The purpose of this study is to show the value of using several versions of the Bible to bring out the best shade of meaning in a passage. Although there is very little real difference in meaning among the various versions, there is a difference in the ways of expressing certain phrases. The reader may like some, but not others. However, he should find translations of words and phrases which will help him to understand what Paul, the original writer, was trying to express. The passage being discussed is 1 Corinthians 12: 7-11.
In the first translation of each verse (the King James Version) I have underlined key words and phrases. As you read the various versions, note how these have been translated. To prophesy often refers to speaking of the future. However, one meaning is to preach. Note whether or not any version ties discerning of spirits to prophecy. Note whether or not any version ties speaking in tongues to interpreting the tongues spoken. See also 1 Corinthians 14: 27, 28 in regard to the latter point.
Twenty-one versions have been used in this comparison. Each of the versions has different wording from the others somewhere within it.
Versions Compared
- AAT – An American Translation (Beck)
- AB – Amplified Bible
- CEV – Contemporary English Version
- CNT – Cassirer New Testament
- DRB – Douay-Rheims Bible
- GW – God’s Word
- KJV – King James Version
- LB – Living Bible
- NBV – New Berkeley Version
- NEB – New English Bible
- NET – New Evangelical Translation
- NIV – New International Version
- NLV – New Life Version
- NRS – New Revised Standard Version
- PRS – Phillips Revised Student Edition
- SGAT – An American Translation (Smith-Goodspeed)
- SNB – Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible
- TEV – Today’s English Version
- TM – The Message
- WET – Wuest Expanded Translation
- WNT – Williams New Testament
1 Corinthians 12: 7
KJV – But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
AAT – Now, the Spirit shows Himself to each one to make him useful.
AB – But to each one is given the manifestation of the (Holy) Spirit, – that is, the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit – for good and profit.
CEV – The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others.
CNT – Now that which shows forth the Spirit is given to each, with the intention that it should serve a beneficent end,
DRB – And the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man unto profit.
GW – The evidence of the Spirit’s presence is given to each person for the common good of everyone.
LB – The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
NBV – To each is granted the evidence of the Spirit for the common welfare.
NEB – In each of us the Spirit is manifested in one particular way, for some useful purpose.
NET – Now the Spirit shows Himself to each one to make him useful.
NIV – Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
NLV – The Holy Spirit works in each person in one way or another for the good of all.
NRS – To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
PRS – The Spirit openly makes his gift to each man, so that he may use it for the common good.
SGAT – Each one is given his spiritual illumination for the common good.
SNB – But unto each one is given the manifesting of the Spirit, with a view to that which is profitable;
TEV – The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.
TM – But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
WET – But to each one there is constantly being given the clearly seen operations of the Spirit with a view to the profit [of all].
WNT – The Spirit openly makes his gift to each man, so that he may use it for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12: 8
KJV – For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
AAT – The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak of wisdom. To another the same Spirit gives the ability to speak intelligently.
AB – 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;
CEV – Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit.
CNT – To one, utterance of wisdom is given through the Spirit; to another, utterance of knowledge by the leading of the same Spirit.
DRB – To one indeed, by the Spirit, is given the word of wisdom: and to another, the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
GW – The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The same Spirit gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge.
LB – To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; someone else may be especially good at studying and teaching, and this is his gift from the same Spirit.
NBV – To one person is given by the Spirit a message of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
NEB – One man through the Spirit, has the gift of wise speech, while another, by the power of the same Spirit, can put the deepest knowledge into words.
NET – The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. To another the same Spirit gives the ability to speak with knowledge.
NIV – To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
NLV – One person is given the gift of teaching words of wisdom. Another person is given the gift of teaching what he has learned and knows. These gifts are by the same Spirit.
NRS – To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
PRS – One man’s gift by the Spirit is to speak with wisdom, another’s to speak with knowledge.
SGAT – One man receives through the Spirit the power to speak wisely, another, by the same Spirit, receives the power to express knowledge,
SNB – For unto one indeed, through the Spirit is given a word of wisdom, but unto another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
TEV – The Spirit gives one person a message full of wisdom, while to another person the same Spirit gives a message full of knowledge.
TM – wise counsel
clear understanding
WET – For to one is given through the intermediate agency of the Spirit a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
WNT – One man’s gift by the Spirit is to speak with wisdom, another’s to speak with knowledge.
1 Corinthians 12: 9
KJV – To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
AAT – To another the Spirit gives faith. To another the same Spirit gives the ability to heal.
AB – To another (wonder-working) faith by the same (Holy) Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit;
CEV – To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick
CNT – Still another has faith given to him by means of the same Spirit, another gifts of healing by means of the one spirit,
DRB – To one indeed, by the Spirit, is given the word of wisdom: and to another, the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
GW – To another person the same Spirit gives [courageous] faith. To another person the same Spirit gives the ability to heal.
LB – He gives special faith to another, and to someone else the power to heal the sick.
NBV – To a third faith is granted by the same Spirit; to yet another the gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
NEB – Another, by the same Spirit, is granted faith; another, by the one Spirit, gifts of healing,
NET – To another the same Spirit gives faith. To another that same Spirit gives the ability to heal.
NIV – to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
NLV – One person receives the gift of faith. Another person receives the gifts of healing. These gifts are given by the same Holy Spirit.
NRS – to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
PRS – The same Spirit gives to another man faith, to another the ability to heal,
SGAT – another, from his union with the same Spirit receives faith, another, by one and the same Spirit, the ability to cure the sick,
SNB – Unto a different one, faith in the same Spirit, and unto another, gifts of healings in the one Spirit,
TEV – One and the same Spirit gives faith to one person, while to another person he gives the power to heal.
TM – simple trust
healing the sick
WET – to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
WNT – The same Spirit gives to another man faith, to another the ability to heal,
1 Corinthians 12: 10
KJV – To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
AAT – Another can work miracles. Another can speak God’s Word. Another can tell the true Spirit from evil spirits. Another can talk other languages. Another can tell the meaning of languages.
AB – To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight – that is, the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose; to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterance of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues.
CEV – or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God’s Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean.
CNT – another the power of working miracles, another prophetic utterance, another the ability to distinguish true spirits from false; still another the gift of speaking in tongues of inspiration of this or that sort, another that of interpreting such tongues.
DRB – To another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the discerning of spirits; to another, diverse kinds of tongues; to another, interpretation of speeches.
GW – Another can work miracles. Another can speak what God has revealed. Another can tell the difference between spirits. Another can speak in different kinds of languages. Another can interpret languages.
LB – He gives power for doing miracles to some, and to others power to prophesy and preach. He gives someone else the power to know whether evil spirits are speaking through those who claim to be giving God’s messages – or whether it is really the Spirit of God who is speaking. Still another person is able to speak in languages he never learned; and others, who do not know the language either, are given the power to understand what he is saying.
NBV – to another miraculous powers; to this one prophecy, to that one discrimination between spirits, to a third variety of tongues, and to yet another the ability to interpret tongues.
NEB – and another miraculous powers; another has the gift of prophecy, and another the gift to distinguish true spirits from false; yet another has the gift of ecstatic utterance of different kinds, and another the ability to interpret it.
NET – Another can work miracles. Another can prophesy. Another can tell the true Spirit from evil spirits. Another can speak in [various] kinds of language. Another can interpret languages.
NIV – to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
NLV – One person is given the gift of doing powerful works. Another person is given the gift of speaking God’s Word. Another person is given the gift of telling the difference between the Holy Spirit and false spirits. Another person is given the gift of speaking in special sounds. Another person is given the gift of telling what these special sounds mean.
NRS – to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues,
PRS – to another the use of spiritual powers. The same Spirit gives to another man the gift of preaching the word of God, to another the ability to discriminate in spiritual matters, to another speech in different tongues and to yet another the power to interpret the tongues.
SGAT – another, the working of wonders, another inspiration in preaching, another, the power of distinguishing the true Spirit from false ones, another, various ecstatic utterances, and another, the ability to explain them.
SNB – And unto another energies of mighty works, and unto another prophesying, and unto another discriminations of spirits, unto a different one, kinds of tongues, and unto another translation of tongues;
TEV – The Spirit gives one person the power to work miracles; to another, the gift of speaking God’s message; and to yet another, the ability to tell the difference between gifts that come from the Spirit and those that do not. To one person he gives the ability to speak in strange tongues, and to another he gives the ability to explain what is said.
TM – miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues
WET – and to another the working of miracles, and to another the giving forth of divine revelations, and to another the correction evaluation of those individuals who give forth divine revelations, and to another various kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages.
WNT – to another the use of spiritual powers. The same Spirit gives to another man the gift of preaching the word of God, to another the ability to discriminate in spiritual matters, to another speech in different tongues and to yet another the power to interpret the tongues.
1 Corinthians 12: 11
KJV – But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
AAT – One and the same Spirit works all these things and gives as He wishes to each in his own way.
AB – All these [achievements and abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same (Holy) Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses.
CEV – But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.
CNT – And all this is wrought by one and the same Spirit, distinguishing severally to each, in accordance with his will.
DRB – But all these things one and the same Spirit worketh, dividing to every one according as he will.
GW – There is only one Spirit who does all these things by giving what God wants to give to each person.
LB – It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts and powers, deciding which each one of us should have.
NBV – All these abilities one and the same Spirit energizes, distributing to each individual exactly as He pleases.
NEB – But all these gifts are the work of one and the same Spirit, distributing them separately to each individual at will.
NET – One and the same Spirit works all these things by giving as He wishes to each individually.
NIV – All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
NLV – But it is the same Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, Who does all these things. He gives to each person as He wants to give.
NRS – All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
PRS – Behind all these gifts is the operation of the same Spirit, who distributes to each individual man, as he wills.
SGAT – These are all produced by one and the same Spirit, and apportioned to each of us just as the Spirit chooses.
SNB – But all these energiseth the one and the same Spirit, distributing unto each one peculiarity, even as it is disposed.
TEV – But it is one and the same Spirit who does all this; as he wishes, he gives a different gift to each person.
TM – All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
WET – But all of these the one and the same Spirit is by divine energy putting into operation, dividing to each one separately even as He desires.
WNT – Beyond all these gifts is the operation of the same Spirit, who distributes to each individual man, as he wills.
