Read the Bible

¹ Now concerning those who are spiritual, my brethren, I would not have you be mistaken. ² when you were Gentiles, you know how you were seduced by your leaders, to the worship of dumb idols. ³ wherefore I give you to understand, that no man who has the spirit of God, can pronounce Jesus anathema: and that no man can acknowledge Jesus to be the Lord, but by the holy spirit. ⁴ Now there are different gifts, but the same spirit. ⁵ and there are different offices, but the same Lord. ⁶ and there are different operations, but it is the same God who performs them all in every one. ⁷ now to particular men the spirit gives particular gifts, that they may be displayed to greater advantage. ⁸ for to one the spirit gives the knowledge of the prophetical writings; to another the same spirit gives the knowledge of the doctrines of religion; ⁹ to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another diversity of languages; to another the interpretation of languages. ¹¹ but all are wrought by one and the same spirit, distributing to every one in particular, as he thinks fit.

¹² For as the body is one, tho' it has many members, and all the members of that one body, tho' many, are one body: so also is the body of Christ. ¹³ for by one spirit we have all been baptized, to be form'd into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and have been all made to drink of one spirit. ¹⁴ 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 now God disposed every one of the members in the body as he thought fit. ¹⁹ but if they were all one member, where would be the body? ²⁰ thus, tho' there are many members, yet there is 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 nay, those parts of the body, which seem to be of the least account, are much more necessary. ²³ what we think to be less honourable, is loaded with additional ornaments, and the less graceful have adventitious finery, ²⁴ of which the graceful have no need: but God has contrived the symmetry of the body, by bestowing an additional advantage where it seem'd to want it. ²⁵ that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same mutual concern for one another. ²⁶ so that if one member suffer, they all suffer with it: or if one be honoured, they partake of it.

²⁷ Thus you are the body of Christ, being the particular members of it. ²⁸ which God has placed in the church, first apostles, next prophets, then teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, assistants, governours, interpreters of languages. 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 divers languages? do all interpret? ³¹ you are contesting about the superiority of your gifts: but I point out to you a more excellent way.