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 ¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I would not have you ignorant.

 ² You know that when you were Gentiles, you were carried away to dumb idols, however you were led.

 ³ Therefore I give you to understand, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed; and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.¹ [To call Jesus, "Lord" or to say "Jesus is the Lord" does not make him your Lord and Master, whom you serve. You serve whom you obey: you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Rom 6:16. Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. John 8:34. Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?...But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house upon the ground without a foundation; against which the torrent struck violently, and immediately it collapsed; and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:46-49.]

 ⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

 ⁵ And there are differences of ministrations, but the same Lord.

 ⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God who works all in all.

 ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to benefit all.² [Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all men; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out my Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy; Acts 2:14-18.]

 ⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

 ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

 ¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another many kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. [Not all faithful Christians are to expected to speak in tongues; yet today the Pentecostals believe that speaking in tongues is the proof of all true Christians, which false belief this chapter's verses 10 and 28-30 prove totally false; in fact, the theme of this whole chapter is different gifts to different members of the body. The Word of the Lord within also contradicts that false belief, saying, "the tongues of the Holy Spirit are optional."]

 ¹¹ But all these are by that one and the selfsame Spirit, distributing to every one severally as he will.

 ¹² For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

 ¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Gentiles, whether we are slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

 ¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

 ¹⁵ If the foot should say, "Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body?

 ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, "Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body?

 ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

 ¹⁸ But God has set every one of the members in the body, as it has pleased him.

 ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would be the body?

 ²⁰ But now they are many members, yet one body.

 ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

 ²² Indeed, those members of the body that seem to be more feeble, are necessary;

 ²³ And those members of the body, that we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

 ²⁴ For our comely parts have no need; but God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to the part that lacked,

 ²⁵ That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have care for one another.

 ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

 ²⁷  You are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.

 ²⁸ Now God has appointed some in the church: first apostles, secondarily prophets,³ thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues.

 ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

 ³⁰ Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

 ³¹ But covet [earnestly desire] the best gifts; and yet I will show you a more excellent way.