Chronological
The Gifts of the Spirit in the Service of the Church[a]
Chapter 12
Discerning the Gifts of the Spirit. 1 Now in regard to the gifts of the Spirit, brethren, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were still pagans you were constantly being enticed and led astray to the worship of mute idols. 3 Therefore, I wish you to understand that no one speaking under the influence of the Spirit of God says, “May Jesus be cursed.”[b] Likewise, no one can say “Jesus is Lord,” except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit Distributes the Gifts for the Common Good.[c] 4 There are different varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different forms of activity, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
7 To each of us, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one, is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom; and to another, the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit. 9 Another by the same Spirit is granted faith, while still another is granted the gift of healing by the same Spirit.
10 To one, is granted the gift of mighty deeds;[d] to another, the gift of prophecy; and to yet another, the gift to discern spirits. One receives the gift of tongues and another the ability to interpret them. 11 One and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing them individually to each person as he wills.
12 You Are the Body of Christ.[e] The body is one, although it has many parts; and all the parts, though many, form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as free men, and we were all given the same Spirit to drink.
14 Now the body is one, although it has many parts. 15 If the foot were to say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it nevertheless still belongs to the body. 16 Or if an ear were to say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it nevertheless still belongs to the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, how would we be able to hear? If the whole body were an ear, how would we exercise a sense of smell? 18 But God arranged each part in the body as he intended. 19 If all the members were identical, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many members, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” any more than the head can say to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are in fact indispensable, 23 and those parts of the body that we regard as less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable parts are treated with greater propriety, 24 whereas our more respectable members have no need of this.
But God has so designed the body as to give greater honor to the more humble parts, 25 in order that there may be no dissension within the body and each part may have equal concern for all the others. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it. If one member is honored, all the members rejoice together with it.
27 You therefore are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it. 28 And those whom God has appointed in the Church are first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then doers of mighty deeds, those who have the gifts of healing, helping others, administering, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all doers of mighty deeds? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Set your hearts on the greater gifts.
Hymn to Love.[f] Now I will show you a more excellent way.
Chapter 13
1 If in speaking I use human tongues
and angelic as well,
but do not have love,[g]
I am nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy
and the ability to understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and have all the faith necessary to move mountains,
but do not have love,
I am nothing.
3 If I give away everything to feed the poor
and hand over my body to be burned,
but do not have love,
I achieve nothing.
4 Love is patient;
love is charitable.
Love is not envious;
it does not have an inflated opinion of itself;
it is not filled with its own importance.
5 Love is never rude;
it does not seek its own advantage.
It is not prone to anger;
neither does it brood over setbacks.
6 Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices in the truth.
7 Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
8 Love never fails.
Prophecies will eventually cease,
tongues will become silent,
and knowledge will pass away,
9 for our knowledge is partial
and our prophesying is partial;
10 but when we encounter what is perfect,
that which is imperfect will pass away.
11 When I was a child,
I used to talk like a child,
think like a child,
and reason like a child.
However, when I became a man,
I put all childish ways aside.
12 At the present time we see indistinctly, as in a mirror;
then we shall see face to face.
My knowledge is only partial now;
then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known.
13 Thus there are three things that endure: faith, hope, and love,
and the greatest of these is love.[h]
Chapter 14
Seek the Gifts That Build Up the Community.[i] 1 Make love your aim, but strive earnestly after the spiritual gifts, especially for that of prophecy. 2 If anyone speaks in tongues, he is speaking not to men but to God, and no one understands him, for he is speaking mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to men for their building up, their encouragement, and their consolation.
4 Whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but whoever prophesies builds up the Church. 5 I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would much prefer that you could prophesy. For the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless the latter can interpret what he is saying so that the Church may be built up.
6 Now suppose, brethren, that I should come to you and speak in tongues. Of what value would I be to you if you were unable to discern from my words any revelation or knowledge or prophecy or instruction? 7 Even inanimate things produce sound, such as a flute or a harp. If they do not produce distinct notes, how can anyone tell what tune is being played?
8 Or again, if the bugle call is unclear, who will get ready for battle? 9 Similarly, if you speak in tongues and your speech is unintelligible, how will anyone be able to understand what you are saying? For you will be talking to empty air.
10 There are many different languages that are used in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 11 But if I do not comprehend the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and he will be a foreigner to me. 12 Since you are eager to acquire spiritual gifts, try to excel in those that build up the Church.
13 Therefore, anyone who speaks in tongues should pray for the ability to interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit is at prayer but my mind derives no benefit. 15 What then should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
16 If you are praising only with the spirit, how will the uninstructed person who is present be able to answer “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not comprehend what you are saying? 17 Your thanksgiving may be inspiring, but the other person has not been edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you, 19 but when I am in the church I would prefer to speak five intelligible words to instruct others rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brethren, do not be childish in your thinking. Be like infants in regard to evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law[j] it is written,
“By people speaking strange tongues
and by the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
and even so they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”
22 Clearly, then, tongues are intended as a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is designed not for unbelievers but for believers.
23 Therefore, if the whole Church has assembled and everyone is speaking in tongues, would not any uninstructed person or any unbeliever on entering conclude that you are all out of your minds? 24 However, if everyone is prophesying and an unbeliever or uninstructed person should enter, he would be reproved by all and judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart would be revealed. Then he would fall down and worship God, declaring, “God is truly in your midst.”
26 Let Everything Be Done Properly and in an Orderly Fashion. And so, what then should be done, brethren? When you assemble, each of you should bring a psalm or some lesson or a revelation, or speak in a tongue, or offer an interpretation. Everything should be done with the goal in mind of building up. 27 If any of you speak in a tongue, let only two or at most three come forward, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If no one is available to interpret, let those who speak in tongues be silent in the church and speak only to themselves and to God.
29 As for the prophets, let two or three speak, and let the rest weigh their words. 30 Should a revelation be made to someone else who is sitting there, let the one who is speaking stop. 31 You can all prophesy, but one at a time, so that all may receive instruction and encouragement. 32 Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to their prophets’ control, 33 for God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the Churches of the saints, 34 [k]women are to keep silent at the assemblies. For they are not permitted to speak, since the Law asserts that they are to be subordinate. 35 If there is anything they wish to know, they should ask their husbands at home. It is improper for them to speak in the church.
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones to whom it has come? 37 Anyone who claims to be a prophet or to have spiritual powers must recognize that what I am writing to you is a commandment of the Lord. 38 Anyone who does not acknowledge this should be ignored.
39 Therefore, brethren, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But ensure that everything is done properly and in an orderly fashion.
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