1 Corinthians 11-15

Why did Paul prohibit dinner parties or going out to Denneys?

Why did Paul tell the saints to covet? 

How can it happen martyrdom would not ensure one a place in the kingdom of heaven?

Does Paul tell us to be ignorant?

Chapter 11

Paul speaks of certain customs of hair and grooming—Heresies will arise that test and prove the faithful—The sacramental emblems are partaken in remembrance of the flesh and blood of Christ—Beware of partaking unworthily.

1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; ? and the head of Christ is God.

4  Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is ^aeven all one as if she were shaven.

 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a ^ashame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

 11 Nevertheless neither is the ^aman without the woman, neither the ^bwoman without the man, in the Lord.

 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

 13 Judge in yourselves: is it ^acomely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long ^ahair, it is a shame unto him?

 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

 16 But if any man seem to be ^acontentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

 17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the ^achurch, I hear that there be ^bdivisions among you; and I partly believe it.

 19 For there must be also ^aheresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, ^athis is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the ^achurch of God, and ^bshame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took ^abread:

 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in ^aremembrance of me.

 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

 26 For as often as ye eat this ^abread, and drink this cup, ye do ^bshew the Lord’s ^cdeath till he come.

 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this ^abread, and drink this cup of the Lord, ^bunworthily, shall ^cbe ^dguilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

 28 But let a man ^aexamine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

 29 For he that eateth and drinketh ^aunworthily, eateth and drinketh ^bdamnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

 30 For this cause many are weak and ^asickly among you, and many sleep.

 31 For if we would ^ajudge ourselves, we should not be judged.

 32 But when we are judged, we are ^achastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Chapter 12

The Holy Ghost reveals that Jesus is the Christ—Spiritual gifts are present among the Saints—Apostles, prophets, and miracles are found in the true Church.

 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, ^acarried away unto these dumb ^bidols, even as ye were led.

 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can ^asay that Jesus is the ^bLord, but by the ^cHoly Ghost.

 4 Now there are diversities of ^agifts, but the same Spirit.

 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

 7 But the manifestation of the ^aSpirit is given to every man to profit withal.

 8 For to one is ^agiven by the ^bSpirit the ^cword of ^dwisdom; to another the word of ^eknowledge by the same Spirit;

 9 To another ^afaith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of ^bhealing by the same Spirit;

 10 To another the working of ^amiracles; to another ^bprophecy; to another ^cdiscerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of ^dtongues:

 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one ^abody, whether we be Jews or ^bGentiles, whether we be ^cbond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 14 For the body is not one member, but many.

 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the ^ahead to the feet, I have no need of you.

 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be ^amore feeble, are necessary:

 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same ^acare one for another.

 26 And whether one member ^asuffer, all the members ^bsuffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

 27 Now ye are the body of ^aChrist, and ^bmembers in particular.

 28 And God hath set some in the church, first ^aapostles, secondarily ^bprophets, thirdly ^cteachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, ^dgovernments, diversities of tongues.

 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of ^amiracles?

 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

 31 But ^acovet earnestly the best ^bgifts: and yet shew I unto you a more ^cexcellent way.

Chapter 13

Paul discusses the high status of charity—Charity, a pure love, excels and exceeds almost all else.

 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not ^acharity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

 2 And though I have the gift of ^aprophecy, and understand all ^bmysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the ^apoor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

 4 ^aCharity ^bsuffereth long, and is ^ckind; charity ^denvieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

 5 Doth not behave itself ^aunseemly, seeketh not her ^bown, is not easily ^cprovoked, thinketh no evil;

 6 Rejoiceth not in ^ainiquity, but rejoiceth in the ^btruth;

 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 8 Charity never ^afaileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 12 For now we see through a ^aglass, ^bdarkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 13 And now abideth ^afaith, ^bhope, ^ccharity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Chapter 14

People should desire spiritual gifts—Tongues and prophecy are compared—Prophecy is the greater gift—Paul says, You may all prophesy; covet to prophesy.

 1 ^aFollow after charity, and desire spiritual ^bgifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

 2 For he that speaketh in ^aan unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

 3 But he that ^aprophesieth speaketh unto men to ^bedification, and exhortation, and comfort.

 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

 5 I ^awould that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye ^bprophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

 6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, ^aexcept I shall speak to you either by ^brevelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

 7 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?

 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

 9 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.

 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of ^avoices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

 12 Even so ye, ^aforasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual ^bgifts, seek that ye may excel to the ^cedifying of the church.

 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my ^aunderstanding is unfruitful.

 15 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.

 16 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?

 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

 19 Yet in the church I had rather ^aspeak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

 20 Brethren, be not ^achildren in ^bunderstanding: howbeit in ^cmalice be ye children, but in ^dunderstanding be men.

 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not ^ahear me, saith the Lord.

 22 Wherefore ^atongues are for a ^bsign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but ^cprophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or ^aunbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

 25 And thus are the ^asecrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto ^aedifying.

 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep ^asilence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

 33 For God is not the ^aauthor of ^bconfusion, but of ^cpeace, as in all ^dchurches of the ^esaints.

 34 Let your ^awomen keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to ^bspeak; but ^cthey are commanded to be under ^dobedience, as also saith the law.

 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to ^aspeak in the church.

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

 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

 39 Wherefore, brethren, ^acovet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

 40 Let all things be done decently and in ^aorder.

Chapter 15

Christ died for our sins—He rose from the dead and was seen by many—All men will be resurrected—Paul speaks of baptism for the dead—The three degrees of glory are described—Victory over death comes through Christ.

 1 Moreover, brethren, I ^adeclare unto you the ^bgospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

 2 By which also ye are ^asaved, if ye ^bkeep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ ^adied for our ^bsins according to the scriptures;

 4 And that he was buried, and that he ^arose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 5 And that he was ^aseen of ^bCephas, then of the twelve:

 6 After that, he was ^aseen of ^babove five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

 8 And last of all he was ^aseen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not ^ameet to be called an apostle, because I ^bpersecuted the church of God.

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

 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have ^atestified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is ^avain; ye are yet in your sins.

 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are ^aperished.

 19 If in this ^alife only we have ^bhope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

 20 But now is ^aChrist ^brisen from the dead, and become the ^cfirstfruits of them that slept.

 21 For since by man came ^adeath, by man came also the ^bresurrection of the dead.

 22 For as in ^aAdam all ^bdie, even so in ^cChrist shall all be made ^dalive.

 23 But every man in his own ^aorder: Christ the ^bfirstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his ^ccoming.

 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have ^aput down all ^brule and all ^cauthority and ^dpower.

 25 For he must ^areign, till he hath put all ^benemies under his ^cfeet.

 26 The last ^aenemy that shall be ^bdestroyed is ^cdeath. (Harry Potter)

 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is ^amanifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

 28 And when all things shall be ^asubdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be ^bsubject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

 29 Else what shall they do which are ^abaptized ^bfor the dead, if the dead ^crise not at all? why are they then baptized for the ^ddead?

 30 And why stand we in ^ajeopardy every hour?

 31 ^aI protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

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

33 Be not deceived: evil ^acommunications corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your ^ashame.

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

36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it ^adie:

37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, ^ait may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

40 ^aThere are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the ^bcelestial is one, and the glory of the ^cterrestrial is another.

41 There is one glory of the ^asun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the ^bstars: for one star ^cdiffereth from another star in ^dglory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in ^acorruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in ^aglory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a ^anatural body; it is raised a ^bspiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The ^afirst man ^bAdam was made a living soul; the last ^cAdam was made a ^dquickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not ^afirst which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that ^aflesh and ^bblood cannot ^cinherit the kingdom of God; neither doth ^dcorruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all ^asleep, but we shall all be ^bchanged,

52 In a moment, in the ^atwinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the ^btrumpet shall sound, and the ^cdead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be ^dchanged.

53 For this ^acorruptible must put on incorruption, and this ^bmortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, ^bDeath is swallowed up in victory.

55 O ^adeath, where is thy sting? O ^bgrave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of ^adeath is sin; and the ^bstrength of sin is the law.

57 But ^athanks be to God, which giveth us the ^bvictory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye ^astedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.