THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Key verse: 4

NIV

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,(A) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.(B) 2 You know that when you were pagans,(C) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.(D) 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,”(E) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”(F) except by the Holy Spirit.(G)

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit(H) 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(I) it is the same God(J) at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.(K) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,(L) to another a message of knowledge(M) by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith(N) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing(O) by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers,(P) to another prophecy,(Q) to another distinguishing between spirits,(R) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a](S) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,(T) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now (A)concerning[a] spiritual gifts,[b] brothers,[c] I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that (B)when you were pagans (C)you were led astray to (D)mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that (E)no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is (F)accursed!” and (G)no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now (H)there are varieties of gifts, but (I)the same Spirit; 5 and (J)there are varieties of service, but (K)the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is (L)the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 (M)To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of (N)wisdom, and to another the utterance of (O)knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another (P)faith by the same Spirit, to another (Q)gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another (R)the working of miracles, to another (S)prophecy, to another (T)the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another (U)various kinds of tongues, to another (V)the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, (W)who apportions to each one individually (X)as he wills.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 12:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:1 Or spiritual persons
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:1 Or brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Jesus is Lord (1-3)

At one point, the Corinthian Christians were led away to serve idols, but Paul's ministry brought them to Jesus and they received the Holy Spirit as well as spiritual gifts from him. However, many were still ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit and the church was divided by the opposing ideas about the gifts of the Spirit. Paul set clear criteria to discern true gifts from false ones. We receive the Holy Spirit when we confess that Jesus is the Lord, but we must remember that the Holy Spirit works differently in each person. The most important work of the Holy Spirit is to lead sinners to repent, accept the gospel, and confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

2. The manifestation of the Spirit (4-11)

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, types of service, and works of the triune God. The manifestation of the Spirit to each person is diverse (8-1

). No one's gift is superior to that of others, but the Spirit distributes the gifts to each believer as he determines. The gifts of the Spirit are given not to make us feel good or proud, but to serve for the common good of the body of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the saving work of the Spirt in my life. Help me discover and use the gift to build up people in faith and love for your glory.

One Word: The same Spirit, diverse gifts