First Corinthians 12:1–11 . . .

Spiritual Gifts

Growing up, you've undoubtedly received a number of gifts of various kinds. Likely, you were grateful to have received many of them; you likely showed your appreciation to each of the gift givers by saying “Thank you very much” several times before putting your gift to good use. However, imagine that, instead of opening a special gift with exuberance and gratitude, you opened the package, yawned, said “Ho-hum,” and casually laid the gift aside without expressing any appreciation or gratitude. How do you think your gift givers would have felt?

Now imagine how the Lord must feel when he gives gifts to his children but they don’t make an effort to find out what the gifts are, never thank him for the gifts, and never put them to use. It must be incredibly disappointing to the Lord to see so many of his gifts merely shelved away and never used or shared with others. In 12:1–11 (shown at the bottom of the page), Paul makes these two key points as he tells you to unwrap your gift and use it to serve others.

1)  Jesus is the validation of spirituality (vv. 1–3)  Before Paul discusses spiritual gifts, he wants to focus first on the common work of the Spirit in each of our lives. He indicates his concern that the Corinthians not be ignorant of certain truths about various things that come from the Spirit. While the Corinthians were the most gifted church in the Scriptures (see 1:5–7), they were a most-carnal church, stricken with divisions, immorality, and distortion in doctrine. Please note: Having received a valuable spiritual gift is no indication of spirituality. It’s possible to be gifted but lack spirituality. In this case, the Corinthians were getting high on their spiritual giftedness without recognizing the source of their gift — Jesus Christ.

In vv. 2–3, Paul clarifies who actually possesses the Spirit: Every member of the Corinthian church who has trusted in Christ becomes indwelled by the Holy Spirit and is incredibly valuable to God.

2)  Variety is the spice of the church (vv. 4–11)  In this section, Paul highlights three gift effects: the source, the goal, and the distribution of our gifts. In vv. 4–6, we see that the source of our gifts is our triune God. In three verses, Paul uses “different kinds” (NIV and others, or “varieties” as shown in the NASB and others) three times because God loves diversity and variety. Everyone has been created differently; God says that we’re wonderfully different from one another. And he encourages diversity in his church by gifting each of us uniquely for ministry. Yet, in spite of this variety, believers are united by the same God. Each member of the Trinity has a role in spiritual gifts: the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts, the Lord Jesus places people in ministry, and Father God empowers people in their ministries.

Knowing and appreciating spiritual gifts better, we ought to respond appropriately to what we’ve been given. First, you must discover what spiritual gift the Holy Spirit has given you (v. 4). The Greek word for “gift” is charisma, from which we get our English words “charisma” and “charismatic.” Spiritual gifts enable a person to glorify and serve God; the one who exercises his or her gifts could rightly be called charismatic. These gifts aren’t earned by any of us; they’re not the result of our hard work; they’re often not ones we choose for ourselves. Remember, God hasn’t gifted you to do what you want to do; he’s gifted you to do what he wants you to do. How are you doing at using the gifts that he’s given you?

Second, you must plug into one or more ministries (v. 5). Jesus died to give you the gift (charisma) of eternal life; but he also died so that you could serve him by using one or more of your spiritual gifts. God has given you a spiritual gift to benefit others around you. That is why it’s a tragedy when you don’t know what your spiritual gift is, if you’re not in the process of finding out what it is, or if you’re not using your gift for the Lord. Realize this: God wants to know how you’ll answer this question: Who’s benefiting from the gift that I gave you? He challenges you and every one of his children to Unwrap your spiritual gift and use it to serve others.

Third, you must depend upon God to get the results (v. 6). Now that Paul has described the source of our spiritual gifts, he gives their purpose. In v. 7, he writes, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” This is the key verse in this section. Paul again reminds us that we’ve been given one or more spiritual gifts for the benefit of others. Unfortunately, too many Christians are unaware of their unique spiritual gift(s); further, once they realize their gift(s), they sit on it, hide it, or keep it on a shelf. Herein, God asks you which type of worker or servant you are: Are you a “consistent worker” or a “convenience worker”? Too many people have decided that they’ll serve in their church only occasionally and when it’s convenient. Instead, the church needs dedicated servants: people who don’t merely attend church but become attached to church, making long-term commitments to serve and become dependable.

In vv. 8–10, Paul brings out the idea of “the diversity of gifts” as he lists nine of them. He closes this passage with these words: “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” That verse successfully summarizes this essential passage. It’s also the fifth reference to the Holy Spirit being the giver of gifts, re-emphasizing that every believer is spiritually gifted (1 Cor. 7:7). We’re all called by the Lord to minister with the gifts that he’s supplied (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Peter 4:10–11; 1 Timothy 4:14).

† Summary of 1 Corinthians 12:1–11

In this eleven-verse passage, Paul addresses the topic of spiritual gifts in the early Christian church. Here’s a summary of its key points:

• Introduction to Spiritual Gifts

Paul begins by expressing his desire for the Corinthians to understand spiritual gifts. The Greek term used is pneumatikon, which can be interpreted as “spiritual things” or “spiritual persons.”

• Diversity of Gifts

Herein, Paul emphasizes that there are different kinds of gifts. However, they all come from the same Spirit. He specifically lists several spiritual gifts, including:

• Wisdom; knowledge; faith; healing; miraculous powers; prophecy; discernment of spirits; speaking in tongues; interpretation of tongues

• Unity in Diversity

Despite the variety of gifts, Paul stresses that they all originate from one source — the Holy Spirit. This unity in diversity is a central theme of the passage.

• Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

Gifts are given for the common good of the church, not for individual glory. They are meant to build up the body of Christ and make the church more like Jesus. They are described as “the manifestation of the Spirit” (v. 7), suggesting that they’re meant to demonstrate the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within the church. While the gifts are diverse, Paul emphasizes that they all come from the same Spirit, Lord, and God (vv. 4–6). This unity in diversity is meant to bring the church together rather than divide it.

By emphasizing that all gifts come from God and are distributed according to His will (v. 11), Paul implies that the ultimate purpose of the gifts is to bring glory to God.

• Distribution of Gifts

Paul states that the Spirit distributes these gifts to each person as the Spirit determines. This emphasizes the sovereignty of God in the distribution of spiritual gifts.

• Application in Worship

These gifts play a role in the multiplication of believers in Jesus. They’re also meant to be manifested in worship.

This passage sets the foundation for Paul’s extended discussion on spiritual gifts and their proper use within the church community.

---

---

New International Version (NIV)
[You can view it in a different version by clicking here; you can also listen to this chapter.]

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ²You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

⁷Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰to 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. ¹¹All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.