Spiritual Gifts
(Parallel teachings: Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
- 1 Now brothers, I don’t want you to be unaware about spiritual things.
- 2 You *know that when you were gentiles,fn“gentiles” is literal. Many translations translate it “pagans” here, and that’s a contextually defensible choice. you were being led to mute idolsfnquotation/allusion to Psalm 115:5,7; Psalm 135:16; Habakkuk 2:18-19 (also quoted/alluded to by Rev 9:20) as you were being led astray.
- 3 Therefore, I declare to you that no one speaking by God’s Spirit says: “Jesus is anathemafn“anathema” this Greek word literally means to curse someone, specifically with a curse to devote them to God’s destruction. In the Septuagint (an ancient translation of the Old Testament into Greek) it was used of items placed under the divine ban for total destruction (e.g. Deuteronomy 7:26; Joshua 6:17-18). It can also carry the sense of being separated from the sphere of God’s blessing or from God Himself (e.g. Romans 9:3), and being abominable and/or detestable.“, and no one is able to say: “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
- 4 Now, there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit.
- 5 And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord.
- 6 And there are varieties of effective workings but the same God, the One effectively working all things in all men.
- 7 And to each man, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.
- 8 For indeed, a word of wisdom is given to one man through the Spirit; but to another man, a word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
- 9 to a different man, faith is given by the same Spirit; but to another man, gifts of healing by the one Spirit.
- 10 And to another man, the effective working of miracles; and to another man, prophecy; and to another man, discernment of spirits; to a different man, various kindsfn“kinds” this Greek word typically refers to the offspring of a common ancestor, such as families, races, or nations. In this context, it can also indicate “kinds” in a more general sense. of tongues; but to another man, the interpretation of tongues.
- 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each individually just as He wills.
Many Parts, One Body
(Parallel teachings: Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-16)
- 12 For just as the body has many parts and is one body, and just as all the parts of the body are one body though being many parts, so also is the Anointed.
- 13 For also we were all immersed into one body by one Spirit, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free. And we were all given one Spirit to drink. CFParallel teachings: Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:13-18; Colossians 3:11
- 14 For also, the body isn’t one part, but many.
- 15 If the foot says: “Because I’m not a hand, I’m not part of the body.” it doesn’t stop beingfn“it doesn’t stop being” is literally “it isn’t not” a part of the body because of this.
- 16 And if the ear says: “Because I’m not an eye, I’m not part of the body.” it doesn’t stop beingfn“it doesn’t stop being” is literally “it isn’t not” a part of the body because of this.
- 17 If the whole body was an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body was an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
- 18 But now, God placed the parts in the body – each one of them – just as He willed.
- 19 But if all were one part, where would the body be?
- 20 But now, there are indeed many parts, but only one body.
- 21 And the eye isn’t able to say to the hand: “I don’t have need of you”. Or again, the head isn’t able to say to the feet: “I don’t have need of you”.
- 22 But rather,fn“rather” is literally “much rather” the parts of the body seeming to be weaker are essential.
- 23 And parts of the body which we deem to be less honorable, we clothe these with far greater honor, and our indecent parts have far greater modesty.
- 24 But our presentable parts have no need of that. But God orchestratedfn“orchestrated” The Greek word used here means to mix disparate elements together to produce a unified and harmonious whole. the body, having given far greater honor to the parts that lack honor,
- 25 so that there might not be division in the body, but the parts might have the same concern for one another.
- 26 And if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it. And if one part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.
- 27 Now, you are the body of the Anointed and parts of the body individually.
- 28 And to those in the church assembly, God indeed appointed emissaries initially,fn“initially” is more literally “first”, but not in the sense of importance or authority, since the Greek word used here only carries the sense of time, not primacy or authority. prophets second, teachers third, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administration,fn“administration” is literally “administrations”. This Greek word properly refers to the pilot (though not the captain) of a sailing ship, who guides the ship under the captain’s direction. This has the idea of directing day-to-day affairs to keep the ship on course; hence “administration”. and various kindsfn“kinds” see note on verse 10 of tongues.
- 29 All aren’t emissaries, are they? All aren’t prophets, are they? All aren’t teachers, are they? All don’t work miracles, do they?
- 30 All don’t have gifts of healing, do they? All don’t speak in tongues, do they? All don’t interpret, do they?
- 31 But zealously desire the greater gifts. And further, I’m showing you a most excellent way.