Notes on 1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb 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;
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.

Few issues are more controversial in the modern church than that of spiritual gifts.  Fundamental churches take the view that many of these gifts, the so-called "sign gifts", were intended only for the initial establishment of the church, and passed away with the first generations of Christians, or with the death of the last disciple, John.  Pentecostal and Charismatic churches assert that all of the gifts are still in operation, and some deny that a person is saved without the evidence of speaking in tongues.  That amounts to salvation by belief in Christ plus works, such as the claim of some churches that salvation comes only with baptism, and is clearly unscriptural.  Spiritual gifts, however defined, come only to Christians, that much is clear; there is a Satanic counterfeit of every spiritual gift, so it is important to have discernment, also a spiritual gift, to determine what spirit is actually at work.  Although it is certainly possible to say the words "Jesus Is Lord" and not be a Christian, a true confession can only come from one who belongs to him, and no true Christian could ever curse his or her Lord.

Paul says that there are different ways that spiritual gifts are manifested, or operate, and different ministries, or administrations, connected with spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Holy Spirit.  None of us can manufacture spiritual gifts, though someone can manifest what they think is a spiritual gift that actually is a contrivance of their own mind.  It is clear as well that the Spirit determines what gifts we are apportioned, and the list here is by no means a complete one.  Other listings occur in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4; these are more associated with ministries, whereas the gifts listed here may be given for particular situations as well as for ongoing ministries.

The word of wisdom involves the ability to understand the truths set out in God's Word as they apply to specific situations, in a way beyond our normal human understanding.  It can also encompass the ability to make judgments in a way we could not do as humans, as the wisdom demonstrated by Solomon in judging which mother was the one of a dead child versus a living one (1 Kings 3:25).  The word of knowledge is knowledge or information about someone or some thing which someone would have no way of knowing from their own experience, such as Christ's knowledge about the Samaritan woman's husbands, and lover, at the well.  Faith is not the faith we all receive in Christ when we are saved, but an explosion of faith that makes it possible to surmount a particular obstacle or problem life puts in our way.  An example would be Peter's walking on water, at least until he took his eyes off of Christ.  Gifts of healing would be sudden miraculous manifestations of healing, such as the healings Christ performed, or the healing of the lame man through Peter and John.  Working of miracles would be something outside the normal laws of nature, as we understand them, such as the feeding of the 5,000.  Prophecy is akin to preaching; it involves the divine inspiration to interpret, and share, God's will for his people, based on insight from the Holy Spirit of scripture.  Some see it more as a particular word of guidance and direction for individuals or churches, especially involving events that have not yet taken place.  Discerning of spirits involves more than just an understanding of what kind of spirit, the Holy spirit or evil spirits directed by Satan, are at work in people's lives.  It involves, rather, the ability to see what spirits are working in specific situations, and could conceivably involve the ability to physically see the spirits, as when Elisha was able to see the angelic hosts around Dotham.  The next two gifts easily are the most controversial.  The gift of tongues is the ability to speak a language we have not learned, either of men or of angels   Interpretation of tongues is the ability to translate the language involved in the gift of tongues, also without having learned it.  Whatever the gift, it is the Holy Spirit that gives it, as He wills.  One of the more unfortunate aspects of the controversial aspects of the controversy over spiritual gifts is that it tends to divide the church, not build it up.  Christians on both sides of the issue are guilty of making very unloving comments about those on the other side.  Even if I did have a spiritual gift, I would rather not practice it if it served to cause division n the body of Christ.  As Paul emphasizes in Chapter 13, our first priority is to manifest the greatest gift of all, that of God's love.

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.
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?
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:
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.

I think it is no accident that Paul discusses the unity of the body of Christ immediately after his listing of spiritual gifts, because they could be, and were, a source of spiritual pride or envy in the Corinthian church.  Whether we speak of spiritual gifts, or of abilities and talents, each of us is different, and each of us has been given what God intended us to have in order to fulfill our role in the church.  Not all are preachers, or talented musicians, or evangelists, or missionaries, or teachers.  Some serve as ushers, or greeters, or nursery workers, or meal preparers and servers, or maintenance workers.  No one person is able to do every job in the body of Christ, nor should be expected to be able.  If our only function is to pray, or give, or share in worship or work, there is no disgrace or cause for despair in that.  One thing very few, if any, churches, do not do: we do not give the special honor to those who perform the less visible or prestigious jobs in the church.  How often do nursery workers, or kitchen workers, or cleaners, receive special notice or praise?  How much honor do we bestow on ushers, or those involved in a card ministry?  Remove all of those who do not sing in the choir, or lead worship, or teach classes, and the church will cease to function.  That is not to say that many members actually use the gifts they are given, because most do not even know what their gifts are, but we need, as a body, to give greater recognition to those who perform the more humble tasks.  We should mourn for small losses as well as great ones, and rejoice for both small and great victories.

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.

Paul speaks more particularly here of ministry gifts, rather than those given on a particular, or one time, basis.  If the gift of being an apostle is defined as that of one who was with Christ in person, than obviously that office no longer exists.  If, however, it is considered the gift of planting churches where none existed before, then it would also apply to missionaries who plant churches.  Prophets could reasonably be interpreted as preachers, whose particular gift is the "forth-telling" of God's will as given in his Word.  Teachers are not just those who possess formal training in instruction, but those with a special gift of imparting knowledge and understanding about divine truths as recorded in scripture.  Helps is a broad term referring to anyone in the church with a special gift or ministry of doing whatever is needed to carry out the work of the church.  These are often the people who volunteer first for a building or repair project, or who devote time without hesitation to doing seemingly menial or repetitive tasks that are necessary for a church to function.  Government is administration, and includes both the work of a pastor as chief administrative officer of the church, and lay people who help keep church finances and projects in order.  Paul does say there is nothing wrong for asking for spiritual gifts, but this verse is the lead in to Chapter 13, which pts the whole issue of gifts in its proper perspective.