THE FIRST EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
CORINTHIANS

1 Corinthians 12 ©

1 The apostle further reproves the division arisen amongst the Corinthians from the diversity of spiritual gifts, and ecclesiastical administrations, and teaches that they must not pride themselves, or despise others because of the same, forasmuch as they were all Gentiles before, and the Holy Ghost bestowed the same upon them. 4 That the same Spirit works these gifts diversely, in one less, in another more, according to His pleasure, to the end that they should be dispensed for the common use and profit of the whole congregation; which he rehearses to the number of nine. 12 This he explains by a similitude of the different members of one body, whereby he teaches that even the lowest gifts have their profit and necessity, and that therefore they, who have received the most excellent gifts, must not despise them who have less. 25 But that everyone must bestow his gifts for the service of others, and of the whole body of the congregation. 28 That God has appointed the gifts so also the ministries in the congregation, not of one sort, nor of equal dignity. 31 But that nevertheless everyone must seek after the best gifts.

1

NOW concerning 1spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you 2ignorant.

2

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, 3carried away unto these 4dumb idols, 5even as ye were led.

3

Wherefore I give you to understand, thata no man speaking 6by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus 7accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is 8the Lord,b but 9by the Holy Ghost.

4

Nowc there are 10diversities 11of gifts, but the 12same Spirit.

5

And there are differences 13of administrations, but the 14same Lord.

6

And there are diversities 15of operations, but it is the 16same God which worketh all in all.

7

But 17the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man 18to profit withal.

8

For to one is given by the Spirit 19the word of wisdom; to another 20the word of knowledge 21by the same Spirit;

9

To another 22faith 23by the same Spirit; to another the gifts 24of healing 25by the same Spirit;

10

To another 26the working of miracles; to another 27prophecy; to another 28discerning of spirits; to another divers 29kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation 30of tongues:

11

But all these workethd that 31one and the selfsame Spirit, dividinge to every man severallyf32as he will.

12

33Forg as the body is 34one, and hath 35many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: 36so also is Christ.

13

For by 37one Spirit are 38we all baptized 39into one body, 40whetherhwe be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made 41to drink 42into one Spirit.

14

For the body is not 43one member, but many.

15

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not 44of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

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?

17

45If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18

But now hath God set the members every one of them 46in the body, 47as it hath pleased him.

19

48And if they were all one member, 49where were the body?

20

But now are they 50many members, 51yet but one body.

21

And 52the eye cannot say unto 53the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, 54are necessary:

23

And those members of the body, which 55we think to be less honourable, upon these we 56bestow more abundant honour; and our 57uncomelyiparts have 58more abundant comeliness.

24

For our comely parts 59have no need: but God hath 60tempered the body together, 61having given more abundant honour 62to that part which lacked:

25

That there should be 63no schism in the body; but that the members should have 64the same care one for another.

26

And whether one member suffer, 65all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27

Nowj66ye are the body of Christ, and members 67in particular.

28

And God hath set some 68in the church, 69firstk apostles, 70secondarilyl prophets, thirdly 71teachers, after that 72miracles, then 73gifts of healings, 74helps, 75governments, 76diversities of tongues.

29

77Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all 78interpret?

31

But covet earnestly 79the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you 80a more excellent way.