1 Corinthians 12

1 Now about “spiritual gifts.” My brothers and sisters, I want to explain this to you.

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

2 You know that when you were pagans, you were deceived, being led astray by worshiping idols who couldn't even speak.

You know that when you were unbelievers, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

3 Let 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.

Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they come from the same Spirit.

Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are different kinds of ministries, but they come from the same Lord.

There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.

6 There are different ways of working, but they come from the same God, who is at work in all of them.

There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.

7 The Spirit is given to each of us and is revealed for the good of all.

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

8 One person is given by the Spirit the ability to speak words of wisdom. Another is given a message of knowledge by the same Spirit.

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

9 Another receives the gift of strongly trusting in God by the same Spirit. Another receives gifts of healing from that one Spirit.

to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the one Spirit;

10 Another 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.

and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But all of these gifts are the work of the one and the same Spirit, sharing with each person as he alone chooses.

But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

12 Just 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.

For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Messiah.

13 For 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.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink of one Spirit.

14 The body is not made of one part, but many parts.

For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If 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?

If the foot would say, "Because I'm not a hand, I'm not part of the body," that would not make it less a part of the body.

16 If 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?

And if the ear would say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," that would not make it less a part of the body.

17 If the whole body was an eye, how could you hear anything? If the whole body was an ear, how could you smell anything?

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

18 But God has arranged each part in the body, every last one of them, placing them just as he wanted.

But as a matter of fact, God has arranged the members of the body, each one of them, according to his design.

19 If they were all the same part, what would happen to the body?

If they were all the same member, where would the body be?

20 However, since there are many parts, they make up the body.

So now there are many members, but one body.

21 The eye can't tell the hand, “I don't need you,” or the head tell the feet, “I don't need you.”

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need for you."

22 Quite the opposite: some of those parts of the body that seem the most insignificant are the most essential.

On the contrary, those members which seem to be weaker are essential,

23 In 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!

and the parts which we think less honorable we treat with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with dignity,

24 What'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.

whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the lesser member,

25 This is so there wouldn't be any conflict within the body—the different parts should care equally for each other.

that there may be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same concern for one another.

26 So 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!

When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one makes up a part of it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

28 In 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.

God has set some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of tongues.

29 Not everyone is an apostle, or a prophet, or a teacher, or able to perform miracles.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?

30 Not all have healing gifts, or the ability to speak languages, or to interpret languages.

Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

31 But you should really want to have the most significant gifts. So now I will show you a far better way.

But earnestly desire the greater gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.