1 Corinthians Chapter 12

1 Corinthians is a pastoral letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth to address divisions, moral challenges, spiritual gifts, worship, and Christian living. While the believers had been richly blessed with spiritual gifts, they struggled with unity, holiness, and spiritual maturity. Paul calls the church back to the foundation of Jesus Christ, teaching that love, humility, and obedience must govern every aspect of the Christian life.

Throughout the letter, Paul emphasizes that the church is one body with many members, each empowered by the Holy Spirit for the common good. He encourages believers to pursue holiness, exercise their spiritual gifts in love and order, and live in a manner worthy of their calling. Ultimately, 1 Corinthians points the church to the supremacy of Christ, the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of the resurrection, reminding every believer that all things should be done for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 12:1

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

1 Corinthians 12:3

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. {accursed: or, anathema}

1 Corinthians 12:4

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:5

And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. {administrations: or, ministries}

1 Corinthians 12:6

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Corinthians 12:7

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

1 Corinthians 12:8

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

1 Corinthians 12:9

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

1 Corinthians 12:10

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1 Corinthians 12:11

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

1 Corinthians 12:12

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. {Gentiles: Gr. Greeks}

1 Corinthians 12:14

For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:15

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

1 Corinthians 12:16

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

1 Corinthians 12:17

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

1 Corinthians 12:18

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

1 Corinthians 12:19

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

1 Corinthians 12:20

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

1 Corinthians 12:21

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

1 Corinthians 12:22

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

1 Corinthians 12:23

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. {bestow: or, put on}

1 Corinthians 12:24

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

1 Corinthians 12:25

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. {schism: or, division}

1 Corinthians 12:26

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. {diversities: or, kinds}

1 Corinthians 12:29

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? {workers...: or, powers?}

1 Corinthians 12:30

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 12:31

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

(KJV)