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Today's Bible Reading :: 1 Corinthians 12 - 14 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 12Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 13Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 14Listen to the passage

1 Corinthians 12

Spiritual Gifts

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:1 - Now concerning[fn] spiritual gifts,[fn] brothers,[fn] I do not want you to be uninformed.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:2 - You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:3 - Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:4 - Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:5 - and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:6 - and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:7 - To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:8 - For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:9 - to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:10 - to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:11 - All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

One Body with Many Members

(cf. Eph 4:1–16 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:12 - For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:13 - For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[fn] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:14 - For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:15 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:16 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:17 - If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:18 - But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:19 - If all were a single member, where would the body be?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:20 - As it is, there are many parts,[fn] yet one body.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:21 - The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:22 - On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:23 - and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:24 - which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:25 - that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:26 - If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:28

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:28 - And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:29

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:29 - Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:30

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:30 - Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 12:31

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 12:31 - But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
ESV Footnotes
The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1
Or spiritual persons
Or brothers and sisters
For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
Or members; also verse 22

1 Corinthians 13

The Way of Love

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:1 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:2 - And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:3 - If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[fn] but have not love, I gain nothing.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:4 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:5 - or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:6 - it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:7 - Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:8 - Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:9 - For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:10 - but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:11 - When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:12 - For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 13:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
ESV Footnotes
Some manuscripts deliver up my body [to death] that I may boast
Greek irritable and does not count up wrongdoing

1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy and Tongues

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:1 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:2 - For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:3 - On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:4 - The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:5 - Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:6 - Now, brothers,[fn] 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?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:7 - If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:8 - And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:9 - So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:10 - There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:11 - but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:12 - So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:13 - Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:14 - For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:15 - What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:16 - Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider[fn] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:17 - For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:18 - I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:19 - Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:20 - Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:21 - In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:22 - Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign[fn] not for unbelievers but for believers.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:23 - If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:24 - But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:25 - the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:26 - What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:27 - If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:28

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:28 - But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:29

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:29 - Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:30

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:30 - If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:31

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:31 - For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:32

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:32 - and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:33

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:33 - For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:34

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:34 - the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:35

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:35 - If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:36

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:36 - Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:37

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:37 - If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:38

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:38 - If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:39

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:39 - So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Co 14:40

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:40 - But all things should be done decently and in order.
See the ESV Preface
ESV Footnotes
Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39
Or of him that is without gifts
Greek lacks a sign
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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