12 My Christian friends, I want you to understand clearly about spiritual gifts. 2 You know how you lived before you came to know God. You let idols lead you in many wrong ways. And those idols cannot even speak! 3 This is what I want you to understand now. God's Spirit will never lead anyone to say, ‘God has cursed Jesus.’ And it is only God's Spirit that will lead someone to say, ‘Jesus is Lord.’
4 The Holy Spirit helps us with different kinds of gifts. But it is the same Spirit who gives them. 5 We serve the Lord in different ways, but all of us serve the same Lord. 6 We do different kinds of work. But it is the same God who helps us all to work in different ways.
7 God helps each of us with a gift from his Spirit. He does that so that we can help others.
8 The Spirit helps some people to speak wise messages. Other people can speak messages that help people to know what is true. It is the same Spirit that helps them to do that. 9 The same Spirit causes other people to trust God strongly. He gives to other people gifts to make sick people well. 10 The same Spirit gives other people power to do miracles. Other people can speak messages from God. Some people can recognize whether spirits are good or bad. Some people can speak in different kinds of languages. And other people can explain what those languages mean. 11 There is only one Holy Spirit. The same Spirit helps people to do all these different things. He decides which gifts he will give to each person.
12 Each person has only one body, but that body has many parts. All those different parts make only one body. It is like that with Christ too. 13 When they baptized us, we all became parts of one body. It was the one Spirit who brought us together. It made no difference whether we were Jews or Gentiles. It made no difference whether we were slaves or free people. God poured his one Spirit into all of us.
14 A person's body does not have only one part. It has many parts. 15 If the foot could speak, it might say, ‘I am not a hand, so I do not belong to this body.’ But what it says makes no difference. It is still a part of the body. 16 If the ear could speak, it might say, ‘I am not an eye, so I do not belong to this body.’ But what it says makes no difference. It still belongs to the body. 17 If the whole body was an eye, the body would not hear anything. If the whole body was an ear, it would not recognize different smells. 18 But God has decided where each different part of our body should be.
19 If our body was all the same part, it would not be a proper body. 20 But as it is, a body has many parts. It is still only one whole body. 21 For that reason, the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you.’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’ 22 No. Even the parts of a body that seem to be weaker are very necessary. 23 Think about the parts of our body that are not very special. We dress them carefully! And we take special care of those parts that we do not want people to see. 24 But we do not need to do this with the beautiful parts of our body.
God has put all these parts together in one body. Some parts seem to be not very special. But God has shown that those parts are very valuable. 25 He has done that to bring all the parts together as one body. All the parts work together to help each other. 26 Then if one part of the body hurts, every other part also hurts. If people praise one part, every part of the body is also happy.
27 All of you together are Christ's body. And each of you is a part of that body. 28 Like the parts of a body, God has put people in different places in his church. First, there are apostles. Second, there are people who speak messages from God. Third, there are teachers. After that, there are people who do miracles. There are people who have gifts to make sick people well. There are people who help others in special ways. There are people who can lead others. And there are people who can speak different kinds of languages.
29 Not everyone in the church is an apostle. Not everyone speaks messages from God. Not everyone is a teacher. Not everyone can do miracles. 30 Not everyone has the gifts to make sick people well. Not everyone can speak in different kinds of languages. Nor can everyone explain what messages in those languages mean. You know that. 31 But it is good if you really want the more valuable gifts from God.
Now I will show you a way that is better than anything else.
12 Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand about spiritual gifts. 2 You remember the lives you lived before you were believers. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols—things that have no life. 3 So I tell you that no one who is speaking with the help of God’s Spirit says, “Jesus be cursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” without the help of the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways to serve, but we serve the same Lord. 6 And there are different ways that God works in people, but it is the same God who works in all of us to do everything.
7 Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person. The Spirit gives this to each one to help others. 8 The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. And the same Spirit gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives faith to one person and to another he gives gifts of healing. 10 The Spirit gives to one person the power to do miracles, to another the ability to prophesy, and to another the ability to judge what is from the Spirit and what is not. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of languages, and to another the ability to interpret those languages. 11 One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things. The Spirit decides what to give each one.
12 A person has only one body, but it has many parts. Yes, there are many parts, but all those parts are still just one body. Christ is like that too. 13 Some of us are Jews and some of us are not; some of us are slaves and some of us are free. But we were all baptized to become one body through one Spirit. And we were all given [ a ] the one Spirit.
14 And a person’s body has more than one part. It has many parts. 15 The foot might say, “I am not a hand, so I don’t belong to the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. 16 The ear might say, “I am not an eye, so I don’t belong to the body.” But saying this would not make the ear stop being a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell anything. 18-19 If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But as it is, God put the parts in the body as he wanted them. He made a place for each one. 20 So there are many parts, but only one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you!” 22 No, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are actually very important. 23 And the parts that we think are not worth very much are the parts we give the most care to. And we give special care to the parts of the body that we don’t want to show. 24 The more beautiful parts don’t need this special care. But God put the body together and gave more honor to the parts that need it. 25 God did this so that our body would not be divided. God wanted the different parts to care the same for each other. 26 If one part of the body suffers, then all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part is honored, then all the other parts share its honor.
27 All of you together are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of that body. 28 And in the church God has given a place first to apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers. Then God has given a place to those who do miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to lead, and those who can speak in different kinds of languages. 29 Not all are apostles. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all do miracles. 30 Not all have gifts of healing. Not all speak in different kinds of languages. Not all interpret those languages. 31 Continue to give your attention to the spiritual gifts you consider to be the greatest. But now I want to point out a way of life that is even greater.
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore 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.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To 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:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For 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.
13 For 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.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And 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.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And 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.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And 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.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
12 Now concerning ( A ) spiritual gifts , brothers and sisters , ( B ) I do not want you to be unaware. 2 ( C ) You know that when you were [ a ] pagans, you were ( D ) led [ b ] astray to the ( E ) mute idols, however you were led. 3 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.
4 Now there are ( J ) varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same ( K ) God who works all things in all persons . 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit ( L ) for the common good. 8 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; 9 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.
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, ( A ) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ( B ) 2 You know that when you were pagans, ( C ) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ( D ) 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” ( E ) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” ( F ) except by the Holy Spirit. ( G )
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit ( H ) distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone ( I ) it is the same God ( J ) at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ( K ) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, ( L ) to another a message of knowledge ( M ) by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith ( N ) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing ( O ) by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, ( P ) to another prophecy, ( Q ) to another distinguishing between spirits, ( R ) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, [ a ] ( S ) and to still another the interpretation of tongues. [ b ] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, ( T ) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, ( U ) so it is with Christ. ( V ) 13 For we were all baptized ( W ) by [ c ] one Spirit ( X ) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free ( Y ) —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ( Z ) 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. ( AA )
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 ( AB ) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ( AC ) 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ( AD )
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, ( AE ) and each one of you is a part of it. ( AF ) 28 And God has placed in the church ( AG ) first of all apostles, ( AH ) second prophets, ( AI ) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, ( AJ ) of helping, of guidance, ( AK ) and of different kinds of tongues. ( AL ) 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 [ d ] ? ( AM ) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire ( AN ) the greater gifts.
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
