1 Corinthians 12
12
The different functions of the Spirit
1Now as to the phenomena of your faith which show in a special way the presence of God and the action of the Spirit. Recollect this Spirit is one. Many of you are moved far beyond your ordinary capacity, and do things which in your own strength would be utterly impossible to you, — you prophesy, teach, heal, speak with tongues, and perform wonders, marvels — and this is not yourselves, it is the Spirit by which you are possessed. 2But recollect, my brethren, there is nothing in this similar to those possessions by spirits you were once familiar with in the old religions. At one time that worship was part of your life. You were carried away willy-nilly as you were led in the service of these dumb idols. 3-5And because this type of worship was so familiar to you, I bid you remember that, if anyone is possessed and cries out a curse on Jesus, such possession you will know comes not from God, whilst on the other hand to acknowledge Jesus as Lord can never be done except by those to whom the Spirit has been imparted. Now this Spirit, as I say, is one, absolutely one, throughout all its manifestations, and that is why all those phenomena which represent to us its operations are so mutually harmonious and complementary. 6-8One man may evidence one kind of gift or service, one man’s sphere of usefulness or inspiration may differ entirely from another’s, but he will not differ in the spirit.
The oneness of the Spirit
9It is the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God which imparts, ordains, inspires, possesses. 10The word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, faith, gifts of healing, inspiration and genius, prophecy, spiritual insight and discernment, tongues and the interpretation of tongues — 11these all proceed in varying degrees displayed by different individuals from the one infinite Spirit. He, that Spirit, is all in all, and one, and all these gifts are constituted in His action and operation. 12The Christ is as it were one infinite body, wherein all the parts and members are mutually helpful and interdependent. 13In the unity of the same organism there cannot be inharmonious contradictory parts. 14-16Hand cannot say to foot, I have no need of you. Ear and eye are different members and have different functions, but what if the ear said to the eye, “because I am different from you, we belong to different bodies,” would it be true? And so all of us were baptised into one vast body, the infinite Christ, — Jews, Greeks, slaves, and free — and we all drank the wine of the one Spirit. Hence these different gifts, functions and offices which operate in us. This very variety constitutes the essential being of the Spirit, because the Spirit includes all. 17If the body were all eye, where would the hearing be? If it were all ear, where would the eyebrow be? 18-21Every part is beautifully formed to assist and be complementary to the others; none is otiose, negligible or useless, 22but on the contrary those very parts which are held in least honour often have the most important functions, 23-25and the visible parts of the body which form its beauty are the most dependent on the organs which are not seen and are less esteemed. 26If one member suffer, all suffer with it, and no one part of the body can be affected, for good or ill, without all the others feeling it. 27So is it in that infinite spiritual body of the Christ, which we together constitute, of which we are all members. 28Whether in the church there be those that are called apostles, prophets, teachers, healers, helpers, officers, speakers with tongues — what is this but the activity of one life? 29Because it is one thing, all are not therefore apostles, nor all prophets, nor all teachers, 30nor all healers, nor all speakers with tongues, nor all interpreters. 31True, some gifts are greater than others, and it is right to wish for the greatest gifts of all, and in that respect, I will point out to you a way that is better than all others.
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 12: GWC
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Translated in 1916, published in 1937.
1 Corinthians 12
12
Spiritual Gifts
1#1Co 14:37Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2#Ps 115:5; 1Th 1:9You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3#Jn 13:13; 1Jn 4:2–3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed!” And no one can say, “Jesus is the Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4#Heb 2:4; Ro 12:4–6There are various gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6#1Co 15:28There are various operations, but it is the same God who operates all of them in all people.
7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for the common good. 8#2Co 8:7; 1Co 1:5To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9#2Co 4:13; 1Co 13:2to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10#Mk 16:17; 1Jn 4:1; 1Co 12:28–30to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11#1Co 12:4; 2Co 10:13But that one and very same Spirit works all these, dividing to each one individually as He will.
One Body With Many Members
12#1Co 12:27; 10:17For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the many parts of that one body are one body, so also is Christ. 13#Jn 7:37–39; Gal 3:28For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Gentiles, whether we are slaves or free, and we have all been made to drink of one Spirit. 14The body is not one part, but many.
15If the foot says, “Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear says, “Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18#1Co 12:11; 12:28But now God has established the parts, every one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20So there are many parts, yet one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22No, those parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23And those parts of the body which we think are less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor. And our less respectable parts are treated with much more respect, 24whereas our more respectable parts have no need of this. But God has composed the body, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacks it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that the parts should have the same care for one another. 26#Ro 12:15If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.
27#Ro 12:5; Eph 1:23Now you are the body of Christ and members individually. 28#Heb 13:17; 13:24God has put these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30Do all have the gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31#1Co 14:39But earnestly covet the greater gifts.
Love
Yet I show you a more excellent way.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Military Bible Association