"1 Corinthians 12:12" from eBible.com: Online Bible Search & Bible Study Community

1 Corinthians 12:12

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Chapter 12

Spiritual Gifts

1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,Or languages; also in verse 28 and to still another the interpretation of tongues.Or languages; also in verse 2811All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

13For we were all baptized byOr with; or in one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.19If they were all one part, where would the body be?20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!”22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tonguesOr other languages? Do all interpret?31But eagerly desireOr But you are eagerly desiring the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Topics: Jesus Christ the of church body community union spiritual_gifts body_of_christ uniqueness members union_with_christ

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Derek36586 - (eBible Novice) over 2 years ago.

I like this reading for youth to explain how we all are together and yet appeal to our individuality.

paulwhelms - (eBible Mentor) 5 months ago.

What makes sense of Paul's teaching here is the truth that believers are spiritually united with Christ. Paul teaches that "...as many of you as were baptized into Christ have *put on* Christ." We are all wearing the same clothes after all, for "all are one in Christ." No distinction can be made because of race or class, or any external thing for that matter; the presence of Jesus in the heart marks every true Christian (Galatians 3:26-29). More so, we identify with only one 'body' that is maintained by the unifying power of the Holy Spirit. When Paul says that there is one body he isn't just speaking figuratively -- Christ is present among us and lives within us, and indeed is displayed through us as the Church. Christians have a deeper bond than blood relation, which is a truth that few of us really appreciate; we are all members of a new family and share citizenship in the Kingdom of God. Paul makes this clear in v.26 of this chapter: why else would the suffering of another Christian cause us to suffer? Do we suffer for the suffering of the countless martyrs of our day or for those who are going without food or clothes while we have plenty? We are perhaps too busy and concerned with things other than the well-being of the body of Christ. Open our eyes, LORD!

WileECoyote - (eBible Scholar) 7 months ago.

if we are Christians, we are all of the Body of Christ. Christ is the Head of the Body and as the head tells the body what to do and the body responds, so should we do the things that Jesus tells us to do. as the our bodies have many parts, so does the Body of Christ have many Parts.