Study Desk

Now concerning what comes from the Spirit:^[a] brothers, I do not want you to be unaware.

You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols^(a) that could not speak.^(b)

Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are different gifts,^(c) but the same Spirit.

There are different ministries, but the same Lord.

And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.^[b]

A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person^(d) to produce what is beneficial:

to one^(e) is given a message of wisdom^(f) through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing^(g) by the one Spirit,

to another, the performing of miracles,^(h) to another, prophecy,⁽ⁱ⁾ to another, distinguishing between spirits,^(j) to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages.

But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.

For as the body is one^(k) and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.^(l)

For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.^(m)

So the body is not one part but many.

If the foot should say, "Because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.

And if the ear should say, "Because I'm not an eye, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted.⁽ⁿ⁾

And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?

Now there are many parts, yet one body.

So the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" Or again, the head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you!"

But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.

And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable,^(o) we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation.

But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable,

so that there would be no division^(p) in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.

So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ,^(q) and individual members of it.

And God has placed these in the church:^(r) first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,^(s) next miracles,^(t) then gifts of healing,^(u) helping, managing, various kinds of languages.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?

Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages? Do all interpret?^(v)

But desire^(w) the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.