7Now to every one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for usefulness. 8For to one man by the Spirit is given wise discourse; but to another speech communicative of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing diseases by the same Spirit; 10to another miraculous powers; to another prophecy; to another discernments of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11but all these things worketh that one and the same Spirit, distributing peculiar gifts to every one even as he wills. 12For as the body is one, and hath many members, but all the members of that one body, though many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we all have been baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free men; and we have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it, on this account, not of the body? 16And if the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it not therefore of the body? 17If the whole body were eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God placed the members, every one of them in the body, as he hath chosen. 19But if the whole were one member, where were the body? 20But now the members indeed are many, but the body one. 21Nor can the eye say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22Yea, much more the members of the body, which appear to be more feeble, are necessary: 23and those parts which we esteem as the more dishonourable of the body, on them we bestow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered together the body, giving more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; and if one member be exalted, all the members rejoice with it. 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And these also hath God placed in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healings, helpers, directors, different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31But zealously seek the gifts that are the best: and yet I shew unto you a more transcendently excellent way.
[CHAP. XIII.]
THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become as sounding brass, and tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries, and all manner of science; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3And if I deal out all my goods in alms, and deliver up my body that I should be burned, but have not love, I am nothing advantaged by it. 4Love is long-suffering, is kind; love envieth not; love is no vain boaster, is not inflated with pride, 5doth not act unseemly, seeketh not her own advantage, is not passionate, thinketh no evil; 6rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8Love never faileth: but if there be prophetic gifts, they shall be no more; if tongues, they shall cease; if science, it shall vanish away. 9For we know partially, and prophesy partially. 10But when that which is perfect cometh, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child: but when I grew a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see by reflected light, indistinctly; but then face to face: now I know partially; but then shall I know even as I am known. 13But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greater of these is love.
[CHAP. XIV.]
FOLLOW earnestly after love, and zealously seek spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no man understandeth him; although in spirit he speaketh mysterious truths. 3But he that prophesieth, addresseth men for edification, and exhortation, and consolation. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church. 5Now I could wish that you all spake with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: for greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret also, that the church may receive edification. 6Now I, brethren, if I should come unto you, speaking in unknown languages, what should I profit you, unless I should speak to you intelligibly by revelation, or by science, or by prophecy, or by doctrine? 7In like manner things inanimate, giving sound, whether the pipe, or the harp, unless they express a distinction in their tones, how shall it be known what is piped, or what is harped? 8For if the trumpet also give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle? 9So also ye, unless with the tongue you speak an intelligible discourse, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will speak to the air. 10For though there are so many different kinds of languages in the world, yet is not one of them without its meaning. 11If therefore I know not the force of the expression, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me. 12So also ye, if ye zealously affect spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound in them for the edification of the church. 13Therefore let him who speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret also. 14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my mind produces no fruit. 15What then is my object? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing psalms with the spirit, and I will sing psalms with the understanding also. 16Else, though thou bless God in spirit, how shall he who filleth the place of an illiterate man, say Amen after thy thanksgiving, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest? 17For thou indeed givest thanks to God well, but another man is not edified by it. 18I thank my God, that I speak with different tongues more than you all: 19but in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20Brethren, be not children in your minds: though in naughtiness be ye children, but in your minds be men complete. 21In the law it is written, “That with other tongues, and with other lips, will I speak to this people: and even thus will they not attend to me, saith the Lord[99].” 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to those that believe, but to those who do not believe: but the gift of prophecy is not for those who are infidels, but for believers. 23If then the whole church assemble together in the same place, and all speak different tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say ye are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and any infidel or illiterate person come in, he receives conviction from all, he is judged of all: 25and thus the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God verily is among you.
26How comes it then, brethren, that when ye assemble together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation? Let all things be done to edification. 27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at most by three, and one after another; and let one interpret. 28But if there be not an interpreter, let him be silent in the church; but let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let the prophets two or three speak, and let the others judge. 30But if any thing should be revealed to one sitting by, let the first be silent. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all be comforted. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of his saints.
34Let your women be silent in the churches: for it is not permitted to them to speak: but to be in subjection, as also the law saith[100]. 35But if they will learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36Went the word of God from you? or came it unto you only? 37If any man thinketh that he is a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that the things which I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40Let all things be done with propriety, and orderly.
[CHAP. XV.]
NOW I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I have preached unto you, and which ye have received, in which also ye have stood fast; 2by which also ye are saved; if ye cleave to that word I have preached to you, except haply ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you among the first things that which I also had received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures; 4and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6afterwards he appeared before five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater number remain alive unto this hour, but some also are gone to rest. 7Afterwards he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8And last of all he was seen also by me, who am but as an abortion. 9For I am the least of the apostles, who am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was given to me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Therefore whether I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.