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PART III.

(CHAPS. XII.-XIV.)

THE OFFICE OF LOVE IN DRAWING INDIVIDUALS INTO A COMMUNITY; ENRICHING

THE WHOLE BODY WITH THE GIFTS

OF EACH OF ITS MEMBERS.

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PART III.

(CHAPTERS XII. - XIV.)

SECTION I.

UNITY AMID DIVERSITY.

THE CHURCH AND ITS MEMBERS,

AS THE BODY WITH ITS ORGANS AND LIMBS: EACH ES

SENTIAL IN ITS PLACE; AND THE GIFTS AND GRACES OF EACH, THE WEALTH AND ADORNMENT OF ALL.

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CHAP. XII. 1-30.

Now concerning spiritual things, brethren, I would 2 not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto dumb idols, even as ye were 3 led. Wherefore I give you to understand that no one speaking in the spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed, and no one can say, "Jesus is the Lord," but in the 4 holy spirit. Now there are diversities of gifts, but 5 the same spirit. And there are diversities of offices, 6 but the same Lord. And there are diversities of inward workings, but it is the same God who worketh 7 them all in all. But the manifestation of the spirit 8 is given to each, according to what is expedient.

To

one through the spirit is given the word of wisdom: to another, the word of knowledge, according to the 9 same spirit to another, faith, in the same spirit to 10 another, gifts of healing, in the same spirit: to another, the working of mighty powers: to another, prophecy to another, discerning of spirits: to another, kinds of tongues and to another, the interpretation of tongues. 11 But all these worketh the one and same Spirit, distributing severally to each as he will.

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For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are 13 one body, so also is Christ. For we were all baptized in one spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and have all been made to 14 drink into one spirit. For the body is not one member, 15 but many. If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the 16 body? And if the ear should say, Because I am not the eye I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the 17 body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were hearing, where 18 would the smelling be? But now God hath placed the members, each one of them in the body, according as 19 it hath pleased Him. And if all were one member, 20 where would the body be? Now are there many mem21 bers, yet but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to 22 the feet, I have no need of you. But rather, those parts

of the body that seem to be the weaker are necessary; 23 and upon those parts of the body which we think less

honorable, we bestow more abundant honor, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; but 24 our comely parts have no need. But God hath tempered

the body together, giving more abundant honor to the

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