1 Corinthians 12

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

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

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 heathens you went astray after dumb idols, wherever you happened to 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.

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 Gifts differ, but the Spirit is the same;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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;

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 another faith by the same Spirit; to another power to cure diseases by the one Spirit; to another supernatural powers;

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 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.’

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 All these result from one and the same Spirit, who distributes his gifts to each individually as he 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 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 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 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 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 The human body, I repeat, consists not of one part, but of many.

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

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 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.

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 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 body were an ear, where would the nostrils 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 parts in the body--every one of them--as He has seen fit.

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

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

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

But, as a matter of fact, there are many parts and 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.’

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 No! Those parts of the body that seem naturally the weaker are indispensable;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.’

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 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?

30 Can everyone have power to cure diseases? Can everyone speak in ‘tongues’? Can everyone interpret them?

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

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

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.