As such it is presented verbatim in its entirety below with highlighted words and phrase that touch my heart, my soul or raised questions in my consciousness.
Aim for charity, strive for spiritual gifts:
Excellence of Charity:
Contrast with Other Gifts:
Charity never fails, whereas prophecies will disappear, and tongues will cease, and knowledge will be destroyed. For we know in part and we prophecy in part; but when that which is perfect has come, that which is imperfect will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away the things of a child. We see now through a mirror in an obscure manner, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I have been known. So there abide faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest if these is charity.
The gift of Prophecy is Superior:
The gift of Tongues Requires Interpretation:
But now, brethren, If I come to you speaking in tongues what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? Even inanimate instruments, like the flute or the harp, may produce sound, but if there is no difference in the notes, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? If the trumpet give forth an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you—unless with the tongue utter intelligible speech—how shall it be known what is said? For you will be speaking to the empty air. There are, for example, so many kinds of languages in this world and none without a meaning. If, then, I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be to the one whom I speak, a foreigner; and he who speaks, a foreigner to me. So also you, since you strive after spiritual gifts, seek to have them abundantly for the edification of the church.
Prayer for the Gift of Prophecy:
Functions of these Gifts:
Brethren, do not become children in mind, but in malice be children and in mind mature. In the Law it is written that “In other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they listen to me, says the Lord.” Wherefore tongues are intended as a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers, whereas prophecies, not to unbelievers, but to believers, Therefore, if the whole church be assembled together and, while all are speaking with tongues, there should come in uninstructed persons or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad? Whereas if, while all are prophesying, there should come in an unbeliever or uninstructed person, he is convinced by all, he is put on trial by all; the secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.
Practical Directions:
Women Forbidden to Speak in Church:
Thus I likewise teach in all the churches of the saints. Let women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted them to speak, but let them be submissive, as the Law also says. But if they wish to learn anything let them ask their husbands at home, for it is unseemly for a women to speak in church.
Order Necessary:
What, was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or was it unto you only that it reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandments. If anyone ignores this, he shall be ignored. So then, brethren, desire earnestly the gift of prophesying and do not hinder the gift of speaking in tongues. Only let all things be done properly and in order.
Aim for charity, strive for spiritual gifts:
Day 156: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Aim for Charity; Strive for Spiritual Gifts!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapters 13-14.
Bible Notes:
Saint Paul in this letter to the Christians of Corinth denounces certain abuses, e.g., rivalries among themselves, incest, appealing to pagan courts, and fornication. He then answers questions they had proposed to him on marriage and celibacy, on eating the meats offered to idols, on abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, on various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and on the future resurrection.
1 Corinthians Chapter 13: Excellence of charity; Contrast with other gifts.
Excellence of Charity:
And I point out to you a yet more excellent way. If I should speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have all faith so as to remove mountains, yet do not have charity, I am nothing. And if I distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, yet do not have charity, it profits me nothing. Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth; bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Charity—Christian love; agape; leniency in judging others; forbearance; benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in disfavor; a charitable fund, foundation, or institution; a charitable act or work; a charitable act or work; generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless.
Love—the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God; affectionate concern for the well-being of others; sexual intercourse; copulation; a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
Contrast with Other Gifts:
Charity never fails, whereas prophecies will disappear, and tongues will cease, and knowledge will be destroyed. For we know in part and we prophecy in part; but when that which is perfect has come, that which is imperfect will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away the things of a child. We see now through a mirror in an obscure manner, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I have been known. So there abide faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest if these is charity.
1 Corinthians Chapter 14: The gift of prophecy is superior; The gift of tongues requires interpretation; Prayer for the gift of prophecy; Functions of these gifts; Practical directions; Women forbidden to speak in church; Order necessary.
The gift of Prophecy is Superior:
Aim at charity, yet strive after the spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, as he is speaking mysteries in his spirit. But he who prophesies speaks to men for edification, and encouragement, and consolation. For who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Now I should like you all to speak in tongues, but still more to prophesy; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless he can interpret so that the church may receive edification.
Edify—to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift:
The gift of Tongues Requires Interpretation:
But now, brethren, If I come to you speaking in tongues what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? Even inanimate instruments, like the flute or the harp, may produce sound, but if there is no difference in the notes, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? If the trumpet give forth an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you—unless with the tongue utter intelligible speech—how shall it be known what is said? For you will be speaking to the empty air. There are, for example, so many kinds of languages in this world and none without a meaning. If, then, I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be to the one whom I speak, a foreigner; and he who speaks, a foreigner to me. So also you, since you strive after spiritual gifts, seek to have them abundantly for the edification of the church.
March 16, 1990 CABLE NEWS Network founder Ted Turner has banned the word ”foreign” from newscasts and other programs of CNN and from his other broadcast operations. Turner… ordered to use the word ”international” in place of ”foreign” in a gesture ostensibly intended to help defuse cross-border tensions. ”The word foreign implies something unfamiliar and creates the perception of misunderstanding,” Turner wrote. ”In contrast, international means among nations and promotes a sense of unity.” (Google Search)
Prayer for the Gift of Prophecy:
Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What, then, is to be done? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray for the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the understanding also. Else if thou givest praise with the spirit alone, how shall he who fills the place of the uninstructed say “Amen” to thy thanksgiving? For he does not know what thou sayest. For thou, indeed, givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank God that I speak with all your tongues; yet to the church, I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may also instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Functions of these Gifts:
Brethren, do not become children in mind, but in malice be children and in mind mature. In the Law it is written that “In other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they listen to me, says the Lord.” Wherefore tongues are intended as a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers, whereas prophecies, not to unbelievers, but to believers, Therefore, if the whole church be assembled together and, while all are speaking with tongues, there should come in uninstructed persons or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad? Whereas if, while all are prophesying, there should come in an unbeliever or uninstructed person, he is convinced by all, he is put on trial by all; the secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.
Practical Directions:
What then is to be done, brethren? When you come together each of you has a hymn, has an instruction, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by twos or at the most by threes, and let them speak in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter let him keep silence in the church, and speak to himself and to God. Of the prophets, let two or three speak at a meeting, and let the rest act as judges. But if anything is revealed to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. For you all can prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged. For the spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets. For God is a God of peace, not disorder.
Women Forbidden to Speak in Church:
Thus I likewise teach in all the churches of the saints. Let women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted them to speak, but let them be submissive, as the Law also says. But if they wish to learn anything let them ask their husbands at home, for it is unseemly for a women to speak in church.
NOTE: WOW, in the New Testament???
Order Necessary:
What, was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or was it unto you only that it reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandments. If anyone ignores this, he shall be ignored. So then, brethren, desire earnestly the gift of prophesying and do not hinder the gift of speaking in tongues. Only let all things be done properly and in order.
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