1 Corinthians 12–14

1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.

2You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

3Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

5There are different ministries, but the same Lord.

6There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

12The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.

13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

14For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.

15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

18But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.

19If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”

22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

23and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,

24whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.

26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.

2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.

6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.

7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.

9For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.

11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.

12Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

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

1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?

8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?

9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

11If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.

12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15What then shall 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.

16Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

21It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

24But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

25and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.

28But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.

31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

33For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.

36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.