The Use of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning (A)spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, (B)I do not want you to be unaware. (C)You know that when you were [a]pagans, you were (D)led [b]astray to the (E)mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking [c](F)by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is [d](G)accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is (H)Lord,” except [e](I)by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are (J)varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same (K)God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit (L)for the common good. For to one is given the word of (M)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of (N)knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another (O)faith [f]by the same Spirit, and to another (P)gifts of [g]healing [h]by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the [i]effecting of [j](Q)miracles, and to another (R)prophecy, and to another the [k](S)distinguishing of spirits, to another various (T)kinds of tongues, and to another the (U)interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, (V)distributing to each one individually just as He [l]wills.

12 For just (W)as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, (X)so also is Christ. 13 For [m](Y)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether (Z)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to (AA)drink of one Spirit.

14 For (AB)the body is not one part, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [n]any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [o]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 hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has (AC)arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, (AD)just as He desired. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But now (AE)there are many parts, but one body. 21 And 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.” 22 On the contrary, [p]it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those parts of the body which we [q]consider less honorable, [r]on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, 24 whereas 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, 25 so that there may be no [s]division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is [t]honored, all the parts rejoice with it.

27 Now you are (AF)Christ’s body, and (AG)individually parts of it. 28 And God has [u](AH)appointed in (AI)the church, first (AJ)apostles, second (AK)prophets, third (AL)teachers, then [v](AM)miracles, then (AN)gifts of healings, helps, (AO)administrations, and various (AP)kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of [w]miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not (AQ)interpret, do they? 31 But (AR)earnestly desire the greater gifts.

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

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:2 Lit Gentiles; i.e., mainly Greeks and Romans, traditionally polytheistic
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:2 Or away
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Or in
  4. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Gr anathema
  5. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Or in
  6. 1 Corinthians 12:9 Or in
  7. 1 Corinthians 12:9 Lit healings
  8. 1 Corinthians 12:9 Or in
  9. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Lit effects
  10. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or works of power
  11. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Lit distinguishings
  12. 1 Corinthians 12:11 Or intends
  13. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or in
  14. 1 Corinthians 12:15 Lit not a part
  15. 1 Corinthians 12:16 Lit not a part
  16. 1 Corinthians 12:22 Lit to a much greater degree the parts
  17. 1 Corinthians 12:23 Or think to be
  18. 1 Corinthians 12:23 Or these we clothe with
  19. 1 Corinthians 12:25 Or dissension
  20. 1 Corinthians 12:26 Lit glorified
  21. 1 Corinthians 12:28 Lit set some in
  22. 1 Corinthians 12:28 Or works of power
  23. 1 Corinthians 12:29 Or works of power

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