Letters to the Churches

Yea, much rather those members of the body, which seeme to be more feeble, are necessarie.

And vpon those members of the body, which wee thinke most vnhonest, put wee more honestie on: and our vncomely parts haue more comelinesse on.

For our comely partes neede it not: but God hath tempered the body together, and hath giuen the more honour to that part which lacked,

Lest there should be any diuision in the body: but that the members shoulde haue the same care one for another.

Therefore if one member suffer, all suffer with it: if one member be had in honour, all the members reioyce with it.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members for your part.

And God hath ordained some in the Church: as first Apostles, secondly Prophetes, thirdly teachers, then them that doe miracles: after that, the giftes of healing, helpers, gouernours, diuersitie of tongues.

Are all Apostles? are all Prophetes? are all teachers?

Are all doers of miracles? haue all the gifts of healing? doe all speake with tongues? doe all interprete?

But desire you the best giftes, and I will yet shewe you a more excellent way.

Though I speake with the tongues of men and Angels, and haue not loue, I am as sounding brasse, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I had the gift of prophecie, and knewe all secrets and all knowledge, yea, if I had all faith, so that I could remooue mountaines and had not loue, I were nothing.

And though I feede the poore with all my goods, and though I giue my body, that I be burned, and haue not loue, it profiteth me nothing.

Loue suffreth long: it is bountifull: loue enuieth not: loue doeth not boast it selfe: it is not puffed vp:

It doeth no vncomely thing: it seeketh not her owne things: it is not prouoked to anger: it thinketh not euill:

It reioyceth not in iniquitie, but reioyceth in the trueth:

It suffreth all things: it beleeueth all things: it hopeth all things: it endureth all things.

Loue doeth neuer fall away, though that prophecyings be abolished, or the tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away.

For we knowe in part, and we prophecie in part.

But when that which is perfect, is come, then that which is in part, shalbe abolished.

When I was a childe, I spake as a childe, I vnderstoode as a childe, I thought as a childe: but when I became a man, I put away childish thinges.

For nowe we see through a glasse darkely: but then shall wee see face to face. Nowe I know in part: but then shall I know euen as I am knowen.

And nowe abideth faith, hope and loue, euen these three: but the chiefest of these is loue.

Followe after loue, and couet spirituall giftes, and rather that ye may prophecie.

For hee that speaketh a strange tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man heareth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh secret things.