Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 12 - New King James Version (2024)

Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

12Now ^(A)concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ²You know ^(B)that^[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these ^(C)dumb^[b] idols, however you were led. ³Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus ^[c]accursed, and ^(D)no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

^4(E)There are ^[d]diversities of gifts, but ^(F)the same Spirit. ^5(G)There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God ^(H)who works ^[e]all in all. ⁷But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸for to one is given ^(I)the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another ^(J)the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9(K)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another ^(L)gifts of healings by ^[f]the same Spirit, ^10(M)to another the working of miracles, to another ^(N)prophecy, to another ^(O)discerning of spirits, to another ^(P)different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(Q)distributing to each one individually ^(R)as He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body^(S)

¹²For ^(T)as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, ^(U)so also is Christ. ¹³For ^(V)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^(W)whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and ^(X)have all been made to drink ^[g]into one Spirit. ¹⁴For in fact the body is not one member but many.

¹⁵If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸But now ^(Y)God has set the members, each one of them, in the body ^(Z)just as He pleased. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹And 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.” ²²No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵that there should be no ^[h]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷Now ^(AA)you are the body of Christ, and ^(AB)members individually. ²⁸And ^(AC)God has appointed these in the church: first ^(AD)apostles, second ^(AE)prophets, third teachers, after that ^(AF)miracles, then ^(AG)gifts of healings, ^(AH)helps, ^(AI)administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But ^(AJ)earnestly desire the ^[i]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.