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12 Now I do not want you to lack da’as concerning the things of the Ruach Hakodesh, Achim b’Moshiach.

You have da’as that when you WERE Goyim [T.N. i.e., you are no longer heathen pagans], somehow you were influenced and led astray to the ELILIM ILLEMIM ("Dumb idols, idols incapable of speech" CHABAKUK 2:18-19).

Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Ruach Hakodesh of Hashem says, "Al Yehoshua ki Cherem hu" ("a curse of the ban of destruction is on Yehoshua"), and no one is able to say, "Yehoshua hu HaAdon" except by the Ruach Hakodesh.

There are different kinds of matanot (gifts), but the same Ruach Hakodesh.

There are different avodot hakodesh (ministries), but the one Adonoi.

And there are a variety of activities [of the Ruach Hakodesh], but the same G-d working all in all.

But to each is given the disclosure of the Ruach Hakodesh for benefit:

To one through the Ruach Hakodesh is given a dvar chochmah (a dvar of wisdom Ac 16:7); to another, according to the same Ruach Hakodesh, a dvar da’as (word of knowledge Ac 5:3);

To another, by the same Ruach Hakodesh, emunah (Mt 17:20-21); to another, by the one Ruach Hakodesh, matanot harippuy (gifts of healing [refuah]) Ac 3:6-16);

10 to another those of cholel niflaot ("accomplishing miracles" SHEMOT 4:21; Yn 11:42-43) And to another divrei hanevu’ah (words of prophecy MELACHIM ALEF 17:1), and to another discernings (being about to make a nafka mina distinction) of ruchot (spirits MELACHIM ALEF 22:22), to another kinds of leshonot (tongues Ac 2:4), and to another, pitronim (interpretations) of leshonot (tongues—1C 14:13).

11 All these things are activated by the one and same Ruach Hakodesh, distributing individually to each one as He determines.

12 For even as the body is echad, and has many evarim (members), and all the evarim (members) of the body, though many, are one body, so is Moshiach.

13 For also in one Ruach Hakodesh we were all given a tevilah into one body, whether Yehudim or Yevanim (Greeks), whether avadim (slaves) or bnei Chorin (freedman), and all were given to drink, as it were, from one Ruach Hakodesh.

14 For the body is not one, but many, evarim (members).

15 If the regel (foot) says, "Because I am not a yad (hand), I am not of the body," that would not make it any less one of the evarim of the body.

16 And if the ozen (ear) says, "Because I am no ayin (eye), I am not of the body," that would not make it any less one of the evarim of the body.

17 If the whole body were an ayin (eye), where would be the hearing? If the whole body were hearing, where would be the smelling?

18 But now Hashem set the evarim (members), each one of them, in the body according to His ratzon (will), as He wanted.

19 And if all were all one evar (member), where would the body be?

20 As it is, though there are many evarim (members), there is but one body.

21 And the ayin (eye) is not able to say to the yad (hand), “I do not have need of you.” Or, again, the rosh (head), speaking to the raglayim (feet), is not to say, “I have no need of you.”

22 Just the opposite, the evarim of the body appearing to be weaker are vital.

23 And those evarim of the body which we presume to be dishonorable, on these we clothe with even more honor, and our parts with lesser kibbud (respect, honor) are treated with greater.

24 Whereas, our evarim with greater kibbud have no need of more. However, Hashem has so composed the achdus yichudim (unit, harmony of unifications) of the body, giving the superior kibbud to the inferior,

25 lest there be schisms (1:10; 11:18) in the body. But the evarim should have the same gemilut chasadim (deeds of lovingkindness and caring) for one another.

26 And when one evar (member) has tza’ar (pain and suffering), all the evarim (members) have tza’ar with it; or one evar has the aliyah of kibbud, all the evarim has simcha with it.

27 Now you are Moshiach’s body (BERESHIS 47:18-19) and individually evarim of it.

28 Now Hashem placed some in the Adat HaMoshiach (community of Moshiach), in the Kehillah, rishon (first): shlichim, second, nevi’im, third, morim (teachers), then those of cholel nifla’aot (“accomplishing miracles—Ex 4:21), then matanot harippuy (gifts of healing), then matanot of helps, then manhigut ruchanit (spiritual leadership, administration), kinds of leshonot.

29 Surely not all are shlichim? Surely not all are nevi’im? Surely not all are rabbinical morim? Surely not all are those cholel nifa’ot (accomplishing miracles”)?

30 Surely not all have matanot harippuy (gifts of healing)? Surely not all speak in leshonot (cf 1C 14:23, 26)? Surely not all have the pitron (interpretation) of leshonot?

31 But earnestly desire the greater matanot (gifts) [of the Ruach Hakodesh]….And yet now I show you a more feste derech. T.N. Rav Sha’ul now turns to the need for balance. Not that he is trying to terminate the miraculous in Moshiach’s Kehillah [a futile endeavor!], but that he is showing the need for the fruit of the Ruach Hakodesh to balance His gifts, especially in an environment where pride and carnality have quenched ahavah, which is the Yn 3:16 center of Moshiach’s saving histalkus (passing, the death of Moshiach in midst of his Redemptive mission on the analogy of Moses dying before he crosses into the Promised Land.)

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,(A) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.(B) You know that when you were pagans,(C) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.(D) Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,”(E) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”(F) except by the Holy Spirit.(G)

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit(H) distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone(I) it is the same God(J) at work.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.(K) To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,(L) to another a message of knowledge(M) by means of the same Spirit, to another faith(N) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing(O) by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers,(P) to another prophecy,(Q) to another distinguishing between spirits,(R) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a](S) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,(T) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,(U) so it is with Christ.(V) 13 For we were all baptized(W) by[c] one Spirit(X) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free(Y)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.(Z) 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.(AA)

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed(AB) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.(AC) 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.(AD)

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,(AE) and each one of you is a part of it.(AF) 28 And God has placed in the church(AG) first of all apostles,(AH) second prophets,(AI) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,(AJ) of helping, of guidance,(AK) and of different kinds of tongues.(AL) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]?(AM) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire(AN) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or with; or in
  4. 1 Corinthians 12:30 Or other languages