1 Corinthians 12

The Use of Spiritual Gifts

1Now concerning 1spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, 2I do not want you to be unaware. 23You know that when you were 4pagans, you were 5led 6astray to the 7mute idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking 89by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is 1011accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is 12Lord,” except 1314by the Holy Spirit.

4Now there are 15varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6There are varieties of effects, but the same 16God who works all things in all persons. 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit 17for the common good. 8For to one is given the word of 18wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of 19knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another 20faith 21by the same Spirit, and to another 22gifts of 23healing 24by the one Spirit, 10and to another the 25effecting of 2627miracles, and to another 28prophecy, and to another the 2930distinguishing of spirits, to another various 31kinds of tongues, and to another the 32interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, 33distributing to each one individually just as He 34wills.

12For just 35as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, 36so also is Christ. 13For 3738by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether 39Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to 40drink of one Spirit.

14For 41the body is not one part, 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 42any 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 43any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But now God has 44arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, 45just as He desired. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20But now 46there are many parts, 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, 47it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23and those parts of the body which we 48consider less honorable, 49on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, 24whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, 25so that there may be no 50division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. 26And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is 51honored, all the parts rejoice with it.

27Now you are 52Christ’s body, and 53individually parts of it. 28And God has 5455appointed in 56the church, first 57apostles, second 58prophets, third 59teachers, then 6061miracles, then 62gifts of healings, helps, 63administrations, and various 64kinds 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 65miracles, are they? 30All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not 66interpret, do they? 31But 67earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.