The Collection for the Saints
1 hNow concerning1 ithe collection for the saints: as I directed jthe churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, kas he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, lI will send mthose whom you accredit by nletter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
Plans for Travel
5 oI will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until pPentecost, 9 for a qwide door for effective work has opened to me, and rthere are many adversaries.
10 sWhen Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the twork of the Lord, as I am. 11 So ulet no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
Final Instructions
12 Now concerning vour brother wApollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will2 to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.
13 xBe watchful, ystand firm in the faith, act like men, zbe strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
15 Now aI urge you, brothers3—you know that the household4 of bStephanas were the first converts5 in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the cservice of the saints— 16 dbe subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because ethey have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. fGive recognition to such people.
Greetings
19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with gthe church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings. hGreet one another with a holy kiss.
21 iI, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be jaccursed. kOur Lord, come!6 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love, and tearnestly desire the uspiritual gifts, especially that you may vprophesy. 2 For one who wspeaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters xmysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their yupbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, zbut even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone ainterprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers,1 if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some brevelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 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. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 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. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 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. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider2 say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 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.
20 Brothers, cdo not be dchildren in your thinking. eBe infants in evil, but in your thinking be fmature. 21 In the Law it is written, g“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.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign3 not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, hwill they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are idisclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and jdeclare that God is really among you.
Orderly Worship
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. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others kweigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of lconfusion but of mpeace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34 nthe women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 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.
36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or ospiritual, he should acknowledge that pthe things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, qearnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But rall things should be done decently and sin order.
