1 Corinthians 12
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
12 Now concerning spiritual things, my brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 You know that when you were heathens, you went to dumb idols, according as you were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, saith Anathema to Jesus. And no man can say the Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit;
5 And there are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord;
6 And there are diversities of operations, but the same God, who worketh all in all.
7 And the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man unto profit.
8 To one indeed, by the Spirit, is given the word of wisdom: and to another, the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
9 To another, faith in the same spirit; to another, the grace of healing in one Spirit;
10 To another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the discerning of spirits; to another, diverse kinds of tongues; to another, interpretation of speeches.
11 But all these things one and the same Spirit worketh, dividing to every one according as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members; and all the members of the body, whereas they are many, yet are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free; and in one Spirit we have all been made to drink.
14 For the body also is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot should say, because I am not the 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 the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were the eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God hath set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they all were one member, where would be the body?
20 But now there are many members indeed, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand: I need not thy help; nor again the head to the feet: I have no need of you.
22 Yea, much more those that seem to be the more feeble members of the body, are more necessary.
23 And such as we think to be the less honourable members of the body, about these we put more abundant honour; and those that are our uncomely parts, have more abundant comeliness.
24 But our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, giving to that which wanted the more abundant honour,
25 That there might be no schism in the body; but the members might be mutually careful one for another.
26 And if one member suffer any thing, all the members suffer with it; or if one member glory, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members of member.
28 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.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all doctors?
30 Are all workers of miracles? Have all the grace of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But be zealous for the better gifts. And I shew unto you yet a more excellent way.
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
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
