1 Corinthians 12

1 Now about [concerning, regarding] spiritual [non-carnal, supernatural] gifts, brothers [brethren, fellow believers], I do not want [I would not have] you to be [remain, stay] uninformed [ignorant, lacking knowledge, without teaching]. word study 2 You know [are aware, perceive spiritually] that when you were [formerly, in the past] pagans [Gentiles, non-Jewish people], you were influenced [led astray, deceived] and led [carried away, brought] astray to mute [silent, unable to speak] idols [false gods, images]. word study 3 Therefore [for this reason, in consequence] I inform you that no one who is speaking [uttering words, proclaiming] by the Spirit [the vital principle] of God [the one true deity] says, “Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] be cursed [devoted to destruction, anathema],” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord [the supreme Master],” except [unless, only] by the Holy [set apart, sanctified] Spirit [the divine breath]. word study 4 There are [various kinds of] different gifts [spiritual endowments, divine gratuities], but [and yet, nevertheless] the [one and only] same Spirit [the vital principle, breath of God]. word study 5 There are different [various kinds of, diversities of] ministries [services, administrations], but the same [one and only, supreme] Lord [Master, God]. word study 6 There are different [various, diverse] ways of working [operations, effects], but the same [one and only] God [the supreme Deity] works [is active, operates] all things [everything, every aspect] in [among, within] all [every, each] people [persons, individuals]. word study 7 Now to [each one individually] each one the manifestation [revelation, divine disclosure] of the Spirit [the vital principle, breath of God] is given [bestowed, granted] for the common [mutual] good [benefit, profit]. word study 8 To one there is given [through the vital principle] through the Spirit [the divine Breath] the message [word, logos] of wisdom [higher understanding, spiritual insight], to another [a different person] the message [word, logos] of knowledge [spiritual truth] by the same Spirit [the identical divine Breath], word study 9 to another [strong trust in God, unwavering confidence] faith [trust and confidence in God or Jesus Christ] by the same [one and only, unique] Spirit, to another [different, distinct] gifts [divine gratuities, spiritual endowments] of healing [restoration to health, cure] by that one [same, identical] Spirit, word study 10 to another the working [operations of great works, miraculous ability] of miracles [wonders, powerful deeds], to another prophecy [the prophet’s word, speaking God’s message], to another distinguishing [discerning, testing] between spirits [the vital principle, mental disposition], to another speaking [receiving the ability to speak] in various [divers kinds of] tongues [languages], and to still another the interpretation [translation, understanding] of tongues [languages]. word study 11 All [every single one, the entirety] these are the work [operations, activities] of one [unique, unified] and the same [selfsame, identical] Spirit [the divine breath], who apportions [distributes, divides] them to each [individual, separate] one as [just as, in the manner that] He [the Father, the divine will] determines [plans, wills, intends]. word study 12 The body [a unit, one entity] is a unit, though it is composed of many parts [members, limbs]. And although its parts [components, elements] are many, they all form one body [a single, unified whole]. So it is with Christ [the Anointed One, the Messiah]. word study 13 For in [the power and presence of] one Spirit [the Holy Spirit, the divine breath] we were all baptized [immersed, fully identified] into one body [the unified church, the body of Christ], whether Jews [from the tribe of Judah] or Greeks [Gentiles, non-Jews], slave [in bondage, servant] or free [unrestricted, liberated], and we were all given one Spirit [the same divine nature] to drink [to receive, to be filled with]. word study 14 For [because, as an explanation] the body [physical person, whole being] does not consist of [is not made up of] one [single, alone] part [member, limb], but [on the contrary, in contrast] of many [numerous, several]. word study 15 If the foot [or any other part of the body] should say, “Because I am not [do not function as] a hand [an instrument of skill or power], I do not belong [am not a part, am not connected] to the body [the whole physical person, the church],” that would not make it any less [in no way diminish its role as] a part of the body [a member of the community]. word study 16 And if the ear [the ability to hear and understand] should say, “Because I am not an eye [the organ of sight, or the ability to see], I do not belong to the body [the whole physical person, or the community of believers],” that would not make it any less [in no way, or not at all] a part of the body [a member of the community, or a vital organ]. word study 17 If the whole [entire, complete] body were an eye [the organ of sight, vision], where [in what location, what place] would the sense of hearing [the act of perceiving sound, the ability to hear] be? If the whole [entire, complete] body were an ear [the organ of hearing, the means of hearing], where [in what location, what place] would the sense of smell [the ability to perceive odors, the power of smelling] be? word study 18 But in fact [now, at this present time], God [the one true deity] has arranged [set, placed, disposed] the members [parts, limbs] of the body [the whole physical person], every one [each, individually] of them, according to [as it pleased, in accordance with] His design [will, desire, intention]. word study 19 If [in the event that, assuming] they were all [every single one, without exception] one part [member, limb], where [in what place, what location] would the body [physical form, whole person] be [exist, have its being]? word study 20 As it is [now, in the present time], there are many [different, various] parts [members, limbs], but [on the other hand, yet] one [unified, single] body [the whole, physical and spiritual]. word study 21 The eye [organ of sight, spiritual perception] cannot say to the hand [instrument of action, service], “I do not [ouk, utterly] need you [have no requirement for you].” Nor can the head [source of direction, leadership] say to the feet [means of progress, journey], “I do not [ouk, completely] need you [have no necessity for you].” word study 22 On the contrary [quite the opposite, nay], the parts [members, limbs] of the body [physical person, the church] that seem [appear, are thought] to be weaker [feeble, infirm] are indispensable [necessary, absolutely essential], word study 23 and the parts we consider less honorable [without dignity], we treat with greater [more abundant] honor. And our unpresentable [indecent] parts are treated with special [greater] modesty [propriety, comeliness], word study 24 whereas our presentable [comely, beautiful] parts have no such need [requirement, necessity]. But God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] has composed [tempered, united] the body [the whole physical person] and has given [bestowed, granted] greater [more abundant, excessive] honor [esteem, value] to the parts that lacked [were inferior, had need of it] it, word study 25 so that there should be no division [split, or schism] in the body [the whole physical person, or the church as a unified entity], but that its members [parts of the body, or believers as parts of Christ’s body] should have [mutual concern, the same care, or equal worry] mutual concern for one another [each other, or one another in a reciprocal relationship]. word study 26 If one part [a member of the body of Christ] suffers [experiences pain or hardship], every part [all the members] suffers with it [shares in its suffering]; if one part [a member of the body] is honored [glorified, treated with dignity], every part [all the members] rejoices with it [celebrates, is glad]. word study 27 Now you [as believers, individually] are the body [physical and spiritual, a unified whole] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], and each of you [severally, uniquely] is a member [part, limb] of it [the body, the church]. word study 28 And in the church [assembly, community of believers] God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] has appointed [set, ordained] first of all [primarily, in the first place] apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ], second [next in order, afterwards] prophets [speakers of God’s message, interpreters of His will], third teachers [instructors, guides in spiritual truth], then [after that, subsequently] workers of miracles [those with the power to perform extraordinary deeds, wonders], and those with gifts [spiritual endowments, divine gratuities] of healing [restoration to health, wholeness], helping [assisting, supporting], administration [leadership, guidance], and various [different, diverse] tongues [languages, forms of speech]. word study 29 Are all [every single one, without exception] apostles [messengers of Jesus Christ, delegates with special powers]? Are all [every single one, without exception] prophets [interpreters of God’s will, speakers of divine truth]? Are all [every single one, without exception] teachers [instructors of spiritual truth, guides]? Do all [every single one, without exception] work [perform, exercise] miracles [powers, signs and wonders, demonstrations of God’s power]? word study 30 Do all [every single person] have gifts [spiritual endowments] of healing [the act of curing or restoring health]? Do all [every person] speak [utter words] in tongues [languages]? Do all [every person] interpret [explain or translate thoroughly]? word study 31 But eagerly [covet earnestly, be zealous for] desire the greater [more excellent, stronger] gifts [spiritual endowments, divine gratuities]. And now [then, at this point] I will show [exhibit, make known] you the most excellent [surpassing, superior] way [road, path]. word study