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1 Corinthians 12:28
ESV And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
NIV And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
NASB And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues.
CSB And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, various kinds of tongues.
NLT Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.
KJV And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
NKJV And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

What does 1 Corinthians 12:28 mean?

This verse begins to wrap up a section on the spiritual gifts and the body of Christ. Paul has made a general illustration about the body of Christ being like a human body into a very personal message. It is now about the church in Corinth, and how they should respond to the gifts given to them by God.

Paul repeats again that God is the one who assigns the gifts to specific people in specific churches. He has written previously that each gifted function in the church is worthy of honor. Even so, he has noted that some functions are more prestigious, or more public. Here he seems to explain those by listing off three specific gifts. In order, they are apostles, prophets, and teachers. Perhaps these are described first because it is through these gifts that God communicates truth to His people. Perhaps Paul emphasizes these three because he believes the Corinthians value them too little.

After these three leading/teaching gifts, Paul names a variety of others, including some he mentioned earlier in the chapter: miracles, healing, helping, administration, and speaking in various tongues. Once again, this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all the possible gifts given to people in the church. Nor is it explicitly meant to rank those gifts in order of importance or authority. Other gifts are found on other lists in the New Testament (Romans 12:6–8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10–11). In fact, the only gift mentioned on each list is teaching: the supernatural ability to make clear and applicable the Word of God.
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