Beginning
The same spirit at work
12 Now: about things relating to the spirit’s work, my brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to remain ignorant. 2 You know that when you were still pagans you were led off, carried away again and again, after speechless idols. 3 So I want to make it clear to you that nobody who is speaking by God’s spirit ever says “Jesus be cursed!”; and nobody can say “Jesus is Lord!” except by the holy spirit.
4 There are different types of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit; 5 there are different types of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are different types of activity, but it is the same God who operates all of them in everyone. 7 The point of the spirit being revealed in each one is so that all may benefit. 8 One person is given a word of wisdom through the spirit; another, a word of knowledge by the same spirit; 9 another, faith through the same spirit; another, gifts of healing by the one spirit; 10 another, the working of mighty deeds; another, prophecy; another, the ability to distinguish spirits; another, various kinds of languages; another, the interpretation of languages. 11 It is the one spirit, the same one, whose work produces all these things, and the spirit gives different gifts to each one in accordance with the spirit’s own wishes.
Many members, one body
12 Let me explain. Just as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is the Messiah. 13 For we all were baptized into one body, by one spirit—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one spirit to drink.
14 For the body, indeed, is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot were to say, “Because I’m not a hand, I’m not part of the body,” that wouldn’t make it any less a part of the body, would it? 16 And if the ear were to say, “Because I’m not an eye, I’m not part of the body,” that wouldn’t make it any less a part of the body, would it? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were the sense of hearing, what would happen to the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God has organized the members, placing each one individually in the body according to his wishes. 19 If all the parts were one member, where would the body be? 20 So the result is this: there are many members, but one body.
The responsibilities of each member
21 The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you”; and, again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 No: the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, 23 and we give much greater honor to the parts of the body we reckon more dishonorable, so that the parts we hide in shame have a far greater dignity 24 which our more presentable parts don’t need. In fact, God has made the body a single, organized whole; he has given greater honor to the lesser part, 25 so that there won’t be any division in the body, but that all the members may have the same concern for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. If one member is exalted, all the members celebrate along with it.
Gifts and ministries
27 Now you together are the Messiah’s body, and individually you are members of it. 28 In the church, God has placed apostles first, then prophets, then teachers, then powerful deeds, then gifts of healing, helpful deeds, organizational gifts, different types of languages. 29 Not everyone is an apostle, are they? Not everyone is a prophet! Not everyone is a teacher! Not everyone does powerful deeds! 30 Not everyone has gifts of healing! Not everyone speaks with tongues! Not everyone interprets!
31 You should be eager for the better kinds of gifts.
The need for love and the character of love
Now I’m going to show you a better way, a much better way.
13 If I speak in human languages, or even in those of angels, but do not have love,
then I’ve become a clanging gong or else
a clashing cymbal. 2 And if I should have
prophetic gifts, and know all mysteries,
all knowledge, too; have faith, to move the mountains,
but have no love—I’m nothing. 3 If I give
all my possessions to the poor, and, for pride’s sake,
my very body, but do not have love,
it’s useless to me.
4 Love’s great-hearted; love is kind,
knows no jealousy, makes no fuss,
is not puffed up, 5 no shameless ways,
doesn’t force its rightful claim,
doesn’t rage or bear a grudge,
6 doesn’t cheer at others’ harm,
rejoices, rather, in the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things,
love hopes all things, endures all things.
Love: the bridge to God’s future
8 Love never fails. But prophecies will be
abolished; tongues will stop; and knowledge, too,
be done away. 9 We know, you see, in part;
we prophesy in part; 10 but, with perfection,
the partial is abolished. 11 As a child
I spoke, and thought, and reasoned like a child;
when I grew up, I threw off childish ways.
12 For at the moment all that we can see
are puzzling reflections in a mirror;
then, face to face. I know in part, for now;
but then I’ll know completely, through and through,
even as I’m completely known. 13 So, now,
faith, hope, and love remain, these three; and, of them,
love is the greatest.
Priorities in worship
14 Pursue love; and long for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 Someone who speaks in a tongue, you see, isn’t speaking to human beings but to God. Nobody can understand such speakers, because they speak mysteries in the spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to other people, to build them up, to strengthen them, and to console them. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself or herself; but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
5 I would be delighted for all of you to speak in tongues, but I would be even more delighted to have you all prophesying. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in a tongue, unless they also give an interpretation so that the church may be built up.
Speaking clearly in church
6 Well then, my brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how am I going to bring you any benefit unless I speak to you either in a revelation or in a word of knowledge or in a prophecy or in teaching? 7 It’s the same with lifeless objects that make a sound, like a flute or a lyre. If they don’t give a distinct note, how will anyone know what tune is being blown or plucked? 8 Think about it: if the trumpet doesn’t make a clear sound, who will get ready to fight?
9 It’s the same with you. Unless your tongue gives a distinct message, how will anyone be able to tell what you’re talking about? You will be like someone speaking into thin air. 10 To be sure, there are all kinds and types of languages in the world, and none of them is meaningless. 11 But if I don’t know the force of the words, I will remain a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 It’s the same with you. Since you are so eager for spiritual matters, try to specialize in doing things that will build up the church.
Praying with mind as well as spirit
13 So the one who speaks in a tongue should pray to be able to say the same thing in clear speech. 14 If I pray in a tongue, you see, my spirit prays, but my mind remains fruitless. 15 Why is that important? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the mind as well. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the mind as well. 16 You see, if you say a blessing in the spirit, how can someone who isn’t one of the inner circle say the “Amen” to your prayer? They won’t know what you’re talking about! 17 You may well be giving thanks in fine style, but the other person isn’t being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my mind, to teach other people, than a thousand words in a tongue.
Signs for believers and unbelievers
20 Brothers and sisters, don’t be children in your thinking. Be babies when it comes to evil, but in your thinking be grown-ups. 21 This is what it says in the law: “I will speak to this people in foreign languages and with the lips of strangers, and even so they won’t listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 So tongues are not meant for believers, but are a warning for unbelievers; while prophecy is not designed for unbelievers, but for those who come to faith. 23 What I mean is this: if the whole assembly comes together and everybody speaks in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers come in, they’ll say you’re crazy, won’t they? 24 But if everyone prophesies, and outsiders or unbelievers come in, they will be called to account by everyone, judged by everyone, 25 the secrets of their hearts will be laid bare, and so they will fall down on their faces and worship God, declaring that “God is truly among you.”
Final instructions for worship
26 So where does this leave us, my brothers and sisters? When you come together, one person has a psalm, another some teaching, another a revelation, another a tongue, and another some interpretation. Let everything be done for the general upbuilding. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, there should be two or at most three, each taking their turn, and one of them should put it into plain speech. 28 But if none of them can do that, let them be silent in the assembly, and speak to themselves and to God.
29 As for prophets, let two or three speak, and the others evaluate what is said. 30 If fresh revelation comes to someone sitting there, the first person should be silent. 31 You can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone can learn, and everyone can be encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are under the control of prophets, 33 since God is the God, not of chaos, but of peace.
As in all the assemblies of God’s people, 34 the women should keep silence in the assemblies. They are not permitted to speak; they should remain in submission, just as the law declares. 35 If they want to understand something more, they should ask their own husbands when they get home. It’s shameful, you see, for a woman to speak in the assembly. 36 Do you suppose God’s word began with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?
37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet, or spiritual, they should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If anyone disregards this, they can be disregarded.
39 So, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a seemly fashion, and in proper order.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.