1 Corinthians 12:1-12
In Chapter 11, Paul admonishes the church in the manner of taking communion with Christ. Some had made a family festival of communion, while others were there who had little and were shun by those who had plenty. There was no unity and so Paul teaches unity among the church before partaking of communion with Christ.
So now he turns to the subject of the fullness of the body of Christ and the spiritual gifts within the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12: 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I would not have you ignorant.
Paul uses the Greek word Pneumatikos which means “things of the spirit”
Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
Paul was a special person, personally ordained by Jesus to help steer the church in the right direction.
The church was in trouble, then and now.
Jude: 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as you were led.
Paul is saying to them that before they were converted, they we into idol worship and sensual and animalistic behaviors.
1 Corinthians 12:3 wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
It was the practice of the Jews to call Jesus – Jesus Anathema – meaning Jesus the abdominal – one not fit for life.
Paul is saying that the only way to know Jesus is to know Him by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
John 1:29 The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
The same Holy Spirit gives the various gifts that are given. And, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are real and alive today. No part of God has ceased to exist and no gift of the Holy Spirit is dead.
This is why Jesus said, “I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” … “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. John 14:12, 16-17
1 Corinthians 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
Ministers of the body of Christ. Not necessarily a preacher, but rather a pastor.
Ephesians 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.
Jesus Christ is the Head of the church and the pastor is an under-shepherd of Christ in the church to do according to the will of God.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all.
Paul uses the Greek word: Energema – meaning various works in the church. This how we have various ministries.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
The manifestation of the Spirit– the Phanerosis (Gr) to make visible or to be made known – by healings, miracles, speaking in tongues, interpretations, wisdom, knowledge and discernments.
1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
The Holy Spirit gives all gifts.
Wisdom is supernatural revelation or insight into God’s divine will and purpose.
Luke 22:10 And he said unto them, Behold, when you are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters in. 11 And you shall say unto the good man of the house, The Master said unto you, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
Knowledge is the supernatural revelation or insight into the divine mind, will and or plan.
Acts 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
1 Corinthians 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Healing is the supernatural power to heal all manner of sickness without human aid or medicine.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
1 Corinthians 12:10 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:
Miracles are the supernatural power to intervene in the ordinary course of nature and to counteract natural law if necessary.
Joshua 10:12 Then spoke Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand you still upon Gibeon; and you, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
Prophecy is a supernatural utterance in a native tongue of things to come, not conceived by human thought.
Discerning of Spirits is the supernatural gift to know the true nature of a person’s spirit.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Speaking in Tongues are the supernatural utterance in other languages which are not known to the speaker.
There are tongues of man and tongues of angels.
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
Interpretation of Tongues is the supernatural ability to understand the tongue spoken.
1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these work that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
The Holy Spirit gives us gifts, as it is determined for the furtherance of the Will of God.
1 Corinthians 12:12 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.
Here it is made clear that the church belongs to Christ. Thus, we are given the gifts of the Spirit without measure to do the very work of Christ here on earth.
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