1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.

2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

3 Therefore 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.

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

5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.

6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

10 and 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.

11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

12 For 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.

13 For 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.

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

15 If 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.

16 If 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.

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

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.

19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?

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

21 The 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.”

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

23 Those 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,

24 while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,

25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

28 God 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.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?

30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?

31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.

Around 1 Corinthians 12

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

1 Corinthians 12 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

Paul wants his readers to understand spiritual gifts, and he begins with the thing all believers have in common. No one speaking by God’s Spirit curses Jesus, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Then he lists the variety. “various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit” various kinds of service, and the same Lord. Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, languages and their interpretation are given to each person for the good of all.

The picture he uses is the human body. It is one body with many members, and in one Spirit all were baptized into it, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free. The foot cannot say it does not belong because it is not a hand. The eye cannot tell the hand it has no need of it. The weaker members are necessary. “When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.” Paul ends: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” Yet he points to a still better way.

Background

The Corinthians had put a high value on certain gifts, especially speaking in other languages, and may have ranked people by them. Paul answers by stressing that all gifts come from one Spirit and are given for the common good. Christians have long differed on whether gifts such as healing and tongues continue today in the same form. The order of the list in verse 28 is also read in different ways. Chapter 13 follows without a break, and the most excellent way Paul promises is the subject of that chapter.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 16 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

Report a mistake

CommunityVoices, not sources

Readers share what this chapter means to them in the app.

See what readers say about 1 Corinthians 12

World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes