Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 13

¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a](a) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(b) and can fathom all mysteries^(c) and all knowledge,^(d) and if I have a faith^(e) that can move mountains,^(f) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(g) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b](h) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,⁽ⁱ⁾ love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(j) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(k) it is not easily angered,^(l) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(m) 6} Love does not delight in evil⁽ⁿ⁾ but rejoices with the truth.^{(o) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(p)

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(q) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(r) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part^(s) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,^(t) what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood^(u) behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(v) then we shall see face to face.^(w) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(x)

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.^(y) But the greatest of these is love.^(z)

Chapter 14

Intelligibility in Worship

¹ Follow the way of love^(a) and eagerly desire^(b) gifts of the Spirit,^(c) especially prophecy.^{(d) 2} For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a](e) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(f) they utter mysteries^(g) by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(h) encouraging⁽ⁱ⁾ and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(j) edifies^(k) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(l) edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[b] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(m) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.⁽ⁿ⁾

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(o) or knowledge^(p) or prophecy or word of instruction?^{(q) 7} Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^{(r) 9} So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^{(s) 12} So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(t) try to excel in those that build up^(u) the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^{(v) 14} For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(w) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(x) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(y) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say "Amen"^(z) to your thanksgiving,^(aa) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(ab)

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(ac)

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(ad) In regard to evil be infants,^(ae) but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law^(af) it is written:

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,^(ah) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ 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?^{(ai) 24} But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets^(aj) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"^(ak)

Good Order in Worship

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(al) When you come together, each of you^(am) has a hymn,^(an) or a word of instruction,^(ao) a revelation, a tongue^(ap) or an interpretation.^(aq) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^{(ar) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets^(as) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^{(at) 30} And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^{(au) 33} For God is not a God of disorder^(av) but of peace^(aw)—as in all the congregations^(ax) of the Lord's people.^(ay)

³⁴ Women^[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,^(az) but must be in submission,^(ba) as the law^(bb) says. ³⁵ 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.^[g]

³⁶ Or did the word of God^(bc) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet^(bd) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,^(be) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.^{(bf) 38} But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[h]

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(bg) to prophesy,^(bh) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly^(bi) way.

Chapter 15

The Resurrection of Christ

¹ Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel^(a) I preached to you,^(b) which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved,^(c) if you hold firmly^(d) to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

³ For what I received^(e) I passed on to you^(f) as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins^(g) according to the Scriptures,^{(h) 4} that he was buried,⁽ⁱ⁾ that he was raised^(j) on the third day^(k) according to the Scriptures,^{(l) 5} and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b](m) and then to the Twelve.^{(n) 6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.^{(o) 7} Then he appeared to James,^(p) then to all the apostles,^{(q) 8} and last of all he appeared to me also,^(r) as to one abnormally born.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles^(s) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(t) the church of God.^{(u) 10} But by the grace^(v) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(w) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(x)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^{(y) 11} Whether, then, it is I or they,^(z) this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,^(aa) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection^(ab) of the dead?^{(ac) 13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised,^(ad) our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.^(ae) But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.^{(af) 18} Then those also who have fallen asleep^(ag) in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.^(ah)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(ai) the firstfruits^(aj) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(ak) 21} For since death came through a man,^(al) the resurrection of the dead^(am) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(an) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(ao) then, when he comes,^(ap) those who belong to him.^{(aq) 24} Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom^(ar) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.^{(as) 25} For he must reign^(at) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(au) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^{(av) 27} For he "has put everything under his feet."^[c](aw) Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.^{(ax) 28} When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,^(ay) so that God may be all in all.^(az)