The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 41

(16)But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor the churches of G.o.d.

(17)And while I enjoin this, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. (18)For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it. (19)For there must be also sects among you, that they who are approved may be made manifest among you.

(20)When therefore ye come together into one place, there is no eating of a supper of the Lord[11:20]. (21)For in eating, each takes without waiting his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

(22)What! have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of G.o.d, and shame those who have not? What shall I say to you?

Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

(23)For I received from the Lord, what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which he was betrayed, took a loaf; (24)and having given thanks, he broke it, and said: This is my body, which is for you; this do in remembrance of me. (25)In like manner also the cup, after they had supped, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood; this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (26)For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye show the Lord's death till he come.

(27)So that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

(28)But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. (29)For he that eats and drinks, eats and drinks condemnation to himself, if he discern not the body.

(30)For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

(31)For if we judged ourselves; we should not be judged. (32)But being judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

(33)Wherefore, my brethren, when coming together to eat, wait for one another. (34)If any one is hungry, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

XII.

NOW concerning the spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

(2)Ye know that ye were Gentiles carried away to the dumb idols, as ye were led. (3)Wherefore I give you to understand, that no one speaking by the Spirit of G.o.d calls Jesus accursed; and no one can say, Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.

(4)Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5)And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. (6)And there are diversities of operations, but the same G.o.d who works all in all. (7)But to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit, for profiting. (8)For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; (9)to another faith, by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healings by the one Spirit; (10)to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diversities of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. (11)But all these works the one and self-same Spirit, dividing to each one severally as he will.

(12)For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (13)For by one Spirit we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.

(14)For the body is not one member, but many. (15)If the foot say: Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. (16)And if the ear say: Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. (17)If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

(18)But now, G.o.d set the members each one of them in the body, as it pleased him. (19)And if they were all one member, where were the body?

(20)But now there are many members, but one body. (21)And the eye can not say to the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. (22)Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary; (23)and those which we think to be less honorable parts of the body, on these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (24)And our comely parts have no need; but G.o.d attempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that which lacked; (25)that there may be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. (26)And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

(27)Now ye are the body of Christ, and members each one[12:27].

(28)And G.o.d set some in the church, apostles first, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governings, diversities of tongues. (29)Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? (30)Have all gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

(31)But desire earnestly the greater gifts; and moreover, I show to you a more excellent way.

(1)Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding bra.s.s, or a tinkling cymbal. (2)And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. (3)And though I bestow all my goods in food, and though I give up my body that I may be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.

(4)Love suffers long, is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, (5)does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, imputes no evil; (6)rejoices not at unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; (7)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8)Love never fails; but whether there are prophesyings, they will be done away; whether tongues, they will cease; whether knowledge, it will be done away. (9)For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. (10)But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away.

(11)When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child; but now that I am become a man, I have done away the things of the child. (12)For we see now in a mirror, obscurely; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know fully, even as I also am fully known.

(13)And now remain faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

(1)Pursue after love; and desire earnestly the spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (2)For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to G.o.d; for no one understands; but with the spirit he speaks mysteries. (3)But he that prophesies, to men he speaks edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (4)He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.

(5)I would that ye should all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy; for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

(6)And now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in teaching? (7)And things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, yet if they give no distinction in the sounds, how shall that be known which is piped or harped? (8)For if a trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for battle? (9)So also ye, if ye utter not by the tongue words easily understood, how shall that be known which is spoken? For ye will be speaking into the air.

(10)So many, it may be, are the kinds of speaking sounds in the world, and none is without significance. (11)If then I know not the meaning of the sound, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks a barbarian to me. (12)So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound in them to the edification of the church.

(13)Wherefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. (14)For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. (15)What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

(16)Else, if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, since he knows not what thou sayest? (17)For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

(18)I thank G.o.d, I speak with tongues more than ye all. (19)Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may also instruct others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

(20)Brethren, be not children in your understandings; but in malice be as children, but in your understandings be men.

(21)In the law it is written:

For with men of other tongues, and with strange lips, I will speak to this people; And not even so will they hearken to me, saith the Lord.

(22)So that the tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is not for the unbelieving, but for those who believe.

(23)If therefore the whole church is come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? (24)But if all prophesy, and there come in one that is an unbeliever, or unlearned, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all. (25)The secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so falling on his face he will wors.h.i.+p G.o.d, reporting that G.o.d is in truth among you.

(26)How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each of you has a psalm, has an instruction, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to edification. (27)If any one speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in turn; and let one interpret. (28)But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to G.o.d.

(29)And of prophets, let two or three speak, and the others judge.

(30)But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first be silent. (31)For ye can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all be comforted. (32)And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (33)For G.o.d is not a G.o.d of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

(34)Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but they are to be in subjection, as the law also says. (35)And if they wish to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.

(36)Did the word of G.o.d come forth from you? Or came it unto you alone? (37)If any one thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandments. (38)But if any one is ignorant, let him be ignorant. (39)Wherefore, brethren, desire earnestly the gift of prophecy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (40)But let all things be done decently and in order.

XV.

AND I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also ye received, in which also ye stand; (2)through which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word with which I preached to you, unless ye believed in vain.

(3)For I delivered to you first of all what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; (4)and that he was buried, and that he has risen on the third day according to the Scriptures; (5)and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve; (6)after that, he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep.

(7)After that, he appeared to James; then to all the apostles. (8)And last of all he appeared to me also, as the one born out of due time.

(9)For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of G.o.d. (10)But by the grace of G.o.d I am what I am; and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of G.o.d which was with me. (11)Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

(12)Now if Christ is preached that he has risen from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13)But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ risen; (14)and if Christ has not risen, then is our preaching vain, and vain also your faith. (15)And we are also found false witnesses of G.o.d; because we testified of G.o.d, that he raised up Christ; whom he raised not, if it be so that the dead rise not. (16)For if the dead rise not, neither has Christ risen; (17)and if Christ has not risen, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18)Then also they who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. (19)If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

(20)But now Christ has risen from the dead, the first-fruits of those who sleep. (21)For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (22)For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ will all be made alive. (23)But each in his own order; Christ the first-fruits; afterward they who are Christ's at his coming.

(24)Then comes the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to G.o.d, the Father; when he shall have done away all rule, and all authority and power. (25)For he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet. (26)As the last enemy, Death shall be done away. For he subjected all things under his feet. (27)But when he says, All things are subjected, it is manifest that he is excepted, who subjected all things to him. (28)And when all things shall be subjected to him, then will also the Son himself be subject to him who subjected all things to him, that G.o.d may be all in all.

(29)Else what shall they do who are immersed for the dead? If the dead rise not at all, why are they then immersed for them? (30)Why also are we in peril every hour? (31)I protest by my glorying in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (32)If after the manner of men I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what is the profit to me, if the dead rise not?

Let us eat and drink; For to-morrow we die.

(33)Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners.