1 Corinthians · Chapter 12
1 Corinthians 12
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain · Source credits
Spiritual Gifts
1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3Therefore I inform you 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.
4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
5There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
6There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
The Body of Christ
12The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
14For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.
15If 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.
16And 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.
17If 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?
18But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
19If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”
22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,
24whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.
26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
The Greater Gifts
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.
28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Old Testament references
References from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Text from the Berean Standard Bible.
Psalms 115:5They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
Psalms 115:7they have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even clear their throats.
Psalms 135:16They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
Habakkuk 2:18What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
Habakkuk 2:19Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”
Deuteronomy 21:23you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Job 33:29Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”
Genesis 41:39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
Exodus 31:3And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,
1 Kings 3:5One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
1 Kings 3:6Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.