1 Corinthians 12
_______________
Various gifts but the same Spirit
_______________


Text
Comments
 1 ¶ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
 2  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb [speechless] idols, even as ye were led.
.3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
.4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
.5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
 6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
.7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
.8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
   3 - No man speaking by the Spirit of God The implication is that not acknowledging Jesus as source of leadership is like one speaking from the empty basis of idol worship.
   3 - Calleth Jesus accursed They would be seeing only the human Jesus.
   4 - Same spirit Not one for each gift. Also, not a group of lords or gods. According to pagan ideas, there were many gods operating differently from each other.
   Paul recognized the three persons of the united creator God.
Verse
Divine individual
Role
4
 Spirit  Giver of gifts
5
 Lord (Jesus)  Administration (over us)
6
 God  Works in all operations
  5 - Administrations Or "ministries." ro1531
  7 - To every man Everyone has a gift or gifts to use in declaring the Lordship of Christ v3 – His authority over us. One of Samson's gifts was not on this list jg1406.
   8 - Given Here we see people who are able to communicate spiritual wisdom. The gifts are "by the Spirit."
 9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
 10  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:
 11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
  9 - Faith From pis'tis Moral conviction.
  9 - Healing The gift is more knowing how to help get well than it is of miracles (which is in the next verse).
  10 - Miracles This gift is claimed by many individuals today. See on re1313a and 1613b.
  10 - Prophecy This gift is in all four Bible inventories of gifts. Also v28, ep0411. Some claim that prophecy ended when the canon of the NT (books chosen for it) was made up. The Bible picture is different.
  10 - Discerning of spirits There are false spirits as well as the Holy Spirit. We can be sure that those with an unholy spirit will appear to be genuine. The test: is0819-20.
.12 ¶ For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
 13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
  13 - By one Spirit ... one body In Christ, we have the joy and indeed the responsibility to put away ethnic or racial prejudice.
  13 - Gentiles Or "Greeks."
 14  For the body is not one member, but many.
 15  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
 16  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
 17  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
  14 - Not one member No one can carry the responsibility of the church alone although one missionary may encourage and build up a church.
  15 - Because I am not a ... Not a reason to turn away from the Body or to be discouraged v21.
 18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
 19  And if they were all one member, where were the body?
 20  But now are they many members, yet but one body.
 21  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
 22  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
  18 - God set the members As various parts of the human body have been given specific work, so the church members have their work divinely appointed.
 23  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
 24  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
 25  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
 26  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
  The idea in this part of the argument is clear enough. Even though one part of the body seems less important, members of the spiritual body, the church, must care about all the others.
 27 ¶ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
.28  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.
.29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
.30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
 31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 
  28 - God hath set This work is that of the Holy Spirit, part of the three-member God.
  28 - First Paul ranks this list of gifts.
  28 - Diversities of tongues This is a strong indication that the true gift of tongues is ability to communicate in other languages ac0208.
  30 - Do all speak with tongues? No, only "some" have been given each gift v28. This gift is then not a test for the gift of the Spirit.
  31 - Rather than having a spirit of competition for practicing the gifts, Paul has a better plan. This verse introduces chapter 13.
_______________
.
Previous
Next
1st Corinthians home
Commentary home