1 Now *ch. 14:1concerning*12:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1 spiritual gifts,*12:1 Or spiritual persons brothers,*12:1 Or brothers and sisters I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that *Eph. 2:11,12;[1 Pet. 4:3]; See ch. 6:11when you were pagans *1 Thess. 1:9you were led astray to *Hab. 2:18,19;[Ps. 115:5;Isa. 46:7;Jer. 10:5]mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that *1 John 4:2,3no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is *See Rom. 9:3accursed!" and *John 15:26;[Matt. 16:17]; See Rom. 10:9no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now *[Heb. 2:4]; See Rom. 12:6there are varieties of gifts, but *Eph. 4:4-6the same Spirit; 5 and *Rom. 12:7;[Eph. 4:11] there are varieties of service, but *[See ver. 4above]the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is *[See ver. 4above]the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 *Eph. 4:7;[ch. 14:26;Rom. 12:3]To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of *ch. 2:6,7wisdom, and to another the utterance of *See ch. 1:5knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another *ch. 13:2;2 Cor. 4:13faith by the same Spirit, to another *ver. 28, 30gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another *ver. 28, 29;[Gal. 3:5] the working of miracles, to another *ch. 13:2,8;14:1prophecy, to another *[ch. 14:29;1 John 4:1] the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another *See Mark 16:17various kinds of tongues, to another *ver. 30;ch. 14:26the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, *[2 Cor. 10:13] who apportions to each one individually *Heb. 2:4as he wills.

12 For just as *See ch. 10:17the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, *ver. 27so it is with Christ. 13 For *[Rom. 6:5;Eph. 2:18] in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—*Gal. 3:28;Col. 3:11;[Eph. 2:13-17] Jews or Greeks, slaves*12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface or free—and *[John 7:37-39]all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, *ver. 28God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, *ver. 11;[ch. 3:5;Rom. 12:3]as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,*12:20 Or members; also verse 22 yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, *Rom. 12:15all rejoice together.

27 Now *[Eph. 1:23;4:12;5:30;Col. 1:24] you are the body of Christ and individually *See Rom. 12:5members of it. 28 And *ver. 18God has appointed in the church first *Eph. 4:11apostles, second *Eph. 2:20;3:5prophets, third teachers, then *ver. 10miracles, then *ver. 9gifts of healing, *[Acts 20:35] helping, *[Rom. 12:8;1 Tim. 5:17;Heb. 13:7,17,24]administrating, and *ver. 10various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But *ch. 14:1,39earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.