1 Corinthians 12
12
1Now about “spiritual gifts.”#12:1. Paul takes up another issue that the Corinthians have asked him about. My brothers and sisters, I want to explain this to you. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were deceived, being led astray by worshiping idols who couldn't even speak. 3Let me make it clear to you: no one who speaks in the Spirit of God says, “Curse Jesus!” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord!” except by the Holy Spirit. 4Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they come from the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of ministries,#12:5. Or “service.” but they come from the same Lord. 6There are different ways of working, but they come from the same God, who is at work in all of them. 7The Spirit is given to each of us and is revealed for the good of all. 8One person is given by the Spirit the ability to speak words of wisdom. Another is given a message of knowledge by the same Spirit. 9Another receives the gift of strongly trusting in God by the same Spirit. Another receives gifts of healing from that one Spirit. 10Another is given the ability to perform miracles. Another receives the gift of prophecy. Another is given the gift of spiritual discernment. Another receives the ability to speak different languages, while another is given the gift of interpreting languages. 11But all of these gifts are the work of the one and the same Spirit, sharing with each person as he alone chooses.
12Just like the human body is one unit but has many parts—all the parts of the body even though there are many of them, make up one body—so is Christ. 13For it was through one Spirit that we were all baptized into one body. It doesn't matter whether we are Jews or Greeks, slave or free—we all were given the one Spirit to drink. 14The body is not made of one part, but many parts. 15If the foot were to say, “Because I'm not a hand, I'm not part of the body,” would that make it not part of the body? 16If the ear were to say, “Because I'm not an eye, I'm not part of the body,” would that make it not part of the body? 17If the whole body was an eye, how could you hear anything? If the whole body was an ear, how could you smell anything?
18But God has arranged each part in the body, every last one of them, placing them just as he wanted. 19If they were all the same part, what would happen to the body? 20However, since there are many parts, they make up the body. 21The eye can't tell the hand, “I don't need you,” or the head tell the feet, “I don't need you.” 22Quite the opposite: some of those parts of the body that seem the most insignificant are the most essential. 23In fact those parts of the body we do not consider to be decent to reveal we “honor” more by covering them up—what is indecent we treat with greater modesty! 24What's presentable doesn't need such covering up. God has so arranged the body that more honor is given to the parts that are less presentable. 25This is so there wouldn't be any conflict within the body—the different parts should care equally for each other. 26So when one part is suffering, all the other parts of the body suffer with it, and when one part is treated well, then all the other parts of the body are happy too!#12:26. Here Paul seems to be thinking far more of the body of the church than a physical body.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one makes up a part of it. 28In the church, God has arranged first for some to be apostles, secondly for some to be prophets, thirdly teachers. Then there are those who perform miracles, those with healing gifts, those who can help others, those good at administration, and those who can speak different languages. 29Not everyone is an apostle, or a prophet, or a teacher, or able to perform miracles. 30Not all have healing gifts, or the ability to speak languages, or to interpret languages. 31But you should really want to have the most significant gifts.#12:31. Having discussed the different spiritual gifts, Paul states that believers should desire the most important ones. Of course which these are would be a matter of much debate. What he really is doing is setting the scene for the next chapter, for without love none of these gifts, even those considered the most significant, are worth anything. So now I will show you a far better way.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
1 Corinthians 12
12
Concerning spiritual gifts
1Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to dumb idols. 3Therefore I want you to know that no-one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no-one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,#12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28 and to still another the interpretation of tongues.#12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and diversity in the body
12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptised by#12:13 Or with; or in one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14And so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues#12:30 Or other languages? Do all interpret? 31Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Love is indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
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