I Corinthians 12

¹ Now concerning spiritual [things], brothers, I do not want you to be being ignorant. ² You know that when you were nations¹ before the dumb idols, [you were] being carried off even as you were led. ³ Therefore I make know to you that no one speaking in [the] spirit of God says: Jesus [is] accursed², and no one is able to say Jesus [is] Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are differences of gifts, but the same spirit. ⁵ And there are differences of service, and the same Lord. ⁶ And there are differences of effects, but the same God who effects everything in everything. ⁷ So to each is given the manifestation of the spirit toward the profitable. ⁸ For to one through the spirit is given [the] word of wisdom, to another [the] word of knowledge according to the same spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same spirit, and to another gifts³ of healing by the same spirit, ¹⁰ and to another effecting of powers, to another prophecy, to another discernment⁴ of spirits, to another [various] kinds of tongues, to another [the] interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same spirit effects all these, distributing to each individual just as he intends. ¹² For just as the body is one and it has many parts, but all the parts of the body being many are one body, so also [is] the Christ. ¹³ For by the one spirit we all have been baptized into one body, whether Jew or Greek, whether slave or free, and we have all been made to drink one spirit. ¹⁴ For the body is not one member but many. ¹⁵ If the foot say: Because I [am] not [a] hand, I am not of the body, not for this [reason] is it not of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear say: Because I [am] not [an] eye, I am not of the body, not for this [reason] is it not of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body is [an] eye, where [is] the hearing? If the whole [is] hearing, where is smell? ¹⁸ But now has God placed the members, each one of them in the body, just as he wanted. ¹⁹ But if they were all one [type of] member, where [is] the body? ²⁰ But now [they are] many members, but one body. ²¹ So the eye is not able to say to the hand: I have no need [of you], or again the head to the feet: I have no need [of you]. ²² But rather more the members of the body seeming weaker are more necessary, ²³ and what we suppose to be less honorable, to this one we bestow greater honor, and our improper [members] have greater propriety, ²⁴ and our proper [members] have no need ⁵. But God has blended the body, having given greater honor to the [member] that lacked, ²⁵ In order that there be no division in the body, but [in order that] the members have the same concern for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer, or [one] member is glorified, all the members rejoice. ²⁷ So you are [the] body of Christ and members in particular. ²⁸ And in the assembly⁶ has God placed first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then powers, then gifts⁷ of healing, helps, administrations, [various] kinds of tongues. ²⁹ [are] all apostles?⁸ [are] all prophets?⁹ Do all speak in tongues?¹⁰ Do all interpret?¹¹

³¹ So, be seeking the greater gifts¹². And yet I show you [a] far-better way.

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¹i.e. Gentiles

²i.e. something devoted to evil

³from GRACE

⁴or "recognizing"

⁵add "of honor" D

⁶EKKLESIA (εκκλησια) from "called out". Appears 114 times in the N.T., but only in two places in the Gospels ( Matt.16:18 (twice) and Matt.18:17 (twice)). It's worth noting that when Jesus uses the term EKKLESIA, Christian community as we know it didn't yet exist—there were only the disciples. EKKLESIA is apparently different from 'synagogue' (SYNAGOGE (συναγωγη) which occurs 56 times in the N.T.) EKKLESIA is used in secular Greek literature of a popular assembly 'called to assemble', and also of those 'called' to a cult. EKKLESIA is used frequently in the N.T. outside of the Gospels to refer to Christian communities, but in Acts.7:38 it is used of the people of Israel led through the desert by Moses, and in Acts.19:32 ff. of a secular assembly. Thus, all told, the common translation of EKKLESIA as 'church' doesn't really reflect 1st century usage—it seems to mean more like 'a group of people assembled for some specific purpose'.

⁷from GRACE

⁸grammer indicates "no" answer expected or expresses uncertainty

⁹grammer indicates "no" answer expected or expresses uncertainty

¹⁰grammer indicates "no" answer expected or expresses uncertainty

¹¹grammer indicates "no" answer expected or expresses uncertainty

¹²from GRACE