1 Corinthians 14-15

Amplified Bible

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may ^[a]prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people]. ² For one who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things]. ³ But [on the other hand] the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification [to promote their spiritual growth] and [speaks words of] encouragement [to uphold and advise them concerning the matters of God] and [speaks words of] consolation [to compassionately comfort them]. ⁴ One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church [promotes growth in spiritual wisdom, devotion, holiness, and joy]. ⁵ Now I wish that all of you spoke in unknown tongues, but even more [I wish] that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translates or explains [what he says], so that the church may ^[b]be edified [instructed, improved, strengthened].

⁶ Now, believers, if I come to you speaking in unknown tongues, how will I benefit you unless I also speak to you [clearly] either by revelation [revealing God’s mystery], or by knowledge [teaching about God], or by prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], or by instruction [teaching precepts that develop spiritual maturity]? ⁷ Yet even lifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct [musical] tones, how will anyone [listening] know what is piped or played? ⁸ And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligible and clear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]! ¹⁰ There are, I suppose, a great many kinds of languages in the world [unknown to us], and none is lacking in meaning. ¹¹ But if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will [appear to] be a ^[c]foreigner to the one who is speaking [since he knows exactly what he is saying], and the one who is speaking will [appear to] be a foreigner to me. ¹² So it is with you, since you are so very eager to have spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church [spiritually].

¹³ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [be gifted to] translate or explain [what he says]. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying]. ¹⁵ Then what am I to do? I will pray with the ^[d]spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will pray with the mind [using words I understand]; I will sing with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will sing with the mind [using words I understand]. ¹⁶ Otherwise if you bless [and give thanks to God] in the spirit only, how will any outsider or someone who is not gifted [in spiritual matters] say the “Amen” [of agreement] to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?^{(A) 17} You are giving thanks well enough [in a way that God is glorified], but the other person [who does not understand you] is not edified [and spiritually strengthened since he cannot join in your thanksgiving]. ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in [unknown] tongues more than all of you; ¹⁹ nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say five understandable words in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].

Instruction for the Church

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults]. ²¹ It is written in the Law, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me,” says the Lord.^{(B) 22} Therefore, [unknown] tongues are [meant] for a [supernatural] sign, not to believers but to unbelievers [who might be receptive]; while prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people] is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So then, if the whole church gathers together and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and outsiders or those who are not gifted [in spiritual matters] or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said]; ²⁵ the secrets of his heart are laid bare. And so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.

²⁶ What then is the right course, believers? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a tongue, or an interpretation. Let everything be constructive and edifying and done for the good of all the church. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be limited to two or at the most three, and each one speaking in turn, and one must interpret [what is said]. ²⁸ But if there is no one to interpret, the one [who wishes to speak in a tongue] must keep silent in church; let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak [as inspired by the Holy Spirit], while the rest pay attention and weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰ But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent. ³¹ For [in this way] you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may be instructed and everyone may be encouraged; ³² for the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets [the prophecy is under the speaker’s control, and he can stop speaking]; ³³ for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order.

As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people),

³⁴ the ^[e]women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says. ³⁵ If there is anything they want to learn [that is, if they have questions about anything being said or taught], they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a ^[f]woman to talk in church. ³⁶ Did the word of the Lord originate from you [Corinthians], or has it come to you only [so that you know best what God requires]?

³⁷ If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet [a true spokesman for God] or spiritually astute [filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit], let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. ³⁸ If anyone does not recognize this [that it is a command of the Lord], he is not recognized [by God].

³⁹ Therefore, believers, desire earnestly to prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people], and do not forbid speaking in unknown tongues. ⁴⁰ But all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.

The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

15 Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith]. ² By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].

³ For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],^{(C) 4} and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],^{(D) 5} and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the ^[g]Twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death]. ⁷ Then He was seen by James, then by all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all, as to one ^[h]untimely (prematurely, traumatically) born, He appeared to me also.^{(E) 9} For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressed and violently persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the [remarkable] grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not without effect. In fact, I worked harder than all of the apostles, though it was not I, but the grace of God [His unmerited favor and blessing which was] with me. ¹¹ So whether it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed and trusted in and relied on with confidence.

¹² Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how is it that ^[i]some among you say that there 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 if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain [useless, amounting to nothing], and your faith is also vain [imaginary, unfounded, devoid of value and benefit—not based on truth]. ¹⁵ We are even discovered to be false witnesses [misrepresenting] God, because we testified concerning Him that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, either; ¹⁷ and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and powerless [mere delusion]; you are still in your sins [and under the control and penalty of sin]. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

²⁰ But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death].^{(F) 21} For since [it was] by a man that death came [into the world], it is also by a Man that the resurrection of the dead has come. ²² For just as ^[j]in Adam all die, so also ^[k]in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s [own will be resurrected with incorruptible, immortal bodies] at His coming. ²⁴ After that comes the end (completion), when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after He has made inoperative and abolished every ruler and every authority and power. ²⁵ For Christ must reign [as King] until He has put all His enemies under His feet.^{(G) 26} The last enemy to be abolished and put to an end is death. ²⁷ For He (the Father) has put all things in subjection under His (Christ’s) feet. But when He says, “All things have been put in subjection [under Christ],” it is clear that He (the Father) who put all things in subjection to Him (Christ) is excepted [since the Father is not in subjection to His own Son].^{(H) 28} However, when all things are subjected to Him (Christ), then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One (the Father) who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all [manifesting His glory without any opposition, the supreme indwelling and controlling factor of life].

²⁹ Otherwise, what will those do who are being ^[l]baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people even baptized for them? ³⁰ [For that matter] why are we [running such risks and putting ourselves] ^[m]in danger [nearly] every hour [if there is no resurrection]? ³¹ I assure you, believers, by the pride which I have in you in [your union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily [I face death and die to self]. ³² What good has it done me if, [merely] from a human point of view, I ^[n]fought with wild animals at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised [at all], let us eat and drink [enjoying ourselves now], for tomorrow we die.^{(I) 33} Do not be deceived: ^[o]“Bad company corrupts good morals.” ³⁴ Be sober-minded [be sensible, wake up from your spiritual stupor] as you ought, and stop sinning; for some [of you] have no knowledge of God [you are disgracefully ignorant of Him, and ignore His truths]. I say this to your shame.

³⁵ But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body will they come?” ³⁶ You fool! Every time you plant seed you sow something that does not come to life [germinating, springing up and growing] unless it first dies. ³⁷ The seed you sow is not the body (the plant) which it is going to become, but it is a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body just as He planned, and to each kind of seed a body of its own [is given].^{(J) 39} All flesh is not the same. There is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies [sun, moon and stars] and earthly bodies [humans, animals, and plants], but the glory and beauty of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is another. ⁴¹ There is a glory and beauty of the sun, another glory of the moon, and yet another [distinctive] glory of the stars; and one star differs from another in glory and brilliance.

⁴² So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The [human] body that is sown is perishable and mortal, it is raised imperishable and immortal.^{(K) 43} It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in strength; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body [mortal, suited to earth], it is raised a spiritual body [immortal, suited to heaven]. As surely as there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So it is written [in Scripture], “The first man, Adam, became a living soul (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life].^{(L) 46} However, the spiritual [the immortal life] is not first, but the physical [the mortal life]; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy [made of dust]; the second Man [Christ, the Lord] is from heaven.^{(M) 48} As is the earthly man [the man of dust], so are those who are of earth; and as is the heavenly [Man], so are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹ Just as we have borne the image of the earthly [the man of dust], ^[p]we will also bear the image of the heavenly [the Man of heaven].

The Mystery of Resurrection

⁵⁰ Now I say this, believers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit nor be part of the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (mortal) inherit the imperishable (immortal). ⁵¹ Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed], ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed]. ⁵³ For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death]. ⁵⁴ And when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, “Death is swallowed up in victory (vanquished forever).^{(N) 55} O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”^{(O) 56} The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; ⁵⁷ but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].