1 Corinthians

Spiritual Gifts

Regarding spiritual gifts, I want to remind you of this:

When you were still pagans, you were irresistibly drawn to your silent idols.

I tell you that nobody inspired by the Spirit of God may say, “A curse on Jesus,” as no one can say, “Jesus is the Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the Spirit is the same.

There are different kinds of service, but the Lord is the same.

There are different works, but it is the same God who works in all.

The Spirit reveals his presence in each person with a gift that also serves a purpose.

One is to speak with wisdom through the Spirit; another teaches according to the same Spirit.

To another is given faith in which the Spirit acts; to another the gift of healing, and it is the same Spirit.

Another works miracles, another is a prophet, another recognizes whether what comes from a good or evil spirit; another speaks in tongues, and still another interprets what has been said in tongues.

And all of this is the work of the one and only Spirit, who grants to each as he chooses.

Just as a body is one, with many members, and all the members, though many, form one body, so it is with Christ.

All of us, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, have been baptized in one Spirit to form one body, and all of us have been given to drink from the one Spirit.

The body has many members, not just one.

If the foot says, “I do not belong to the body because I am not a hand,” it would be wrong: it is part of the body!

Even if the ear claims, “I do not belong to the body because I am not an eye,” it still is part of the body.

If the entire body were an eye, how could we hear? And if the whole body were an ear, how could we smell?

God has arranged all the members, placing each part of the body as he pleased.

If all were the same part, where would the body be?

But there are many members in one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you,’ nor the head say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’

In fact, the parts of our body that we consider most necessary are often the weakest;

the parts we think are less important are treated with great care

and covered more modestly because they are less visible, while the others don’t require as much attention.

God himself arranged the body this way, giving more honor to the parts that need it so the body stays united, with each member caring for the others.

When one suffers, all suffer; and when one is honored, everyone rejoices.

Now, you are the body of Christ, and each of you individually is a part of it.

So, God has appointed us in the Church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers. Then come miracles, then the gift of healing, material help, administration in the Church, and the gift of tongues.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?

Can everyone perform miracles, heal the sick, speak in tongues, or interpret what was said in tongues?

But regardless, desire the most valuable gifts, and I will show you a better way.