"Now concerning spiritual gifts" (1 Cor. 12:1) introduces Paul's extensive answer to a question the Corinthians had regarding miraculous spiritual gifts. In First Corinthians 12:1-3, Paul showed that only by divine revelation can one know the truth about Jesus and the spiritual workings of God (cf. Jn. 5:39; Rom. 10:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). From First Corinthians 12:4-11, we learn the origin of miraculous gifts, why they were given, and some specific gifts.

A Variety Of Gifts, But Only One Deity

Although the Holy Spirit imparted the miraculous gifts, He did not act independently from the Godhead. "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" (1 Cor. 12:4-6). Note in these three verses that there were varieties of "gifts...administrations...operations," but the same "[Holy] Spirit...Lord [Jesus]...God [the Father]." Each member of the Godhead sustained a particular relationship to these miraculous manifestations.

In relation to the Holy "Spirit," the miraculous manifestations were "gifts" (1 Cor. 12:4). "Gifts" (from charisma) is from the same root word as "grace" (charis), and thus refers to something that is freely and bountifully given. It may be used in the general sense of God's good gifts (Rom. 11:29), or it may refer to spiritual gifts God wanted to impart (Rom. 1:11). As used in the context here, it refers to the miraculous spiritual gifts possessed by the Corinthians, which became a point of division among them (cf. 1 Cor. 12:9, 28, 30-31). Since it is the Holy Spirit who bestows the gifts, there is absolutely no room for arrogant pride or division among the Corinthians!

In relation to the "Lord" Jesus, the miraculous manifestations were the means by which He ministered to the church (1 Cor. 12:5 cf. Eph. 4:11-12; Rom. 12:6-7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). "Administrations [ministries, NKJ]" is from a word (diakonia) that means "ministry, service" (1 Cor. 16:15; Rom. 12:7; Eph. 4:12), and thus refers to the variety of services that are made possible by the different gifts. As each member of the human body performs an important service ("ministry"), so each miraculous gift was to perform an important ministry in the church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-26).

In relation to "God" the Father, the miraculous manifestations were workings by which He confirmed the word, the messengers, and the church as being from Him (1 Cor. 12:6 cf. Jn. 5:36; 14:10-11; Heb. 2:1-4). "Operations [workings, ASV; activities, NKJ; effects, NAS]" is from a word (energema) that means "working, activity." In the present context, it is "action as the result of God's energizing power."1 The phrase "which worketh all in all" (KJV) may be translated "who works all things in all" (ASV), or "who works all things in all persons" (NAS). The first "all" is neuter gender in the original language, hence "all things," while the second "all" may be neuter or masculine. Since the context is about what God did to members of the church through miraculous gifts, a masculine translation ("all people") is probably more accurate.

The Purpose Of Miraculous Gifts: To Benefit All

Paul plainly declares that "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal" (1 Cor. 12:7). Thus, these gifts were not to be used as prerequisites for a clique or as initiation for one of the divisive parties in Corinth (cf. 1 Cor. 1:11-13). "Every man [one, NKJ]" is obviously limited to those receiving the miraculous gifts, for everyone did not receive these gifts (cf. Rom. 1:11). The word translated "to profit [for the common good, NAS]" means "better, to one's advantage, helpful, good, or useful." It is the same word elsewhere translated "expedient" (Jn. 11:50; 16:7; 18:14; 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23; 2 Cor. 8:10; 12:1). These miraculous gifts were to benefit the entire body of Christ!

Specific Miraculous Gifts

Paul lists specific miraculous spiritual gifts in First Corinthians 12:8-11. These are not the only miraculous gifts that existed, but represent those in Corinth. "Word of wisdom" (1 Cor. 12:8a) seems to have been the ability to reveal divine truth, since "wisdom" can refer to the entire Gospel (1 Cor. 2:6-13). "Word of knowledge" (1 Cor. 12:8b) seems to have been the ability to retain in memory the "word of wisdom" once delivered. Both the "word of wisdom" and the "word of knowledge" were miraculous, but the former had to do with the original source and content, and the latter had to do with retaining and teaching the truth already revealed.2 "Faith" (1 Cor. 12:9a) referred to miraculous, wonder working faith that enabled the receiver to do miracles (cf. 1 Cor. 13:2; Mt. 17:14-20; Acts 3:16). "Gifts of healing" (1 Cor. 12:9b) referred the ability to miraculously restore the sick (Acts 3:1-9; 4:30; 5:15-16; 14:8-10). The plural probably indicates the variety of diseases healed. "Working [effecting, NAS] of miracles" (1 Cor. 12:10a) was the manifestation of miraculous powers not covered by the other gifts. The New Testament speaks of miracles over nature (Mt. 8:26), demons (Mt. 8:16), material things (Mt. 14:9; 15:32), and even death (Jn. 11:43-44; Acts 9:40-41). "Prophecy" (1 Cor. 12:10b) was receiving God's divine will and infallibly communicating it (cf. 1 Cor. 11:4; Rom. 12:6). "Discerning [distinguishing, NAS] of spirits" (1 Cor. 12:10c) was the ability to determine who actually spoke by the Holy Spirit and those who did not (cf. 1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thes. 5:20-21; 1 Jn. 4:1). "Kinds of tongues" (1 Cor. 12:10d) referred to the ability to speak in foreign languages that one had not studied (cf. Acts 2:6-13). "Tongues" in the New Testament referred to real languages, not some "Holy Ghost gibberish" that only the Lord knows (as some claim today). "Interpretation of tongues" (1 Cor. 12:10e) referred to the ability to translate unknown languages into one that could be understood by those present.

The Holy Spirit was not only the author of these miraculous gifts, but He also determined who would receive each gift (1 Cor. 12:11). Let us accept God's word as to what and for whom these gifts belonged.

End Notes

1 Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993) 419.

2 Howard Winters, Commentary on First Corinthians: Practical and Explanatory (Greenville, SC: Carolina Christian, 1987) 166.