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1My fellow believers, I don’t want you to be confused about spiritual realities.[#12:1 The Greek word pneumatikos is “spiritual” (things), with the implication of spiritual realities or spiritual gifts. Some scholars believe that “spiritual” may refer to spiritual persons.]
2For you know full well that when you were unbelievers you were often led astray in one way or another by your worship of idols, which are incapable of talking with you.[#12:2 Or “carried [or snatched] away.”]
3Therefore, I want to impart to you an understanding of the following:
No one speaking by the Spirit of God would ever say, “Jesus is the accursed one.”
No one can say, “Jesus is the Lord Yahweh ,” unless the Holy Spirit is speaking through him.
4It is the same Holy Spirit who continues to distribute many different varieties of gifts.[#12:4 The nine gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit listed here include: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gift of faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in different kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. See vv. 7–11.]
5The Lord Yahweh is one, and he is the one who apportions to believers different varieties of ministries.[#12:5 As translated from the Aramaic. See also Deut. 6:4.; #12:5 See Eph. 4:7–16. The ministries Jesus apportions by grace are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.]
6The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer’s gift and ministry as he energizes and activates them.[#12:6 As translated from the Aramaic, which can also be translated “powers.”]
7Each believer is given continuous revelation by the Holy Spirit to benefit not just himself but all.[#12:7 As translated from the Aramaic and implied in the Greek word phanerosis (“the clear display in light,” or “public manifestations”).; #12:7 To summarize, God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit delights to give spiritual gifts to his people, the bride of Christ. These gifts are imparted by God to every believer upon conversion as the Holy Spirit chooses (v. 11). They will confirm the Word of God and expand the kingdom of God. Spiritual gifts can be neglected and misused, but they remain the divine power source for Christ’s body on the earth. Through teaching, evangelizing, prophesying, and demonstrating the miraculous, God uses his people to expand his kingdom and to establish righteousness on the earth through the proper use of the gifts he has given. There is no place in Scripture or church history where these gifts were taken away or removed from the body of Christ. The church moves forward through these divine gifts. Spiritual gifts do not replace the Word of God, but the Word of God will spread and flourish as the fully equipped body of Christ operates in the wise use of God’s enabling power.]
8For example:
The Spirit gives to one the gift of the word of wisdom.
To another, the same Spirit gives the gift of the word of revelation knowledge.
9And to another, the same Spirit gives the gift of faith.[#12:9 This is the supernatural power of faith released in a believer to do the miracle works of God on the earth.]
And to another, the same Spirit gives gifts of healing.
10And to another the power to work miracles.[#12:10 This includes the divine ability to still a storm, feed a multitude, walk on water, cast out demons, turn water into wine, and raise the dead. This gift was one of the distinctive marks of an apostle. See 2 Cor. 12:12.]
And to another the gift of prophecy.
And to another the gift to discern what the Spirit is speaking.
And to another the gift of speaking different kinds of tongues.
And to another the gift of interpretation of tongues.
11Remember, it is the same Holy Spirit who distributes, activates, and operates these different gifts as he chooses for each believer.[#12:11 Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit at any time to anyone he chooses.]
12Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ.[#12:12 Christ is now a body with many parts. The human body of Jesus is glorified and enthroned in heaven. So also is the body of Christ. We are co-enthroned with him ( Rom. 8:29–30; Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1–4), but we continue to exist on earth to represent him to the world.]
13For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body. And no matter our status—whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free—we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit.[#12:13 This is not a baptism into the Spirit ( Matt. 3:6) but a baptism into the body of Christ. Upon conversion, the Holy Spirit does four things for every believer: (1) He gives us new birth (regeneration—see John 3:5; Titus 3:5). (2) He comes to live inside us (indwelling—see Rom. 8:9). (3) He places us into the body as a member of Christ’s body on the earth (spiritual baptism—see 1 Cor. 12:13). (4) He seals us as the possession of Christ until the redemption of our human body (see Eph. 1:13–14; 4:30).; #12:13 To “drink deeply” of the Spirit is the same as receiving his power and gifts until rivers of living water flow from the inside of us. See John 3:34; 7:37.]
14In fact, the human body is not one single part but rather many parts mingled into one .
15So if the foot were to say, “Since I’m not a hand, I’m not a part of the body,” it’s forgetting that it is still a vital part of the body.
16And if the ear were to say, “Since I’m not an eye, I’m not really a part of the body,” it’s forgetting that it is still an important part of the body.
17Think of it this way . If the whole body were just an eyeball, how could it hear sounds? And if the whole body were just an ear, how could it smell different fragrances?
18But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as he desires.[#12:18 Every believer should be content with the place within the body God has placed him. And God is pleased when we serve him with joy in every activity or ministry that we engage in for the sake of the body.]
19A diversity is required , for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all!
20So now we see that there are many differing parts and functions, but one body.
21It would be wrong for the eye to say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” and equally wrong if the head said to the foot, “I don’t need you.”
22In fact, the weaker our parts, the more vital and essential they are.[#12:22 Paul is, no doubt, speaking of our internal organs: liver, heart, lungs, etc.]
23The body parts we think are less honorable we treat with greater respect. And the body parts that need to be covered in public we treat with propriety and clothe them.
24But some of our body parts don’t require as much attention. Instead, God has mingled the body parts together, giving greater honor to the “lesser” members who lacked it.
25He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body.
26In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices.
27You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it.
28God has placed in the church the following:
First apostles,
second prophets,
third teachers,
then those with gifts of miracles, gifts of divine healing,
gifts of revelation knowledge, gifts of leadership,
and gifts of different kinds of tongues.
29Not everyone is an apostle or a prophet or a teacher. Not everyone performs miracles
30or has gifts of healing or speaks in tongues or interprets tongues.
31But you should all constantly boil over with passion in seeking the higher gifts.
And now I will show you a superior way to live that is beyond comparison!