Bible verses about "utterance" | JMNT

¹ If ever I could habitually speak (or as an indicative: If I continuously speak) in or with the languages of the human groups (or: by the tongues of mankind) – or even of the agents (or: messengers) – yet am not constantly having and continuously holding love, I have come to be a continuously sounding (or: blaring; booming out; resounding) [piece of] brass (or: copper; bronze) or a repeatedly clashing basin or a continuously clanging cymbal! ² Even if I am continuously holding light ahead of time (or: repeatedly have prophecy), and I may have seen, and thus know, all the secrets (or: every mystery) and all the intimate knowledge (or: insight; gnosis), and if I now continuously possess all the faith and trust – so as to repeatedly transport mountains (or: to change the place and position of mountain after mountain) – yet do not habitually possess (or: progressively have) love, I am (I exist being) nothing! ³ If further I should dole out all my habitual subsistences in morsels of food – even if I should hand over my body! – so that I could boast [C, D and other later MSS read: so that I will be burned], and yet do not habitually possess and progressively have love, I continue being benefited (furthered; augmented; helped; profited) in not even one thing. [note: love (agape) – "unambiguous love;" "an ecstatic manifestation of the Spiritual Presence;" "the drive toward reunion;" "participation in the other one;" "the acceptance of the other one as a person... the power of reunion with the other person as one standing on the same ultimate ground..." – Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology III, pp 134-137; Perspectives on 19th and 20th Century Protestant Theology, p 200] ⁴ The Love (or: This love) is habitually even-tempered, taking a long time to be in a heat of passion (is constantly long-enduring and patient; continues long-suffering; is slow to progress toward feelings which cause violent breathing or rushing emotions) – it continues being usefully kind. The Love (or: This love) is not constantly boiling with jealousy and envy. The Love is not continuously bragging or “showing off” – it is not habitually being puffed up; it is not conceited or arrogant. ⁵ It is not repeatedly indecent in manner or behavior (it does not continually display lack of [good] form, rudeness or improper demeanor); it is not habitually self-seeking (or: not constantly pursuing its own interests or rights); it is not continually caused to be sharp [in response] nor aroused to irritation or upset emotions; it is not habitually keeping account of the worthless thing, nor logically considering something of bad quality, nor counting the injury. ⁶ It does not continue to rejoice upon [seeing or hearing of] the injustice, nor is it happy about dishonesty, inequity, or lack of the qualities of the Way pointed out, yet it repeatedly rejoices with the Truth (or: takes delight together in Reality). ⁷ [Love] continuously covers all mankind; it is habitually loyal to all humanity; it constantly has an expectation for all mankind; it is continuously remaining under and giving support to all people. (or, since “all” can also be neuter: It progressively puts a protecting roof over all things; it is habitually trusting in, and believing for, all things; it is continually hoping in or for all things; it keeps on patiently enduring all things.) ⁸ The Love (or, again: This love) never – not even once – fails (falls out or lapses; = becomes fruitless or ineffectual; [other MSS: falls down; collapses]). Now, whether prophecies (or: situations of light ahead of time) will be rendered useless and unproductive (or: idled-down to be inactive and unemployed, discarded or, nullified) or languages will stop themselves (or: tongues will restrain themselves so as to cease [speaking]; “utterances of ecstasy” will cease of themselves), or whether intimate or experiential knowledge (or: insight; gnosis) will be rendered useless and unproductive (be idled-down to be inactive and unemployed, discarded or, nullified) ⁹ – for we are progressively gaining intimate and experiential knowledge from out of a part (insight from a piece; gnosis from the midst of a portion of the whole), and we are habitually prophesying (speaking publicly before others and sharing light ahead of time) from out of a part (a portion; a piece of the whole) – ¹⁰ still, whenever the destined goal (the mature person; the finished product; maturity; the complete attainment of the purpose; perfection) should (or: may; would) come, that which is out of a part (a piece; a portion) will be progressively rendered useless and unproductive (idled-down to be inactive, unemployed or discarded). ¹¹ When I was an infant (a baby; a non-speaking one), I used to babble and make vocal utterances as a non-speaking infant. I used to habitually be in the frame of mind, take thought with the intellect and understand as a non-speaking infant (baby). I continued taking account, reasoning and logically considering things as a non-speaking infant. Yet when I had come to be an adult male, I had permanently made inactive (idled-down so as to be no longer used and discarded) the things which pertain to a non-speaking infant (infantile things). ¹² For you see, at the present moment we continue seeing and observing through means of a metal mirror, within the midst of an enigma (the result of something obscurely expressed, hinted or intimated, giving an indistinct image), but then [it will be] face to face. Right now I am progressively coming to intimately and experientially know from out of a part (gain insight from a piece; be acquainted with a portion of the whole), but then I shall fully and accurately know and recognize, from intimate experience and added insight, correspondingly as I am also fully and accurately known, by intimate experience. ¹³ So at the present time trust (or: faith; loyalty; trustworthiness), expectation (or: expectant hope) [and] love – these three – continue remaining and habitually dwell [with us], yet the greatest of these [is] the Love (the urge toward unambiguous, accepting reunion). You folks make haste to progressively run after and continuously pursue the Love!

¹ Now once again, brothers (= fellow believers, or, members of the Family), I do not intend (purpose; want; desire) you folks to continue being ignorant concerning the things (or: matters) of the spirit and attitude (or: the [qualities; characteristics] which are the Spirit; the [aspects or workings] of the Breath-effect; or: spiritual folks). ² You have seen, and know, that when you were being (or: continued existing being) ethnic multitudes ([the] nations; Gentiles; non-Jews) [you were] folks being constantly led astray (or: led off [the path] and away) toward the voiceless idols (silent images; mute forms) – as often as you were being periodically and progressively led. ³ Wherefore, I am now proceeding to make known to you folks that no one – speaking within God's Spirit (or: speaking in union with the Breath-effect of God; speaking in the sphere of a Breath which is God) – is in the habit of saying, "Jesus [is] a result of something set up as an offering to a deity (or thus: Jesus [is] accursed)!" And no one is able (normally has power) to say, "Jesus [is] Lord (or: Lord Jesus; perhaps: = Jesus [is] Yahweh)!" except within and in union with [the] Holy Spirit (or: in a set-apart and consecrated spirit and attitude; in [the] Sacred Breath). ⁴ Now there continue being different distributions (divided-out apportionments) of the effects of favor and the results of grace, yet the same Spirit (Breath-effect; Attitude), ⁵ and there are different distributions of attending services (divided-out apportionments of dispensings), and yet the same Lord (or: Owner; Master; [= Christ or Yahweh]); ⁶ also there continue being different distributions of the results of inner workings and the effects of inward operations, and still, the same God – the One continuously working inwardly and progressively activating all things within and in union with all people (or: constantly energizing and operating the whole within the midst of all things). ⁷ Yet in, to, for and with each person the manifestation (clear display in light) of the Breath-effect (or: from the Spirit) is continuously being given [with a view] to and [leading] toward progressively bringing [folks or things] together, face-to-face with the constant mutual bearing-together for benefit, advantage, expedience and the common good [of all]. ⁸ For you see, on the one hand, in (or: to; for; with; by) one person a word (a thought, message or expression; [the] reason) of wisdom (or: a wise idea) is repeatedly or from time-to-time or progressively being given. In (or: To; For; With; By) another person, on the other hand, [is given] a word (thought; message; expression; [the] reason) of intimate, experiential knowledge, insight or realization (gnosis) – in accord with (or: down from; in the sphere of; in line with) the same Breath (or: Spirit). ⁹ In (To; For; With; By) a different person [is given] faith (trust; loyalty; belief; conviction; trustworthiness), within and in union with the same effect of the Breath (or: Spirit; Attitude); yet in (to; for; by; with) another the effects of grace, and the results of joyous favor, which result in healings – within and in union with the one Breath-effect (or: Spirit; Attitude). ¹⁰ Yet in (to; for) another person [is given] the effects and results of inner workings and operations of abilities, powers and influences; still in (to; for; by) another [is given] a prophecy (or: light ahead of time), and in (to; for; by) another [is given] thorough discernings, distinguishings or discriminations pertaining to spirits (or: separations from spirits throughout [oneself]; [the] siftings and complete separations which lead to a thorough decision or judgment of spirits or attitudes). Yet, in (to; for; by) a different person [are given] races and species (families and classes) of languages (or: tongues), then in (to; for; by) another one [are given] translations and interpretations of languages (tongues). ¹¹ Now the one and the same Spirit (or: Breath-effect; Attitude) is habitually working within (energizing, activating and operating) all these things, constantly dividing, apportioning and distributing in (to; for) each person his own [effect of grace], correspondingly as He progressively intends (is habitually willing; continuously purposes). ¹² You see, correspondingly as the [human] body is one [body] and continuously has (possesses; holds) many members (body parts), and all the members of the one body – being many – are one body, in this way, also, [is] the Christ (or: even thus [is] the Anointed One and the Anointing). ¹³ For we, ourselves – within the midst of one Spirit (or: in union with one Breath-effect and Attitude) – are all submerged into one body (or: were all immersed into, so as to be enveloped by, one body) – whether Jews or Greeks (or: Hellenists), whether slaves or free folks – and we all are (or: were) made (or: caused) to drink one Spirit (or: spirit; Breath-effect; Attitude). ¹⁴ You see then, the body is not one member (or: part), but to the contrary, [it is] many. ¹⁵ In case the foot should ever say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not from out of the midst of (= a part of) the body," not for this reason is it not from out of the midst of the body (or: = it is not from this statement that it does not exist with the body being its source and that it is not a part of the body)! ¹⁶ And if the ear should ever say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not forth from (= a part of) the body," not alongside of this (= not for this reason) is it not forth from (= a part of) the body! ¹⁷ If the whole body [were] an eye, where [would be] the hearing (or: the ability to hear)? If [the] whole [were] hearing (the ability to hear), where [would be] the sense of smell? ¹⁸ Yet, at this present time (or: = But as things are), God, for Himself, places (or: at once set in Himself) the members (or: parts) – each one of them – within the midst of and in union with the body, just as He intends (purposed; wills). ¹⁹ Now if the whole (or: all) were one member, where [would be] the body? ²⁰ But, at this present time (now) [there are], indeed, many members (or: parts), yet one body. ²¹ Now the eye continues unable (habitually has no power) to say to the hand, "I continue having no need of you," or, again, the head [can not say] to the feet, "I continue having no need of you [two]." ²² On the contrary, much rather, the members of the body habitually seeming or appearing to be inherently weaker are (or: exist being) pressingly necessary and indispensable, ²³ and ones which we habitually presume (or: suppose; deem; think) to be less valuable and less honorable [parts] of the body, we are constantly surrounding these with more abundant honor (or: habitually place [things] of exceeding value around these), and so our unattractive (deformed; indecent; unfashionable) [members] are constantly having (habitually holding) more exceeding and abundant good form (or: presentability; respectability; modesty; good appearance). ²⁴ Now our well-formed (or: respectable; presentable; profitably fashioned) [members] continue having no need, but God mixed and blended the body together, giving more abundant value and honor to those habitually or repeatedly being left behind in the rear (or: being made defective, deficient, or below standard), ²⁵ to the end that there should be no tearing split-effect, causing division, within the body, but rather that the members should constantly show the same care over, and have the same concern about, the welfare of one another. ²⁶ And further, whether one member is continuing to experience the effect of something, or constantly undergoes suffering, all the members continually experience the effect or the suffering together with [it]; or if a member is being constantly glorified or is progressively receiving a good reputation, all the members are continuously rejoicing together with [it]. ²⁷ Now you folks yourselves are, and continuously exist being, Christ's body (or: a body which is Anointed; or: a body whose source and character is Christ) – and individually [you are] members of a part [of it] – ²⁸ whom also God Himself, indeed, placed within and in union with the called-out community. [Now He] first [set] those sent off on a mission (emissaries; envoys; representatives); second [He placed] folks who have light ahead of time and speak it before others publicly [on behalf of God] (spokesmen [for God]; prophets); third [He set] people who teach. Then after that [He gave] abilities and powers, adding then effects of grace which result in cures and healings. [He also gave] folks who take [things] in hand, in place of another, and grasp with their mind and apprehend the replaced [situation] and exchange (or: those who lay hold of the other side of something in order to aid and assist; or: occasions of receiving in turn or in exchange; or: = helpful services; supports given in turn) [and provided] situations and skills for steering the course (or: abilities to guide and direct action; acts of pilotage; helmsman abilities and services; wise counsel and guidance; = administrative and managerial skills). [He then gave] species (or: families; races; kinds) of languages (or: tongues). ²⁹ [So you see that] not all [are] folks sent off on a mission (representatives; envoys; emissaries). Not all [are] those who have light ahead of time and speak it before others in public (prophets). Not all [are] people who teach (teachers; instructors). Not all [have] abilities or powers. ³⁰ Not all constantly hold (habitually have or possess) effects of grace which result in cures and healings. Not all habitually speak in multiple languages (or: are constantly speaking by tongues; or: normally talk to tongues [figure of people groups of other cultures]). Not all are continually interpreting (or: habitually translating). ³¹ Yet, you folks be constantly boiling with fervor (habitually fervent in zeal) [for; seeking; supporting; in devotion to] the greater effects of grace and favor! And still, I am now progressively pointing out and showing you folks a path ([the] Way) corresponding to transcendence (or: a road which accords with a casting-something-over [someone] on their behalf; a pathway in the sphere of excess and extravagance; = an incomparable way):

¹⁶ All Scripture [is] God-breathed, and [is] beneficial to furtherance toward instruction (or: Every inspired-of-God [temple] writing [is] also profitable {of advantage; [gives] augmentation} with a view to teaching and training), toward (with a view to) testing unto proof (or, negatively: exposure; laying bare), toward full restoration to straightness (or: straightening-up upon; = improvement), toward child-training (education; discipline) of the person within the Way pointed out (the one in rightwised [covenantal] relationships with fair and equitable dealing), ¹⁷ to the end that God's [corporate] Person (or: the person belonging to God; the human having his origin in God; humanity in relation to God) may be exactly fitted (can exist being precisely prepared; would be entirely suited), being one having been completely furnished and equipped toward every good work (with a view to every virtuous and excellent action).

⁸ Keep watching out for and beware that someone will not be the one progressively (or: repeatedly) carrying you off captive (after stripping you of arms and seizing your goods, proceed in kidnapping you as booty or a prey) through the philosophy and empty seduction (or: a deceitful trick having no content) being handed down from and being in line with the tradition of the people (or: corresponding to the thing handed along from humans), down from (or: in line with and corresponding to) the elementary principles (or: rudimentary teachings and fundamental assumptions) of the organized System (the world of culture, religion, government, secular society or economy), and not down from Christ (or: in accord with the sphere of, and in line with, Christ; corresponding to an Anointing),

²¹ for you see, previously enlightened information (or: prophecy) was (or: is) not at any time brought by (or: in; for) [the] will (intent; resolve; purpose) of a human, but rather being continuously carried by (or: swept along under [the influence of]) [the] set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit), [some MSS add: set-apart; holy] people spoke (or: speak) from God.

²⁰ constantly knowing this first, that every (or: all) previously enlightened information of Scripture [p72: prophecy and Scripture] is not coming to be unbound upon its own (or: is not being born of its own unloosing; or: is not becoming its own explaining; or: is not coming into existence upon one's own releasing),

⁴ And then they all were filled with [the] Consecrated Breath-effect (or: [the] Holy Spirit; or: a set-apart attitude), and they started (or: began) to continuously (or: repeatedly) speak in different tongues (= languages) – accordingly and correspondingly as the Breath-effect (or: the Spirit; the Attitude) kept on giving (or: granting) to them to be continuously (or: intermittently) uttering loudly and clearly.