1 Corinthians 12-13

Christian Standard Bible

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts:^[a] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute^(A) idols.^{(B) 3} Therefore I want you to know 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.

⁴ Now there are different gifts,^(C) but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. ⁷ A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person^(D) for the common good: ⁸ to one^(E) is given a message of wisdom^(F) through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, ⁹ to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing^(G) by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another, the performing of miracles,^(H) to another, prophecy,^(I) to another, distinguishing between spirits,^(J) to another, different kinds of tongues,^[b] to another, interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

Unity Yet Diversity in the Body

¹² For just as the body is one^(K) and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.^{(L) 13} For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.^{(M) 14} Indeed, the body is not one part but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If 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? ¹⁸ But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted.^{(N) 19} And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ 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!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. ²³ And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable,^(O) we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, ²⁴ which our respectable parts do not need.

Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, ²⁵ so that there would be no division^(P) in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. ²⁶ So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(Q) and individual members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church:^(R) first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,^(S) next miracles,^(T) then gifts of healing,^(U) helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.^{[d] 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?^{(V) 31} But desire^(W) the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

Love: The Superior Way

13 If I speak human or angelic tongues^[e] but do not have love,^(X) I am a noisy gong^(Y) or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(Z) and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains^(AA) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast^[f] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(AB) love is kind. Love does not envy,^(AC) is not boastful, is not arrogant,^{(AD) 5} is not rude, is not self-seeking,^(AE) is not irritable,^(AF) and does not keep a record of wrongs. ⁶ Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.^{(AG) 7} It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures^(AH) all things.

⁸ Love never ends.^(AI) But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. ⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. ¹² For now we see only a reflection^[g] as in a mirror, but then face to face.^(AJ) Now I know in part, but then I will know fully,^(AK) as I am fully known.^{(AL) 13} Now these three remain: faith, hope,^(AM) and love—but the greatest of these is love.