The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

About spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.

You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to voiceless idols, in whatever ways you were led by them.

Therefore, I want you to know that no one who speaks by the Spirit of God can say, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

And there are different ministries, but the same Lord.

And there are different kinds of work, but it is the same God who makes them possible in everyone.

Now to each one is given the outward display of the Spirit for the benefit of all.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.

To another is given faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.

To another is given deeds of power, and to another prophecy. To another is given the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

But the one and the same Spirit works in all of these, giving the gifts to each one individually, as he chooses.

The Body of Christ

For as the body is one and has many members and all are members of the same body, so it is with Christ.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bound or free, and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body is not a single member, but many.

If the foot says, “Since I am not the hand, I am not part of the body,” it is not any less a part of the body.

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it is not any less a part of the body.

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?

But God arranged each part of the body as he designed it.

And if they were all the same member, where would the body be?

So now they are many members, but only one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you.” Nor does the head say to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

But the members of the body that appear to be weaker are essential.

And the parts of the body that we think are less honorable, we give them greater honor, and our unpresentable members have more dignity.

Now our presentable members have no need to be treated with dignity, for they already have dignity. But God has joined all the members together, and he gave more honor to those that lacked it.

He did this so there may be no division within the body, but that the members should care for one another with the same affection.

And when one member suffers, all the members suffer together. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice together.

The Greater Gifts

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who do powerful deeds, then gifts of healing, those who provide helps, those who do the work of administration, and those who have various kinds of tongues.

Are all of them apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do powerful deeds?

Do all of them have gifts of healing? Do all of them speak with tongues? Do all of them interpret tongues?

Zealously seek the greater gifts. And I will show you a more excellent way.

Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.

You know that when you were heathen,(a) you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

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.

Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.

There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

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.

But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

The Body of Christ

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.

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.

For the body is not one member, but many.

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.

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.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?

But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.

If they were all one member, where would the body be?

But now they are many members, but one body.

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.”

No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

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,

while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,

that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

The Greater Gifts

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

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.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?

Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?

But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.

Footnotes

(a)12:2 or Gentiles