1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning the spiritual things, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

It is important, brethren, that you should have clear knowledge on the subject of spiritual gifts.

2 Ye know that, while Gentiles, ye were being carried away to the voiceless idols, as ye were led.

You know that when you were heathens you went astray after dumb idols, wherever you happened to be led.

3 Therefore I make known to you, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God says, Jesus is accursed, and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

For this reason I would have you understand that no one speaking under the influence of The Spirit of God ever says, "Jesus is accursed," and that no one is able to say, "Jesus is Lord," except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Now there are various kinds of gifts, but there is one and the same Spirit;

5 And there are varieties of services, and the same Lord.

various forms of official service, and yet one and the same Lord;

6 And there are varieties of functions, but it is the same God who works all in all.

diversities in work, and yet one and the same God--He who in each person brings about the whole result.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each man toward that which is beneficial.

But to each of us a manifestation of the Spirit has been granted for the common good.

8 For to one, the word of wisdom is given through the Spirit, and to another, the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

To one the utterance of wisdom has been granted through the Spirit; to another the utterance of knowledge in accordance with the will of the same Spirit;

9 to a different man, faith by the same Spirit, and to another, gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

to a third man, by means of the same Spirit, special faith; to another various gifts of healing, by means of the one Spirit;

10 and to another, workings of miracles, and to another, prophecy, and to another, discerning of spirits, and to a different man, kinds of tongues, and to another, the interpretation of tongues.

to another the exercise of miraculous powers; to another the gift of prophecy; to another the power of discriminating between prophetic utterances; to another varieties of the gift of 'tongues;' to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each man individually as it wills.

But these results are all brought about by one and the same Spirit, who bestows His gifts upon each of us in accordance with His own will.

12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ.

For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.

13 For also by one Spirit we are all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bondmen or freemen, and we were all made to drink into one Spirit.

For, in fact, in one Spirit all of us--whether we are Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free men--were baptized to form but one body; and we were all nourished by that one Spirit.

14 For the body also is not one part, but many.

For the human body does not consist of one part, but of many.

15 If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand I am not of the body, it is not by this not of the body.

Were the foot to say, "Because I am not a hand I am not a part of the body," that would not make it any the less a part of the body.

16 And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye I am not of the body, it is not by this not of the body.

Or were the ear to say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," that would not make it any the less a part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the nostrils be?

18 But now God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body just as he intended.

But, as a matter of fact, God has arranged the parts in the body--every one of them--as He has seen fit.

19 And if they were all one part, where would be the body?

If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20 But now of course there are many body-parts, but one body.

But, as a matter of fact, there are many parts and but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

It is also impossible for the eye to say to the hand, "I do not need you;" or again for the head to say to the feet, "I do not need you."

22 Instead, much more the parts of the body that seem to be more feeble are necessary.

No, it is quite otherwise. Even those parts of the body which are apparently somewhat feeble are yet indispensable;

23 And those things of the body presumed to be without esteem, we place around these more abundant worth. And our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety,

and those which we deem less honorable we clothe with more abundant honor; and so our ungraceful parts come to have a more abundant grace, while our graceful parts have everything they need.

24 whereas our presentable parts have no need. Instead, God united the body together, having given more abundant worth to the part that lacks,

But it was God who built up the body, and bestowed more abundant honor on the part that felt the need,

25 so that there would be no schisms in the body, but that the parts would have the same care for each other.

that there might be no disunion in the body, but that all the members might entertain the same anxious care for one another's welfare.

26 And if one part suffers, all the parts suffer together, or one part is honored, all the parts rejoice together.

And if one part is suffering, every other part suffers with it; or if one part is receiving special honor, every other part shares in the joy.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and body-parts individually.

As for you, you are the body of Christ, and individually you are members of it.

28 And in the church God has placed men who are first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues.

And by God's appointment there are in the Church--first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers. Then come miraculous powers, and then ability to cure diseases or render loving service, or powers of organization, or varieties of the gift of 'tongues.'

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?

Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are all teachers?

30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Have all miraculous powers? Have all ability to cure diseases? Do all speak in 'tongues'? Do all interpret?

31 But be zealous for the better gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

But always seek to excel in the greater gifts. And now I will point out to you a way of life which transcends all others.