I Corinthians 12 with Metaphysical Footnotes (ASV)

^12:1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. ^12:2Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might led. ^12:3Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit. ^12:4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.1 ^12:5And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord.2 ^12:6And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. ^12:7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. ^12:8For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: ^12:9to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; ^12:10and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: ^12:11but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.3

Cf. Ephesians 4:7-13

1. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. Those whose “gifts” or inherent talents are diverse and show the same Spirit. All may have the same Spirit, the desire to know the truth and to live accordingly, irrespective of differences in inherent talents or traits. Truth belongs everywhere, and no legitimate activity or bent can be outside its field.
2. there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. God has given all His attributes to man; it rests with each individual whether he expresses them or not. God is no respecter of persons.
3. but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit. Emilie Cady, in Chapter 11 of Lessons in Truth, Spiritual Gifts, writes, “Thus Paul enumerates some of the free “gifts” of the Spirit to those who will not limit the manifestations of the Holy One.” She believes the important thing is not discovering our gifts but rather accepting them. We limit our gifts by not fully trusting God, who “worketh ... as he will.”

^12:12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.1 ^12:13For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. ^12:14For the body is not one member, but many. ^12:15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. ^12:16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. ^12:17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? ^12:18But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. ^12:19And if they were all one member, where were the body? ^12:20But now they are many members, but one body.2 ^12:21And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. ^12:22Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: ^12:23and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; ^12:24whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked;3 ^12:25that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. ^12:26And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

^12:27Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.4 ^12:28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues. ^12:29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? ^12:30have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? ^12:31But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you.

1. For as the body is one ... so also is Christ. Christ likened to the body because the Christ is the embodiment of all divine ideas, such as intelligence, life, love, substance, and strength. The Christ, the perfect man idea existing eternally in Divine Mind, is the true, spiritual, higher, self of every individual. This self is an entity as truly as the physical body is an entity.
2. now they are many members, but one body. There is only one body of the universe, each individual being a member of that body. Therefore, the body of Christ cannot attain a perfect expression until each member, each individual, is spiritually quickened, and puts on the Christ perfection.
3. but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked. As the “single eye” sheds its rays of light through the whole body, through Christ, so God’s love yoked with wisdom, penetrates into every part and tempers and binds together all its members.
4. Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. Our bodies are fashioned after the Christ body. As each cell of our body has within it the potentialities of the whole body, so are we potential Christs, and our bodies may be raised to the universal Christ body and become fit members of it, through following the law of God as did Jesus.