Study Desk

But, concerning the spiritually gifted, brethren, I am not wishing you to be ignorant.

Ye know that, when ye were of the nations, unto the dumb idols, howsoever ye were being led, ye were seduced.

Wherefore, I give you to know - that, no one, in God's Spirit speaking, saith - Accursed Jesus! and, no one, can say - Lord Jesus! save in the Holy Spirit.

But, distributions of gifts, there are, yet the same Spirit,

And, distributions of ministries, there are, and the same Lord,

And, distributions of energies, there are, and the same God - who energiseth all things in all.

But, unto each one, is given the manifesting of the Spirit, with a view to that which is profitable;

For, unto one, indeed, through the Spirit, is given, a word of wisdom, but, unto another, a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; -

Unto a different one, faith, in the same Spirit, and, unto another, gifts of healings, in the one Spirit,

And, unto another, energies of mighty works, and, unto another, prophesying, and, unto another, discriminations of spirits, - unto a different one, kinds of tongues, and, unto another, translation of tongues; -

But, all these, energiseth the one and the same Spirit, distributing unto each one, peculiarly, even as it is disposed.

For, just as, the body, is one, and yet hath many members, but, all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so, also, the Christ; -

For, even to one Spirit, we all, into one body, have been immersed, - whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, - and, all, of one Spirit, have been caused to drink.

For, the body also, is not one member, but many:

Though the foot should say - Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, Is it, therefore, not, of the body?

And, though the ear should say - Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, Is it, therefore, not, of the body?

If, the whole body, were, an eye, where were the hearing? If, the whole were, hearing, where were, the smelling?

But, now, hath God set the members, each one of them in the body, even as he pleased.

But, if they all had been one member, Where had been, the body?

Now, however there are many members, yet one body;

Andthe eye cannot say unto the hand - I have no need of thee, - nor, again, the head, unto the feet - I have no need of you: -

Nay! much more, the members which seem to be weaker are necessary,

And, the parts of the body which we deem to be less honourable, on these, more abundant honour, do we bestow, and, our uncomely parts, have, more abundant comeliness,

Whereas, our comely parts, have, no need. But, God, hath tempered the body together, - unto that which was lacking, giving more abundant honour; -

That there might be no division in the body, but that the members might have, the same, care, one for another;

And, whether one member, suffereth, all the members, suffer with it, or, a member is glorified, all the members, rejoice together.

Now, ye, are the body of Christ, and members severally; -

And God hath, indeed, set, certain, in the assembly, - first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that mighty works, then gifts of healings, helps, guidings, kinds of tongues.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all mighty works?

Have, all, gifts of healings? Do, all, with tongues, speak? Do, all, translate?

Be envious, however, of the greater gifts; and, yet, a much more excellent way, unto you, I point out: -

Although with the tongues of men, I be speaking, and of messengers, and have not, love, I have become resounding brass, or a clanging cymbal;

And, though I have the gift of prophesying, and know all sacred secrets, and all knowledge, - and though I have all faith, so as to be removing mountains, and have not, love, I am, nothing;

And, though I morsel out all my goods, - and though I deliver up my body, that I may boast, and have not, love, I am profited, nothing.

Love, is patient, is gracious. Love, is not envious, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Acteth not unbecomingly, seeketh not her own things, is not easily provoked, imputeth not that which is base,

Rejoiceth not over unrighteousness, but rejoiceth in sympathy with truth, -

All things, covereth, all things, believeth, all things, hopeth, all things, endureth.

Love, at no time, faileth; - but, whether prophesyings, they shall be done away, whether tongues, they shall cease, whether gaining knowledge, it shall be done away;

For, in part, are we gaining knowledge, and, in part, are we prophesying, -

But, as soon as that which is complete is come, that which is in part, shall be done away.

When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, to prefer as child, to reason as a child: now I have become a man, I have laid aside the things of the child!

For we see, as yet, through a dim window, obscurely, but, then, face to face: as yet, I gain knowledge, in part, but, then, shall I fully know, even as I was also fully known.

But, now abide - faith, hope, love, - these three; but, the greatest of these, is, love.

Pursue love; nevertheless be envious of the spiritual gifts, - and, rather, that ye may be prophesying.

For, he that speaketh with a tongue, not unto men, doth speak, but, unto God, - for, no one, understandeth, although, in spirit, he is speaking sacred secrets;

But, be that prophesieth, unto men, doth speak - edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

He that speaketh with a tongue, buildeth up, himself, whereas, he that prophesieth, buildeth up, an assembly.

Howbeit I wish you all to speak with tongues, but, rather, that ye may prophesy, - moreover, greater, is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, - unless indeed he translate, that, the assembly, may receive upbuilding.

But, now, brethren - if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit, you, except I speak, unto you, either by way of revelation, or knowledge, or prophesying, or teaching?

In like manner, the things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, if, a distinction in the sounds, they do not give, how shall it be known, what is being piped or harped?

For, if also, an uncertain sound, a trumpet, should give, who shall prepare himself for battle?

So, also, ye, through means of the tongue, except ye give intelligible discourse, how shall it be known what is being spoken? for ye will be speaking, to the air.

There may happen to be so many kinds of languages in the world, and, not one, unspoken: -

If, then, I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be, unto him that is speaking, a foreigner, and, he that is speaking, shall be, in my case, a foreigner.

So, ye, also - since ye are, envious, of spirits, unto the upbuilding of the assembly, seek to be pre-eminent.

Wherefore, he that speaketh with a tongue, let him pray that he may translate;

For, if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit, is praying, but, my mind, is unfruitful.

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray also with the mind, - I will strike the strings with the spirit, butI will strike the strings also with the mind.

Else, if thou be blessing in a spirit, he that filleth up the place of the ungifted person, how shall he say the Amen upon thy thanksgiving? since indeed, what thou art saying, he knoweth not;

For, thou, indeed, excellently art giving thanks, but, the other, is not being built up.

I give thanks unto God! - More than ye all, am I speaking with tongues;

But, in assembly, I desire to speak five words with my mind, that, others also, I may instruct, than myriads of words in a tongue.

Brethren! do not become children, in your understandings; but, in baseness, become babes, while, in your understandings, ye become, full-grown.

In the law, it is written - With strange tongues, and with lips of strangers, will I speak unto this people; and, not even so, will they hearken unto me, - saith the Lord.

So that, the tongues, are for a sign - not unto them that believe, but, unto them that believe not; whereas, prophesying, is not for them that believe not, but, for them that believe.

If, then, the whole assembly come together with one consent, and, all, are speaking with tongues, - and there come in persons unskilled or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are raving?

But, if, all, be prophesying, - and there come in one who is unbelieving or unskilled, he is convicted by all, he is searched by all, the secrets of his heart, become manifest,

And, so, falling down upon his face, he will do homage unto God, reporting that, in reality, God is, among you.

What, then, is it, brethren? Whensoever ye are coming together, each one, hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath a translation: - let, all things, be done, unto building up.

If, with a tongue, one is speaking, let it be by two, or, at the most, three, - and by turns; and let, one, be translating;

But, if there be none to translate, let him keep silence in assembly, and, unto himself, be speaking, and, unto God!

Prophets, moreover, let two or three speak, and let, the others, judge.

If, however, unto another, a revelation be made, as he is sitting, let the first be silent;

For, one by one, ye can, all, be prophesying, - that, all, may learn, and, all, be encouraged.

And, spirits of prophets, unto prophets, do submit themselves;

For God is not a God of confusion, but, of peace: - as in all the assemblies of the saints.

As for the women, in the assemblies, let them be silent, for it is not permitted them to be speaking; but let them be in submission, - even as, the law, saith.

If, however, they are wishing to learn something, at home, their own husbands, let them question; for it is a shame for a woman to be speaking in assembly.

Or, from you, did the word of God come forth? Or, unto you alone, did it extend?

If anyone thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you, - that they are, a commandment, of the Lord.

But, if anyone knoweth not, he is unknown!

So, then, my brethren, - be zealous to prophesy, and do not forbid, to be speaking with tongues;

But let, all things, with comeliness, and by arrangement, be done.