BSB(i)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.
32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
33 So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
12 1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2 You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3 Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
12 The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
14 For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,
24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.
28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
13 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
6 Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
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 set aside childish ways.
12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
14 1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7 Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?
8 Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
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 Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
11 If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
16 Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
25 and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, 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 prophets.
33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
35 If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
38 But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39 So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40 But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
15 1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm.
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.
6 After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
9 For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.
15 In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.
24 Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.
28 And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.
29 If these things are not so, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
30 And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
31 I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”
36 You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
37 And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else.
38 But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.
39 Not all flesh is the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another.
40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is of one degree, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is of another.
41 The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam a life-giving spirit.
46 The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.
47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.
48 As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.
49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.
50 Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
52 in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
16 1 Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia:
2 On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.
3 Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
4 And if it is advisable for me to go also, they can travel with me.
5 After I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you; for I will be going through Macedonia.
6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go.
7 For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am.
11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers,
16 to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
17 I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
20 All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.