But now,brethren,ifI cometo you speakingin tongues,whatwill I profityou unlessI speakto you eitherby wayof revelationorof knowledgeorof prophecyorof teaching?
O LORD,my strengthand my stronghold,And my refugein the dayof distress,To You the nationswill comeFrom the endsof the earthand say,"Our fathershave inheritednothingbut falsehood,Futilityand thingsof noprofit."
"Behold,I am againstthose who have prophesiedfalse~dreams,"declaresthe LORD,"and relatedthem and ledMy peopleastrayby their falsehoodsand recklessboasting;yet I did not sendthem or commandthem, nordo they furnishthispeoplethe slightestbenefit,"declaresthe LORD.
At that timeJesussaid,"I praiseYou, Father,Lordof heavenand earth,that You have hiddenthese thingsfrom [the] wiseand intelligentand have revealedthem to infants.
And Jesussaidto him, "Blessedare you, SimonBarjona,becausefleshand blooddid not reveal[this] to you, but My Fatherwhois in heaven.
"For whatwill it profita manifhe gainsthe wholeworldand forfeitshis soul?Orwhatwill a mangivein exchangefor his soul?
They were continually devoting themselvesto the apostles'teachingand to fellowship,to the breakingof breadand to prayer.
And concerningyou, my brethren,I myselfalsoam convincedthat you yourselvesare fullof goodness,filledwith allknowledgeand ablealsoto admonishone another.
NowI urgeyou, brethren,keep your eyeon thosewho causedissensionsand hindrancescontraryto the teachingwhichyou learned,and turn awayfrom them.
But thanksbe to Godthat though you were slavesof sin,you became obedientfrom the heartto that formof teachingto whichyou were committed,
justas I alsopleaseallmen in all things,not seekingmy ownprofitbut the [profit] of the many,sothat they may be saved.
Pursuelove,yetdesire earnestlyspiritual[gifts], but especiallythat you may prophesy.
Yet[even] lifeless things,eitherfluteorharp,in producinga sound,ifthey do not producea distinctionin the tones,howwill it be knownwhat is played on the fluteoron the harp?
But evenifI am unskilledin speech,yetI am not [so] in knowledge;in fact,in everywaywe have made [this] evidentto you in all things.
Boastingis necessary,thoughit is not profitable;but I will goon to visionsand revelationsof the Lord.
Because of the surpassing greatnessof the revelations,for this reason,to keepme from exaltingmyself, there was givenme a thornin the flesh,a messengerof Satanto tormentme-- to keepme from exaltingmyself!
that the Godof our LordJesusChrist,the Fatherof glory,may giveto you a spiritof wisdomand of revelationin the knowledgeof Him.
By referring to this,when you readyou canunderstandmy insightinto the mysteryof Christ,
Let us therefore,as manyas are perfect,havethisattitude;and ifin anythingyou havea differentattitude,Godwill revealthat alsoto you;
Remind[them] of these things,and solemnly charge[them] in the presenceof Godnot to wrangle about words,which is useless[and leads] to the ruinof the hearers.
Now you followedmy teaching,conduct,purpose,faith,patience,love,perseverance,
AllScriptureis inspired by Godand profitablefor teaching,for reproof,for correction,for trainingin righteousness;
preachthe word;be readyin season[and] out of season;reprove,rebuke,exhort,with greatpatienceand instruction.
Thisis a trustworthystatement;and concerningthese thingsI wantyou to speak confidently,sothat thosewho have believedGodwill be carefulto engagein gooddeeds.These thingsare goodand profitablefor men.
Do not be carried awayby variedand strangeteachings;for it is goodfor the heartto be strengthenedby grace,not by foods,throughwhichthosewho were so occupiedwere not benefited.
Nowfor thisveryreason also,applyingalldiligence,in your faithsupplymoralexcellence, and in [your] moral excellence,knowledge,
but growin the graceand knowledgeof our Lordand SaviorJesusChrist.To Him [be] the glory,bothnowand to the dayof eternity.Amen.
Anyonewho goes too farand does not abidein the teachingof Christ,does not haveGod;the one who abidesin the teaching,he hasboththe Fatherand the Son.
"You must not turnaside,for [then you would go] afterfutilethingswhichcan not profitor deliver,becausethey are futile.
