1 Corinthians 12
12
Spiritual Gifts
1Now #ch. 14:1concerning#12:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1 spiritual gifts,#12:1 Or spiritual persons brothers,#12:1 Or brothers and sisters I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that #Eph. 2:11, 12; [1 Pet. 4:3]; See ch. 6:11 when you were pagans #1 Thess. 1:9 you were led astray to #Hab. 2:18, 19; [Ps. 115:5; Isa. 46:7; Jer. 10:5]mute idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I want you to understand that #1 John 4:2, 3 no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is #See Rom. 9:3 accursed!” and #John 15:26; [Matt. 16:17]; See Rom. 10:9no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
4Now #[Heb. 2:4]; See Rom. 12:6 there are varieties of gifts, but #Eph. 4:4-6the same Spirit; 5and #Rom. 12:7; [Eph. 4:11] there are varieties of service, but #[See ver. 4 above]the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is #[See ver. 4 above]the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7#Eph. 4:7; [ch. 14:26; Rom. 12:3]To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of #ch. 2:6, 7 wisdom, and to another the utterance of #See ch. 1:5knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another #ch. 13:2; 2 Cor. 4:13 faith by the same Spirit, to another #ver. 28, 30gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another #ver. 28, 29; [Gal. 3:5] the working of miracles, to another #ch. 13:2, 8; 14:1 prophecy, to another #[ch. 14:29; 1 John 4:1] the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another #See Mark 16:17 various kinds of tongues, to another #ver. 30; ch. 14:26the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, #[2 Cor. 10:13] who apportions to each one individually #Heb. 2:4as he wills.
One Body with Many Members
12For just as #See ch. 10:17 the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, #ver. 27so it is with Christ. 13For #[Rom. 6:5; Eph. 2:18] in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—#Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11; [Eph. 2:13-17] Jews or Greeks, slaves#12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface or free—and #[John 7:37-39]all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, #ver. 28 God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, #ver. 11; [ch. 3:5; Rom. 12:3]as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts,#12:20 Or members; also verse 22 yet one body.
21The 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.” 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, #Rom. 12:15all rejoice together.
27Now #[Eph. 1:23; 4:12; 5:30; Col. 1:24] you are the body of Christ and individually #See Rom. 12:5members of it. 28And #ver. 18 God has appointed in the church first #Eph. 4:11 apostles, second #Eph. 2:20; 3:5 prophets, third teachers, then #ver. 10 miracles, then #ver. 9 gifts of healing, #[Acts 20:35] helping, #[Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24]administrating, and #ver. 10 various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But #ch. 14:1, 39earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
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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 mute 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 baptized 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. 14Even 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 honorable we treat with special honor. 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 honor 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 honored, 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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