1 Corinthians 12
12
1 NOW ABOUT the spiritual gifts (the special endowments of supernatural energy), brethren, I do not want you to be misinformed.
2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led off after idols that could not speak [habitually] as impulse directed and whenever the occasion might arise.
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same.
5 And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served].
6 And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things], but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit.
8 To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit;
9 To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues.
11 All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses.
12 For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
13 For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one limb or organ but of many.
15 If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body?
16 If the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where [would be the sense of] hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where [would be the sense of] smell?
18 But as it is, God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation.
19 But if [the whole] were all a single organ, where would the body be?
20 And now there are [certainly] many limbs and organs, but a single body.
21 And the 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.
22 But instead, there is [absolute] necessity for the parts of the body that are considered the more weak.
23 And those [parts] of the body which we consider rather ignoble are [the very parts] which we invest with additional honor, and our unseemly parts and those unsuitable for exposure are treated with seemliness (modesty and decorum),
24 Which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack [apparent importance],
25 So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it.
27 Now you [collectively] are Christ's body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].
28 So God has appointed some in the church [for His own use]: first apostles (special messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders); third teachers; then wonder-workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; [speakers in] different (unknown) tongues.
29 Are all apostles (special messengers)? Are all prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God)? Are all teachers? Do all have the power of performing miracles?
30 Do all possess extraordinary powers of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all–love].
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1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
1 Corinthians 12
12
Diversity of Spiritual Gifts
1Now concerning what comes from the Spirit: # Or concerning spiritual things, or spiritual gifts brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. 2You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols # 1Co 8:4 that could not speak. # Ac 8:32; 1Co 14:10; 2Pt 2:16 3Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are different gifts, # Rm 12:6; 1Co 14:1; Eph 4:8; Heb 2:4; 1Pt 4:10 but the same Spirit. 5There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. # Lit God acts all things in all 7A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person # Jms 4:5 to produce what is beneficial:
8to one # Rm 12:7-8; Eph 4:11; 1Pt 4:11 is given a message of wisdom # 1Co 2:6-7
through the Spirit,
to another, a message of knowledge
by the same Spirit,
9to another, faith by the same Spirit,
to another, gifts of healing # Lk 13:32; Ac 4:22,30; 10:38 by the one Spirit,
10to another, the performing of miracles, # Ac 19:11
to another, prophecy, # 1Co 13:2
to another, distinguishing between spirits, # 1Jn 4:1-3
to another, different kinds of languages,
to another, interpretation of languages.
11But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.
Unity Yet Diversity in the Body
12For as the body is one # Jn 11:52 and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body — so also is Christ. # Eph 4:4 13For we were all baptized by # Or with, or in one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. # Gl 3:28; Eph 2:13-18; Col 3:11 14So the body is not one part but many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. # Ps 143:10; Pr 16:9; Jn 5:30; Gl 1:4; Eph 1:9; 1Jn 2:17 19And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? 20Now there are many parts, yet one body.
21So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you! ” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you! ” 22But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. 23And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, # Mk 6:4; 1Pt 2:7 we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation. 24But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, 25so that there would be no division # 1Co 1:10 in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. 26So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, # Eph 1:23; Col 1:18 and individual members of it. 28And God has placed these in the church: # Mt 16:18; 1Co 14:4; Rv 1:4
first apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, # Eph 4:11; Jms 3:1 next miracles, # Mk 13:22
then gifts of healing, # 1Co 12:9 helping,
managing, various kinds of languages.
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets?
Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?
30Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in other languages?
Do all interpret? # Lk 24:27
31But desire # Nm 25:13; Jms 4:2 the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.
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