1 Cor 12:1-5

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The New Testament > 1 Corinthians > Chapter 12

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Questions

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Lexical notes

Verse 5

  • Differences of administrations means there are different ways of serving God. The Greek word here is diakonia which means "service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others." Also see additional translations.

Exegesis

Summary

Paul's initial purpose in speaking of spiritual gifts is to emphasize that they all come from the same divine source. In the first 11 verses of this chapter he uses the words "same or selfsame Spirit", a total of 6 times. He goes on to speak of the church as the Body of Christ, arguing that spiritual gifts are a manifestation of individual parts of a unified body, and that no particular part of that body should be looked down upon or esteemed as less worthy.

It is unclear why Paul is at such pains to emphasize unity in the practice of spiritual gifts. Perhaps the Corinthians doubted whether some spiritual manifestations were indeed from the Spirit. As converts, they came from religious traditions that emphasized a plurality of gods and divine spirits, and perhaps heresies had arisen among them. Or perhaps they simply looked down upon some of the more lowly manifestations of these gifts, and puffed up those with "showy" gifts like prophesy or healing.

Verse 3

The idea that "no man can say Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost" is interesting. There are many in the world who testify of Christ, but their hearts are far from God. "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Isa 29:13. Are these people really speaking by the Holy Ghost? Perhaps Paul means to say that those who bear testimony of Christ, and who do so with complete integrity, understanding that this proclamation demands upon them a commitment of service to Him, cannot do so without a manifestation of the Holy Ghost.

But then again, perhaps Paul means exactly what he is saying: Whenever any person, however unworthy, proclaims that Jesus is Lord, this truth will resonate with those who are in tune with the Spirit. In this way, ironically even the evil spirits who called out to Jesus "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God" are in effect speaking by the Holy Ghost. Those who believe what the demons said is true in this particular case, may even be able to feel the Spirit manifest that truth. Matt 8:29

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