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1 corinthians 12:4-28

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1 Corinthians 12:4-28

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”

— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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. 7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: 11. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 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. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14. For the body is not one member, but many. 15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17. If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the smelling? 18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19. And if they were all one member, where [were] the body? 20. But now [are they] many members, yet but one body. 21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23. And those [members] of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness. 24. For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that [part] which lacked: 25. That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another. 26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28. 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.

1 Corinthians 12:4-28 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:4

Theological / Devotional

Gifts. Gr. charismata, literally, “gifts of grace.” Here the word refers to the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit dwelling and working in a special manner in individuals. The diversities of gifts are enumerated in vs. 8-11.

Same Spirit. The different modes of operation of the gifts are all produced and controlled by the Holy Spirit. These various methods of working of the gifts are mentioned in vs. 8-11. Paul’s point of emphasis in referring to these different endowments is to show the Corinthians that since they are all produced by the same Spirit, and all have the same origin and purpose, therefore none are to be despised or belittled. No man, because of the reception of a certain gift of the Spirit, is to look with contempt upon any other believer because he is not so favored. The disposition of the gifts by God is to be accepted gratefully, and due recognition given to the One who dispenses these powers, and not to the recipient as being in any way superior to his fellows.

By SdaBc