Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,^(A) so it is with Christ.^{(B) 13} For we were all baptized^(C) by^[a] one Spirit^(D) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(E)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^{(F) 14} Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.^(G)

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed^(H) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.^{(I) 19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.^(J)

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(K) and each one of you is a part of it.^{(L) 28} And God has placed in the church^(M) first of all apostles,^(N) second prophets,^(O) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,^(P) of helping, of guidance,^(Q) and of different kinds of tongues.^{(R) 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[b]?^(S) Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire^(T) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues^[c](U) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(V) and can fathom all mysteries^(W) and all knowledge,^(X) and if I have a faith^(Y) that can move mountains,^(Z) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(AA) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[d](AB) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(AC) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(AD) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(AE) it is not easily angered,^(AF) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(AG) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(AH) but rejoices with the truth.^{(AI) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(AJ)