If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell?

If they all made up one member, what would become of the body?

and what we think to be less honorable parts of the body, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our unseemly parts have more abundant seemliness;

Is everyone able to cure the sick? Can everyone speak ecstatically? Can everyone explain what it means?

[Note: The following traits should be understood in the context of love for people]. Love is patient [with people], and is kind [to them]; love does not envy [what people are or have]; love does not boast [of being superior to others], it is not arrogant [in dealing with people].

does not behave in an unseemly manner, does not seek what is its own, is not quickly provoked, does not impute evil,

It takes no pleasure in wrongdoing, but has joy in what is true;

it excuses all things, believes what is favourable, hopes for the best, and suffers the worst.

For our knowledge is only in part, and the prophet's word gives only a part of what is true:

But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will be done away with.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; when I became a man, I had done with what belonged to the child.

Now we see only an indistinct image in a mirror, but then we will be face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

For he who makes use of tongues is not talking to men but to God; because no one has the sense of what he is saying; but in the Spirit he is talking of secret things.

Now I wish that all of you spoke in unknown tongues, but even more [I wish] that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translates or explains [what he says], so that the church may be edified [instructed, improved, strengthened].

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

Or, for example, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, what soldier will be prepared for battle?

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

If I know not what the voice meaneth, I shall be unto him that speaketh an alien: and he that speaketh shall be an alien unto me.

Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [be gifted to] translate or explain [what he says].

For if I pray in a language [supernaturally], [it is] my spirit that is praying, but my mind does not understand [what I am saying]. [Note: Here Paul raises an objection to the use of a language without the person knowing what he is saying].

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be limited to two or at the most three, and each one speaking in turn, and one must interpret [what is said].

If there is no one able to interpret what is said, they should remain silent at the meeting of the Church, and speak to themselves and to God.

Let two or three prophets speak [as inspired by the Holy Spirit], while the rest pay attention and weigh carefully what is said.

What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet [a true spokesman for God] or spiritually astute [filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit], let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.

Now I am going to make clear to you, my brothers, what the good news was which I gave to you, and which you took, and on which your faith is based,

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered to you, in the first place, what also I had received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures;

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

So whether it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed and trusted in and relied on with confidence.

Now if what we preach about Christ is that he was raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead?

And if Christ has not risen, it follows that what we preach is a delusion, and that your faith also is a delusion.

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

Come to your senses; do what is right and stop sinning. Some of you do not know God [i.e., in a personal way]. I am saying this to make you ashamed.

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

Fool; what thou sowest is not quickened unless it die.

And what thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain: it may be of wheat, or some one of the rest:

But God gives it what body he pleases, and to each kind of seed its own body.

This is how it will be at the resurrection of the dead. What is planted is decaying, what is raised cannot decay.

This, indeed, is what is written: "The first man, Adam, became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Nevertheless, it is not what is spiritual that came first, but what is animal; what is spiritual came afterwards.

What the earthy one is, that also are those who are earthy; and what the heavenly One is, that also are those who are heavenly.

But this I tell you, brethren: our mortal bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor will what is perishable inherit what is imperishable.

For so it must be: this perishable nature must clothe itself with what is imperishable, and this mortality must clothe itself with immortality.

But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

As to the collection for God's people, what I have directed the Churches of Galatia to do, you must do also.

On the first day of every week each one of you is to put something aside, in proportion to his prosperity, and save it so that no collections [will need to] be made when I come.

But I rejoice in the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus; because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.