The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.

You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

There are different ministries, but the same Lord.

There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

The Body of Christ

The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.

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

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

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

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

But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.

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

As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,

whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

The Greater Gifts

Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.

You know that when you were heathen,(a) you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages.

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

The Body of 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.

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 into one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body.

If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.

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

But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.

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

But now they are many members, but one body.

The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”

No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty,

while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,

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

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

The Greater Gifts

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

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

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

Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?

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

Footnotes

(a)12:2 or Gentiles