1 Corinthians 12

The Use of Spiritual Gifts

1Now concerning 1spiritual gifts, brethren, 2I do not want you to be unaware. 23You know that when you were pagans, you were 4led astray to the 5mute idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking 67by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is 89accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is 10Lord,” except 1112by the Holy Spirit.

4Now there are 13varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6There are varieties of effects, but the same 14God who works all things in all persons. 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit 15for the common good. 8For to one is given the word of 16wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of 17knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another 18faith 19by the same Spirit, and to another 20gifts of 21healing 22by the one Spirit, 10and to another the 23effecting of 2425miracles, and to another 26prophecy, and to another the 2728distinguishing of spirits, to another various 29kinds of tongues, and to another the 30interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, 31distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

12For even 32as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, 33so also is Christ. 13For 3435by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether 36Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to 37drink of one Spirit.

14For 38the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason 39any the less a part of the body. 16And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason 40any the less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But now God has 41placed the members, each one of them, in the body, 42just as He desired. 19If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20But now 43there are many members, but one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, 44it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23and those members of the body which we 45deem less honorable, 46on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25so that there may be no 47division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is 48honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27Now you are 49Christ’s body, and 50individually members of it. 28And God has 5152appointed in 53the church, first 54apostles, second 55prophets, third 56teachers, then 5758miracles, then 59gifts of healings, helps, 60administrations, various 61kinds of tongues. 29All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of 62miracles, are they? 30All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not 63interpret, do they? 31But 64earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I show you a still more excellent way.