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1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
New Life Version
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
New Life Version
The Body of Christ
27 You are all a part of the body of Christ. 28 God has chosen different ones in the church to do His work. First, there are missionaries. Second, there are preachers or those who speak for God. And third, there are teachers. He has also chosen those who do powerful works and those who have the gifts of healing. And He has chosen those who help others who are in need and those who are able to lead others in work and those who speak in special sounds. 29 Are they all missionaries? No. Are they all preachers or those who speak for God? No. Do they all do powerful works? No. 30 Do they all have the gifts of healing? No. Do they all speak in special sounds? No. Are they all able to tell what the special sounds mean? No. 31 But from your heart you should want the best gifts. Now I will show you even a better way.
Love—the Greatest of All
13 I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I do not have love, it will sound like noisy brass. 2 If I have the gift of speaking God’s Word and if I understand all secrets, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I know all things and if I have the gift of faith so I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give everything I have to feed poor people and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it will not help me.
4 Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. 5 Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. 6 Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. 7 Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things.
8 Love never comes to an end. The gift of speaking God’s Word will come to an end. The gift of speaking in special sounds will be stopped. The gift of understanding will come to an end. 9 For we only know a part now, and we speak only a part. 10 When everything is perfect, then we will not need these gifts that are not perfect.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child. I thought like a child. I understood like a child. Now I am a man. I do not act like a child anymore. 12 Now that which we see is as if we were looking in a broken mirror. But then we will see everything. Now I know only a part. But then I will know everything in a perfect way. That is how God knows me right now. 13 And now we have these three: faith and hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
New International Version
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
New International Version
27 Now you are the body of Christ,(A) and each one of you is a part of it.(B) 28 And God has placed in the church(C) first of all apostles,(D) second prophets,(E) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,(F) of helping, of guidance,(G) and of different kinds of tongues.(H) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[a]?(I) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire(J) the greater gifts.
Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
13 If I speak in the tongues[b](K) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy(L) and can fathom all mysteries(M) and all knowledge,(N) and if I have a faith(O) that can move mountains,(P) but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor(Q) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[c](R) but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient,(S) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.(T) 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,(U) it is not easily angered,(V) it keeps no record of wrongs.(W) 6 Love does not delight in evil(X) but rejoices with the truth.(Y) 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(Z)
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,(AA) they will cease; where there are tongues,(AB) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part(AC) and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes,(AD) what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood(AE) behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;(AF) then we shall see face to face.(AG) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.(AH)
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.(AI) But the greatest of these is love.(AJ)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 12:30 Or other languages
- 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
- 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames
New Life Version (NLV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.