The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

And concerning the spiritual things, brothers, I do not wish you to be ignorant;

you have known that you were nations, being carried away as you were led to the mute idols;

for this reason, I give you to understand that no one, speaking in the Spirit of God, says Jesus [is] accursed, and no one is able to say Jesus [is] LORD, except in the Holy Spirit.

And there are diversities of gifts, and the same Spirit;

and there are diversities of ministries, and the same Lord;

and there are diversities of workings, and it is the same God—who is working all in all.

And to each has been given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit;

for to one through the Spirit has been given a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;

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

and to another in-workings of mighty deeds; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to another [various] kinds of tongues; and to another interpretation of tongues:

and the one and the same Spirit works all these, dividing to each individually as He intends.

The Body of Christ

For even as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, so also [is] the Christ,

for also in one Spirit we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and all were made to drink one Spirit,

for also the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot may say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it not, because of this, not of the body?

And if the ear may say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it not, because of this, not of the body?

If the whole body [were] an eye, where the hearing? If the whole hearing, where the smelling?

And now, God set the members, each one of them in the body, according as He willed,

and if all were one member, where [is] the body?

And now, indeed, [are] many members, but one body;

and an eye is not able to say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

But much more the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary,

and those that we think to be less honorable of the body, around these we put more abundant honor, and our unseemly things have more abundant seemliness,

and our seemly things have no need; but God tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to the lacking part,

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

and whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with [it], or one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with [it];

The Greater Gifts

and you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

And some, indeed, God set in the Assembly: first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterward powers, afterward gifts of healings, helpings, governings, various kinds of tongues.

[Are] all apostles? [Are] all prophets? [Are] all teachers? [Are] all powers?

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

And earnestly desire the better gifts; and yet I show to you a far [more] excelling 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