1 Corinthians 12
12
1Now about “spiritual gifts.”#12:1. Paul takes up another issue that the Corinthians have asked him about. My brothers and sisters, I want to explain this to you. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were deceived, being led astray by worshiping idols who couldn't even speak. 3Let me make it clear to you: no one who speaks in the Spirit of God says, “Curse Jesus!” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord!” except by the Holy Spirit. 4Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they come from the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of ministries,#12:5. Or “service.” but they come from the same Lord. 6There are different ways of working, but they come from the same God, who is at work in all of them. 7The Spirit is given to each of us and is revealed for the good of all. 8One person is given by the Spirit the ability to speak words of wisdom. Another is given a message of knowledge by the same Spirit. 9Another receives the gift of strongly trusting in God by the same Spirit. Another receives gifts of healing from that one Spirit. 10Another is given the ability to perform miracles. Another receives the gift of prophecy. Another is given the gift of spiritual discernment. Another receives the ability to speak different languages, while another is given the gift of interpreting languages. 11But all of these gifts are the work of the one and the same Spirit, sharing with each person as he alone chooses.
12Just like the human body is one unit but has many parts—all the parts of the body even though there are many of them, make up one body—so is Christ. 13For it was through one Spirit that we were all baptized into one body. It doesn't matter whether we are Jews or Greeks, slave or free—we all were given the one Spirit to drink. 14The body is not made of one part, but many parts. 15If the foot were to say, “Because I'm not a hand, I'm not part of the body,” would that make it not part of the body? 16If the ear were to say, “Because I'm not an eye, I'm not part of the body,” would that make it not part of the body? 17If the whole body was an eye, how could you hear anything? If the whole body was an ear, how could you smell anything?
18But God has arranged each part in the body, every last one of them, placing them just as he wanted. 19If they were all the same part, what would happen to the body? 20However, since there are many parts, they make up the body. 21The eye can't tell the hand, “I don't need you,” or the head tell the feet, “I don't need you.” 22Quite the opposite: some of those parts of the body that seem the most insignificant are the most essential. 23In fact those parts of the body we do not consider to be decent to reveal we “honor” more by covering them up—what is indecent we treat with greater modesty! 24What's presentable doesn't need such covering up. God has so arranged the body that more honor is given to the parts that are less presentable. 25This is so there wouldn't be any conflict within the body—the different parts should care equally for each other. 26So when one part is suffering, all the other parts of the body suffer with it, and when one part is treated well, then all the other parts of the body are happy too!#12:26. Here Paul seems to be thinking far more of the body of the church than a physical body.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one makes up a part of it. 28In the church, God has arranged first for some to be apostles, secondly for some to be prophets, thirdly teachers. Then there are those who perform miracles, those with healing gifts, those who can help others, those good at administration, and those who can speak different languages. 29Not everyone is an apostle, or a prophet, or a teacher, or able to perform miracles. 30Not all have healing gifts, or the ability to speak languages, or to interpret languages. 31But you should really want to have the most significant gifts.#12:31. Having discussed the different spiritual gifts, Paul states that believers should desire the most important ones. Of course which these are would be a matter of much debate. What he really is doing is setting the scene for the next chapter, for without love none of these gifts, even those considered the most significant, are worth anything. So now I will show you a far better way.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
1 Corinthians 12
12
Spiritual Gifts
1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For 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. 14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
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