1 Corinthians 12 ~ 1 Corinthians 12

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

And concerning the spiritual things, brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant;

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.

ye have known that ye were nations, unto the dumb idols -- as ye were led -- being carried away;

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.

wherefore, I give you to understand that no one, in the Spirit of God speaking, saith Jesus anathema, and no one is able to say Jesus Lord, except in 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.

And there are diversities of gifts, and the same Spirit;

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

and there are diversities of ministrations, 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.

and there are diversities of workings, and it is the same God -- who is working the all in all.

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

And to each hath been given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit;

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 through the Spirit hath been given a word of wisdom, and to another a 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;

and to another faith in the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings in the same 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 in-workings of mighty deeds; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another 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.

and all these doth work the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each severally as he intendeth.

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 hath many members, and all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, so also the 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 also in one Spirit we all to one body were baptized, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and all into one Spirit were made to drink,

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

for also 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 may say, `Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not 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 may say, `Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not 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 an eye, where the hearing? if the whole hearing, where the smelling?

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.

and now, God did set the members each one of them in the body, according as He willed,

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

and if all were one member, where the body?

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

and now, indeed, many members, and 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 an eye is not able to say to the hand, `I have no need of thee;' nor 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.

But much more the members of the body which seem to be more infirm 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 that we think to be less honourable of the body, around these we put more abundant honour, and our unseemly things have seemliness more abundant,

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,

and our seemly things have no need; but God did temper the body together, to the lacking part having given more abundant honour,

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.

that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same anxiety 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 whether one member doth suffer, suffer with do all the members, or one member is glorified, rejoice with do all the members;

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

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

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 some, indeed, did God set in the assembly, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterwards powers, afterwards gifts of healings, helpings, governings, divers 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 apostles? all prophets? all teachers? all powers?

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

have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

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.

and desire earnestly the better gifts; and yet a far excelling way do I shew to you: