Spiritual Gifts

1Now concerning spiritual gifts, my brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, drawn aside after dumb idols, just as ye were led: wherefore, 3I must acquaint you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus a curse: and no one can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost.

4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit: and there are different offices, but the same Lord: 5and there are diversities of operations, 6but it is the same God who worketh them all in every one. 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the advantage of all. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the discerning of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11but all these worketh that one and the same Spirit distributing to every one in particular as He sees fit.

The Body of Christ

12For as the body is one, and hath many members; but all the parts of this one body, though many, are but one body: 13so also is the mystical body of Christ; for by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, (whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free) and are all made to drink into one Spirit:

14for the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? and if the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now God hath placed the members, every one of them in the body, as He pleased. 19And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20whereas now there are many members, yet but one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22But those parts of the body, which seem to be weaker, are much more necessary: 23and those which we judge the less honorable parts we clothe with more abundant honor; and so our less comely parts have more comeliness added to them, of which our comely ones have no need. 24But God hath so blended the several parts of the body, giving greater honor to that which was deficient, 25that there might be no schism in the body; but that all the members might have the same care one for another. 26And so if one member suffer all the members suffer with it; and if one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

The Greater Gifts

27Now ye are the body of Christ, and his members each of you in particular.

28And God hath placed you accordingly in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miraculous powers, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, and various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? 30have all miraculous powers? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak many languages? do all interpret? but ye are all zealous for the best gifts. 31Though I will shew you a way yet more excellent.