Now about the ^aspiritual gifts the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit, brothers and sisters, ^bI do not want you to be uninformed. 2 ^aYou know that when you were pagans, you were ^bled off after ^cspeechless idols; however you were led off whether by impulse or habit. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking ^aby the power and influence of the Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be ^bcursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is my ^cLord,” except ^dby the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are distinctive ^avarieties of spiritual gifts special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers, but it is the same Spirit who grants them and empowers believers. 5 And there are distinctive varieties of ministries and service, but it is the same Lord who is served. 6 And there are distinctive ways of working to accomplish things, but it is the same ^aGod who produces all things in all believers inspiring, energizing, and empowering them. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit ^afor the common good. 8 To one is given through the Holy Spirit the power to speak the message of ^awisdom, and to another the power to express the word of ^bknowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit; 9 to another wonder-working ^afaith is given by the same Holy Spirit, and to another the extraordinary ^bgifts of healings by the one Spirit; 10 and to another the working of ^1amiracles, and to another ^bprophecy foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people, and to another ^cdiscernment of spirits the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults, to another various ^dkinds of unknown tongues, and to another ^einterpretation of tongues. 11 All these things the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering are brought about by one and the same Holy Spirit, ^adistributing to each one individually just as He chooses.

12 For just ^aas the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form only one body, ^bso ¹it is with Christ. 13 For ^aby one Holy Spirit we were all baptized into one body, spiritually transformed—united together whether ^bJews or Greeks (Gentiles) , slaves or free, and we were all made to ^cdrink of one Holy Spirit since the same Holy Spirit fills each life. Rom 3:22; Gal 3:28

14 For ^athe human body does not consist of one part, but of many limbs and organs. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? 16 If the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now as things really are, God has ^aplaced and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them, ^bjust as He willed and saw fit with the best balance of function. 19 If they all were a single organ, where would the rest of the body be? 20 But now as things really are ^athere are many parts different limbs and organs, but a single body. 21 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 But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are absolutely necessary; 23 and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the whole body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 so that there would be no division or discord in the body that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it.

27 Now you collectively are ^aChrist’s body, and ^bindividually you are members of it each with his own special purpose and function. 28 So God has ^aappointed and placed in ^bthe church for His own use: first ^capostles chosen by Christ, second ^dprophets those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people, third ^eteachers, then those who work ^fmiracles, then those with the ^ggifts of healings, the helpers, the ^hadministrators, and speakers in various ⁱkinds of unknown tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all ^ainterpret? 31 But ^aearnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts if acquiring them is going to be your goal.

And yet I will show you a still more excellent way one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love.