Study Desk

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.

Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?

Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?

Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—

In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

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

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.