1 Corinthians 12:12-31

New King James Version

Unity and Diversity in One Body^(A)

¹² For ^(B)as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, ^(C)so also is Christ. ¹³ For ^(D)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^(E)whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and ^(F)have all been made to drink ^[a]into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For in fact the body is not one member but many.

¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ But now ^(G)God has set the members, each one of them, in the body ^(H)just as He pleased. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet 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 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no ^[b]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ^(I)you are the body of Christ, and ^(J)members individually. ²⁸ And ^(K)God has appointed these in the church: first ^(L)apostles, second ^(M)prophets, third teachers, after that ^(N)miracles, then ^(O)gifts of healings, ^(P)helps, ^(Q)administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But ^(R)earnestly desire the ^[c]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.