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Pauline Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

1 Corinthians 12

Paul addresses division, holiness, worship, gifts, love, and resurrection in a troubled church.

New Testament

1 Corinthians 12

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 modesty,

24while 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.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Paul addresses division, holiness, worship, gifts, love, and resurrection in a troubled church. Read 1 Corinthians 12 within the complete 1 Corinthians overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12 contains 31 verses and about 580 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 31 closes: “But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include body, spirit, another, members, same, various. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About 1 Corinthians 12

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, 1 Corinthians 12:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer