< 1 Corinthians 12 >

1 It is important, brethren, that you should have clear knowledge on the subject of spiritual gifts.
NOW concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 You know that when you were heathens you went astray after dumb idols, wherever you happened to be led.
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, drawn away after the idols that are dumb, even as ye have been led.
3 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.
Wherefore I advertise you, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God, call Jesus anathema: and no man can say, Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but there is one and the same Spirit;
But there are diversities of gifts, though the same Spirit.
5 various forms of official service, and yet one and the same Lord;
And there are diversities of services, but the same Lord.
6 diversities in work, and yet one and the same God--He who in each person brings about the whole result.
And there are diversities of mighty operations, but it is the same God who worketh all in all.
7 But to each of us a manifestation of the Spirit has been granted for the common good.
Now to every one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for usefulness.
8 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;
For to one man by the Spirit is given wise discourse; but to another speech communicative of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 to a third man, by means of the same Spirit, special faith; to another various gifts of healing, by means of the one Spirit;
to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing diseases by the same Spirit;
10 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.
to another miraculous powers; to another prophecy; to another discernments of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 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.
but all these things worketh that one and the same Spirit, distributing peculiar gifts to every one even as he wills.
12 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.
For as the body is one, and hath many members, but all the members of that one body, though many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 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.
For by one Spirit we all have been baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free men; and we have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the human body does not consist of one part, but of many.
For the body is not one member, but many.
15 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.
If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it, on this account, not of the body?
16 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.
And if the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it not therefore of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the nostrils be?
If the whole body were eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But, as a matter of fact, God has arranged the parts in the body--every one of them--as He has seen fit.
But now hath God placed the members, every one of them in the body, as he hath chosen.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
But if the whole were one member, where were the body?
20 But, as a matter of fact, there are many parts and but one body.
But now the members indeed are many, but the body one.
21 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."
Nor can the eye say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 No, it is quite otherwise. Even those parts of the body which are apparently somewhat feeble are yet indispensable;
Yea, much more the members of the body, which appear to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 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.
and those parts which we esteem as the more dishonourable of the body, on them we bestow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 But it was God who built up the body, and bestowed more abundant honor on the part that felt the need,
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered together the body, giving more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 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.
that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 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.
And if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; and if one member be exalted, all the members rejoice with it.
27 As for you, you are the body of Christ, and individually you are members of it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 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.'
And these also hath God placed in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healings, helpers, directors, different kinds of tongues.
29 Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are all teachers?
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all miraculous powers? Have all ability to cure diseases? Do all speak in 'tongues'? Do all interpret?
have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 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.
But zealously seek the gifts that are the best: and yet I shew unto you a more transcendently excellent way.

< 1 Corinthians 12 >