The Use of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning ^(A)spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, ^(B)I do not want you to be unaware. ^2 (C)You know that when you were ^[a]pagans, you were ^(D)led ^[b]astray to the ^(E)mute idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking ^[c](F)by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is ^[d](G)accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is ^(H)Lord,” except ^[e](I)by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are ^(J)varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same ^(K)God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit ^(L)for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given the word of ^(M)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of ^(N)knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another ^(O)faith ^[f]by the same Spirit, and to another ^(P)gifts of ^[g]healing ^[h]by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the ^[i]effecting of ^[j](Q)miracles, and to another ^(R)prophecy, and to another the ^[k](S)distinguishing of spirits, to another various ^(T)kinds of tongues, and to another the ^(U)interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(V)distributing to each one individually just as He ^[l]wills.

¹² For just ^(W)as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, ^(X)so also is Christ. ¹³ For ^[m](Y)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether ^(Z)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to ^(AA)drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For ^(AB)the body is not one part, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason ^[n]any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason ^[o]any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has ^(AC)arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, ^(AD)just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now ^(AE)there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, ^[p]it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³ and those parts of the body which we ^[q]consider less honorable, ^[r]on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no ^[s]division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is ^[t]honored, all the parts rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are ^(AF)Christ’s body, and ^(AG)individually parts of it. ²⁸ And God has ^[u](AH)appointed in ^(AI)the church, first ^(AJ)apostles, second ^(AK)prophets, third ^(AL)teachers, then ^[v](AM)miracles, then ^(AN)gifts of healings, helps, ^(AO)administrations, and various ^(AP)kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of ^[w]miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not ^(AQ)interpret, do they? ³¹ But ^(AR)earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the ^(AS)tongues of mankind and of ^(AT)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ^(AU)clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of ^(AV)prophecy and know all ^(AW)mysteries and all ^(AX)knowledge, and if I have ^(AY)all faith so as to ^(AZ)remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I ^(BA)give away all my possessions to charity, and if I ^(BB)surrender my body so that I may ^[x]glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

⁴ Love ^(BC)is patient, love is kind, it ^(BD)is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not ^(BE)arrogant. ⁵ It does not act disgracefully, it ^(BF)does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, ^(BG)does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, ^6 (BH)it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but ^(BI)rejoices with the truth; ⁷ it ^[y](BJ)keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of ^[z](BK)prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are ^(BL)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. ⁹ For we ^(BM)know in part and prophesy in part; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I ^[aa]became a man, I did away with childish things. ¹² For now we ^(BN)see in a mirror ^[ab]dimly, but then ^(BO)face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also ^(BP)have been fully known. ¹³ But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the ^[ac]greatest of these is ^(BQ)love.

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 ^(BR)Pursue love, yet earnestly ^(BS)desire ^(BT)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^(BU)prophesy. ² For the one who ^(BV)speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one ^[ad]understands, but ^[ae]in his spirit he speaks ^(BW)mysteries. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for ^(BX)edification, ^[af](BY)exhortation, and consolation. ⁴ The one who ^(BZ)speaks in a tongue ^(CA)edifies himself; but the one who ^(CB)prophesies ^(CC)edifies the church. ⁵ Now I wish that you all ^(CD)spoke in tongues, but ^(CE)rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who ^(CF)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ^(CG)edification.

⁶ But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(CH)revelation, or of ^(CI)knowledge, or of ^(CJ)prophecy, or of ^(CK)teaching? ⁷ Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? ⁸ For if ^(CL)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be ^(CM)talking to the air. ¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^[ag]languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. ¹¹ So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ^(CN)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible ^[ah]to me. ¹² So you too, since you are eager to possess ^[ai]spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the ^(CO)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. ^15 (CP)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(CQ)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. ¹⁶ For otherwise, if you bless God ^[aj]in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the ^[ak]outsider know to say ^(CR)the “Amen” at your ^(CS)giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(CT)edified. ¹⁸ I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

^20 (CU)Brothers and sisters, ^(CV)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^(CW)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In ^(CX)the ^[al]Law it is written: “^(CY)By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. ²² So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ^(CZ)prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and ^[am]outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(DA)you are insane? ²⁴ But if all ^(DB)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^[an]outsider enters, he is ^(DC)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; ^25 (DD)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(DE)fall on his face and worship God, ^(DF)declaring that God is certainly among you.

^26 (DG)What is the outcome then, ^(DH)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, ^(DI)each one has a ^(DJ)psalm, has a ^(DK)teaching, has a ^(DL)revelation, has a ^(DM)tongue, has an ^(DN)interpretation. ^(DO)All things are to be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(DP)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to ^(DQ)interpret; ²⁸ but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Have two or three ^(DR)prophets speak, and have the others ^(DS)pass judgment. ³⁰ But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be ^[ao]exhorted; ³² and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; ³³ for God is not a God of ^(DT)confusion, but of peace.

As in ^(DU)all the churches of the ^[ap](DV)saints, ³⁴ the women are to ^(DW)keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but ^(DX)are to subject themselves, just as ^(DY)the Law also says. ³⁵ If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is ^[aq]improper for a woman to speak in church. ³⁶ Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

^37 (DZ)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or ^(EA)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ^(EB)are the Lord’s commandment. ³⁸ But if anyone does not recognize this, ^[ar]he is not recognized.

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, ^(EC)earnestly desire to ^(ED)prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But ^(EE)all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.

The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

15 Now ^(EF)I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the ^(EG)gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, ^(EH)in which you also stand, ² by which you also are saved, ^(EI)if you hold firmly to ^[as]the word which I preached to you, ^(EJ)unless you believed in vain.

³ For ^(EK)I handed down to you ^[at]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died ^(EL)for our sins ^(EM)according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was ^(EN)raised on the third day ^(EO)according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that ^(EP)He appeared to ^[au](EQ)Cephas, then ^(ER)to the twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some ^(ES)have fallen asleep; ⁷ then He appeared to ^[av](ET)James, then to ^(EU)all the apostles; ⁸ and last of all, as ^[aw]to one untimely born, ^(EV)He appeared to me also. ⁹ For I am ^(EW)the least of the apostles, ^[ax]and not fit to be called an apostle, because I ^(EX)persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by ^(EY)the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I ^(EZ)labored even more than all of them, yet ^(FA)not I, but the grace of God with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

¹² Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there ^(FB)is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁴ and ^(FC)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. ¹⁵ Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified ^[ay]against God that He ^(FD)raised ^[az]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁷ and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ^(FE)you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then also those who ^(FF)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are ^(FG)of all people most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

²⁰ But the fact is, Christ ^(FH)has been raised from the dead, the ^(FI)first fruits of those who ^(FJ)are asleep. ²¹ For since ^(FK)by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For ^(FL)as in Adam all die, so also in ^[ba]Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ ^(FM)the first fruits, after that ^(FN)those who are Christ’s at ^(FO)His coming, ²⁴ then comes the end, when He hands over ^(FP)the kingdom to our ^(FQ)God and Father, when He has abolished ^(FR)all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign ^(FS)until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be ^(FT)abolished is death. ²⁷ For ^(FU)He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “^(FV)All things are put in subjection,” it is clear that ^[bb]this excludes the Father who put all things in subjection to Him. ²⁸ When ^(FW)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that ^(FX)God may be all in all.

²⁹ For otherwise, what will those do who are baptized ^[bc]for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized ^[bd]for them? ³⁰ Why are we also ^(FY)in danger every hour? ³¹ I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that ^(FZ)I die daily. ³² If ^[be]from human motives I ^(GA)fought with wild beasts at ^(GB)Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, ^(GC)let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ^33 (GD)Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ^34 (GE)Sober up ^[bf]morally and stop sinning, for some have ^(GF)no knowledge of God. ^(GG)I say this to your shame.

³⁵ But ^(GH)someone will say, “How are ^(GI)the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” ^36 (GJ)You fool! That which you ^(GK)sow does not come to life unless it dies; ³⁷ and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of ^[bg]something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body just as He wished, and ^(GL)to each of the seeds a body of its own. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of mankind, another flesh of animals, another flesh of birds, and another of fish. ⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

^42 (GM)So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown ^[bh](GN)a perishable body, it is raised ^[bi](GO)an imperishable body; ⁴³ it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in ^(GP)glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a ^(GQ)natural body, it is raised a ^(GR)spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So also it is written: “The first ^(GS)man, Adam, became a living ^[bj]person.” The ^(GT)last Adam was a ^(GU)life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is ^(GV)from the earth, ^[bk](GW)earthy; the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly one, ^(GX)so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ Just as we have ^(GY)borne the image of the earthy, ^[bl]we ^(GZ)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

The Mystery of Resurrection

⁵⁰ Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that ^(HA)flesh and blood cannot ^(HB)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does ^[bm]the perishable inherit ^[bn](HC)the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a ^[bo](HD)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(HE)changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(HF)the trumpet will sound, and ^(HG)the dead will be raised ^[bp]imperishable, and ^(HH)we will be changed. ⁵³ For this ^[bq]perishable must put on ^[br](HI)the imperishable, and this ^(HJ)mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this ^[bs]perishable puts on ^[bt]the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “^(HK)Death has been swallowed up in victory. ^55 (HL)Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of ^(HM)death is sin, and ^(HN)the power of sin is the Law; ⁵⁷ but ^(HO)thanks be to God, who gives us the ^(HP)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58 (HQ)Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in ^(HR)the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Instructions and Greetings

16 Now concerning ^(HS)the collection for ^[bu](HT)the saints, as ^(HU)I directed the churches of ^(HV)Galatia, so you are to do as well. ² On ^(HW)the first day of every week, each of you is to ^[bv]put aside and save as he may prosper, so that ^(HX)no collections need to be made when I come. ³ When I arrive, ^(HY)whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; ⁴ and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵ But I ^(HZ)will come to you after I go through ^(IA)Macedonia; for I ^(IB)am going through Macedonia, ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(IC)send me on my way wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now ^(ID)just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, ^(IE)if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will remain in ^(IF)Ephesus until ^(IG)Pentecost; ⁹ for a ^(IH)wide door ^[bw]for effective service has opened to me, and ^(II)there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ Now if ^(IJ)Timothy comes, see that he ^[bx]has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing ^(IK)the Lord’s work, as I also am. ^11 (IL)So do not look down on him, anyone. But ^(IM)send him on his way ^(IN)in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.

¹² Now concerning our brother ^(IO)Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.

^13 (IP)Be on the alert, ^(IQ)stand firm in the faith, ^(IR)act like men, ^(IS)be strong. ¹⁴ All that you do must be done ^(IT)in love.

¹⁵ Now I urge you, brothers and sisters: you know the ^(IU)household of Stephanas, that ^[by]they are the ^(IV)first fruits of ^(IW)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to ^(IX)ministry to ^(IY)the ^[bz]saints; ¹⁶ I urge that ^(IZ)you also be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. ¹⁷ I rejoice over the ^[ca](JA)coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have ^[cb]supplied ^(JB)what was lacking on your part. ¹⁸ For they ^(JC)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^(JD)acknowledge such men.

¹⁹ The churches of ^[cc](JE)Asia greet you. ^(JF)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ^(JG)the church that is in their house. ²⁰ All the brothers and sisters greet you. ^(JH)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ The greeting is in ^(JI)my own hand—that of Paul. ²² If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be ^[cd](JJ)accursed. ^[ce](JK)Maranatha! ^23 (JL)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.