1 Corinthians 12
Christian Standard Bible
Diversity of Spiritual Gifts
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts:[a] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute(A) idols.(B) 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are different gifts,(C) but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person(D) for the common good: 8 to one(E) is given a message of wisdom(F) through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing(G) by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles,(H) to another, prophecy,(I) to another, distinguishing between spirits,(J) to another, different kinds of tongues,[b] to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.
Unity Yet Diversity in the Body
12 For just as the body is one(K) and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.(L) 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.(M) 14 Indeed, the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted.(N) 19 And if they were all the same 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 don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. 23 And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable,(O) we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, 24 which our respectable parts do not need.
Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, 25 so that there would be no division(P) in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. 26 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ,(Q) and individual members of it. 28 And God has appointed these in the church:(R) first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,(S) next miracles,(T) then gifts of healing,(U) helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.[d] 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?(V) 31 But desire(W) the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.
1 Corinthians 12
New King James Version
Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity
12 Now (A)concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know (B)that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these (C)dumb[b] idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus [c]accursed, and (D)no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 (E)There are [d]diversities of gifts, but (F)the same Spirit. 5 (G)There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God (H)who works [e]all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given (I)the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another (J)the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 (K)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another (L)gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 10 (M)to another the working of miracles, to another (N)prophecy, to another (O)discerning of spirits, to another (P)different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, (Q)distributing to each one individually (R)as He wills.
Unity and Diversity in One Body(S)
12 For (T)as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, (U)so also is Christ. 13 For (V)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—(W)whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and (X)have all been made to drink [g]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 (Y)God has set the members, each one of them, in the body (Z)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 [h]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 (AA)you are the body of Christ, and (AB)members individually. 28 And (AC)God has appointed these in the church: first (AD)apostles, second (AE)prophets, third teachers, after that (AF)miracles, then (AG)gifts of healings, (AH)helps, (AI)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 (AJ)earnestly desire the [i]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 12:2 NU, M that when
- 1 Corinthians 12:2 mute, silent
- 1 Corinthians 12:3 Gr. anathema
- 1 Corinthians 12:4 allotments or various kinds
- 1 Corinthians 12:6 all things in
- 1 Corinthians 12:9 NU one
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 NU omits into
- 1 Corinthians 12:25 division
- 1 Corinthians 12:31 NU greater
1 Corinthians 12
English Standard Version
Spiritual Gifts
12 Now (A)concerning[a] spiritual gifts,[b] brothers,[c] I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that (B)when you were pagans (C)you were led astray to (D)mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that (E)no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is (F)accursed!” and (G)no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
4 Now (H)there are varieties of gifts, but (I)the same Spirit; 5 and (J)there are varieties of service, but (K)the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is (L)the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 (M)To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of (N)wisdom, and to another the utterance of (O)knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another (P)faith by the same Spirit, to another (Q)gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another (R)the working of miracles, to another (S)prophecy, to another (T)the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another (U)various kinds of tongues, to another (V)the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, (W)who apportions to each one individually (X)as he wills.
One Body with Many Members
12 For just as (Y)the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, (Z)so it is with Christ. 13 For (AA)in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—(AB)Jews or Greeks, slaves[d] or free—and (AC)all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member 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 be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, (AD)God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, (AE)as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,[e] yet one body.
21 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 parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, (AF)all rejoice together.
27 Now (AG)you are the body of Christ and individually (AH)members of it. 28 And (AI)God has appointed in the church first (AJ)apostles, second (AK)prophets, third teachers, then (AL)miracles, then (AM)gifts of healing, (AN)helping, (AO)administrating, and (AP)various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But (AQ)earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 12:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
- 1 Corinthians 12:1 Or spiritual persons
- 1 Corinthians 12:1 Or brothers and sisters
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
- 1 Corinthians 12:20 Or members; also verse 22
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
