2 KORINTIËRS 12
Die verskeidenheid van geestelike gawes
1 Wat die gawes van die Gees betref, broers, wil ek hê dat julle ingelig moet wees. 2 Julle weet dat, toe julle nog heidene was, julle blindelings na die stom afgode meegevoer is. 3 Daarom wil ek hê julle moet weet dat iemand wat sê: “Vervloek is Jesus”, nie deur die Gees van God praat nie; en niemand kan sê: “Jesus is die Here” nie, behalwe deur die Heilige Gees.
4 Daar is 'n verskeidenheid van genadegawes, maar dit is dieselfde Gees wat dit gee; 5 daar is 'n verskeidenheid van bedieninge, maar dit is dieselfde Here wat die opdrag gee; 6 daar is 'n verskeidenheid van kragtige werkinge, maar dit is dieselfde God wat alles in almal tot stand bring.
7 Aan elkeen afsonderlik word 'n werking van die Gees gegee tot voordeel van almal. 8 Aan die een word deur die Gees die gawe gegee om 'n woord van wysheid te praat, aan 'n ander 'n woord van kennis deur dieselfde Gees; 9 aan die een geloof deur dieselfde Gees, aan 'n ander genadegawes van gesondmaking deur die één Gees. 10 Aan die een gee Hy die krag om wonders te doen, aan 'n ander die gawe om te profeteer, en aan nog 'n ander die gawe om tussen die geeste te onderskei. Aan nog een gee Hy die gawe om ongewone tale of klanke te gebruik en aan 'n ander om dit uit te lê. 11 Maar al hierdie dinge is die werk van een en dieselfde Gees, wat aan elkeen afsonderlik 'n gawe uitdeel soos Hy wil.
Een liggaam met baie lede
12 Net soos die liggaam 'n eenheid is en baie lede het, en soos al die lede saam, al is hulle baie, een liggaam vorm, so is dit ook met die liggaam van Christus. 13 Omdat ons almal een liggaam geword het, is ons almal met die een Gees gedoop, of ons nou Jood of Griek is, slaaf of vry. Ons is almal van die een Gees deurdrenk.
14 Die liggaam bestaan ook nie net uit een lid nie, maar uit baie. 15 As die voet sou sê: “Omdat ek nie 'n hand is nie, is ek nie deel van die liggaam nie,” hou hy om dié rede tog nie op om deel van die liggaam te wees nie. 16 En as die oor sou sê: “Omdat ek nie 'n oog is nie, is ek nie deel van die liggaam nie,” hou hy om dié rede eweneens nie op om deel van die liggaam te wees nie. 17 As die hele liggaam oog was, hoe sou hy kon hoor? En as die hele liggaam oor was, hoe sou hy kon ruik? 18 Maar nou het God die lede, elkeen van hulle afsonderlik, in die liggaam gevoeg soos Hy dit wou hê. 19 As almal saam net een lid was, hoe sou daar 'n liggaam kon wees? 20 Nou is daar wel baie lede maar net een liggaam.
21 Die oog kan nie vir die hand sê: “Ek het jou nie nodig nie.” Die kop kan weer nie vir die voete sê: “Ek het julle nie nodig nie.” 22 Inteendeel, die lede van die liggaam wat as die swakste voorkom, is juis noodsaaklik, 23 en dié wat vir ons minder mooi lyk, klee ons met groter sorg. So word ons minder aansienlike dele besonder mooi gemaak, 24 terwyl die aantreklike dele dit nie nodig het nie. God het die liggaam so saamgestel dat Hy groter eer gegee het aan die lid wat eer kortkom, 25 sodat daar nie verdeeldheid in die liggaam sou wees nie, maar dat die lede gelyke sorg vir mekaar dra. 26 As een lid ly, ly al die lede saam; en as een lid geëer word, is al die lede saam bly.
27 Julle is die liggaam van Christus, en afsonderlik is elkeen 'n lid daarvan. 28 En in die kerk is daar mense aan wie God 'n bepaalde taak gegee het. Ten eerste is daar apostels, ten tweede profete, ten derde leraars; verder is daar dié wat wonderdade kan doen, dan dié wat genadegawes ontvang het om mense gesond te maak, om hulp te verleen, om leiding te gee of om ongewone tale of klanke te gebruik. 29 Is almal miskien apostels? Is almal profete? Is almal leraars? Kan almal miskien wonders doen? 30 Het almal die genadegawes om mense gesond te maak? Of gebruik almal miskien ongewone tale of klanke en kan almal dit uitlê?
31 Lê julle toe op die beste genadegawes.
1 Corinthians 12
1 NOW ABOUT the spiritual gifts (the special endowments of supernatural energy), brethren, I do not want you to be misinformed.2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led off after idols that could not speak [habitually] as impulse directed and whenever the occasion might arise.3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.4 Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same.5 And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served].6 And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things], but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all.7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit.8 To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit;9 To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit;10 To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues.11 All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses.12 For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).13 For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit.14 For the body does not consist of one limb or organ but of many.15 If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body?16 If the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body?17 If the whole body were an eye, where [would be the sense of] hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where [would be the sense of] smell?18 But as it is, God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation.19 But if [the whole] were all a single organ, where would the body be?20 And now there are [certainly] many limbs and organs, but a single body.21 And the eye is not able to say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.22 But instead, there is [absolute] necessity for the parts of the body that are considered the more weak.23 And those [parts] of the body which we consider rather ignoble are [the very parts] which we invest with additional honor, and our unseemly parts and those unsuitable for exposure are treated with seemliness (modesty and decorum),24 Which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack [apparent importance],25 So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another.26 And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it.27 Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].28 So God has appointed some in the church [for His own use]: first apostles (special messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders); third teachers; then wonder-workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; [speakers in] different (unknown) tongues.29 Are all apostles (special messengers)? Are all prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God)? Are all teachers? Do all have the power of performing miracles?30 Do all possess extraordinary powers of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?31 But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all--love].