1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.

In the next place, friends, I do not want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts.

2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

You know that there was a time when you were Gentiles, going astray after idols that could not speak, just as you happened to be led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore I tell you plainly that no one who speaks under the influence of the Spirit of God says “JESUS IS ACCURSED,” and that no one can say “JESUS IS LORD,” except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Gifts differ, but the Spirit is the same;

5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.

ways of serving differ, yet the Master is the same;

6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.

results differ, yet the God who brings about every result is in every case the same.

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

To each of us there is given spiritual illumination for the general good.

8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

To one is given the power to speak with wisdom through the Spirit; to another the power to speak with knowledge, due to the same Spirit;

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

to another faith by the same Spirit; to another power to cure diseases by the one Spirit; to another supernatural powers;

10 and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages.

to another the gift of preaching; to another the gift of distinguishing between true and false inspiration; to another varieties of the gift of “tongues”; to another the power to interpret “tongues.”

11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

All these result from one and the same Spirit, who distributes his gifts to each individually as he wills.

12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

For just as the human body is one whole, and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many though they are, form but one body, so it is with the Christ;

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

for it was by one Spirit that we were all baptized to form one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and were all imbued with one Spirit.

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

The human body, I repeat, consists not of one part, but of many.

15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body.

If the foot says “Since I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it does not because of that cease to belong to the body.

16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.

Or if the ear says “Since I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it does not because of that cease to belong to the body.

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

If all the body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If it were all hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.

But in fact God has placed each individual part just where he thought fit in the body.

19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?

If, however, they all made up only one part, where would the body be?

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

But in fact, although it has many parts, there is only one body.

21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”

The eye cannot say to the hand “I do not need you,” nor, again, the head to the feet “I do not need you.”

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

No! Those parts of the body that seem naturally the weaker are indispensable;

23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honourable, on those we bestow more abundant honour; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty,

and those parts which we deem less honourable we surround with special honour; and our ungraceful parts receive a special grace which our graceful parts do not require.

24 while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honour to the inferior part,

Yes, God has so constructed the body – by giving a special honour to the part that lacks it –

25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

As to secure that there should be no disunion in the body, but that the parts should show the same care for one another.

26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

If one part suffers, all the others suffer with it, and if one part has honour done to it, all the others share its joy.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Together you are the body of Christ, and individually its parts.

28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

In the church God has appointed, first, apostles, secondly preachers, thirdly teachers; then he has given supernatural powers, then power to cure diseases, aptness for helping others, capacity to govern, varieties of the gift of “tongues.”

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?

Can everyone be an apostle? Can everyone be a preacher? Can everyone be a teacher? Can everyone have supernatural powers?

30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?

Can everyone have power to cure diseases? Can everyone speak in “tongues”? Can everyone interpret them?

31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.

Strive for the greater gifts. Yet I can still show you a way beyond all comparison the best.