Spiritual Gifts

1Now concerning those who are spiritual, my brethren, I would not have you be mistaken. 2when you were Gentiles, you know how you were seduced by your leaders, to the worship of dumb idols. 3wherefore I give you to understand, that no man who has the spirit of God, can pronounce Jesus anathema: and that no man can acknowledge Jesus to be the Lord, but by the holy spirit.

4Now there are different gifts, but the same spirit. 5and there are different offices, but the same Lord. 6and there are different operations, but it is the same God who performs them all in every one. 7now to particular men the spirit gives particular gifts, that they may be displayed to greater advantage. 8for to one the spirit gives the knowledge of the prophetical writings; to another the same spirit gives the knowledge of the doctrines of religion; 9to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; 10to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another diversity of languages; to another the interpretation of languages. 11but all are wrought by one and the same spirit, distributing to every one in particular, as he thinks fit.

The Body of Christ

12For as the body is one, tho' it has many members, and all the members of that one body, tho' many, are one body: so also is the body of Christ. 13for by one spirit we have all been baptized, to be form'd into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and have been all made to drink of one spirit.

14the body is not one member, but many. 15if the foot should say, "because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body? 16and if the ear should say, "because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body? 17if the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? if the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18now God disposed every one of the members in the body as he thought fit. 19but if they were all one member, where would be the body? 20thus, tho' there are many members, yet there is but one body. 21and the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of thee:" nor again, the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22nay, those parts of the body, which seem to be of the least account, are much more necessary. 23what we think to be less honourable, is loaded with additional ornaments, and the less graceful have adventitious finery, 24of which the graceful have no need: but God has contrived the symmetry of the body, by bestowing an additional advantage where it seem'd to want it. 25that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same mutual concern for one another. 26so that if one member suffer, they all suffer with it: or if one be honoured, they partake of it.

The Greater Gifts

27Thus you are the body of Christ, being the particular members of it.

28which God has placed in the church, first apostles, next prophets, then teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, assistants, governours, interpreters of languages. 29are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret? 31you are contesting about the superiority of your gifts: but I point out to you a more excellent way.