WHY it matters //

In the Old Testament God promised that he would send his Holy Spirit to empower us and give us the boldness to carry out our calling (Joel 2:28; John 1:33; Luke 24:49). This promise was first seen fulfilled at pentecost and is available for all believers (Acts 2:39). In this passage, Paul describes different manifestations of the Spirit that are given to believers by God as he choses. There are different kinds of gifts and the expression of these gifts can look different, but they all have the same purpose, which is for the common good. Among the gifts, prophecy, words of knowledge, and words of wisdom are revelatory gifts, and their purpose is to edify, exhort and comfort (1 Cor 14:3).

WHAT it’s talking about //

1 Corinthians was written around 55AD when Paul was in Ephesus. He had spent 1.5 years in the city of Corinth (Acts 18:11), and he wrote this letter to address some issues that had plagued the congregation there. The city of Corinth was one of the dominant commercial centers of the Mediterranean world. The lifestyle in Corinth was characterized by typical Greek culture and the Corinthians were custom to worshipping multiple gods who each were believed to have different powers. Paul is addressing the believers in Corinth and reminding them that there is only one God, and one Spirit who distributes the gifts, for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 NIV

1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

3 Therefore 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.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10 to 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.

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.