The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual things,
brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.
2 You know that when you were heathen,
† you were led away to those mute
idols, however you might be led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no
man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is
accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”
but by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are various kinds of gifts,
but the same Spirit.
5 There are various kinds of service, and
the same Lord.
6 There are various kinds of workings,
but the same God who works all things in
all.
7 But to each one is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for
the profit of all.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit
the word of wisdom, and to another the
word of knowledge according to the same
Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and
to another gifts of healings by the same
Spirit,
10 and to another workings of miracles,
and to another prophecy, and to another
discerning of spirits, to another different
kinds of languages, and to another the
interpretation of languages.
11 But the one and the same Spirit
produces all of these, distributing to each one
separately as he desires.
12 For as the body is one and has many
members, and all the members of the
body, being many, are one body; so also is
Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body, whether Jews or Greeks,
whether bond or free; and were all given
to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but
many.
15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not
the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not
therefore not part of the body.
16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not
the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not
therefore not part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where
would the hearing be? If the whole were
hearing, where would the smelling be?
18 But now God has set the members,
each one of them, in the body, just as he
desired.
19 If they were all one member, where
would the body be?
20 But now they are many members, but
one body.
21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no
need for you,” or again the head to the feet,
“I have no need for you.”
22 No, much rather, those members of
the body which seem to be weaker are
necessary.
23 Those parts of the body which we
think to be less honorable, on those we
bestow more abundant honor; and our
unpresentable parts have more abundant
modesty,
24 while our presentable parts have no
such need. But God composed the body
together, giving more abundant honor to
the inferior part,
25 that there should be no division in the
body, but that the members should have
the same care for one another.
26 When one member suffers, all the
members suffer with it. When one
member is honored, all the members rejoice
with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and
members individually.
28 God has set some in the assembly: first
apostles, second prophets, third teachers,
then miracle workers, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, and various
kinds of languages.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are
all teachers? Are all miracle workers?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all
speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts.
Moreover, I show a most excellent way to
you.