Book of Common Prayer
You Are The Parts of Christ’s Body, Placed Where You Are By God
27 And you are the body of Christ, and body-parts in part[a]. 28 And God placed some[b] in the church as first, apostles[c]; second, prophets; third, teachers; then miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are[d] they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All do not do miracles, do they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak in tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But be zealous-for[e] the greater gifts.
The Value of Your God-Given Gift Is Measured By Your Love
And[f] I show you a way still[g] beyond measure[h]: 13 1 If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels, but I do not have love, I have become a sounding brass [gong] or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but I do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I dole-out[i] all my possessions, and if I hand-over[j] my body so that I may boast[k], but I do not have love, I am profited nothing.
The Way Love Behaves
4 Love is patient. Love shows-kindness. Love does not envy[l], does not brag, is not puffed-up, 5 does not behave-dishonorably[m], does not seek its own things, is not provoked[n], does not count[o] the bad, 6 does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices-with the truth, 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love Is Permanent; Gifts Are Temporary. Be Pursuing Love
8 Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be set-aside[p]. If there are tongues, they will cease[q]. If there is knowledge, it will be set-aside. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part— 10 but when the complete[r] thing comes, the thing in part will be set-aside. 11 When I was a child, I was speaking like a child, thinking like a child, counting[s] like[t] a child— when I have become[u] a man, I have set-aside the things of the child. 12 For now we are seeing through[v] a mirror, in an enigma[w]— but then face to face. Now I know in part— but then I will know-fully, just as I also was fully-known. 13 But now[x] these three are remaining— faith, hope, love. But love is the greater of these.
Always Forgive One Another From The Heart, As God Has Forgiven You
21 Then having come to Him, Peter said to Him, “Lord, how often[a] will my brother sin against me and I will forgive him? Up to seven-times?” 22 Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you up to seven-times, but up to seventy-times[b] [and][c] seven. 23 For this reason, the kingdom of the heavens became-like[d] a man who was a king, who wished to settle the account with his slaves. 24 And he having begun to settle it, one debtor of ten-thousand talents[e] was brought to him. 25 But he not having the means to pay, the master ordered that he be sold— and his wife and his children and all that he has— and that it be paid. 26 Then the slave, having fallen, was prostrating-himself before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay everything to you’. 27 And having felt-deep feelings [of compassion], the master of that slave released him and forgave him the loan. 28 But having gone out, that slave found one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he was choking him, saying, ‘Pay me, since you are owing me something’. 29 Then his fellow slave, having fallen, was begging him, saying, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay it to you’. 30 And the one was not willing, but having gone, he threw him into prison until he should pay the amount being owed. 31 Then his fellow slaves, having seen the things having taken place, were extremely grieved. And having come, they made-clear to their master all the things having taken place. 32 Then, having summoned him, his master says to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should not you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy on you?’ 34 And having become angry[f], his master handed him over to the tormenters[g] until[h] which time he should pay all the amount being owed. 35 So also My heavenly Father will do to you if you do not forgive— each one his brother— from your hearts”.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing