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what [type of] body do they [have when they] come? You fool, [what] you [sow, a.k.a. scatter seeds] isn't quickened, [a.k.a. made alive, unless] it [dies.] [John 12:24 [Very, truly, I say to you, [Unless] a [kernel] of wheat [falls] into the ground & [dies,] it  [remains] alone. But if it [dies,] it [brings] forth, [a.k.a. produces,] much fruit, [a.k.a. more wheat.]

And [what] you [sow,] isn't [in] that [same] body [which] it shall be, but [still] [produces] grain, [perhaps] of wheat, or some other grain. But God gives it a body as it [has] pleased Him, & to every seed [its] own body.

All flesh is not the same flesh. But there is one kind of flesh [for] men, another flesh [for] [animals,] another [for] [fish,] & another [for] birds.] There are also celestial, [a.k.a. heavenly,] bodies, & terrestrial, [a.k.a. earthly,] bodies, but the glory [for] the celestial is one [type,] the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory [for] the sun, & another glory [for] the moon, & [yet] another [for] the stars: [because] 1 star [differs] from another star in glory. Also, so is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, [a.k.a. decay;] & it  is raised [without corruption.]

It is sown in dishonor; & it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; & it is raised in power. It is sown a natural, [a.k.a. earthly,] body; & it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural, [a.k.a. earthly] body, & there is a spiritual body.

And it was written so [in the Scriptures,] The first man, Adam, was made a living soul. The last Adam was made [back alive,] [with a] [spiritual] [body.] [However, what] [was] first, wasn't spiritual, but [was] [what] is natural, [a.k.a. earthly,] & afterward [what] is spiritual.

The first man is [from] the earth, & is [earthly, a.k.a. worldly.] [Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, [according to] Our likeness. And let them have dominion, [a.k.a. control,] over the: fish of the sea; [birds] of the air; the cattle, [a.k.a. livestock;] & over all the earth; & over every creeping thing that [creeps] upon the earth. So, God created man in His Own image, & in the image of God, He created him. He created them male & female.]

The second Man, is the Lord, from heaven. [John 3:13 And no man [has] ascended up, [a.k.a. gone up,] to heaven, but He, [Who] came down from heaven, even the Son of Man, [Who] is in heaven.]

[Like] [Adam] is [earthly,] such are [those, a.k.a. descendants of Adam, who] also are [earthly.] And [like] [Jesus Christ] is heavenly, also such are [those, who] are heavenly. [Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, Who is rich in mercy, & for His great love, [with which] He loved us, even when we were dead in [our] sins, [has] quickened us, [a.k.a. made us alive,] together with Christ. (You are saved by grace.) And [has] raised us up together, [through] Christ Jesus; & made us sit together in heavenly places.]

And [like] we have borne, [a.k.a. carried,] the image of the [earthly, a.k.a. Adam,] we shall also bear, [a.k.a.carry,] the image of the heavenly, [a.k.a. Jesus Christ.] Now, brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] I say this, that flesh & blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God. Neither [does] [what is] [corruptible, a.k.a. can decay,] inherit [what  is without] [corruption.]

[Look,] I [declare] a mystery [to] you. We shall not all sleep, [a.k.a. die,] but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last tump. For the trumpet shall sound, & the dead shall be raised incorruptible, [a.k.a. without corruption,] & we shall be changed, [a.k.a. transformed.]

For [what is] corruptible, must put on incorruption, [a.k.a. what can't decay.] And [what is] mortal, [a.k.a. perishable,] shall put on immortality, [a.k.a. what won't perish.]

So, when this corruptible [man,] shall put on [what isn't corruptible,] & this mortal [man,] shall put on immortality, then the saying that is written [in the Scriptures,] shall [happen,] Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death [is because of] sin; & the strength of sin, [has made sin apparent through] the Law.

But thanks be to God, [Who gives] us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, my beloved brethren, you, be [steadfast, a.k.a. devoted;] unmoveable; always abounding, [a.k.a. flourishing,] in the work of the Lord, [since] you know that your [labor] [of sharing your faith in Jesus Christ,] isn't [done] in vain [through] the Lord.

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 Don't Speak in Other Languages in Church Unless There's a Translator

 

Don't Speak in Other Languages in Church Unless There's a Translator

1 Corinthians 14:1-40   Paul's 1st Epistle to the Corinthians [in Smaller Chunks]

Follow after charity, [a.k.a. love,] & desire Spiritual gifts, but [instead,] that you may prophesy. [1 Timothy 6:7-12 For we brought nothing into this world, & it's certain, we can carry nothing out [of it.] And let us be content [with] having food & clothing. But [those, who want] [to] be rich, fall into temptation; a [trap;] & into many foolish & [harmful] lusts, [that] drown men in [ruin] & destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evil. [By] which some have [strayed] from the faith, while they coveted after [money,] & pierced through themselves with many sorrows [like arrows.] But you, O man of God, flee these things; & follow after: righteousness, godliness; faith; love; patience, & meekness, [a.k.a. humbleness.] Fight the good fight of faith, & lay hold on Eternal Life, [unto which] you are also called & [have declared] a good profession [of your faith,] [in front of] many witnesses.]

For he, [who] speaks in an unknown tongue, [a.k.a. language, doesn't speak] to men, but to God. For no man [understands] him, & [how] he [speaks] mysteries [through] the Spirit. But he, [who prophesies speaks] to men [for:] edification, [a.k.a. lifting up or encouraging,] exhortation, [a.k.a. explaining or teaching,] & comfort.

He, [who speaks] in an unknown [language, lifts up] himself; but he who [prophesies lifts up] the church. I [don't] [want] that you all [spoke] with tongues, [a.k.a. different languages,] but [instead] that you prophesied.

For he, [who prophesies] is greater, [a.k.a. is more significant,] than he, [who speaks] with tongues, [unless] he [interprets, so] that the church may receive edifying, [a.k.a. encouragement.]

Now, brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] if I come speaking with tongues to you, what shall I [benefit] you, [unless] I shall speak to you [through] either: revelation, knowledge, prophesying, or by doctrine?

And even [musical] things, without life, [that] [give, a.k.a. produce,] sound, whether [it's a] pipe or harp, how shall it be known what is piped or harped, [unless] they give [distinctive] sounds?

For if the trumpet [gave] an uncertain, [a.k.a unknown,] sound, who [would] prepare himself [for] battle? So you [are] [the same, unless] you utter words  [from] [your mouth that are] easy to be understood. How shall it be known what is spoken? For [it's like] you shall speak into the air.

It may be so, [that] there are many [different] kinds of voices in the world, & none of them is without [significance, a.k.a. meaning.] Therefore, if I [don't] know the meaning of the voice, I shall be a barbarian to him, [who speaks] to me. And he [who speaks] that [way,] shall be a barbarian to me.

Even so, [since] you are zealous [about] Spiritual gifts, seek, [so] that you may excel, to [encourage] the [people] of the church. [For this reason,] let him, [who speaks] in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown [language,] my spirit [prays,] by my understanding is [unproductive.]

What is it then? I will pray with the [Holy] Spirit, & I will also pray with understanding. I will sing with the [Holy] Spirit, & I will also sing with understanding.

[Or] else, when you [shall] bless [through] the Spirit, how shall he, [who] [is in] the room, & [is] unlearned, [a.k.a. uneducated,]  say, Amen, [when] you [are] giving thanks, [since] he [doesn't understand] what you [say?]

For [truly] you [give] thanks well, but the other [person] isn't edified, [a.k.a. uplifted.] I thank my God, [though] I speak with tongues more than all [of] you, [still] I [would] rather speak 5 words with my understanding in the church, [so] that] by my voice, I might also teach others, than 10,000 words in an unknown [language.]

Brethren, [don't] be [like little] children in understanding. [However,] you [should] be [like little] children in malice, [a.k.a. wishing harm to others,] but in understanding be [like mature] men.

It is written in the Law, I will speak to this people with men of other tongues & other lips. And [still] [after] all that, they [won't] hear Me, [says] the Lord. [Isaiah 28:11-12 For [God] will speak to this people [through those,] with stammering lips & another tongue, [a.k.a. language.] To whom, He said, This is the rest [with which] you may cause the weary, [a.k.a. tired,] to rest, & this is the [place to] [refresh.] [Still,] they wouldn't hear, [a.k.a. listen.]

[For this reason,] tongues are for a sign, not to [those, who] believe, but [to those, who don't] believe. But prophesying [serves, a.k.a. benefits,] not [just] [those, who don't] believe, but [also] [those, who] believe.

Therefore, if the whole church [comes] together into one place, & all speak with tongues, [a.k.a. different languages,] & those [who] are [uneducated,] or [those, who are] unbelievers come in there, [won't] they say that you are mad, [a.k.a. insane?]

But if all prophesy, & [someone comes] in, [who doesn't believe,] or [someone, who is] [uneducated,] he is convinced, [a.k.a. persuaded, by] all, & he is judged, [a.k.a. examined, by] all. And [through] [this,] the secrets of his heart [are] made manifest, [a.k.a. apparent.] And falling down oh his face, he will worship God, & report that God is [truly within] you. [Isaiah 43:10-11 The Lord [says,] You are My witnesses, & My [servants,] whom I have chosen: [so] that you may know & believe Me, & understand that I Am He. Before Me, there was no God formed, & neither shall there be after Me. I, Even I, Am the Lord & there is no Savior [besides] Me.]

Then, how is it, brethren, [that] when you come together, everyone of you [has:] a psalm; a doctrine; a tongue; a revelation; & [has] an interpretation? Let all things be done, [leading to] edifying, [a.k.a. enlightening.]

If any man [speaks] in an unknown [language,] let it be [done] by 2, or at the most, by 3, & let one interpret that, [at the appropriate time.] But if [there's] no interpreter, let him keep [silent,] in the church, & let him speak [privately] to God, himself.

Let 2 or 3 [of] the prophets speak, & let the [others] judge, [a.k.a. examine,] [what is said.] If anything [is] revealed to another, [who sits nearby,] let the first hold his peace. [1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 [Don't] quench, [a.k.a. put out our thirst for,] the Spirit. [Don't] despise [prophecy,] & prove, [a.k.a. test,] all things. Hold fast, [a.k.a. tight,] [to] [what] is good.]

For you may all prophesy 1 by 1, [so] that all may: learn, & be comforted. And the prophets' spirits are subject to, [a.k.a. under the control of,] the prophets. For God isn't the Author of confusion, but of peace, [like] in all the churches of the saints, [a.k.a. the Lord God's believers.]

Let your women keep [silent] in the churches. It isn't permitted for them to speak. But they are commanded to be under obedience, [like] the Law [of Moses,] also [says.] And if they [want] [to] learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is [shameful] for women to speak in the church.

What? [Didn't] the Word of God [come] out from you? Or [did] it only come to you? If any man [thinks] himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. [2 Corinthians 10:7 Do you look [according] [to] the outward appearance of things? If any man [trusts, within] himself that he is Christ's, let him [also] think [about] this again himself, [so] that [just] like he is Christ's, even so, we are Christ's.]

But if any man [is] ignorant, [a.k.a. uneducated or unaware,] let him be ignorant. [For this reason,] brethren, covet, [a.k.a. desire,] to: prophesy, & don't forbid [others] to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently & [orderly, a.k.a. not with confusion.]