World English Bible · Under Rome
1 Corinthians 12
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Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by says, " is ." No one can say, " is ," but by . Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same . There are various kinds of , and the same . There are various kinds of workings, but the same who works all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of for the profit of all. For to one is given through the word of , and to another the word of knowledge according to the same , to another by the same , and to another gifts of healings by the same , and to another workings of miracles, and to another , and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of , and to another the of . But the one and the same produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he . For as and has many members, and all the , being many, are ; so also is Christ. For in one we were all into , whether or , whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one . For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body. If the ear would say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," it's not therefore not part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? But now has set the members, each one of them, in the body, as he . 19If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now they are many members, but . The eye can't tell the hand, "I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need for you." No, much rather, those which seem to be weaker are necessary. Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant ; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty, while our presentable parts have no such need. But composed the body together, giving more abundant to the inferior part, that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is , all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the , and members individually. has set some in : first , second , third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of . Are all ? Are all ? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various ? Do all ? But earnestly the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
Christians read this chapter differently
- Are the miraculous gifts still given today? · 1 Corinthians 12 to 14
Every view at its strongest, with who holds it and what it has to answer for.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.