Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,^(A) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.^{(B) 2} You know that when you were pagans,^(C) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.^{(D) 3} Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,”^(E) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”^(F) except by the Holy Spirit.^(G)

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit^(H) distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone^(I) it is the same God^(J) at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.^{(K) 8} To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,^(L) to another a message of knowledge^(M) by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith^(N) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing^(O) by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers,^(P) to another prophecy,^(Q) to another distinguishing between spirits,^(R) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a](S) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^{[b] 11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,^(T) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,^(U) so it is with Christ.^{(V) 13} For we were all baptized^(W) by^[c] one Spirit^(X) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(Y)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^{(Z) 14} Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.^(AA)

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed^(AB) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.^{(AC) 19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.^(AD)

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(AE) and each one of you is a part of it.^{(AF) 28} And God has placed in the church^(AG) first of all apostles,^(AH) second prophets,^(AI) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,^(AJ) of helping, of guidance,^(AK) and of different kinds of tongues.^{(AL) 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^[d]?^(AM) Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire^(AN) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues^[e](AO) 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^(AP) and can fathom all mysteries^(AQ) and all knowledge,^(AR) and if I have a faith^(AS) that can move mountains,^(AT) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(AU) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[f](AV) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(AW) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(AX) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(AY) it is not easily angered,^(AZ) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(BA) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(BB) but rejoices with the truth.^{(BC) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(BD)

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(BE) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(BF) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part^(BG) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,^(BH) 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^(BI) behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(BJ) then we shall see face to face.^(BK) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(BL)

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.^(BM) But the greatest of these is love.^(BN)

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love^(BO) and eagerly desire^(BP) gifts of the Spirit,^(BQ) especially prophecy.^{(BR) 2} For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[g](BS) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(BT) they utter mysteries^(BU) by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(BV) encouraging^(BW) and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(BX) edifies^(BY) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(BZ) edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[h] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(CA) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[i] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.^(CB)

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(CC) or knowledge^(CD) or prophecy or word of instruction?^{(CE) 7} Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^{(CF) 9} So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^{(CG) 12} So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(CH) try to excel in those that build up^(CI) the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^{(CJ) 14} For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(CK) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(CL) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(CM) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[j] say “Amen”^(CN) to your thanksgiving,^(CO) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(CP)

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(CQ)

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(CR) In regard to evil be infants,^(CS) but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law^(CT) it is written:

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,^(CV) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?^{(CW) 24} But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets^(CX) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”^(CY)

Good Order in Worship

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(CZ) When you come together, each of you^(DA) has a hymn,^(DB) or a word of instruction,^(DC) a revelation, a tongue^(DD) or an interpretation.^(DE) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^{(DF) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets^(DG) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^{(DH) 30} And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^{(DI) 33} For God is not a God of disorder^(DJ) but of peace^(DK)—as in all the congregations^(DL) of the Lord’s people.^(DM)

³⁴ Women^[l] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,^(DN) but must be in submission,^(DO) as the law^(DP) says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.^[m]

³⁶ Or did the word of God^(DQ) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet^(DR) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,^(DS) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.^{(DT) 38} But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[n]

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(DU) to prophesy,^(DV) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly^(DW) way.