1 COR 12:28 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And God has indeed appointed some in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administration, and various kinds of tongues.

UST In line with that, God has specially empowered the people who worship him. First, some people are those whom God has sent to represent the Messiah. Second, some people proclaim what God says. Third, some people teach other believers. Further, some people do powerful things. Others can heal others, help other believers, guide the group of believers, or speak unknown languages.

BLB And some indeed God has appointed in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, various kinds of tongues.

AICNT And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

OEB In the church God has appointed, first, apostles, secondly preachers, thirdly teachers; then he has given supernatural powers, then power to cure diseases, aptness for helping others, capacity to govern, varieties of the gift of “tongues.”

WEBBE 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.

WMBB God has set some in the assembly: first emissaries, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

NET And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.

LSV And some, indeed, God set in the Assembly: first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterward powers, afterward gifts of healings, helpings, governings, various kinds of tongues.

FBV In the church, God has arranged first for some to be apostles, secondly for some to be prophets, thirdly teachers. Then there are those who perform miracles, those with healing gifts, those who can help others, those good at administration, and those who can speak different languages.

TCNT And those whom God has appointed in the church are as follows: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, and various kinds of tongues.

T4T God has placed apostles in our congregations. Apostles are first in rank. Next in rank are those who speak messages which come directly from God. Next in rank are those who teach spiritual truth. Then there are those who have the power to work miracles, those who have the ability to heal sick people, those who have the ability to help others, those who have the ability to govern the affairs of the congregation, and those who have the ability to speak messages in languages [MTY] that they have not learned.

LEB and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues.

BBE And God has put some in the church, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then those with wonder-working powers, then those with the power of taking away disease, helpers, wise guides, users of strange tongues.

Moff That is to say, God has set people within the church to be first of all apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, and speakers in "tongues" of various kinds.

Wymth And by God's appointment there are in the Church—first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers. Then come miraculous powers, and then ability to cure diseases or render loving service, or powers of organization, or varieties of the gift of `tongues.'

ASV And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues.

DRA And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors; after that miracles; then the graces of healing, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches.

YLT And some, indeed, did God set in the assembly, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterwards powers, afterwards gifts of healings, helpings, governings, divers kinds of tongues;

Drby And [fn]God has set certain in the assembly: first, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers; then miraculous powers; then gifts of healings; helps; governments; kinds of tongues.

12.28 Elohim

RV And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues.
(And God hath/has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diverse/various kinds of tongues. )

SLT And whom truly God set in the church, first the sent, second the prophets, third teachers, then powers, then graces of healings, helps, directions, kinds of tongues.

Wbstr And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of languages.

KJB-1769 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
(And God hath/has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. )

KJB-1611 And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpes in gouernmēts, [fn]diuersities of tongues.
(And God hath/has set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpes in governmēts, diuersities of tongues.)

12:28 Or, kinds.

Bshps And God hath ordayned some in the Churche, first Apostles, secondarely, prophetes, thirdely teachers, then them that do miracles: after that, the giftes of healyng, helpers, gouernours, diuersitie of tongues.
(And God hath/has ordained some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarely, prophets, thirdly teachers, then them that do miracles: after that, the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diuersitie of tongues.)

Gnva And God hath ordained some in the Church: as first Apostles, secondly Prophetes, thirdly teachers, then them that doe miracles: after that, the giftes of healing, helpers, gouernours, diuersitie of tongues.
(And God hath/has ordained some in the Church: as first Apostles, secondly Prophetes, thirdly teachers, then them that do miracles: after that, the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diuersitie of tongues. )

Cvdl And God hath ordeyned in the congregacion, first the Apostles, secodly prophetes, thirdly teachers, then doers of miracles, after that the giftes of healinge, helpers, gouerners, dyuerse tunges.
(And God hath/has ordained in the congregation, first the Apostles, secodly prophets, thirdly teachers, then doers of miracles, after that the gifts of healinge, helpers, governers, diverse/various tongues.)

TNT And God hath also ordeyned in the congregacion fyrst the Apostels secondarely prophetes thyrdly teachers then the that do miracles: after that the gyftes of healynge helpers governers diversite of tonges.
(And God hath/has also ordained in the congregation first the Apostels secondarely prophets thyrdly teachers then the that do miracles: after that the gifts of healing helpers governers diversite of tongues. )

Wycl But God sette sum men in the chirche, fyrst apostlis, the secunde tyme prophetis, the thridde techeris, aftirward vertues, aftirward graces of heelyngis, helpyngis, gouernails, kyndis of langagis, interpretaciouns of wordis.
(But God set some men in the church, first apostles, the second time prophets, the third teachers, afterward virtues, afterward graces of heelyngis, helpyngis, governails, kinds of languages, interpretaciouns of words.)

Luth Und GOtt hat gesetzt in der Gemeinde aufs erste die Apostel, aufs andere die Propheten, aufs dritte die Lehrer, danach die Wundertäter, danach die Gaben, gesund zu machen, Helfer, Regierer, mancherlei Sprachen.
(And God has set(v) in the/of_the Gemeinde onto first the apostles, onto other/different the prophet(s), onto third the teacher, after/thereafter/then the miracle/wondertäter, after/thereafter/then the gifts, healed to/for make, helper/assistant, Regierer, various languages.)

ClVg Et quosdam quidem posuit Deus in ecclesia primum apostolos, secundo prophetas, exinde doctores, deinde virtutes, exinde gratias curationum, opitulationes, gubernationes, genera linguarum, interpretationes sermonum.[fn]
(And some indeed put God in/into/on assembly/church first apostles, secondly a_prophets, exinde teachers, then/next by_virtues, exinde graces caretionum, opitulationes, governsiones, genera tongue/languagerum, interpretationes of_speeches. )

12.28 Et quosdam quidem. Determinat hic de donis Dei, quæ altiora, et quæ sint inferiora. De his enim putabant Corinthii, quod minus esset majus, et quod majus esset minus. Primum. Dignitate et tempore apostolos vice Christi prædicantes et omnium judices. Secundo prophetas. Id est mysteria Scripturarum vel futura revelantes. Tertio doctores. Præcepta vivendi dantes, vel qui pueros litteris imbuunt. Genera linguarum. CHRYS. Ecce donum Dei est, multas scire linguas. Et nota quod ultimum ponit illud, quod illi primum ponebant.

12.28 And some indeed. Determinat this/here from/about gifts of_God, which higher, and which let_them_be inferiora. From/About his because they_thought Corinthii, that minus was greater, and that greater was minus. Primum. Dignitate and at_the_time apostles time of_Christ preachings and of_all judges. Secondly a_prophets. That it_is mysteries Scripturarum or the_future revelantes. Third teachers. Commands(n) of_living dantes, or who/which boys litteris imbuunt. Genera tongue/languagerum. CHRYS. Behold a_gift/present/donation of_God it_is, fines to_know tongue/languages. And note that last puts it/this/that, that them first they_were_putting.

UGNT καὶ οὓς μὲν ἔθετο ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ πρῶτον ἀποστόλους, δεύτερον προφήτας, τρίτον διδασκάλους, ἔπειτα δυνάμεις, ἔπειτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων, ἀντιλήμψεις, κυβερνήσεις, γένη γλωσσῶν.
(kai hous men etheto ho Theos en taʸ ekklaʸsia prōton apostolous, deuteron profaʸtas, triton didaskalous, epeita dunameis, epeita ⱪarismata iamatōn, antilaʸmpseis, kubernaʸseis, genaʸ glōssōn.)

SBL-GNT καὶ οὓς μὲν ἔθετο ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ πρῶτον ἀποστόλους, δεύτερον προφήτας, τρίτον διδασκάλους, ἔπειτα δυνάμεις, ⸀ἔπειτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων, ἀντιλήμψεις, κυβερνήσεις, γένη γλωσσῶν.
(kai hous men etheto ho theos en taʸ ekklaʸsia prōton apostolous, deuteron profaʸtas, triton didaskalous, epeita dunameis, ⸀epeita ⱪarismata iamatōn, antilaʸmpseis, kubernaʸseis, genaʸ glōssōn.)

RP-GNT Καὶ οὓς μὲν ἔθετο ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ πρῶτον ἀποστόλους, δεύτερον προφήτας, τρίτον διδασκάλους, ἔπειτα δυνάμεις, εἶτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων, ἀντιλήψεις, κυβερνήσεις, γένη γλωσσῶν.
(Kai hous men etheto ho theos en taʸ ekklaʸsia prōton apostolous, deuteron profaʸtas, triton didaskalous, epeita dunameis, eita ⱪarismata iamatōn, antilaʸpseis, kubernaʸseis, genaʸ glōssōn.)

TC-GNT Καὶ οὓς μὲν ἔθετο ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ πρῶτον ἀποστόλους, δεύτερον προφήτας, τρίτον διδασκάλους, ἔπειτα δυνάμεις, [fn]εἶτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων, [fn]ἀντιλήψεις, κυβερνήσεις, γένη γλωσσῶν.
(Kai hous men etheto ho Theos en taʸ ekklaʸsia prōton apostolous, deuteron profaʸtas, triton didaskalous, epeita dunameis, eita ⱪarismata iamatōn, antilaʸpseis, kubernaʸseis, genaʸ glōssōn. )

12:28 ειτα ¦ επειτα CT

12:28 αντιληψεις ¦ αντιλημψεις CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–31: Use spiritual gifts to help the church

In this section Paul wrote about different spiritual gifts, or abilities, that the Holy Spirit gives to believers. He listed some of these spiritual gifts and taught that God gave them to us to help the church. He compared the body of Christ with the human body in order to explain that all of the spiritual gifts are important to the church.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Using spiritual gifts

God gives spiritual gifts to each member of the body

About spiritual gifts

12:28a

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles,

And in the church God chose in the first place the apostles.
Among the believers, there are responsibilities that God gave to people. The most important of these is to be God’s representative.

And: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as And introduces a thought that follows naturally from and builds upon the previous one. You should make a natural connection between 12:27b and 12:28a.

in the church: The phrase in the church refers to the group of believers in Corinth. It does not refer to a church building.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

among the believers

in the body of Christ

God has appointed: The word appointed means “chosen” or “selected to do a job.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

God chose

God gave to people responsibilities

first of all: Most commentators agree that first of all means “first in importance” rather than “first in time.”

Here are some other ways to translate this linking word:

the most important of these is

first in importance

first in rank

apostles: The Greek word that the BSB translates as apostles means “people who are sent.” It refers to the people Jesus sent with authority to represent him and perform a task or mission for him. Jesus chose twelve people to be his apostles (Mark 3:14). The term “apostle” is also used to refer to Matthias (Acts 1:26), and Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:14). See the note on “apostle” at 1 Corinthians 1:1a.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Translate the meaning of the Greek word apostles. For example:
people sent on a mission for Jesus Christ
Christ’s messengers
representatives of Jesus Christ
Indicate the role or function of the apostles. For example:
leaders of Jesus’ work
people who are in charge of Jesus’ work

Be careful to choose different terms for “apostle,” “angel,” “elder,” and “prophet.” See also Apostle in the Key Biblical Terms.

12:28b

second prophets, third teachers,

In the second place he chose prophets and in the third place teachers.
The second most important are those who speak messages from God. The third most important are those who teach God’s word.

second prophets, third teachers: This continues to list the leaders that God appointed for the church. Paul numbered them to show the order of their importance in the church.

prophets: A “prophet” is one who speaks God’s message. The message may sometimes involve foretelling the future, and also telling people the things that God says.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

those who speak messages from God

those who tell the words of God

teachers: The word teachers refers to those who explain to others the meaning of God’s word. Teachers taught both adults and children.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

those who teach God’s word

those who teach spiritual truth

12:28c

then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing,

Then he chose those who can perform miracles and those with the ability to heal others.
Then there are people who can do amazing things, and also those with the ability to remove sickness.

then: The Greek word that the BSB translates as then introduces other people who work for Christ in the church but are not the main leaders. It is not a time word.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

also

in addition to these people there are

The workers that follow are not listed in order of importance. In the Greek, the list that follows is a list of spiritual gifts. Many English versions translate it as a list of people who have those gifts.

workers of miracles: The Greek word that the BSB translates as workers of miracles is literally “powers.” It refers to the ability that God gave people to do supernatural things. The BSB translated it as a person who has this ability. See Miracle in the Glossary.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

those who do miracles

those who do amazing things

people to whom God gave the work of doing miracles

and those with gifts of healing: The Greek phrase that the BSB has translated as those with gifts of healing is literally “gifts of healings.” It refers to the ability to heal those who are ill. The BSB translated it as a person who has this ability. See how you translated gifts of healing in 12:9b.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

those who have the ability to heal/cure sick people

those with the ability to remove sickness

people to whom God gave the work of healing others

gifts: A “gift” is an ability given by the Holy Spirit. See how you translated this in 12:1 and 12:4.

12:28d

helping, administration,

He chose those who can help others, those who can look after the church,
There are those who can help others, and those with the ability to organize the affairs of the believers,

helping: The Greek word that the BSB translates as helping is literally “helps” or “helpful deeds.” It refers to an ability to assist other Christians in practical ways.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

those who have the ability to help their companions

people to whom God gave the work of helping others

administration: The Greek word that the BSB translates as administration refers to an ability to direct and manage the church.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

those who have the ability to look after the church

those with the ability to organize the affairs of the believers

people to whom God gave the work of administration

12:28e

and various tongues.

and those who can speak in various unknown tongues.
and those who can speak in unknown/miraculous languages.

and various tongues: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as various tongues is literally “types of tongues.” The word tongues refers to speech uttered by people who do not know the meaning of what they are saying. These tongues may be foreign languages that the Spirit enables the person to speak, or they may be speech that is not a real language of this world. See the note on 12:10d.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

those who have the ability to speak in various languages

those who can speak in unknown/miraculous languages

those who can speak in languages that they have not learned

those who can speak in languages given to them by the Holy Spirit

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

οὓς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί οὕς μέν ἔθετο ὁ Θεός ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ πρῶτον ἀποστόλους δεύτερον προφήτας τρίτον διδασκάλους ἔπειτα δυνάμεις ἔπειτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων ἀντιλήμψεις κυβερνήσεις γένη γλωσσῶν)

Here, some refers to the specific people who have the gifts listed in the rest of this verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express some by clarifying that it refers to the people who have the gifts or titles he gives in the list. Alternate translation: [people to specifically function]

Note 2 topic: translate-ordinal

πρῶτον & δεύτερον & τρίτον

first & secondly & thirdly

If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you can use cardinal numbers here. Alternate translation: [one, … two, … three,]

ἐκκλησίᾳ πρῶτον ἀποστόλους, δεύτερον προφήτας, τρίτον διδασκάλους, ἔπειτα δυνάμεις, ἔπειτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων

assembly first ambassadors secondly prophets thirdly teachers then miracles then gifts ˱of˲_healings

Here Paul could use the numbers and then to indicate: (1) that he listed these things in the order in which he thought of them. In this case, there is no special significance to the numbers, and Paul stopped numbering items because he kept listing things after he said then. Alternate translation: [church. This includes first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing] (2) that the items are listed in order of importance or authority until Paul starts using then. This means that apostles, prophets, and teachers have special importance or authority in that order. Alternate translation: [church. Most important are apostles, second are prophets, and third are teachers. Then there are miracles, gifts of healing] (3) that the items are listed in the order in which God uses them in the church, up until Paul starts using then. Alternate translation: [church, which first requires apostles, second prophets, and third teachers. Then God gives miracles, gifts of healing]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἔπειτα δυνάμεις, ἔπειτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων, ἀντιλήμψεις, κυβερνήσεις, γένη γλωσσῶν

then miracles then gifts ˱of˲_healings helpers guidance kinds ˱of˲_tongues

When Paul stops using numbers in his list, he also stops using titles for people and instead names the gifts they have. However, the questions in the next two verses ([12:29–30](../12/29.md)) show that Paul wants the Corinthians to think about these gifts as belonging to specific people. If your readers would be confused by the change from titles to gifts, you could explicitly connect these gifts with the people who perform them. Alternate translation: [then people who perform miracles, then those with gifts of healing, those who help, those who administer, and those who speak various kinds of tongues]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

ἀντιλήμψεις

helpers

Here, helps could refer to: (1) acts that help other people. Alternate translation: [helpful deeds] (2) service that helps the church, which would include administrative work and distributing aid to those in need. Alternate translation: [supporting the church]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

κυβερνήσεις

guidance

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind administration, you can express the idea by using an adjective such as “administrative” or a verb such as “lead” or “direct.” Alternate translation: [administrative skills] or [the ability to lead]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

γένη γλωσσῶν

kinds ˱of˲_tongues

Here, various kinds of tongues has the same meaning it had in [12:10](../12/10.md). Translate it the same way you did there.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

γλωσσῶν

˱of˲_tongues

Here, tongues refers to something that one does with one’s “tongue,” which is to speak a language. If it would be helpful in your language, you could indicate that tongues is a way of speaking about “languages” by using a comparable term or expressing the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [of languages]

Parallel 1 COR 12:28

Section 12:1–31: Use spiritual gifts to help the church

12:28a

12:28b

12:28c

12:28d

12:28e

Parallel 1 COR 12:28