Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles?
Parallel translations
- WEB Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?
- KJV Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
- BSB Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
- NKJV Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
- NASB All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul asks rhetorically whether all are apostles, prophets, teachers, or miracle workers. The obvious answer is no; gifts are distributed, not uniform.
Overview
Through a series of questions expecting the answer 'no,' Paul reinforces that no single gift is given to everyone. The diversity established earlier means believers should not expect to share identical roles. This curbs both envy and pride, settling each member into the particular place God has assigned.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 1 Cor 12:4–11Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
- 1 Cor 12:14–20For the body is not one member, but many.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 12:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.