But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Parallel translations
- WEB But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
- BSB Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
- NKJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
- NASB But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
- NLT A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
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
The Spirit's manifestation is given to each believer for the common good. Gifts are meant to benefit the whole body, not exalt the individual.
Overview
Paul states the governing principle of spiritual gifts: each believer receives some manifestation of the Spirit, and its purpose is the profit of all. Gifts are not private possessions for self-display but tools for serving the community. This corrects the Corinthians' self-centered use of gifts and orients them toward love and the building up of the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Pet 4:10–11As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
- Rom 12:6–8Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
- 1 Cor 14:19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
- 1 Cor 14:12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
- 1 Cor 14:17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
- 1 Cor 14:22–26Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
- Eph 4:7–12But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
- 1 Cor 14:5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
- Matt 25:14–30For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 12:7 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.