1 Corinthians 12

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1Now I want to talk about gifts that come from God's Spirit. Friends, I do not want you to be confused about them.

2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

2You remember how you lived before you knew God. You were pulled along to worship idols. Idols are statues that cannot speak at all.

NoteThe old wording calls these idols "dumb." That means they cannot speak. It does not mean they are silly.

3Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

3So let me make this clear to you. No one who speaks by God's Spirit says, "Let Jesus be cursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," without help from the Holy Spirit.

4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

4There are many different gifts. But they all come from the same Spirit.

5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

5There are many different ways to serve. But we all serve the same Lord.

6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

6There are many different kinds of work. But the same God does all of it, in all his people.

7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

7The Spirit shows himself in each person in some way. That is given to help everyone.

8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

8The Spirit gives one person wise words to say. He gives another person words full of knowledge.

9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

9The same Spirit gives another person strong trust in God. He gives another person the power to make sick people well.

10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

10Another can do miracles, things only God can do. Another can tell people what God says. Another can tell which spirits really come from God. Another can speak in languages he never learned. Another can explain what those words mean.

11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

11One and the same Spirit does all of this. He gives each person whatever he chooses to give.

12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

12A body is one thing, but it has many parts. All those many parts together make one body. It is the same with Christ and his people.

13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

13One Spirit joined us all into one body when we were baptized. That is true for Jews and for people from other nations. It is true for slaves and for free people. We were all given that same one Spirit to drink.

14For the body is not one member, but many.

14A body is not made of only one part. It is made of many parts.

15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

15Suppose the foot said, "I am not a hand, so I do not belong to the body." It would still be part of the body.

16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16Suppose the ear said, "I am not an eye, so I do not belong to the body." It would still be part of the body.

17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

17If the whole body were one big eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell?

18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

18But God placed every single part in the body. He put each one right where he wanted it.

19And if they were all one member, where were the body?

19If all the parts were the same one part, there would be no body at all.

20But now are they many members, yet but one body.

20But there are many parts. And together they make one body.

21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you." The head cannot say to the feet, "I do not need you."

22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

22In fact, the parts that seem the weakest are the ones we cannot do without.

23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

23We give extra care to the parts that seem less important. And we cover up carefully the parts we keep private.

NoteThe old words here are "uncomely" and "comely." They mean the parts of the body we keep covered and the parts we let show.

24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

24The parts we can show do not need that extra care. God put the body together this way. He gave more honor to the parts that had less.

25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

25He did this so the body would not split apart. He wants every part to care about the other parts.

26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

26If one part hurts, all the parts hurt with it. If one part is honored, all the parts are glad with it.

27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

27You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.

28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

28God has given his church, the people who follow Jesus, people with different jobs. First apostles, the men Jesus sent out to teach. Second prophets, who tell people what God says. Third teachers. Then people who do miracles, people who heal, people who help others, people who guide the group, and people who speak in other languages.

NoteThe old word here is "governments." It does not mean rulers of a country. It means people who lead and organize the group.

29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

29Is everyone an apostle? Is everyone a prophet? Is everyone a teacher? Does everyone do miracles?

30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

30Does everyone have the gift of healing? Does everyone speak in other languages? Does everyone explain them?

31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

31So want the greater gifts very much. And now I will show you a way that is even better.

NoteThe old word here is "covet." In this verse it just means to want something very much, in a good way.