1Cor 11-14 | ESV | STEP | Be imitators of me , as I am of Christ .

2 Now I commend you ^bbecause you remember me in everything and ^cmaintain the traditions ^deven as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that ^ethe head of every man is Christ, ^fthe head of a wife ^{▼▼Greek gunē. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context} is her husband, and ^hthe head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife ^{▼▼In verses 5–13, the Greek word gunē is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture} who prays or ^jprophesies ^kwith her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same ^las if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since ^mhe is the image and glory of God, but ⁿwoman is the glory of man. 8 For ^oman was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but ^pwoman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ^{▼▼Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report} 11 Nevertheless, ^rin the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And ^sall things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 ^tIf anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do ^uthe churches of God.

The Lord’s Supper

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, ^vI hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, ^{▼▼Or I believe a certain report} 19 for ^xthere must be factions among you in order ^ythat those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, ^zanother gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise ^aathe church of God and ^abhumiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23 For ^acI received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that ^adthe Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for ^{▼▼Some manuscripts broken for} you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ^{▼▼Or as my memorial; also verse 25} 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death ^aguntil he comes.

27 ^ahWhoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord ^aiin an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning ^ajthe body and blood of the Lord. 28 ^akLet a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some ^alhave died. ^{▼▼Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20)} 31 ^anBut if we judged ^{▼▼Or discerned} ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, ^apwe are disciplined ^{▼▼Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord} so that we may not be ^arcondemned along with the world.

33 So then, my brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} when you come together to eat, wait for ^{▼▼Or share with} one another— 34 ^auif anyone is hungry, ^avlet him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things ^awI will give directions ^axwhen I come.

‏ 1 Corinthians 12

Spiritual Gifts

1 Now ^ayconcerning ^{▼▼The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1} spiritual gifts, ^{▼▼Or spiritual persons} brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that ^bcwhen you were pagans ^bdyou were led astray to ^bemute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that ^bfno one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is ^bgaccursed!” and ^bhno one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now ^bithere are varieties of gifts, but ^bjthe same Spirit; 5 and ^bkthere are varieties of service, but ^blthe same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is ^bmthe same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 ^bnTo each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of ^bowisdom, and to another the utterance of ^bpknowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another ^bqfaith by the same Spirit, to another ^brgifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another ^bsthe working of miracles, to another ^btprophecy, to another ^buthe ability to distinguish between spirits, to another ^bvvarious kinds of tongues, to another ^bwthe interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, ^bxwho apportions to each one individually ^byas he wills.

One Body with Many Members

12 For just as ^bzthe body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, ^caso it is with Christ. 13 For ^cbin one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— ^ccJews or Greeks, slaves ^{▼▼Or servants; Greek bondservants} or free—and ^ceall were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, ^cfGod arranged the members in the body, each one of them, ^cgas he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, ^{▼▼Or members; also verse 22} yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, ^ciall rejoice together.

27 Now ^cjyou are the body of Christ and individually ^ckmembers of it. 28 And ^clGod has appointed in the church first ^cmapostles, second ^cnprophets, third teachers, then ^comiracles, then ^cpgifts of healing, ^cqhelping, ^cradministrating, and ^csvarious kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But ^ctearnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

‏ 1 Corinthians 13

The Way of Love

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have ^cuprophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, ^cvso as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 ^cwIf I give away all I have, and ^cxif I deliver up my body to be burned, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts deliver up my body [to death] that I may boast} but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 ^czLove is patient and ^dakind; love ^dbdoes not envy or boast; it ^dcis not arrogant 5 or rude. It ^dddoes not insist on its own way; it ^deis not irritable or resentful; ^{▼▼Greek irritable and does not count up wrongdoing} 6 it ^dgdoes not rejoice at wrongdoing, but ^dhrejoices with the truth. 7 ^diLove bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, ^djendures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For ^dkwe know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but ^dlwhen the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For ^dmnow we see in a mirror dimly, but ^dnthen face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as ^doI have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

‏ 1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy and Tongues

1 ^dpPursue love, and ^dqearnestly desire the ^drspiritual gifts, especially that you may ^dsprophesy. 2 For ^dtone who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding 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, but ^dueven more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

6 Now, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39} if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some ^dwrevelation or knowledge or prophecy or ^dxteaching? 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 ^dyif 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 ^dzspeaking 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 ^eaa 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; ^ebI will sing praise with my spirit, but I will ^ecsing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider ^{▼▼Or of him that is without gifts} say ^ee“Amen” to ^efyour 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, ^egdo not be children in your thinking. ^ehBe infants in evil, but in your thinking be ^eimature. 21 ^ejIn the Law it is written, ^ek“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 sign ^{▼▼Greek lacks a sign} not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, ^emwill 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 ^enthe secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, ^eofalling on his face, he will worship God and ^epdeclare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has ^eqa hymn, ^era lesson, ^esa revelation, ^eta tongue, or ^euan interpretation. ^evLet all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in ^ewa 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 ^exweigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, ^eylet 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 ^ezconfusion but of peace.

As in ^faall the churches of the saints, 34 ^fbthe women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but ^fcshould be in submission, as ^fdthe 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 ^feIf anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the 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, ^ffearnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 ^fgBut all things should be done decently and ^fhin order.