1 Corinthians 12-14

New King James Version

Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

12 Now ^(A)concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ² You know ^(B)that^[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these ^(C)dumb^[b] idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus ^[c]accursed, and ^(D)no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

^4 (E)There are ^[d]diversities of gifts, but ^(F)the same Spirit. ^5 (G)There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God ^(H)who works ^[e]all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given ^(I)the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another ^(J)the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9 (K)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another ^(L)gifts of healings by ^[f]the same Spirit, ^10 (M)to another the working of miracles, to another ^(N)prophecy, to another ^(O)discerning of spirits, to another ^(P)different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(Q)distributing to each one individually ^(R)as He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body^(S)

¹² For ^(T)as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, ^(U)so also is Christ. ¹³ For ^(V)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^(W)whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and ^(X)have all been made to drink ^[g]into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For in fact the body is not one member but many.

¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ But now ^(Y)God has set the members, each one of them, in the body ^(Z)just as He pleased. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet 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 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no ^[h]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ^(AA)you are the body of Christ, and ^(AB)members individually. ²⁸ And ^(AC)God has appointed these in the church: first ^(AD)apostles, second ^(AE)prophets, third teachers, after that ^(AF)miracles, then ^(AG)gifts of healings, ^(AH)helps, ^(AI)administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But ^(AJ)earnestly desire the ^[i]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

The Greatest Gift

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of ^(AK)prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, ^(AL)so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And ^(AM)though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body ^[j]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

^4 (AN)Love suffers long and is ^(AO)kind; love ^(AP)does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not ^[k]puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, ^(AQ)does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^[l]thinks no evil; ^6 (AR)does not rejoice in iniquity, but ^(AS)rejoices in the truth; ^7 (AT)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ^9 (AU)For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is ^[m]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For ^(AV)now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then ^(AW)face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love, and ^(AX)desire spiritual gifts, ^(AY)but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who ^(AZ)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks ^(BA)edification and ^(BB)exhortation and comfort to men. ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; ^[n]for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Tongues Must Be Interpreted

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by ^(BC)revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? ⁷ Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? ⁸ For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without ^[o]significance. ¹¹ Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a ^[p]foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² Even so you, since you are ^[q]zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the ^[r]edification of the church that you seek to excel.

¹³ Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may ^(BD)interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. ^(BE)I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing ^(BF)with the understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” ^(BG)at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷ For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

²⁰ Brethren, ^(BH)do not be children in understanding; however, in malice ^(BI)be babes, but in understanding be mature.

^21 (BJ)In the law it is written:

says the Lord.

²² Therefore tongues are for a ^(BL)sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, ^(BM)will they not say that you are ^[s]out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ^25 [t]And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report ^(BN)that God is truly among you.

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, ^(BO)has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. ^(BP)Let all things be done for ^[u]edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and ^(BQ)let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, ^(BR)let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³² And ^(BS)the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of ^[v]confusion but of peace, ^(BT)as in all the churches of the saints.

^34 (BU)Let ^[w]your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the ^(BV)law also says. ³⁵ And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

³⁶ Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? ^37 (BW)If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸ But ^[x]if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹ Therefore, brethren, ^(BX)desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. ^40 (BY)Let all things be done decently and in order.