I Corinthians 12
12
Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity
1Now #1 Cor. 12:4; 14:1, 37concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2You know #1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 2:11; 1 Pet. 4:3that you were Gentiles, carried away to these #Ps. 115:5; Is. 46:7; Jer. 10:5; Hab. 2:18dumb idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and #Matt. 16:17no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4#Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 4:4, 11; Heb. 2:4There are diversities of gifts, but #Eph. 4:4the same Spirit. 5#Rom. 12:6There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God #1 Cor. 15:28; Eph. 1:23; 4:6who works all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8for to one is given #1 Cor. 2:6, 7; 2 Cor. 1:12the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another #Rom. 15:14; (1 Cor. 2:11, 16); 2 Cor. 8:7the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9#Matt. 17:19; (1 Cor. 13:2); 2 Cor. 4:13to another faith by the same Spirit, to another #Matt. 10:1; Mark 3:15; 16:18; James 5:14gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10#Mark 16:17to another the working of miracles, to another #Rom. 12:6prophecy, to another #1 John 4:1discerning of spirits, to another #Acts 2:4–11different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, #Rom. 12:6; 2 Cor. 10:13distributing to each one individually #(John 3:8)as He wills.
Unity and Diversity in One Body
12For #Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 10:17; Eph. 4:4as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, #(Gal. 3:16)so also is Christ. 13For #(Rom. 6:5)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—#Rom. 3:22; Gal. 3:28; (Eph. 2:13–18); Col. 3:11whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and #(John 7:37–39)have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18But now #1 Cor. 12:28God has set the members, each one of them, in the body #Rom. 12:3just as He pleased. 19And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now #Rom. 12:5; Eph. 1:23; 4:12; 5:23, 30; Col. 1:24you are the body of Christ, and #Eph. 5:30members individually. 28And #Eph. 4:11God has appointed these in the church: first #(Eph. 2:20; 3:5)apostles, second #Acts 13:1; Rom. 12:6prophets, third teachers, after that #1 Cor. 12:10, 29; Gal. 3:5miracles, then #Mark 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:9, 30gifts of healings, #Num. 11:17helps, #Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17, 24administrations, varieties of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But #1 Cor. 14:1, 39earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
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I Corinthians 12: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
1 Corinthians 12
12
Unity and Variety. 1Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. 2#There is an experience of the Spirit and an understanding of ecstatic phenomena that are specifically Christian and that differ, despite apparent similarities, from those of the pagans. It is necessary to discern which spirit is leading one; ecstatic phenomena must be judged by their effect (1 Cor 12:2). 1 Cor 12:3 illustrates this by an example: power to confess Jesus as Lord can come only from the Spirit, and it is inconceivable that the Spirit would move anyone to curse the Lord. You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols.#Eph 2:11–18. 3Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.#Rom 10:9; 1 Jn 4:2–3.
4#There are some features common to all charisms, despite their diversity: all are gifts (charismata), grace from outside ourselves; all are forms of service (diakoniai), an expression of their purpose and effect; and all are workings (energēmata), in which God is at work. Paul associates each of these aspects with what later theology will call one of the persons of the Trinity, an early example of “appropriation.” There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;#Rom 12:6; Eph 4:7, 11. 5there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 8To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;#2:6–13. 9to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; 10to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues.#14:5, 26, 39; Acts 2:4. 11But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.#7:7; Eph 4:7.
One Body, Many Parts.#The image of a body is introduced to explain Christ’s relationship with believers (1 Cor 12:12). 1 Cor 12:13 applies this model to the church: by baptism all, despite diversity of ethnic or social origins, are integrated into one organism. 1 Cor 12:14–26 then develop the need for diversity of function among the parts of a body without threat to its unity. 12As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.#10:17; Rom 12:4–5; Eph 2:16; Col 3:15. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.#Gal 3:28; Eph 2:13–18; Col 3:11 / Jn 7:37–39.
14Now the body is not a single part, but many. 15If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. 16Or if an ear should say, “Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to 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? 18But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, 23and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, 24whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, 25so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. 26If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.
Application to Christ.#Paul now applies the image again to the church as a whole and its members (1 Cor 12:27). The lists in 1 Cor 12:28–30 spell out the parallelism by specifying the diversity of functions found in the church (cf. Rom 12:6–8; Eph 4:11). 27Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.#Rom 12:5–8; Eph 1:23; 4:12; 5:30; Col 1:18, 24. 28Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles;#First, apostles: apostleship was not mentioned in 1 Cor 12:8–10, nor is it at issue in these chapters, but Paul gives it pride of place in his listing. It is not just one gift among others but a prior and fuller gift that includes the others. They are all demonstrated in Paul’s apostolate, but he may have developed his theology of charisms by reflecting first of all on his own grace of apostleship (cf. 1 Cor 3:5–4:14; 9:1–27; 2 Cor 2:14–6:13; 10:1–13:30, esp. 1 Cor 11:23 and 12:12). second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.#Eph 2:20; 3:5; 4:11. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
The Way of Love. But I shall show you a still more excellent way.
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