1 Corinthians 12:14-31

English Standard Version

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, ^(A)God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, ^(B)as he chose. ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts,^[a] 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, ^(C)all rejoice together.

²⁷ Now ^(D)you are the body of Christ and individually ^(E)members of it. ²⁸ And ^(F)God has appointed in the church first ^(G)apostles, second ^(H)prophets, third teachers, then ^(I)miracles, then ^(J)gifts of healing, ^(K)helping, ^(L)administrating, and ^(M)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 ^(N)earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.