1 Corinthians: Chapter 12
1. Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I
don't want you to be ignorant.
2. You know that when you were heathen {or Gentiles} , you were led away to those mute
idols, however you might 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.
4. Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the
same Spirit.
5. There are various kinds of service, and the same
Lord.
6. There are various kinds of workings, but the same
God, who works all things in all.
7. But to each one is given the manifestation of the
Spirit for the profit of all.
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;
9. to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to
another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
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.
11. But the one and the same Spirit works all of
these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
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.
13. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink
into one Spirit.
14. For the body is not one member, but 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.
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.
17. If the whole body were an eye, where would the
hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
18. But now God has set the members, each one of them,
in the body, just as he desired.
19. If they were all one member, where would the body
be?
20. But now they are many members, but 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."
22. No, much rather, those members of the body which
seem to be weaker are necessary.
23. Those parts of the body which we think to be less
honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts
have more abundant propriety;
24. whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But
God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior
part,
25. that there should be no division in the body, but
that the members should have the same care for one another.
26. When one member suffers, all the members suffer
with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27. Now you are the body of Christ, and members
individually.
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.
29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all
teachers? Are all miracle workers?
30. Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with
various languages? Do all interpret?
31. But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I
show a most excellent way to you.