I Corinthians 12:1-11
Spiritual Gifts

Today, 05/22/2023, let us, together in the grace of God, rejoice and reflect on the Word of God in I Corinthians 12:1-11.

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

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.

[King James Version]

Suggested Questions:

1. What does it mean “by the spirit of God”? [Note: 1 (a)]

2. How are the “gifts” and the “administrations” connected?

3. What does “the manifestation of the Spirit” mean?

4. What is “the word of wisdom”? Please provide an example.

5. What is “the word of knowledge”? Please provide an example.

6. How does speaking in “diverse kinds of tongues” differ from the phenomenon of “speaking in tongues” in Charismatic and Pentecostal churches?

Suggested Applications:

1. In your opinion, can a person ask the Holy Spirit to bestow upon them a specific grace? If yes, why? If not, why?

2. Do you believe that the phenomenon of “speaking in tongues,” which involves producing sounds that are not a human language, is a gift from the Holy Spirit? Please reread Acts 2:8-11.

Note:

[1] (a) Please note that when the term “spirit” is used without a definite article in Greek to refer to God and Christ, it refers to their mindset and should not be capitalized. (b) If it is used to refer to humans, it refers to the human mindset aligning with God’s. (c) When used with a definite article, it refers to the spiritual essence of either God or humans.

[2] Please note that when the term “holy spirit” is used without a definite article in Greek, it refers to the power and life coming from God, not the person of God the Holy Spirit, and should not be capitalized.