MSB 1 COR Chapter 12

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about spiritual [gifts], brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced [and] led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by [the] Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can call Jesus Lord,[fn] except by [the] Holy Spirit.

4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all [people].

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 [the] message of wisdom, to another [the] message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that same[fn] Spirit, 10 to 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. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions [them] to each one as He determines.

The Body of Christ

12 The 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. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given into[fn] one Spirit {to drink}.

14 For the body does not consist of one part, 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] 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 arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. 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 do not need you.” [Nor can] the head [say] to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the [parts] we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable [parts] are treated with special modesty, 24 whereas our presentable [parts] have no [such] need.

But God has composed the body [and] has given greater honor to the [parts] that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division[fn] in the body, but that [its] members {should have} mutual concern for one another. 26 If one part suffers,[fn] every part suffers with [it]; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with [it].[fn]

The Greater Gifts

27 Now you are [the] body of Christ, and each of you [is] a member [of it]. 28 And 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. 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 But eagerly desire the better[fn] gifts.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.