Beginning

The diversity of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are given for the comfort and edifying of one another, as the members of a person’s body serve one another.

12 In spiritual things, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. ² You know that you were Gentiles, and went your ways to dumb idols even as you were led. ³ Therefore I tell you that no one speaking in the Spirit of God repudiates Jesus. Also, no one can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are different gifts indeed, yet but one Spirit. ⁵ And there are different offices, and yet but one Lord. ⁶ And there are different works, and yet but one God, who works all things that are wrought in all creatures. ⁷ The gifts of the Spirit are given to each person to profit the congregation. ⁸ To one is given, through the Spirit, the utterance of wisdom. To another is given the utterance of knowledge by the same Spirit. ⁹ To another is given faith by the same Spirit, to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another power to do miracles, to another prophecy, to another judgment of spirits, to another divers tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ And the very same Spirit works all these, giving to each person particular gifts as he so wills.

¹² For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of a body, though they be many, yet are but one body, even so is Christ. ¹³ For in one Spirit we are all baptized to make one body – whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free – and we have all drunk of one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

¹⁵ If the foot were to say, I am not the hand, therefore I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear said, I am not the eye, therefore I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If all the body were an eye, where would the ear be? If all were hearing, where would the smelling be? ¹⁸ But now God has set the members, every one of them, in the body at his own pleasure. ¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰ Now there are many members, and yet but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. ²² Yea rather, to a great extent those members of the body that seem to be most feeble, are most necessary. ²³ And those members of the body that we think least presentable, we clothe with more respectability, and our unattractive parts with more beauty. ²⁴ For our respectable members do not need it. But God has thus disposed the body, and has given more honour to that part which lacked, ²⁵ lest there should be any schism in the body, but so that the members will care impartially for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all suffer with him; if one member is had in honour, all members are glad also. ²⁷ You are the body of Christ, and members of one another.

²⁸ And God has also set in the congregation, first the apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, then those who do miracles; after that are the gifts of healing, helpers, managers, diversity of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ Covet the best gifts. And yet, I show you a more excellent way.

The nature and attributes of love.

13 Though I spoke with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had no love, I would be even as sounding brass, or as a ringing cymbal. ² And though I could prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge – yea if I had all faith, so that I could move mountains out of their places – and yet had no love, I would be nothing. ³ And if I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and even if I gave my body to be burned, and yet had no love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long, and is kind. Love does not envy. Love is not contrary, does not swell up, ⁵ does not deal dishonourably, seeks not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not take pleasure in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ suffers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures in all things. ⁸ Though prophesying fail, or tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away, yet love never falls away.

⁹ For our knowledge is imperfect, and our prophesying is imperfect. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is imperfect shall be put away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I imagined as a child. But as soon as I was a man, I put away childishness. ¹² Now we see as is reflected to us in a mysterious word, but then we shall see face to face. Now I know imperfectly, but then I shall know even as I am known. ¹³ Now faith, hope, and love, these three things abide, but the chief of these is love.

Paul shows that the gift of prophecy (that is, of interpreting or preaching) excels the gift of languages, and how they both ought to be used.

14 Labour for love, and covet spiritual gifts, and most chiefly to prophesy. ² For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to people, but to God, for no one understands him. However, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks to people, for edifying, for exhortation, and for comfort. ⁴ He who speaks in an unknown tongue, profits himself; he who prophesies, edifies the congregation.

⁵ I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues – unless he expounds it also, so that the congregation may have edifying. ⁶ Now brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I profit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by instruction?

⁷ Moreover, when things without life give sound, whether it be a pipe or a harp, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how can it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸ And also, if the trumpet gives an uncertain call, who will prepare himself to fight? ⁹ So also likewise, when you speak with tongues, unless you speak words that have meaning, how can it be understood what is spoken? For you will be but speaking in the air.

¹⁰ Many kinds of voices are in the world, and none of them are without signification. ¹¹ If I do not know what the voice means, I will be as a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² So then, since you covet spiritual gifts, seek to have them in plenty for the edifying of the congregation.

¹³ Therefore let him who speaks in an unknown tongue pray such that he may interpret also. ¹⁴ If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding brings no one fruit. ¹⁵ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and will pray with the meaning also. I will sing with the spirit, and will sing with the meaning also. ¹⁶ For otherwise, when you bless with the spirit, how can the person who is unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷ You give thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸ I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than you all, ¹⁹ yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my meaning for the information of others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

²⁰ Brethren, do not be children in understanding. As concerning evil, be children, but in understanding be mature. ²¹ In the law it is written: With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and yet for all that, they will not hear me, says the Lord. ²² Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who believe not. On the other hand, prophesying serves not for those who don’t believe, but for those who believe.

²³ If, therefore, when all the congregation has come together and all speak with tongues, there come in people who are unlearned, or those who do not believe, will they not say that you are out of your minds? ²⁴ But if all prophesy and there comes in one who does not believe, or one unlearned, he is convicted by everyone, and is judged by everyone. ²⁵ And in this way the secrets of his heart are opened, and so he falls down on his face and worships God, and says that God is with you indeed.

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? When you come together, each one has his song, has his word, has his tongue, has his revelation, has his interpretation. Let all things be done for edifying. ²⁷ If any man speaks with tongues, let it be two in all, or at the most three in all, and that by turn; and let another interpret it. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in the congregation, and let him speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Let the prophets speak two in all, or three in all, and let the others judge. ³⁰ If any revelation is made to another who sits by, let the first hold his peace. ³¹ For you may all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may have comfort. ³² For the spirits of the prophets are in the control of the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as he is in all other congregations of the saints.

³⁴ Let your wives keep silence in the congregations. For it is not permitted to them to speak, but let them be under obedience, as the law says. ³⁵ If they wish to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is unseemly for women to speak in the congregation.

³⁶ Did the word of God come forth from you? Or did it come to you only? ³⁷ If anyone thinks himself a prophet, or spiritual, let him understand the things I write to you. For they are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸ But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹ And so, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. ⁴⁰ And let all things be done decently and in order.