1 Corinthians 12 - English Standard Version (ESV)

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now (A)concerning[a] spiritual gifts,[b] brothers,[c] I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that (B)when you were pagans (C)you were led astray to (D)mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that (E)no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is (F)accursed!” and (G)no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now (H)there are varieties of gifts, but (I)the same Spirit; 5 and (J)there are varieties of service, but (K)the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is (L)the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 (M)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 (N)wisdom, and to another the utterance of (O)knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another (P)faith by the same Spirit, to another (Q)gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another (R)the working of miracles, to another (S)prophecy, to another (T)the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another (U)various kinds of tongues, to another (V)the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, (W)who apportions to each one individually (X)as he wills.

One Body with Many Members

12 For just as (Y)the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, (Z)so it is with Christ. 13 For (AA)in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—(AB)Jews or Greeks, slaves[d] or free—and (AC)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, (AD)God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, (AE)as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,[e] 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, (AF)all rejoice together.

27 Now (AG)you are the body of Christ and individually (AH)members of it. 28 And (AI)God has appointed in the church first (AJ)apostles, second (AK)prophets, third teachers, then (AL)miracles, then (AM)gifts of healing, (AN)helping, (AO)administrating, and (AP)various 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 (AQ)earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:1 Or spiritual persons
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:1 Or brothers and sisters
  4. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  5. 1 Corinthians 12:20 Or members; also verse 22

Cross references

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:1 : ch. 14:1
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:2 : Eph. 2:11, 12; [1 Pet. 4:3]; See ch. 6:11
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:2 : 1 Thess. 1:9
  4. 1 Corinthians 12:2 : Hab. 2:18, 19; [Ps. 115:5; Isa. 46:7; Jer. 10:5]
  5. 1 Corinthians 12:3 : 1 John 4:2, 3
  6. 1 Corinthians 12:3 : See Rom. 9:3
  7. 1 Corinthians 12:3 : John 15:26; [Matt. 16:17]; See Rom. 10:9
  8. 1 Corinthians 12:4 : [Heb. 2:4]; See Rom. 12:6
  9. 1 Corinthians 12:4 : Eph. 4:4-6
  10. 1 Corinthians 12:5 : Rom. 12:7; [Eph. 4:11]
  11. 1 Corinthians 12:5 : [See ver. 4 above]; Eph. 4:4-6
  12. 1 Corinthians 12:6 : [See ver. 4 above]; Eph. 4:4-6
  13. 1 Corinthians 12:7 : Eph. 4:7; [ch. 14:26; Rom. 12:3]
  14. 1 Corinthians 12:8 : ch. 2:6, 7
  15. 1 Corinthians 12:8 : See ch. 1:5
  16. 1 Corinthians 12:9 : ch. 13:2; 2 Cor. 4:13
  17. 1 Corinthians 12:9 : ver. 28, 30
  18. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : ver. 28, 29; [Gal. 3:5]
  19. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : ch. 13:2, 8; 14:1
  20. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : [ch. 14:29; 1 John 4:1]
  21. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : See Mark 16:17
  22. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : ver. 30; ch. 14:26
  23. 1 Corinthians 12:11 : [2 Cor. 10:13]
  24. 1 Corinthians 12:11 : Heb. 2:4
  25. 1 Corinthians 12:12 : See ch. 10:17
  26. 1 Corinthians 12:12 : ver. 27
  27. 1 Corinthians 12:13 : [Rom. 6:5; Eph. 2:18]
  28. 1 Corinthians 12:13 : Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11; [Eph. 2:13-17]
  29. 1 Corinthians 12:13 : [John 7:37-39]
  30. 1 Corinthians 12:18 : ver. 28
  31. 1 Corinthians 12:18 : ver. 11; [ch. 3:5; Rom. 12:3]
  32. 1 Corinthians 12:26 : Rom. 12:15
  33. 1 Corinthians 12:27 : [Eph. 1:23; 4:12; 5:30; Col. 1:24]
  34. 1 Corinthians 12:27 : See Rom. 12:5
  35. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : ver. 18
  36. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : Eph. 4:11
  37. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : Eph. 2:20; 3:5
  38. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : ver. 10
  39. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : ver. 9
  40. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : [Acts 20:35]
  41. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : [Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24]
  42. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : ver. 10
  43. 1 Corinthians 12:31 : ch. 14:1, 39

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