1 Corinthians 12

1 Now about the spiritual things, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. [a] 2 You know that when you were of the nations you were led away to the voiceless idols, however you were led. [b] 3 So I make known to you that no one speaking in God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is a thing devoted,” and no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” except in the Holy Spirit. [c]

4 Now there are distributions of gifts of favor, but the same Spirit; [d] 5 and there are distributions of services, and the same Lord; 6 and there are distributions of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 7 And to each one is given the showing of the Spirit, toward what is an advantage. [e]

8 For to one is given through the Spirit a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to a different one faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of favor for healings by the one Spirit, 10 to another workings of powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishings of spirits, to a different one kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. [f] 11 But all these things the one and the same Spirit works, distributing to each one individually just as he wills.

12 For just as the body is one and has many limbs, and all the limbs of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. [g] 13 For in one Spirit we were all immersed into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and we were all given one Spirit to drink. [h]

14 For the body is not one limb but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” it is not for that reason not of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” it is not for that reason not of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But as it is, God placed the limbs, each one of them, in the body just as he wanted. 19 And if all were one limb, where would the body be? 20 But as it is, there are many limbs but one body.

21 And 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 limbs of the body that seem to be weaker are much more necessary, 23 and the parts of the body we think are less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor, and our indecent parts have more abundant decency, [i] 24 while our decent parts have no need of it. But God mixed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the part that lacked, 25 so that there might be no division in the body, but that the limbs might have the same care for one another. [j] 26 And if one limb suffers, all the limbs suffer with it; if a limb is glorified, all the limbs rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and limbs in part. [k]

28 And God placed some in the gathering: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then acts of power, then gifts of favor for healings, acts of help, acts of steering, kinds of tongues. [l] 29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all prophets? Not all teachers? Not all acts of power? [m] 30 Not all have gifts of favor for healings, do they? Not all speak in tongues? Not all interpret? 31 But be zealous for the greater gifts of favor. And still I show you a way beyond all measure. [n]