Spiritual Gifts
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 1Co 12:4-11Eph 4:111Co 14:1-181Co 14:372Pe 3:81Co 10:11Th 4:132Co 1:8 You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 1Pe 4:31Th 1:9Psa 115:5Gal 4:8Eph 2:11-121Co 6:11Hab 2:18-19Jer 10:5 Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 1Jn 4:2-3Mat 16:16-17Rom 10:92Co 3:5Jhn 13:131Co 8:6Jhn 15:26Mat 22:43
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 1Pe 4:101Co 12:28Rom 12:4-61Co 12:8-11Heb 2:4Eph 4:4-6Eph 4:11 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. Eph 4:11-12Rom 12:6-8Rom 14:8-91Co 8:6Mat 23:101Co 12:28-29Act 10:36Php 2:11 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. 1Co 3:71Co 12:11Heb 13:21Jhn 5:17Col 1:29Col 3:11Eph 4:6Php 2:13
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1Pe 4:10-11Rom 12:6-81Co 14:191Co 14:121Co 14:171Co 14:22-26Eph 4:7-121Co 14:5 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, Pro 2:61Co 2:6-10Eph 1:17-181Co 1:52Co 8:7Psa 143:101Co 1:30Gen 41:38-39 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, Jas 5:14-152Co 4:13Eph 2:8Heb 11:331Co 13:2Mat 17:19-201Co 12:28Mat 21:21 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 1Co 14:391Jn 4:1Mrk 16:171Co 12:28-301Co 14:31-32Jol 2:281Co 14:26-29Gal 3:5 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines. 1Co 12:4Heb 2:42Co 10:131Co 12:6Eph 4:71Co 7:171Co 7:7Dan 4:35
The Body of Christ
The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. Rom 12:4-5Col 3:151Co 12:27Eph 4:15-16Col 2:19Eph 5:301Co 10:17Eph 4:4 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. Eph 4:5Col 3:11Gal 3:28Jhn 7:37-391Pe 3:21Rom 6:3-6Act 1:5Eph 2:11-22
For the body does not consist of one part, but of many. 1Co 12:27-281Co 12:121Co 12:19Eph 4:25 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. Jdg 9:8-152Ki 14:9 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. Rom 12:31Co 12:22Php 2:3Rom 12:10 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? Psa 139:13-161Co 12:21Pro 20:12Psa 94:91Co 12:291Sa 9:9
But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. 1Co 12:28Rom 12:31Co 12:111Co 3:5Luk 12:321Co 12:24Luk 10:21Psa 135:6 If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1Co 12:141Co 12:12
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.” Ezr 10:1-5Neh 4:16-21Job 29:111Sa 25:32Num 10:31-32 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, Pro 14:28Ecc 9:14-15Ecc 4:9-122Co 1:11Ecc 5:9Tit 2:9-10 and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, Gen 3:21Gen 3:7 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. Gen 2:25Gen 3:11
But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. 2Co 13:111Co 1:10-12Jhn 17:21-262Co 8:161Co 3:32Co 7:12 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Rom 12:15Gal 6:2Heb 13:31Pe 3:82Co 11:28-29
The Greater Gifts
Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it. Eph 4:12Eph 5:30Col 1:24Rom 12:51Co 12:121Co 12:14-20Eph 1:23Eph 5:23 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. Eph 4:11-13Rom 12:6-81Co 12:181Co 12:7-111Ti 5:17Eph 2:20Eph 3:5Heb 13:24 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 1Co 12:4-111Co 12:14-20 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 1Co 12:10 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. 1Co 13:11Co 14:39Mat 5:6Php 3:81Co 8:1Luk 10:42Heb 11:4
And now I will show you the most excellent way.