Letters to the Churches

But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.

For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

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.

Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.

After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.

For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

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.

Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

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?