Faith In First Corinthians, Chapter 12; Spiritual Gifts - Part 2; The Nine in Corinth:

Our last study examined the first 7 verses of chapter 12, which indicate that the following verses deal with the spiritual; that the Holy Spirit enables the believer to recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God and distributes gifts to individual believers, accomplishing His work through the believer. This is validation that the believer is an earthen vessel manifesting God’s Word and Work, 2 Corinthians 4:77 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

. We continue today with 1 Corinthians 12:88 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

- 118 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.

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.

: (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.”

“The Holy Spirit;” “Holy” is defined in our last study, however, the definition of “Spirit” is repeated here. It is from the Greek “pneu’ma” (G4151) that occurs 385 times in the NT; most frequently in Acts (70); however, 1 Corinthians is second, with 41. Spirit (capitalized) occurs 5 times in 1 Corinthians 12:8 - 11. Five in Scripture is the number of grace; grace being “a favor, kindness; that which is freely given, a gift of grace, generally the effect of God’s gracious working….” * Spirit (lower case) in verse 10 refers to a spirit other than the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit distributed 9 different gifts to individual Corinthian believers. Nine is the last of the digits, and thus marks the end; and is significant of the conclusion of a matter. * * This bears out the fact that 1 Corinthians 1:77 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

assured the Corinthians that they lacked none of the gifts from Jesus Christ. On the other hand, chapter 13 reveals the end of some of the listed gifts, as follows: (Note also the 8 words that occur either predominately or only in 1 Corinthians.)

1. “The Word of wisdom” and “The Word of knowledge;” verse 8. The Holy Spirit gave some the gift of expressing or communicating the wisdom of Jesus Christ and to others the knowledge of Him. Paul wrote earlier in Corinthians that God destroys the wisdom of the wise and makes foolish the wisdom of this world whereas it is by the preaching of the cross that they who believe are saved by the Power of God, 1 Corinthians 1:18 - 2118 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

, see also 1 Corinthians 2:22 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

. Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God, 1 Corinthians 1:2424 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

. Paul assured the Corinthians: “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in everything ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance (“utterance” is the Greek “logos,” the same as translated “word” in 1 Corinthians 12:8) and in all knowledge;” 1 Corinthians 1:4 - 54 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

. It was by the grace of God that Jesus Christ “enriched” the Corinthians, i.e., they were “richly furnished” in the “word” and in “all knowledge,” see also 1 Corinthians 2:12 - 1612 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

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• “Word” in verse 8 (translated “utterance” in 1 Corinthians 1:55 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

) is from the Greek “Logos” (G3056) found 330 times in the New Testament (NT) translated in the King James Version (KJV) “word” 218 times, “saying” 50 and with a number of other words including “utterance;” it is defined “of speech, a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea; what someone said, by implication, a topic (subject of discourse); the divine expression, that is Christ,” John 1:11 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

, John 1:1414 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

, etc.”

• “Wisdom,” from “sophia” (G4678) found 51 times in the NT always translated in the KJV “wisdom,” occurring most frequently in 1st Corinthians at 17. Our English dictionary defines it as “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight; common sense; good judgement.” Among other uses, the Greek lexicon defines sophia as “supreme intelligence, such as belongs to God/Christ; the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the Scriptures.”

2. The “word of knowledge;” as just noted it was by the grace of God that Jesus Christ “enriched,” that is “richly furnished” the Corinthians in “all knowledge,” 1 Corinthians 1:5. Chapter 8 teaches how the Corinthians who were blessed with knowledge were to deal with their fellow believers who lacked knowledge.

• “Knowledge,” from “gnosis” (G1108) found 29 times in the NT translated in the KJV “knowledge” 28 times and “science” once. It occurs most frequently in 1st Corinthians with 10 and means “the act of knowing; general intelligence, understanding, etc.”

3. “Faith,” the aspect of it being a gift will be dealt with subsequently.

4. “Healing,” from the Greek “imia” (G2386) occurring only 3 times in the NT, all in 1 Corinthians, meaning “a means of healing, remedy, medicine, etc.”

5. “Working of miracles,” “working” is the Greek “energema” (G1755) found only twice in the NT, both in 1 Corinthians. It means “thing wrought, effect operation.” “Miracles” is the Greek “dunamis” (G1411) occurring 120 times in the NT, in the KJV it is translated “power” 77 times, “mighty work” 11 times, “strength” 7 times, “miracle” 7 times, “might” 4 times and by various other words. It means “force (literally or figuratively), specifically miraculous power, usually by implication a miracle itself, etc.” It occurs most frequently in Luke and 1st Corinthians with 15 in each.

6. “Prophecy,” “propheteia” (G4394), occurs 19 times in the NT, most frequently in Revelation with 7, the second most frequent in 1 Corinthians with 5. It is translated “prophesying” as well as “prophesy” in the KJV. In the Old Testament, it refers to predicting future events. It’s use in Corinth was “a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden.”

7. “Discerning of spirits,” “discerning” is from the Greek “diakrisis” (G1253) found only 3 times in the NT, translated “discern” in Hebrews 5:1414 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

, “disputations” in Romans 14:11 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

and “discerning” here in 1 Corinthians 12:1010 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:

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:

. It is the act of “distinguishing or judging.”

“Divers kinds of tongues,” “divers” is in italics so is not in the original manuscripts. “Tongues” is the Greek “glos’sa” (G1100), occurring 50 times in the NT, by far the most frequent in 1 Corinthians with 21. The 1st and 2nd time it occurs in the NT is in Mark 7:31 - 3531 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

where its translated “tongue” in the account of a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment until Jesus touched his ear and tongue, giving him hearing and the ability to speak plainly. It means “the tongue, a member of the body, an organ of speech” or “the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations.”

8. “Interpretation of tongues,” “interpretation” is from the Greek “hermeneia” (G2058) found only 2 times in the NT, 1 Corinthians 12:10 and 1 Corinthians 14:2626 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

. It means “translation; interpretation of what has been spoken more or less obscurely by others.” We get our English word “hermeneutic” meaning “the study of methodological principals of interpretation (as of the Bible).”

These gifts were necessary in the Corinthian church because the Scriptures were not yet complete, that is, the Word of God revealed to the Apostle Paul for Members of the Body of Christ was not completed. Paul goes on in the 13th Chapter of 1 Corinthians to reveal that “knowledge,” along with “tongues” and “prophesies” would vanish, 1 Corinthians 13:88 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

. He finishes that chapter; “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:1313 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

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Our next study will examine that, notwithstanding what Paul taught here in the 12th and 13th chapters of 1st Corinthians, “wisdom, knowledge and understanding” are available to all members of Christ’s Body today.

* Numbers in Scriptures, Bullinger, page 135

* * ibid, page 235