1 N ow about the spiritual gifts (the special endowments of supernatural energy), brethren, I do not want you to be misinformed.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

2 Y ou know that when you were heathen, you were led off after idols that could not speak as impulse directed and whenever the occasion might arise.

You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.

3 T herefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the Spirit of God can say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 N ow there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the Spirit remains the same.

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

5 A nd there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord.

And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

6 A nd there are distinctive varieties of operation, but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all.

There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

7 B ut to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for good and profit.

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

8 T o one is given in and through the Spirit a message of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit;

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

9 T o another '> wonder-working] faith by the same Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit;

to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

10 T o another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight ( the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the ability to interpret tongues.

and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 A ll these are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually as He chooses.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

12 F or just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

13 F or by '> means of the personal agency of] one Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized '> by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one Spirit.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

14 F or the body does not consist of one limb or organ but of many.

For the body is not one member, but many.

15 I f the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not of the body?

If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.

16 I f the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not of the body?

And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.

17 I f the whole body were an eye, where hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where smell?

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

18 B ut as it is, God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation.

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

19 B ut if were all a single organ, where would the body be?

If they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 A nd now there are many limbs and organs, but a single body.

But now there are many members, but one body.

21 A nd the eye is not able to say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

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 B ut instead, there is necessity for the parts of the body that are considered the more weak.

On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;

23 A nd those of the body which we consider rather ignoble are which we invest with additional honor, and our unseemly parts and those unsuitable for exposure are treated with seemliness (modesty and decorum),

and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,

24 W hich our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack,

whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,

25 S o that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation, but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another.

so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

26 A nd if one member suffers, all the parts the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members the enjoyment of it.

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 N ow you are Christ’s body and you are members of it, each part severally and distinct.

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

28 S o God has appointed some in the church '> for His own use]: first apostles (special messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders); third teachers; then wonder-workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; different (unknown) tongues.

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.

29 A re all apostles (special messengers)? Are all prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God)? Are all teachers? Do all have the power of performing miracles?

All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?

30 D o all possess extraordinary powers of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?

31 B ut earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way.

But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.