Spiritual Gifts | 1 Corinthians 12

Read the full chapter of 1 Corinthians 12

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led (1 Corinthians 12:1-2).

In his first letter to the Church in Corinth, Paul wants the newly converted Christians to understand the function of the gifts of the Spirit. One of the ways the Holy Spirit works in our lives is through giving us His gifts. These are abilities that are used to glorify God and edify others. We can see from Scripture that all who choose to follow God’s way are given spiritual gifts: 

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (1 Corinthians 12:7).

The Corinthians came from a background of paganism—religion based on rituals and action. In paganism they sought favor from different gods according to the circumstances surrounding the request.

In this context, Paul wants to make it clear that there are different gifts, but that the same Spirit of God gives them all. Moreover, the gifts are distributed to benefit the whole Church, and not everyone receives the same gifts. What are Spiritual Gifts?

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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.

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 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 (1 Corinthians 12:4-12).

These texts make it clear that God is the one who decides which gifts are for whom. Clearly, the gift of tongues was given to some and not to others. Pentecostal doctrine says that everyone should speak in tongues, making the receiving of the gift of tongues a test of acceptance by God. However, that doctrine does not fall in line with this passage of Scripture. The body forms a harmonious whole, and no one portion or gift is of greater significance than another. Not everyone has the same gift, and God decides who does what. 1 Corinthians 12:18, 28-30 says this:

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him...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. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

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