The Source of Spiritual Gifts
Study note
Paul wants the Corinthians to be well-informed about spiritual gifts. The foundational test of the Spirit's work is the confession that Jesus is Lord, which no one can make except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, service, and workings, but the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God are behind them all. Paul lists specific gifts including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and interpretation. The one Spirit distributes all these to each person individually as he determines.
1 Now about the gifts the Spirit gives -- I do not want you to be clueless about this, friends. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 You remember that before you knew God, you were pulled toward silent idols that cannot speak. You were led wherever those false influences took you. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 So let me make this clear: no one who is speaking by God's Spirit would ever say, 'Curse Jesus.' And no one can genuinely say, 'Jesus is Lord,' without the Holy Spirit making it real in them. 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 There are all sorts of different gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are all sorts of different ways to serve, but we all serve the same Lord. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 There are many different things God does in people. But it is the same God powering all of them in everyone. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 Each person is given a visible display of the Spirit's work for the benefit of the whole group. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 The Spirit gives one person a message full of wisdom. The same Spirit gives another person a message packed with knowledge. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 The same Spirit gives one person a special gift of faith. That same Spirit gives another person the power to heal. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another, the Spirit gives the power to do miracles. To another, the ability to speak messages from God. To another, the skill to tell the difference between true and false spirits. To another, the ability to speak in unknown languages. To another, the ability to explain what those languages mean. 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 One and the same Spirit is behind all of these gifts. He distributes them to each person individually, exactly the way he decides. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
One Body, Many Parts
Study note
Paul introduces the body metaphor: just as the human body has many parts yet remains one body, so it is with Christ. Through one Spirit, all believers, whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, were baptized into one body and given one Spirit to drink. No part can declare independence from the body. The foot cannot say it does not belong because it is not a hand. If the whole body were an eye, there would be no hearing. God has arranged every part in the body exactly as he desired.
12 A human body is one thing, but it is made up of many different parts. Even though there are lots of parts, they still form one single body. That is how it is with Christ. 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 We were all brought into one body through one Spirit when we were baptized -- whether we are Jewish or non-Jewish, whether we are slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. 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.
14 A body is not just one part. It is made up of many parts. For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot said, 'I am not a hand, so I do not belong to the body,' that would not take it out of the body. 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 said, 'I am not an eye, so I do not belong to the body,' that would not remove it from the body either. 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 entire body were one big eyeball, how would you hear anything? If the entire body were one big ear, how would you smell anything? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But God arranged every part of the body exactly where he wanted it. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 If everything were the same part, there would be no body at all! And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 The reality is: many parts, one body. But now are they many members, yet but one body.
The Indispensability of Every Member
Study note
No part of the body can say to another that it is not needed. The parts that seem weaker are indispensable, and those considered less honorable receive special treatment. God has composed the body so that there is no division, and each part cares equally for the others: when one part suffers, all suffer; when one is honored, all rejoice. Paul applies this directly to the church, listing roles God has appointed: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, and tongue speakers. He closes with rhetorical questions showing not all share the same gift, and urges them to eagerly desire the greater gifts before introducing the most excellent way.
21 The eye cannot tell the hand, 'I do not need you.' And the head cannot tell the feet, 'I do not need you.' 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 The opposite is true. The parts of the body that look the weakest turn out to be the ones we cannot do without. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 The parts we consider less dignified, we dress up with extra care. The parts that are not for display get treated with extra modesty. 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 The parts that look fine on their own do not need this special treatment. But God designed the body so that the parts that seem less important receive greater honor. 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 He did this so there would be no rivalry inside the body. Instead, every part takes care of every other part equally. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 When one part hurts, every part feels the pain. When one part is celebrated, every part joins the celebration. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Together, all of you make up the body of Christ. Each one of you is an individual part of it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 God placed people in the church in this order. First, apostles. Second, prophets. Third, teachers. Then come those who do miracles. Then healers, helpers, leaders, and those who speak in other languages. 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 Is everyone an apostle? Is everyone a prophet? Is everyone a teacher? Does everyone do miracles? Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Does everyone have the gift of healing? Does everyone speak in unknown languages? Does everyone interpret those languages? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 Go after the most helpful gifts with everything you have. But now I want to show you something that matters more than all of them. But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.