Study Desk

Now concerning ^(C1)spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, ^(C2)I do not want you to be unaware.

^(C1)You know that when you were ^(F1)pagans, you were ^(C2)led ^(F2)astray to the ^(C3)mute idols, however you were led.

Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking ^(F1)(C1)by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is ^(F2)(C2)accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is ^(C3)Lord," except ^(F1)(C1)by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are ^(C1)varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

There are varieties of effects, but the same ^(C1)God who works all things in all persons.

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit ^(C1)for the common good.

For to one is given the word of ^(C1)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of ^(C2)knowledge according to the same Spirit;

to another ^(C1)faith ^(F1)by the same Spirit, and to another ^(C2)gifts of ^(F2)healing ^(F1)by the one Spirit,

and to another the ^(F1)effecting of ^(F2)(C1)miracles, and to another ^(C2)prophecy, and to another the ^(F3)(C3)distinguishing of spirits, to another various ^(C4)kinds of tongues, and to another the ^(C5)interpretation of tongues.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(C1)distributing to each one individually just as He ^(F1)wills.

For just ^(C1)as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, ^(C2)so also is Christ.

For ^(F1)(C1)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether ^(C2)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to ^(C3)drink of one Spirit.

For ^(C1)the body is not one part, but many.

If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason ^(F1)any less a part of the body.

And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason ^(F1)any less a part of the body.

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

But now God has ^(C1)arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, ^(C2)just as He desired.

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

But now ^(C1)there are many parts, but one body.

And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again, the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

On the contrary, ^(F1)it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;

and those parts of the body which we ^(F1)consider less honorable, ^(F2)on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable,

whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked,

so that there may be no ^(F1)division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.

And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is ^(F1)honored, all the parts rejoice with it.

Now you are ^(C1)Christ's body, and ^(C2)individually parts of it.

And God has ^(F1)(C1)appointed in ^(C2)the church, first ^(C3)apostles, second ^(C4)prophets, third ^(C5)teachers, then ^(F2)(C6)miracles, then ^(C7)gifts of healings, helps, ^(C8)administrations, and various ^(C9)kinds of tongues.

All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of ^(F1)miracles, are they?

All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not ^(C1)interpret, do they?

But ^(C1)earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.

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If I speak with the ^(C1)tongues of mankind and of ^(C2)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ^(C3)clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of ^(C1)prophecy and know all ^(C2)mysteries and all ^(C3)knowledge, and if I have ^(C4)all faith so as to ^(C5)remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

And if I ^(C1)give away all my possessions to charity, and if I ^(C2)surrender my body so that I may ^(F1)glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

Love ^(C1)is patient, love is kind, it ^(C2)is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not ^(C3)arrogant.

It does not act disgracefully, it ^(C1)does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, ^(C2)does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,

^(C1)it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but ^(C2)rejoices with the truth;

it ^(F1)(C1)keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of ^(F1)(C1)prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are ^(C2)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

For we ^(C1)know in part and prophesy in part;

but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with.

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I ^(F1)became a man, I did away with childish things.

For now we ^(C1)see in a mirror ^(F1)dimly, but then ^(C2)face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also ^(C3)have been fully known.

But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the ^(F1)greatest of these is ^(C1)love.

^(C1)Pursue love, yet earnestly ^(C2)desire ^(C3)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^(C4)prophesy.

For the one who ^(C1)speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one ^(F1)understands, but ^(F2)in his spirit he speaks ^(C2)mysteries.

But the one who prophesies speaks to people for ^(C1)edification, ^(F1)(C2)exhortation, and consolation.

The one who ^(C1)speaks in a tongue ^(C2)edifies himself; but the one who ^(C3)prophesies ^(C2)edifies the church.

Now I wish that you all ^(C1)spoke in tongues, but ^(C2)rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who ^(C1)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ^(C3)edification.

But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(C1)revelation, or of ^(C2)knowledge, or of ^(C3)prophecy, or of ^(C4)teaching?

Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

For if ^(C1)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be ^(C1)talking to the air.

There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^(F1)languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning.

So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ^(C1)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible ^(F1)to me.

So you too, since you are eager to possess ^(F1)spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the ^(C1)edification of the church.

Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret.

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

^(C1)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(C2)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also.

For otherwise, if you bless God ^(F1)in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the ^(F2)outsider know to say ^(C1)the "Amen" at your ^(C2)giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying?

For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(C1)edified.

I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;

nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

^(C1)Brothers and sisters, ^(C2)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^(C3)be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

In ^(C1)the ^(F1)Law it is written: "^(C2)BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.

So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ^(C1)prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.

Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and ^(F1)outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(C1)you are insane?

But if all ^(C1)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^(F1)outsider enters, he is ^(C2)convicted by all, he is called to account by all;

^(C1)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(C2)fall on his face and worship God, ^(C3)declaring that God is certainly among you.

^(C1)What is the outcome then, ^(C2)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, ^(C3)each one has a ^(C4)psalm, has a ^(C5)teaching, has a ^(C5)revelation, has a ^(C6)tongue, has an ^(C7)interpretation. ^(C8)All things are to be done for edification.

If anyone speaks in a ^(C1)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to ^(C2)interpret;

but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God.

Have two or three ^(C1)prophets speak, and have the others ^(C2)pass judgment.

But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent.

For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be ^(F1)exhorted;

and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;

for God is not a God of ^(C1)confusion, but of peace. As in ^(C2)all the churches of the ^(F1)(C3)saints,

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the women are to ^(C1)keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but ^(C2)are to subject themselves, just as ^(C3)the Law also says.

If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is ^(F1)improper for a woman to speak in church.

Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

^(C1)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or ^(C2)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ^(C3)are the Lord's commandment.

But if anyone does not recognize this, ^(F1)he is not recognized.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, ^(C1)earnestly desire to ^(C2)prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

But ^(C1)all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.