1 Corinthians 12:4-31

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on 1 Corinthians 12:4-31

4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
5There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
6There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10to 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.
11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
12The 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.
13For 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.
14For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.
15If 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.
16And 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.
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?
18But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
19If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”
22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,
24whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.
26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.
28And 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.
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
— 1 Corinthians 12:4-31

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Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:18-20

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Different, yet the Same
Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NLT

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Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:18-20

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 -- But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit...
Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:13

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Interdependance
Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:14

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Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:27

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:27 -- Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

One Spirit to Drink
Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT -- 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.

One Spirit, One Body
Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:13

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Part of the Body
Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:27

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Cross References for 1 Corinthians 12:4-31

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