First Corinthians 12 is a chapter in the New Testament of the Christian Bible that focuses on the theme of spiritual gifts and the unity of the church. This chapter is part of a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, a city in ancient Greece.
In this letter, Paul addresses various issues and concerns within the church, including divisions and conflicts among members, sexual immorality, and disagreements about spiritual practices. In chapter 12, Paul emphasizes the importance of recognizing and utilizing spiritual gifts in a way that promotes unity and cooperation within the church.
He compares the diversity of gifts within the church to the parts of a body, stressing the interconnectedness and interdependence of all members. Overall, 1 Corinthians 12 encourages Christians to work together and use their unique talents to serve and build up the body of Christ.
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Concerning Spiritual Gifts
12 1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit 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 it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healingby that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
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 the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
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, and each one of you is a part of it.28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 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? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12 : 1
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
1 Corinthians 12 : 2
You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
1 Corinthians 12 : 3
Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12 : 4
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
1 Corinthians 12 : 5
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
1 Corinthians 12 : 6
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
1 Corinthians 12 : 7
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12 : 8
To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12 : 9
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healingby that one Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12 : 10
to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12 : 11
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and Diversity in the Body
1 Corinthians 12 : 12
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12 : 13
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1 Corinthians 12 : 14
Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
1 Corinthians 12 : 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.
1 Corinthians 12 : 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.
1 Corinthians 12 : 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?
1 Corinthians 12 : 18
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
1 Corinthians 12 : 19
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
1 Corinthians 12 : 20
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
1 Corinthians 12 : 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!”
1 Corinthians 12 : 22
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
1 Corinthians 12 : 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,
1 Corinthians 12 : 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,
1 Corinthians 12 : 25
so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
1 Corinthians 12 : 26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1 Corinthians 12 : 27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12 : 28
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12 : 29
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
1 Corinthians 12 : 30
Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
1 Corinthians 12 : 31
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
