1 Corinthians 12

First Corinthians chapter twelve addresses the nature and distribution of spiritual gifts within the church. It emphasizes that while there are diverse gifts, administrations, and operations, they all originate from the same Spirit, Lord, and God. The chapter uses the metaphor of the human body to illustrate that many different members, each with unique functions, are necessary to form one unified body, which is Christ.

The apostle Paul instructs the Corinthians concerning spiritual gifts, reminding them of their past idolatry and establishing that no one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, nor can one confess Jesus as Lord without the Holy Ghost. He clarifies that there are diversities of gifts, administrations, and operations, yet all are empowered by the same Spirit, Lord, and God, given to every man for the common profit. A list of various gifts, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation, is provided, all distributed by the Spirit as He wills. Paul then employs the analogy of the human body, asserting that just as a body has many members but is one, so also is Christ, with all believers baptized into one body by one Spirit. This metaphor underscores the essential nature of each member and the necessity of mutual care and unity within the body of Christ.

First Corinthians chapter twelve begins with Paul's directive to the Corinthians not to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts, recalling their former state of being led astray by dumb idols. He provides a foundational test for spiritual utterance, stating that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no man can confess Jesus as Lord but by the Holy Ghost. The chapter then establishes the principle of divine unity amidst diversity, declaring that there are diversities of gifts, administrations, and operations, yet all proceed from the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God, respectively. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for the common profit, with specific gifts enumerated, such as the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. It is stressed that the one and selfsame Spirit works all these, dividing to every man severally as He wills. Paul then introduces the profound analogy of the human body, explaining that just as one body has many members, all of which are essential and form one body, so also is Christ. He clarifies that all believers, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free, are baptized into one body by one Spirit. The analogy further illustrates that no member, such as the foot or ear, can declare itself not part of the body, nor can the eye or head claim no need of other parts. Indeed, seemingly more feeble or less honorable members are deemed necessary and receive more abundant honor from God, who has tempered the body together. The purpose of this divine arrangement is to prevent schism in the body, ensuring that members have the same care one for another, suffering or rejoicing together. The chapter concludes by affirming that the Corinthians are the body of Christ and members in particular, with God setting various roles in the church, including apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helps, governments, and speakers of tongues, before encouraging them to covet earnestly the best gifts and hinting at a more excellent way.