1 Corinthianschapter 12

A.The Test of a Spirit: What It Says About Jesusvv. 1-3

1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

B.Many Gifts, One Spirit, Distributed as He Willsvv. 4-11

4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

C.The Eye Cannot Say to the Hand, I Have No Need of Youvv. 12-26

12 The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 14 For the body does not consist of one part, but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, 24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

D.Apostles First — and a Still More Excellent Wayvv. 27-31

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Now concerning spiritual gifts, Paul will not have them ignorant.

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Now concerning spiritual gifts, Paul will not have them ignorant. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. For as the body is one and hath many members, so also is Christ. God hath tempered the body together, that the members should have the same care one for another. Whether one member suffer, all suffer with it. Covet earnestly the best gifts. And yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Calvin marks the chapter as the charter of Christian community under gift-diversity.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · Paul — 1 Corinthians overview

A. 1–3 The Test of a Spirit: What It Says About Jesus
B. 4–11 Many Gifts, One Spirit, Distributed as He Wills
C. 12–26 The Eye Cannot Say to the Hand, I Have No Need of You
D. 27–31 Apostles First — and a Still More Excellent Way

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

1 Corinthians 129 verses
- 1 Corinthians 12:4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
- 1 Corinthians 12:11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 12:14For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.
- 1 Corinthians 12:18But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
- Read 1 Corinthians 12: 3 more there →
Romans 126 verses
- Romans 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
- Romans 12:4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,
- Romans 12:5so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
- Romans 12:6We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
- Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Romans 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Read Romans 12 →
1 Corinthians 144 verses
- 1 Corinthians 14:1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
- 1 Corinthians 14:19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
- 1 Corinthians 14:37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
- 1 Corinthians 14:39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
- Read 1 Corinthians 14 →
Ephesians 44 verses
- Ephesians 4:5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
- Ephesians 4:11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- Ephesians 4:12to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
- Ephesians 4:25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
- Read Ephesians 4 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 Peter 42 verses
- 1 Peter 4:3For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
- 1 Peter 4:10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
- Read 1 Peter 4 →
1 John 42 verses
- 1 John 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- 1 John 4:2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
- Read 1 John 4 →
Colossians 32 verses
- Colossians 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- Colossians 3:15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
- Read Colossians 3 →
1 Thessalonians 11 verse
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
- Read 1 Thessalonians 1 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.