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Spiritual Gifts and the Church as One Body

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

12
Chapter 12
1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were Gentiles, you were led astray to the speechless idols, as you were being led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking in a spirit of God says, "Jesus is anathema," and no one is able to say, "Lord Jesus," except in a holy spirit. 4 There are varieties of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are divisions of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 And there are varieties of workings, but the same God who works all things in all. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profitable. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, but to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the one Spirit, 10 to another, workings of powers; to another, prophecy; to another, discernments of spirits; to another, kinds of tongues; to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, apportioning its own gifts to each one just as it wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also Christ. 13 For we all were baptized in one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and all were made to drink one Spirit. 14 For 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 not of the body for this reason? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," it is not of the body for this reason. 17 If the whole body is eye, where is the hearing? If the whole is hearing, where is the sense of smell? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body just as he wished. 19 But if it were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 but much more the members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary, 23 and those of the body that we think to be less honorable, to these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly ones have more abundant propriety. 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God has tempered the body together, giving more honor to the one that lacks, 25 so that there may not be a schism in the Body, but the members may care for one another in the same way. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer together; if a member is glorified, all the members rejoice together. 27 However, you are the body of Christ and members in part. 28 And God has appointed in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then powers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues. 29 Not all apostles? Not all prophets? Not all teachers? Not all powers? 30 Not all have spiritual gifts of healings? Not all speak in tongues? Not all interpret? 31 Be zealous, however, for the spiritual gifts—the greater ones. And yet I show you a way of surpassing excellence.