The Parable of the Bags of Gold^(A)

¹⁴ “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,^(B) who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

⁹ Offer hospitality^(A) to one another without grumbling.^{(B) 10} Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,^(C) as faithful^(D) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.^(E) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,^(F) so that in all things God may be praised^(G) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(H)

¹² He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants^(A) and gave them ten minas.^[a] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

¹⁴ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

¹⁵ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

¹⁶ “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

¹⁷ “‘Well done, my good servant!’^(B) his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’^(C)

¹⁸ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

¹⁹ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

²⁰ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. ²¹ I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’^(D)

²² “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words,^(E) you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?^{(F) 23} Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

²⁴ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

²⁵ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

²⁶ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.^{(G) 27} But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants^(A) in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

The Nature of True Apostleship

4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants^(A) of Christ and as those entrusted^(B) with the mysteries^(C) God has revealed. ² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

⁶ We have different gifts,^(A) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(B) then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith;^{(C) 7} if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^{(D) 8} if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(E) if it is giving, then give generously;^(F) if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

¹¹ So Christ himself gave^(A) the apostles,^(B) the prophets,^(C) the evangelists,^(D) the pastors and teachers,^(E)

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit^(A) distributes them.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.^{(A) 8} To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,^(B) to another a message of knowledge^(C) by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith^(D) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing^(E) by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers,^(F) to another prophecy,^(G) to another distinguishing between spirits,^(H) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a](I) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^{[b] 11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,^(J) 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,^(K) so it is with Christ.^{(L) 13} For we were all baptized^(M) by^[c] one Spirit^(N) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(O)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^{(P) 14} Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.^(Q)

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^(R) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.^{(S) 19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.^(T)

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,^(U) and each one of you is a part of it.^{(V) 28} And God has placed in the church^(W) first of all apostles,^(X) second prophets,^(Y) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,^(Z) of helping, of guidance,^(AA) and of different kinds of tongues.^{(AB) 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?