1Now concerning things pertaining to the Spirit, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. [12:2] You know that when you were pagans — those outside God's covenant — you were led away, however you were led, to mute idols. [12:3] Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is cursed,' and no one is able to say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit. [12:4] Now there are distributions of gifts of grace, but the same Spirit. [12:5] And there are distributions of services, but the same Lord. [12:6] And there are distributions of workings, but the same God who works all things in all. [12:7] But to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. [12:8] For to one a word of wisdom is given through the Spirit, and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [12:9] to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [12:10] to another workings of power, to another prophecy, to another discernment of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. [12:11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as he wills.
1CO 12:1-11
Spiritual Gifts
In the world it was spoken into
In Corinth, a bustling Roman colony with a diverse population, the Gentile converts to Christianity would have been familiar with ecstatic religious practices tied to pagan cults, particularly those involving Dionysus or Cybele, where trance-like states and utterances were common. Paul’s mention of being 'led astray to mute idols' would resonate with their past experiences of idol worship, where ecstatic speech was directed toward deities incapable of response. The phrase 'no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit' would have been striking, as it contrasted the pagan practices with the confession of Jesus’ lordship, a declaration of allegiance that carried political and spiritual weight in a Roman context. The 'varieties of gifts' Paul describes would have been understood as divine grace distributed intentionally by the Spirit, not random or chaotic. This emphasis on unity amid diversity would have countered Corinthian tendencies toward factionalism and pride in individual spiritual experiences.
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How other translations render this
1CO 12:1
- KJV
- Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
- BSB
- Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
- Koinōnos
- Now concerning things pertaining to the Spirit, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
1CO 12:2
- KJV
- Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
- BSB
- You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
- Koinōnos
- You know that when you were pagans — those outside God's covenant — you were led away, however you were led, to mute idols.
1CO 12:3
- KJV
- Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
- BSB
- Therefore I inform you 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.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is cursed,' and no one is able to say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit.
1CO 12:4
- KJV
- Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
- BSB
- There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- Koinōnos
- Now there are distributions of gifts of grace, but the same Spirit.
1CO 12:5
- KJV
- And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
- BSB
- There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
- Koinōnos
- And there are distributions of services, but the same Lord.
1CO 12:6
- KJV
- And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
- BSB
- There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
- Koinōnos
- And there are distributions of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.
1CO 12:7
- KJV
- But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
- BSB
- Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
- Koinōnos
- But to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1CO 12:8
- KJV
- For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
- BSB
- To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
- Koinōnos
- For to one a word of wisdom is given through the Spirit, and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
1CO 12:9
- KJV
- To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
- BSB
- to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
- Koinōnos
- to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
1CO 12:10
- KJV
- To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
- BSB
- to 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.
- Koinōnos
- to another workings of power, to another prophecy, to another discernment of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues.
1CO 12:11
- KJV
- But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
- BSB
- All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
- Koinōnos
- But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as he wills.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1CO 12:1
- spiritual [gifts],:The word translated 'spiritual' here refers to things pertaining to the Spirit, often implying a divine origin or influence, rather than merely non-physical or ethereal.
1CO 12:2
- pagans:The term translated 'pagans' or 'Gentiles' referred to all non-Israelite peoples, often carrying connotations of those outside God's covenant and worshiping other deities.
1CO 12:4
- Varieties:The word translated 'varieties' implies a distribution or division into distinct categories, suggesting different kinds or classifications of gifts.
- of gifts:The word translated 'gifts' specifically denotes a gift of grace, something freely and graciously given, often with the implication of divine favor or endowment.