- 1 Corinthians
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12
1 Now about “spiritual gifts.”* Paul takes up another issue that the Corinthians have asked him about. My brothers and sisters, I want to explain this to you. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were deceived, being led astray by worshiping idols who couldn't even speak. 3 Let me make it clear to you: no one who speaks in the Spirit of God says, “Curse Jesus!” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord!” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they come from the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of ministries,† Or “service.” but they come from the same Lord. 6 There are different ways of working, but they come from the same God, who is at work in all of them. 7 The Spirit is given to each of us and is revealed for the good of all. 8 One person is given by the Spirit the ability to speak words of wisdom. Another is given a message of knowledge by the same Spirit. 9 Another receives the gift of strongly trusting in God by the same Spirit. Another receives gifts of healing from that one Spirit. 10 Another is given the ability to perform miracles. Another receives the gift of prophecy. Another is given the gift of spiritual discernment. Another receives the ability to speak different languages while another is given the gift of interpreting languages. 11 But all of these gifts are the work of the one and the same Spirit, sharing with each person as he alone chooses.
12 Just like the human body is one unit but has many parts—all the parts of the body even though there are many of them, make up one body—so is Christ. 13 For it was through one Spirit that we were all baptized into one body. It doesn't matter whether we are Jews or Greeks, slave or free—we all were given the one Spirit to drink. 14 The body is not made of one part, but many parts. 15 If the foot were to say, “Because I'm not a hand, I'm not part of the body,” would that make it not part of the body? 16 If the ear were to say, “Because I'm not an eye, I'm not part of the body,” would that make it not part of the body? 17 If the whole body was an eye, how could you hear anything? If the whole body was an ear, how could you smell anything?
18 But God has arranged each part in the body, every last one of them, placing them just as he wanted. 19 If they were all the same part, what would happen to the body? 20 However, since there are many parts, they make up the body. 21 The eye can't tell the hand, “I don't need you,” or the head tell the feet, “I don't need you.” 22 Quite the opposite: some of those parts of the body that seem the most insignificant are the most essential. 23 In fact those parts of the body we do not consider to be decent to reveal we “honor” more by covering them up—what is indecent we treat with greater modesty! 24 What's presentable doesn't need such covering up. God has so arranged the body that more honor is given to the parts that are less presentable. 25 This is so there wouldn't be any conflict within the body—the different parts should care equally for each other. 26 So when one part is suffering, all the other parts of the body suffer with it, and when one part is treated well, then all the other parts of the body are happy too!‡ Here Paul seems to be thinking far more of the body of the church than a physical body.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one makes up a part of it. 28 In the church, God has arranged first for some to be apostles, secondly for some to be prophets, thirdly teachers. Then there are those who perform miracles, those with healing gifts, those who can help others, those good at administration, and those who can speak different languages. 29 Not everyone is an apostle, or a prophet, or a teacher, or able to perform miracles. 30 Not all have healing gifts, or the ability to speak languages, or to interpret languages. 31 But you should set your hearts on the most significant gifts.§ Having discussed the different spiritual gifts, Paul states that believers should desire the most important ones. Of course which these are would be a matter of much debate. What he really is doing is setting the scene for the next chapter, for without love none of these gifts, even those considered the most significant, are worth anything. So now I will show you a far better way.

- 1 Corinthians
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- 12
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*12:1 Paul takes up another issue that the Corinthians have asked him about.

†12:5 Or “service.”

‡12:26 Here Paul seems to be thinking far more of the body of the church than a physical body.

§12:31 Having discussed the different spiritual gifts, Paul states that believers should desire the most important ones. Of course which these are would be a matter of much debate. What he really is doing is setting the scene for the next chapter, for without love none of these gifts, even those considered the most significant, are worth anything.

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Gallagher