1Corinthians 14-16 - Prayer Tents

Tongues and Prophecy

14Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.G1377G26G1161G2206G4152G1161G3123G2443G43952For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.G1063G2980G1100G2980G3756G444G235G2316G1063G3762G191G1161G4151G2980G34663But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.G1161G4395G2980G444G3619G2532G3874G2532G38894A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.G2980G1100G3618G1438G1161G4395G3618G15775I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.G1161G2309G5209G3956G2980G1100G1161G3123G2443G4395G1063G3187G4395G2228G2980G1100G1622G1508G1329G2443G1577G2983G36196Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.G1161G3570G80G1437G2064G4314G5209G2980G1100G5101G5623G5209G3362G2980G5213G2228G1722G602G2228G1722G1108G2228G1722G4394G2228G1722G13227Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.G3676G895G1325G5456G1535G836G1535G2788G3362G1325G1293G5353G4459G1097G832G2228G27898And if the bugler doesn't sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?G1063G2532G1437G4536G1325G82G5456G5101G3903G1519G41719It's the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don't understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.G3779G2532G5210G3362G1325G1223G1100G3056G2154G4459G1097G2980G1063G2071G2980G1519G10910There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.G1487G2076G5177G5118G1085G5456G1722G2889G2532G3762G880G84611But if I don't understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me.G3767G3362G1492G3362G1411G5456G2071G2980G915G2532G2980G915G1722G169812And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.G2532G3779G5210G1893G2075G2207G4151G2212G2443G4052G4314G3619G157713So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.G1355G2980G1100G4336G2443G132914For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying.G1063G1437G4336G1100G3450G4151G4336G1161G3450G3563G2076G17515Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.G5101G2076G3767G4336G4151G1161G4336G3563G2532G5567G4151G1161G5567G3563G253216For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don't understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don't understand what you are saying?G1893G1437G2127G4151G4459G378G5117G2399G2046G281G1909G4674G2169G1894G1492G3756G5101G300417You will be giving thanks very well, but it won't strengthen the people who hear you.G1063G4771G3303G2168G2573G235G2087G3618G3756G361818I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.G2168G3450G2316G2980G1100G3123G5216G395619But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.G235G1722G1577G2309G2980G4002G3056G1223G3450G3563G2443G2727G243G2532G2228G3463G3056G1722G110020Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.G80G1096G3361G3813G5424G235G2549G3515G1161G5424G1096G504621It is written in the Scriptures: "I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me," says the LORD.G1722G3551G1125G3754G1722G2084G2532G1722G2087G5491G2980G5129G2992G2532G3779G1522G3761G1522G3450G3004G296222So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.G5620G1100G1526G1519G4592G3756G4100G235G571G1161G4394G3756G571G235G410023Even so, if unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.G1437G3767G3650G1577G4905G1909G846G2532G3956G2980G1100G1161G1525G2399G2228G571G2046G3756G2046G3754G310524But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say.G1161G1437G3956G4395G1161G1525G5100G571G2228G2399G1651G5259G3956G350G5259G395625As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is truly here among you."G2532G3779G1096G2927G846G2588G1096G5318G2532G3779G4098G1909G4383G4352G2316G518G3754G2316G2076G1722G5213G3689

A Call to Orderly Worship

26Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.G5101G2076G3767G80G3752G4905G1538G5216G2192G5568G2192G1322G2192G1100G2192G602G2192G2058G1096G3956G1096G4314G361927No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.G1535G5100G2980G1100G2596G1417G2228G4118G5140G2532G303G3313G2532G1329G1520G132928But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.G1161G3362G5600G3362G1328G4601G1722G1577G1161G2980G1438G2532G231629Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.G1161G2980G4396G2980G1417G2228G5140G2532G1252G243G125230But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop.G1161G1437G601G243G2521G4601G4413G460131In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.G1063G1410G3956G4395G2596G1520G2443G3956G3129G2532G3956G387032Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.G2532G4151G4396G5293G439633For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people.G1063G2316G2076G3756G181G235G1515G5613G1722G3956G1577G4034Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says.G4601G5216G1135G4601G1722G1577G1063G2010G3756G2010G846G2980G235G5293G2531G2532G3004G355135If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.G1161G1487G2309G3129G5100G1905G2398G435G1722G3624G1063G2076G149G1135G2980G1722G157736Or do you think God's word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?G2228G1831G3056G2316G1831G575G5216G2228G2658G1519G5209G344137If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.G1536G1380G1511G4396G2228G4152G1921G3754G3739G1125G5213G1526G1785G296238But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.G1161G1536G50G5039So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking in tongues.G5620G80G2206G4395G2532G2967G3361G2980G110040But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.G1096G3956G1096G2156G2532G2596G5010

The Resurrection of Christ

15Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.G1161G80G1107G5213G2098G3739G2097G5213G3739G2532G3880G2532G1722G3739G2476 2It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.G1223G3739G2532G4982G1487G2722G5101G3056G2097G5213G1622G1508G4100G1500 3I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.G1063G3860G5213G1722G4413G3739G3880G2532G3880G3754G5547G599G5228G2257G266G2596G1124 4He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.G2532G3754G2290G2532G3754G1453G5154G2250G2596G1124 5He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.G2532G3754G3700G2786G1534G1427 6After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.G1899G3700G1883G4001G80G2178G1537G3739G4119G3306G2193G737G1161G5100G2532G2837 7Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.G1899G3700G2385G1534G3956G652 8Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.G1161G2078G3956G3700G2504G5619G1626 9For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I'm not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God's church.G1063G1473G1510G1646G652G3739G1510G3756G2425G2564G652G1360G1377G1577G2316 10But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.G1161G5485G2316G1510G3739G1510G2532G846G5485G1519G1691G1096G3756G2756G235G2872G4054G846G3956G1161G3756G1473G235G5485G2316G3588G4862G1698 11So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.G3767G1535G1473G1535G1565G3779G2784G2532G3779G4100

The Resurrection of the Dead

12But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?G1161G1487G5547G2784G3754G1453G1537G3498G4459G3004G5100G1722G5213G3754G2076G3756G386G3498 13For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.G1161G1487G2076G3756G386G3498G3761G1453G5547G3761G1453 14And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.G1161G1487G5547G1453G3756G1453G686G2257G2782G2756G2532G5216G4102G1161G2532G2756 15And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.G1161G2532G2147G5575G2316G3754G3140G2596G2316G3754G1453G5547G3739G1453G3756G1453G1512G686G3498G1453G3756 16And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.G1063G1487G3498G1453G3756G1453G3761G5547G1453 17And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.G1161G1487G5547G1453G3756G1453G5216G4102G3152G2075G2089G1722G5216G266 18In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!G686G2532G2837G1722G5547G622 19And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.G1487G1722G5026G2222G3440G1679G2070G1722G5547G2070G3956G444G1652 20But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.G1161G3570G1453G5547G1453G1537G3498G1096G536G2837 21So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.G1063G1894G1223G444G2288G1223G444G2532G386G3498 22Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.G1063G5618G1722G76G3956G599G2532G3779G1722G5547G2227G3956G2227 23But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.G1161G1538G1722G2398G5001G5547G536G1899G3588G5547G1722G846G3952 24After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.G1534G5056G3752G3860G932G2316G2532G3962G3752G2673G3956G746G2532G3956G1849G2532G1411 25For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.G1063G846G1163G936G891G3739G302G5087G3956G2190G5259G846G4228 26And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.G2078G2190G2673G2288 27For the Scriptures say, "God has put all things under his authority." (Of course, when it says "all things are under his authority," that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.)G1063G5293G3956G5259G846G4228G1161G3752G2036G3754G3956G5293G1212G3754G1622G5293G3956G5293G846 28Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God's authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.G1161G3752G3956G5293G846G5119G5293G5207G2532G846G5293G5293G3956G5293G846G2443G2316G5600G3956G1722G3956 29If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?G1893G5101G4160G907G5228G3498G1487G3498G1453G3756G3654G5101G2532G907G5228G3498 30And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour?G2532G5101G2793G2249G2793G3956G5610 31For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you.G3513G5212G2251G2746G3739G2192G1722G5547G2424G2257G2962G599G2596G2250 32And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, "Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!"G1487G2596G444G2341G1722G2181G5101G3786G3427G1487G3498G1453G3756G5315G2532G4095G1063G839G599 33Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character."G4105G3361G4105G2556G3657G5351G5543G2239 34Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't know God at all.G1594G1346G2532G264G3361G1063G5100G2192G56G2316G3004G4314G5213G1791

The Resurrection Body

35But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?"G235G5100G2046G4459G1453G3498G1453G1161G4169G4983G2064 36What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first.G878G3739G4771G4687G2227G3756G2227G3362G599 37And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting.G2532G3739G4687G4687G3756G4983G1096G235G1131G2848G1487G5177G4621G2228G5100G3062 38Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.G1161G2316G1325G846G4983G2531G2309G2532G1538G4690G2398G4983 39Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.G3956G4561G3756G846G4561G235G3303G243G4561G444G1161G243G4561G2934G1161G243G2486G1161G243G4421 40There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies.G2532G2032G4983G2532G4983G1919G235G3303G1391G2032G2087G1161G1919G2087 41The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.G243G1391G2246G2532G243G1391G4582G2532G243G1391G792G1063G792G1308G792G1722G1391 42It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.G3779G2532G386G3498G4687G1722G5356G1453G1722G861 43Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.G4687G1722G819G1453G1722G1391G4687G1722G769G1453G1722G1411 44They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.G4687G5591G4983G1453G4152G4983G2076G5591G4983G2532G2076G4152G4983 45The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.G2532G3779G1125G4413G444G76G1096G1519G2198G5590G2078G76G1519G2227G4151 46What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.G235G3756G4412G4152G235G5591G1899G4152 47Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven.G4413G444G1537G1093G5517G1208G444G2962G1537G3772 48Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man.G3634G5517G5108G2532G5517G2532G3634G2032G5108G2032G2532G2032 49Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.G2532G2531G5409G1504G5517G5409G2532G5409G1504G2032 50What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.G1161G5124G5346G80G3754G4561G2532G129G3756G1410G2816G932G2316G3761G2816G5356G2816G861 51But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!G2400G3004G5213G3466G2837G3756G3956G3303G2837G1161G236G3956G236 52It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.G1722G823G1722G4493G3788G1722G2078G4536G1063G4537G2532G3498G1453G862G2532G2249G236 53For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.G1063G5124G5349G1163G1746G861G2532G5124G2349G1746G110 54Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory.G1161G3752G5124G5349G1746G861G2532G5124G2349G1746G110G5119G1096G3056G1125G2288G2666G1519G3534 55O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"G2288G4226G4675G2759G86G4226G4675G3534 56For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.G1161G2759G2288G266G1161G1411G266G3551 57But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.G1161G5485G2316G3588G1325G2254G3534G1223G2257G2962G2424G5547 58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.G5620G3450G27G80G1096G1476G277G3842G4052G1722G2041G2962G1492G3754G5216G2873G2076G3756G2756G1722G2962

The Collection for Jerusalem

16Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God's people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.G1161G4012G3048G1519G40G5618G1299G1577G1053G2532G3779G4160G5210 2On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.G2596G3391G4521G5087G1538G5216G5087G3844G1438G2343G3748G302G2137G3363G1096G3363G3048G5119G3752G2064 3When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem.G1161G3752G3854G3739G1437G1381G1223G1992G5128G3992G667G5216G5485G1519G2419 4And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.G1161G1437G5600G514G4198G2504G4198G4862G1698

Paul’s Final Instructions

5I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia.G1161G2064G4314G5209G3752G1330G3109G1063G1330G3109 6Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination.G1161G5177G3887G2228G2532G3914G4314G5209G2443G5210G4311G3165G4311G3757G1437G4198 7This time I don't want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me.G1063G2309G3756G1492G5209G737G1722G3938G1161G1679G1961G5100G5550G4314G5209G1437G2962G2010 8In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost.G1161G1961G1722G2181G2193G4005 9There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.G1063G3173G2374G2532G1756G455G3427G2532G4183G480 10When Timothy comes, don't intimidate him. He is doing the Lord's work, just as I am.G1161G1437G5095G2064G991G2443G1096G4314G5209G870G1063G2038G2041G2962G5613G1473G2532 11Don't let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.G1848G3361G5100G3767G1848G846G1161G4311G846G4311G1722G1515G2443G2064G4314G3165G1063G1551G846G3326G80 12Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.G1161G4012G80G625G3870G4183G3870G846G2443G2064G4314G5209G3326G80G2532G2307G2258G3756G3843G2443G2064G3568G1161G2064G3752G2119 13Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.G1127G4739G1722G4102G407G2901 14And do everything with love.G1096G3956G5216G3956G1096G1722G26 15You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God's people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,G1161G3870G5209G80G1492G3614G4734G3754G2076G536G882G2532G5021G1438G1519G1248G40 16to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion.G2532G2443G5210G5293G5108G2532G3956G4903G2532G2872 17I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren't here to give me.G1161G5463G1909G3952G4734G2532G5415G2532G883G3754G5303G5216G3778G378 18They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.G1063G373G1699G4151G2532G5216G3767G1921G5108

Paul’s Final Greetings

19The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings.G1577G773G782G5209G207G2532G4252G782G5209G4183G1722G2962G4862G1577G2596G846G3624 20All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with Christian love.G3956G80G782G5209G782G240G1722G40G5370 21HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.G783G3972G1699G5495 22If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come!G1536G5368G3756G2962G2424G5547G2277G331G3134 23May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.G5485G2962G2424G5547G3326G5216 24My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.G3450G26G3326G5216G3956G1722G5547G2424G281