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1 Corinthians 12
New King James Version

### Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

12 Now (A)concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know (B)that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these (C)dumb[b] idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore 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. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God (H)who works [e]all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for 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. 11 But 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)

12 For (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. 13 For (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. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

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

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

27 Now (AA)you are the body of Christ, and (AB)members individually. 28 And (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. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But (AJ)earnestly desire the [i]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

#### Footnotes

1. 1 Corinthians 12:2 NU, M that when
2. 1 Corinthians 12:2 mute, silent
3. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Gr. anathema
4. 1 Corinthians 12:4 allotments or various kinds
5. 1 Corinthians 12:6 all things in
6. 1 Corinthians 12:9 NU one
7. 1 Corinthians 12:13 NU omits into
8. 1 Corinthians 12:25 division
9. 1 Corinthians 12:31 NU greater

#### Cross references

1. 1 Corinthians 12:1 : 1 Cor. 12:4; 14:1, 37
2. 1 Corinthians 12:2 : 1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 2:11; 1 Pet. 4:3
3. 1 Corinthians 12:2 : Ps. 115:5; Is. 46:7; Jer. 10:5; Hab. 2:18
4. 1 Corinthians 12:3 : Matt. 16:17
5. 1 Corinthians 12:4 : Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 4:4, 11; Heb. 2:4
6. 1 Corinthians 12:4 : Eph. 4:4
7. 1 Corinthians 12:5 : Rom. 12:6
8. 1 Corinthians 12:6 : 1 Cor. 15:28; Eph. 1:23; 4:6
9. 1 Corinthians 12:8 : 1 Cor. 2:6, 7; 2 Cor. 1:12
10. 1 Corinthians 12:8 : Rom. 15:14; [1 Cor. 2:11, 16]; 2 Cor. 8:7
11. 1 Corinthians 12:9 : Matt. 17:19; [1 Cor. 13:2]; 2 Cor. 4:13
12. 1 Corinthians 12:9 : Matt. 10:1; Mark 3:15; 16:18; James 5:14
13. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : Mark 16:17
14. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : Rom. 12:6
15. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : 1 John 4:1
16. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : Acts 2:4–11
17. 1 Corinthians 12:11 : Rom. 12:6; 2 Cor. 10:13
18. 1 Corinthians 12:11 : [John 3:8]
19. 1 Corinthians 12:12 : cf. Eph. 4:1–16
20. 1 Corinthians 12:12 : Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 10:17; Eph. 4:4
21. 1 Corinthians 12:12 : [Gal. 3:16]
22. 1 Corinthians 12:13 : [Rom. 6:5]
23. 1 Corinthians 12:13 : Rom. 3:22; Gal. 3:28; [Eph. 2:13–18]; Col. 3:11
24. 1 Corinthians 12:13 : [John 7:37–39]
25. 1 Corinthians 12:18 : 1 Cor. 12:28
26. 1 Corinthians 12:18 : Rom. 12:3
27. 1 Corinthians 12:27 : Rom. 12:5; Eph. 1:23; 4:12; 5:23, 30; Col. 1:24
28. 1 Corinthians 12:27 : Eph. 5:30
29. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : Eph. 4:11
30. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : [Eph. 2:20; 3:5]
31. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : Acts 13:1; Rom. 12:6
32. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : 1 Cor. 12:10, 29; Gal. 3:5
33. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : Mark 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:9, 30
34. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : Num. 11:17
35. 1 Corinthians 12:28 : Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17, 24
36. 1 Corinthians 12:31 : 1 Cor. 14:1, 39

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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