Letters to the Churches

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be less important turn out to be all the more necessary;

and upon body parts which we consider less dignified we bestow greater dignity; and the parts that aren’t attractive are the ones we make as attractive as we can,

while our attractive parts have no need for such treatment. Indeed, God has put the body together in such a way that he gives greater dignity to the parts that lack it,

So that there will be no disagreements within the body, but rather all the parts will be equally concerned for all the others.

Thus if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; and if one part is honored, all the parts share its happiness.

Now you together constitute the body of the Messiah, and individually you are parts of it.

And God has placed in the Messianic Community first, emissaries; second, prophets; third, teachers; then those who work miracles; then those with gifts of healing; those with ability to help; those skilled in administration; and those who speak in various tongues.

Not all are emissaries, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? or teachers? or miracle-workers?

Not all have gifts of healing, not all speak in tongues, not all interpret, do they?

Eagerly seek the better gifts. But now I will show you the best way of all.

I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels; but if I lack love, I have become merely blaring brass or a cymbal clanging.

I may have the gift of prophecy, I may fathom all mysteries, know all things, have all faith — enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing.

I may give away everything that I own, I may even hand over my body to be burned; but if I lack love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful,

not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not gloat over other people’s sins but takes its delight in the truth.

Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, always endures.

Love never ends; but prophecies will pass, tongues will cease, knowledge will pass.

For our knowledge is partial, and our prophecy partial;

but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, argued like a child; now that I have become a man, I have finished with childish ways.

For now we see obscurely in a mirror, but then it will be face to face. Now I know partly; then I will know fully, just as God has fully known me.

But for now, three things last — trust, hope, love; and the greatest of these is love.

Pursue love! However, keep on eagerly seeking the things of the Spirit; and especially seek to be able to prophesy.

For someone speaking in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, because no one can understand, since he is uttering mysteries in the power of the Spirit.