1 Corinthians 12
31 verses
First Corinthians 12 introduces Paul's extended treatment of spiritual gifts, establishing from the outset that the criterion of genuine Spirit-activity is the confession of Jesus as Lord, over against the dumb idols that once led the Corinthians wherever they were driven. The threefold repetition of variety — varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, varieties of service but the same Lord, varieties of activities but the same God — grounds the gifts' diversity in the unity of the Triune God rather than in competition or hierarchy among the recipients. The list of gifts — wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues — is not exhaustive but illustrative of the Spirit's sovereign distribution to each one individually as he wills, the emphatic conclusion that prevents the gifted from claiming personal credit. The body analogy is the chapter's theological heart: one body, many members, the ear cannot say to the eye I do not belong to the body any more than the Gentile or slave can say they are not part of the one body baptized in one Spirit. God has arranged the body giving greater honor to the less presentable members so that there is no division, and so that the members have equal concern for one another — if one member suffers all suffer, if one is honored all rejoice. The second gift list (apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helping, administrating, tongues) is arranged in ordered sequence, the rhetorical questions (are all apostles? are all prophets?) establishing that no gift belongs to all and that the body's health depends on its diversity rather than its uniformity. The chapter ends by directing the Corinthians to earnestly desire the greater gifts, then pivots to the still more excellent way of chapter 13 — love as the context within which all gifts derive their meaning and without which they profit nothing.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
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2
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
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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.
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When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption,...
4
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
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5
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
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6
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
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7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
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8
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
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9
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
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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:
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11
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
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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.
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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.
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14
For the body is not one member, but many.
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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?
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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?
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17
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
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18
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
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19
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
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20
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
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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.
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22
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
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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.
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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:
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25
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
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26
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
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27
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
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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.
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29
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
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30
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
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31
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
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