1Corinthians:12-14

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Seeker Overlay ON

* Now concerning spiritual gifts , brothers , I do not wish you to be ignorant . * You know that when you were heathen you went astray after dumb idols , wherever he be led . * Wherefore I want you to understand that no one who speaks in the Spirit of God says , "Jesus is accursed ," and no one can say , "Jesus is Lord ," except in the Holy Spirit . * Now there are varieties of gifts , but the same Spirit ; * there are various forms of service , and the same Lord ; * and varieties of work , and the same God , who works in all . * Now to each man has been given his manifestation of the Spirit for the common good . * For to one man by the Spirit has been given a word of wisdom , to another a word of insight by the same Spirit ; * to one man by the same Spirit is given faith , to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit ; * to another the powers which work miracles , to another prophecy , to another the discernment of spirits ; to another varieties of tongues , to another the interpretation of tongues . * But the one and the same Spirit gives power to all , distributing his gifts to each as he wills . * For just as the body is one and has many members , and all the members of the body , although they be many , are one body ; so also is Christ . * And we can see this , for in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body , whether Jew or Gentile , whether slave or free , and we were all made to drink of one Spirit . * For the body is not one member , but many . * If the foot should say , "Because I am a hand , I am not part a part the body ," would it not indeed be a part of the body ? * Or if the ear should say , "Because I am not an eye , I am not a part of the body ," would it be any less a part of the body ? * If the whole body were an eye , where were hearing ? If all were hearing , where were smelling ? * But now God has set the members , each one of them , in the body as it has pleased him . * If all were one member , where would the body be ? * But now there are many members , but one body . * And the eye cannot say to the hand , "I have no need of you ". nor again of head to the feet , "I have no need for you ." * On the contrary , we need those members of the body which seem to be weaker ; * upon those parts of the body which we esteem less honorable , we bestow more abundant honor , and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness . * For whereas our comely parts have no need , God has tempered the body together , giving more abundant honor to that member in which lacked ; * that there should be no disunion in the body , but that members mutual care for one another . * When one member suffers , all the others suffer with it ; and when one member is honored , all the members are glad with it . * Now you are the body of Christ , and individually members of it . * And God has appointed those in the church to be first of all apostles , second , prophets , third , teachers . then workers of miracles , healers , helpers , administrators , users of various kinds of "tongues ." * Are all apostles ? Are all prophets ? teachers ? workers of miracles ? * Have all gifts of healing ? Do all speak with tongues ? Do all interpret ? * Desire earnestly the greater gifts . And yet I will go on to show you a still more excellent way . * Though I speak in the tongues of men and of angels , but have no love , I am become a clanging brass , or a clashing cymbal . * Though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge , and have all faith , so that I could remove mountains , but have not love , I am nothing . * And though I sell all my goods to feed the poor , and though I give my body to be burned , but have not love , it avails me nothing . * Love suffers long and is kind ; love envies not ; love makes no parade , is not puffed up , * is not rude , nor selfish , nor easily provoked . Love bears no malice , never rejoices over wrong-doing , * but rejoices when the truth rejoices . * It knows how to be silent , it is trustful , hopeful , patient , enduring . * Love never fails ; but though there are prophecies , they will fail ; though there are tongues , they will cease ; though there is knowledge , it will be superseded . * For our knowing is imperfect , and our prophesying is imperfect ; * but when the perfect is come , then the perfect will be done away . * When I was a child I spoke like a child , felt like a child , thought like a child ; now that I am become a man , I have done with childish things . * For now we see as in a mirror , and are baffled , but then face to face ; now I know in fragments , but then shall I understand even as I also have been understood . * Faith , Hope , Love endure - these three ; but the greatest of these is Love . * Hotly pursue this love , yet seek earnestly spiritual gifts , and chiefly that you may prophesy . * For he who speaks in a "tongue " speaks not to man but to God , for no one understands him , but in the Spirit he utters secret truths . * But he who prophesies addresses words to men that build up , encourage , and console . * He who speaks in a tongue upbuilds himself ; but he who prophesies upbuilds the church . * Now I should like you all to speak with "tongues "; but I should rather that you prophesied , For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues , unless he interprets , so that the church may be built up . * Now brothers , if I should come to you speaking with tongues , what should I benefit you , unless I speak to you some revelation , or knowledge , or prophecy , or teaching ? * For if lifeless instruments such as the flute or the harp give no distinction in the sounds , how shall it be known what is fluted or harped ? * Or , for example , if the trumpet give an uncertain sound , what soldier will be prepared for battle ? * In the same way with you , if you utter unintelligible words with your tongue , how can what you say be understood ? You will be speaking to the winds ! * There are , let us say , so many languages in the world , and none without its meaning . * If then I do not know the force of expression , I shall seem a barbarian to the one who uses it , and he will seem a barbarian to me . * So also in your case , since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts , seek to excel in them for the upbuilding of the church . * So let him who speaks with tongues pray that he may interpret . * For if I pray in an unknown tongue , my spirit prays , but my mind is barren . * What then ? I will pray with my spirit , and I will pray also with my mind . I will praise God with my spirit , but I will praise him with my mind , also . * For if you in your spirit bless God , how shall he who fills the place of the unlearned say the Amen to your thanksgiving , when he does not know what you are talking about ? * You on the one hand offer a good thanksgiving , but the other is not built up . * Thank God I speak with tongues more than you all , * but in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding , so as to instruct others , than ten thousand in an unknown tongue . * Brothers , do not become children in understanding ; be babes in malice , but in understanding become mature men . * In the Law it is written . With men of other tongues , and by the lips of strangers , will I speak to this people , and even then they will not listen to me , says the Lord . * So then the gift of tongues is for a sign , not to believers , but to unbelievers ; but prophecy is not for unbelievers , but for those who believe . * Accordingly , when the whole church assemblies , and everybody is speaking "with tongues ," if there enter men unlearned or unbelieving , will they not say that you are mad ? * But if all are prophesying when an unlearned or unbelieving man enters , he is convicted in conscience by your speaker , he feels himself judged by all , * and the secret depths of his heart are laid open . So he will fall upon his face and worship God , saying , "Of a truth , God is with you ." * What follows , then , brothers ? Whenever you meet together , each contributes something ; a psalm , a sermon , a revelation , a tongue , an interpretation . Let all be done for edification . * If any one speaks in an unknown tongue , let it be by two , or at the most by three , and that in turn , and let some one interpret . * But if there is no one to interpret , let them keep silence in the church , and speak to themselves and to God . * Let the prophets speak by two or three , and let the others exercise their judgment . * But if to one as he sits there some revelation is made , let the first be silent . * For you can all prophesy one by one ; so that all may be learning , and all may be encouraged . * The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets , * for God is not a God of confusion , but of peace . This custom prevails in all the churches of the saints . * "In your congregation " you write , "as in all the churches of the saints , let the women keep silence in the churches , for they are not permitted to speak . On the contrary let them be subordinate , as also says the law . * And if they want to learn anything , let them ask their own husbands at home , for it is shameful for a women to speak in church ." * What , was it from you that the word of God went forth , or to you only did it come ? * If any one thinks himself a prophet or spiritual , let him recognize that what I am now writing you is a command of the Lord . * But if any one disregard it he will be disregarded . * So , my brothers , be ambitious for the gift of prophecy , and speak not against the gifts of tongues . * Let everything be done decently and in order . * Now I am calling to your remembrance , brothers , the gospel which I preached to you , which you also received , and on which you have taken your stand ,;47 The first man is of the earth , earthly ; the second Man is of heaven .

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