1 Corinthians 12 :: New International Version (NIV)

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

1Co 12:1Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

1Co 12:2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

1Co 12:3Therefore I want you to know 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.

1Co 12:4

1Co 12:4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

1Co 12:5

1Co 12:5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

1Co 12:6

1Co 12:6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

1Co 12:7

1Co 12:7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

1Co 12:8

1Co 12:8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

1Co 12:9

1Co 12:9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

1Co 12:10

1Co 12:10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[fn] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[fn]

1Co 12:11

1Co 12:11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

(cf. Eph 4:1–16 )

1Co 12:12

1Co 12:12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

1Co 12:13

1Co 12:13For we were all baptized by[fn] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

1Co 12:14

1Co 12:14Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

1Co 12:15

1Co 12:15Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

1Co 12:16

1Co 12:16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

1Co 12:17

1Co 12:17If 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?

1Co 12:18

1Co 12:18But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

1Co 12:19

1Co 12:19If they were all one part, where would the body be?

1Co 12:20

1Co 12:20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

1Co 12:21

1Co 12:21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

1Co 12:22

1Co 12:22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

1Co 12:23

1Co 12:23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,

1Co 12:24

1Co 12:24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

1Co 12:25

1Co 12:25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

1Co 12:26

1Co 12:26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

1Co 12:27

1Co 12:27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1Co 12:28

1Co 12:28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

1Co 12:29

1Co 12:29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

1Co 12:30

1Co 12:30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[fn]? Do all interpret?

1Co 12:31

1Co 12:31Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.