1st Corinthians 12

 

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not want you to be ignorant.

2 You know that you were once Gentiles, carried away to (worship) these dumb idols (destitute of power or speech), even as you were (blindly) led.

3 Therefore I would like you to know (this first), that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed (by God for destruction): and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord (over death and the grave in the resurrection, and that He has ascended to the Father’s right hand in immortal flesh), but by the Holy Ghost (and by this we know that one speaks by the Spirit and we ought not judge one another by the manifestation of spiritual gifts).

4 Now there are diversities of (grace) gifts, but (all from) the same Spirit.

5 And there are different administrations, but the same Lord (and head of the body).

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God (and Father) that works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for the profit of all (so that the perfect love of God might be shed abroad in our hearts, to know ourselves even as we have always been known by Him, where we receive strength to abide in the certainty of His life and immortality in our flesh).

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom (to reveal the wisdom and the mystery contained in Christ and Him crucified); to another the word of knowledge (of how that wisdom pertains to your life and Godlikeness) by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith (the supernatural reliance and confidence on the strength and power of God) by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing (that makes one whole, to bring about salvation) by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles (the manifestation of the miraculous power of God); to another prophecy (to edify, encourage and comfort the hearers); to another discerning of spirits (to discern whether a teaching, a prophecy a doctrine or any other thing that might manifest be the wisdom of God or the spirit of antichrist); to another divers kinds of tongues (that speak the mysteries of God in an unknown tongue); to another the interpretation of (those) tongues (so that all may be edified):

11 But all these are the work of one and the same Spirit, distributing to each man individually as He will. 

12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ (and the Church one body, of which Christ is the Head).

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many (members).

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not part of the body; is it therefore not part of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not part of the body; is it therefore not part of the body?

17 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) smelling be?

18 But now has God placed the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him.

19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be (without all the parts and spiritual gifts)?

20 But now they are many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need for you: nor again can the head say to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 But rather those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be (feeble and) less honorable, upon these we (think because they lack outward beauty, that they need to be) clothed (with) more abundant honor; so that our uncomely parts have more abundant beauty.

24 For (we think) our comely parts have no need: but God has united the body together (as One), having given more than sufficient honor to that part that (we think) lacked (honor or beauty).

25 So that there should be no schism (or factions) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular (sharing in the fellowship of the one body). 

28 And God has appointed some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

31 But desire earnestly the best gifts: and yet I show you a more excellent (surpassing) way.