1 Corinthians 12 NLT - NIV | Parallel Bible (2024)

New Living Translation NLT

New International Version NIV

1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.

1Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.

2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

3Therefore I want you to know 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.

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice ; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.

8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.

9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

13For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.

14Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.

15Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?

16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

17If 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?

18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

18But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!

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

20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.

20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,

23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,

24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.

24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.

25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.

28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles?

29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!

30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret?

31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

31Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.