1 Corinthians 12:12-31 - Unity In The Midst Of Diversity

¹² For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ. ¹³ For also by one Spirit we are all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bondmen or freemen, and we were all made to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the body also is not one part, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand I am not of the body, it is not by this not of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye I am not of the body, it is not by this 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 now God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body just as he intended. ¹⁹ And if they were all one part, where would be the body? ²⁰ But now of course there are many body-parts, but one body.

²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. ²² Instead, much more the parts of the body that seem to be more feeble are necessary. ²³ And those things of the body presumed to be without esteem, we place around these more abundant worth. And our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety, ²⁴ whereas our presentable parts have no need. Instead, God united the body together, having given more abundant worth to the part that lacks, ²⁵ so that there would be no schisms in the body, but that the parts would have the same care for each other. ²⁶ And if one part suffers, all the parts suffer together, or one part is honored, all the parts rejoice together.

²⁷ Now ye are the body of Christ, and body-parts individually. ²⁸ And in the church God has placed men who are first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

³¹ But be zealous for the better gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.