The Bible — World English Bible

1 Corinthians 12

In brief

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul responds to a church divided over spiritual gifts. He affirms that they come from the same Spirit, the same Lord and the same God: diversity is not a hierarchy. Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Paul then compares the church to a body: many members, one body, each one necessary, the weaker ones honored all the more. The chapter ends with a list of ministries and gifts, and the announcement of a most excellent way, the way of love.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-3One Spirit: confessing that Jesus is Lord
  2. v. 4-11Diversity of gifts, unity of the Spirit
  3. v. 12-20One body, many members
  4. v. 21-26No member can do without the others
  5. v. 27-31You are the body of Christ: ministries, gifts and the most excellent way

1Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.

2You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

3Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.

4Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.

6There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.

7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

8For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;

9to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;

10and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.

11But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

12For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

14For the body is not one member, but many.

15If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body.

16If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.

17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?

18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.

19If they were all one member, where would the body be?

20But now they are many members, but one body.

21The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”

22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

23Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety;

24whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,

25that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

26When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

28God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?

30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?

31But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.

Key verses

Verse 7
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

Paul gives the purpose of the gifts: the Spirit manifests them in each person for the common good. A gift is received in order to serve others, not to put oneself forward.

Verse 12-13
For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

Paul introduces the image of the body: one body, many members, and so it is with Christ. All, whatever their origin, were baptized into one body by one Spirit.

Verse 21-22
The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

The eye cannot say to the hand that it has no need of it. Paul goes further: the members that seem the weakest are necessary. No place in the church is secondary.

Verse 26
When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

If one member suffers, all suffer with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice. The verse describes a real solidarity among believers, which is not limited to Sunday meetings.

Verse 27
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Paul speaks directly to the Corinthians: you are the body of Christ, each one a part of it. The church is not a place or an event we attend, it is a community of which each person is a part.

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What the sermons say

In Communion: We Need One AnotherMélanie Ehrismann reads verses 12 to 26: faced with a fragmented church, Paul offers the image of the body. She describes two diseases of communion, comparing yourself downward and upward, and reminds us that every gift counts.Read the summary →Every Stone Counts: Take Your Place in the WallJerry Yéboué-Kouamé Cox starts from verse 27: we do not just come to church, we are the church. By our presence or our absence, we influence the strength of the body.Read the summary →The Church, Where the Lord WorksPastor Rutz reads chapters 12 to 14 to answer the person who wonders what use they are in the church. He shows that the weakest members are necessary, like the little toe we forget about until we stub it.Read the summary →Your Uniqueness: A Gift of Christ to His ChurchStéphane Guillet, starting from Ephesians 4 and in connection with the gifts, proposes changing the question: no longer what is my gift, but what gift am I to the church.Read the summary →The Gift of TonguesDavid Pothier presents the two main readings of the gifts in the church, cessationist and continuationist, before speaking about the gift of tongues, as a sign in Acts 2 and as a language of prayer in 1 Corinthians 14.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about 1 Corinthians 12

What does the image of the body mean in 1 Corinthians 12?

Paul compares the church to a human body: many different members that form a single organism. The image says that each believer has a necessary place, that no one can do without the others, and that the diversity of gifts should create solidarity, not division.

What spiritual gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12?

In verses 8 to 10, Paul lists the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues and their interpretation. In verses 28 to 30, he also mentions ministries such as apostles, prophets and teachers, as well as helping and administration. Churches do not agree on how some of these gifts operate today.

Do spiritual gifts still exist today?

Christians answer in two ways. Continuationists believe that all the gifts of the Spirit are still active, while cessationists hold that some, such as miracles, tongues or prophecy, ceased after the apostolic age. Many churches live out their unity despite this disagreement.

Why does Paul speak about the weaker members?

In verse 22, Paul affirms that the members that seem to be weaker are necessary, and that God gives more honor to what lacked it. The goal is that there be no division in the body and that its members care for one another.

Articles quoting 1 Corinthians 12

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World English Bible translation — public domain.