1 Corinthians 12

1 In the next place, friends, I do not want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts.

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

2 You know that there was a time when you were Gentiles, going astray after idols that could not speak, just as you happened to be led.

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

3 Therefore I tell you plainly that no one who speaks under the influence of the Spirit of God says “JESUS IS ACCURSED,” and that no one can say “JESUS IS LORD,” except under the influence of 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 Gifts differ, but the Spirit is the same;

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

5 ways of serving differ, yet the Master is the same;

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

6 results differ, yet the God who brings about every result is in every case the same.

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

7 To each of us there is given spiritual illumination for the general good.

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

8 To one is given the power to speak with wisdom through the Spirit; to another the power to speak with knowledge, due to 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 to another faith by the same Spirit; to another power to cure diseases by the one Spirit; to another supernatural powers;

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

10 to another the gift of preaching; to another the gift of distinguishing between true and false inspiration; to another varieties of the gift of “tongues”; to another the power to interpret “tongues.”

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 All these result from one and the same Spirit, who distributes his gifts to each individually as he wills.

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

12 For just as the human body is one whole, and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many though they are, form but one body, so it is with the 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 Christ.

13 for it was by one Spirit that we were all baptized to form one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and were all imbued with one Spirit.

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 human body, I repeat, consists not of one part, but of many.

For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot says “Since I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it does not because of that cease to belong to 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 Or if the ear says “Since I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it does not because of that cease to belong to 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 all the body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If it were all hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

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 in fact God has placed each individual part just where he thought fit in the body.

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

19 If, however, they all made up only one part, where would the body be?

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

20 But in fact, although it has many parts, there is only one body.

So now there are many members, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand “I do not need you,” nor, again, the head to the feet “I do not 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 No! Those parts of the body that seem naturally the weaker are indispensable;

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

23 and those parts which we deem less honourable we surround with special honour; and our ungraceful parts receive a special grace which our graceful parts do not require.

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

24 Yes, God has so constructed the body – by giving a special honour to the part that lacks it –

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

25 As to secure that there should be no disunion in the body, but that the parts should show the same care for one another.

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

26 If one part suffers, all the others suffer with it, and if one part has honour done to it, all the others share its joy.

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

27 Together you are the body of Christ, and individually its parts.

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

28 In the church God has appointed, first, apostles, secondly preachers, thirdly teachers; then he has given supernatural powers, then power to cure diseases, aptness for helping others, capacity to govern, varieties of the gift of “tongues.”

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 Can everyone be an apostle? Can everyone be a preacher? Can everyone be a teacher? Can everyone have supernatural powers?

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

30 Can everyone have power to cure diseases? Can everyone speak in “tongues”? Can everyone interpret them?

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

31 Strive for the greater gifts. Yet I can still show you a way beyond all comparison the best.

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