1 Corinthians 12 12-1 Corinthians 12 31
For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body– though many– are one body, so too is Christ.For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit.For in fact the body is not a single member, but many.If the foot says,“ Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.And if the ear says,“ Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell?But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided.If they were all the same member, where would the body be?So now there are many members, but one body.The eye cannot say to the hand,“ I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot,“ I do not need you.”On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential,and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity,but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member,so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another.If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it.And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they?Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they?But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.