Corinthians 12
Outline:
I. \\#1:1-4:21\\ In Answer to Chloe’s Report
II. \\#5:1-6:20\\ In Answer to Common Reports
III. \\#7:1-16:4\\ In Answer to the Church’s Requests
A. \\#7:1-40\\ Counsel Concerning Marriage
1. \\#7:1-9\\ Principles for Married Life
2. \\#7:10-16\\ Principles for the Married Believer
a. \\#10-11\\ Saved to the Saved
b. \\#12-16\\ Saved to the Unsaved
3. \\#7:17-24\\ Principle of Abiding in God’s Call
4. \\#7:25-38\\ Principles for the Unmarried
5. \\#7:39, 40\\ Principles for Remarriage
B. \\#8:1-10:33\\ Meat Offered to Idols
1. \\#8:1-3\\ The Most Important Thing
2. \\#8:4-13\\ Our Actions Should Not Hurt Another
3. \\#9:1-27\\ Keeping Our Rights Should Not Be Our Goal
a. \\#1-14\\ Paul Had Surrendered His Rights
b. \\#15-18\\ Paul’s Point - Voluntary Sacrifice Brings A
Reward
c. \\#19-23\\ Paul’s Reasoning - For the Gospel
d. \\#24-27\\ Paul’s Challenge - It’s the Race That Counts
4. \\#10:1-11:1\\ Eating Meat Offered to Idols Is Idolatry
a. \\#10:1-5\\ All Who Were Blessed Did Not Benefit
b. \\#10:6-14\\ All Who Have Been Taught Did Not Learn
c. \\#10:15-11:1\\ All Who Have Been Warning Have Not
Heeded
C. \\#11:2-16\\ God’s Authority
1. \\#2-3\\ God’s Authority over Others
2. \\#4-6\\ God’s Authority Displayed
3. \\#7-16\\ God’s Authority Explained
D. \\#11:17-34\\ Abuse with the Lord’s Supper
1. \\#17-19\\ Divisions
2. \\#20-34\\ The Lord’s Supper
a. \\#20-22\\ What the Lord’s Supper Is Not
b. \\#23-34\\ What the Lord’s Supper Is
(1) \\#23-26\\ The Lord’s Supper was received of the
Lord.
(2) \\#27,29-30\\ The Lord’s Supper is an offense to
those who show contempt for it.
(3) \\#28,30-34\\So what should the Christian do?
E. \\#12:1-14:40\\ Spiritual Gifts
1. \\#12:1-3\\ Marks of the Holy Ghost
2. \\#12:4-11\\ Lessons about the Holy Ghost
3. \\#12:12-26\\ Believers, like gifts, Are Many, Different,
and One
4. \\#12:27-31\\ See Among Yourselves
I. \\#12:1-3\\ Marks of the Holy Ghost
1Cor 12:3 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.
II. \\#12:4-11\\ Lessons on the Holy Ghost
A. \\#4-6\\ His gifts are many but He is One.
1Cor 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts,
but the same Spirit.
1. \\#4\\ The Holy Spirit gives many different gifts or
abilities, but He is One.
1Cor 12:5 And there are differences of
administrations, but the same Lord.
2. \\#5\\ The Holy Spirit gives many different positions
in which to serve, but He is One.
1Cor 12:6 And there are diversities of
operations, but it is the same God which worketh
all in all.
3. \\#6\\ The Holy Spirit creates many different works and
ministries, but He is One.
B. \\#7-11\\ His gifts are different but He is One.
1. We all get some gifts.
1Cor 12:7 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;
a. \\#8\\ wisdom
b. knowledge
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to
another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
c. \\#9\\ faith
d. healing
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:
e. \\#10\\ miracles
f. prophecy
g. discerning of spirits
h. different kinds of tongues
(1) The word "kinds" is used 21 times in the New
Testament.
(a) Every time it is used it is speaking of a
kind of the same sort.
(b) Most often, it is used to speak of those who
are born of the same line such as the same
kinds within a nation.
(2) The word "tongues" most often refers to another
human language, but can also refer to the organ
within our mouths with which we use to speak.
i. interpretation of tongues - See notes on 1Cor 12:30.
3. At some point in a discussion on gifts, we must look at
how the word "tongues" is used in the Bible.
a. There are actually three words translated "tongue" in
our New Testament.
(1) Heb-rah-is-tee - It is used 6 times and is always
translated to mean the Hebrew language.
(2) dee-al-ek-tos - It is also used 6 times and is
always translated to mean a national language.
(3) glossa - It is used 48.
b. Of the 48 times glossa is used:
(1) How it is used:
(a) 15 times as the organ within our mouths
(b) 9 times as a human language
(c) 1 times as the shape of the tongue
(d) 23 times in a vague sense where we are not
given enough information to conclude what
kind of language it is.
(2) However:
(a) Never is the word declared to be or used in
the Bible as an "angelic language.
(b) 20 out of 23 times the word is used in a
vague sense, it is in the book of First
Corinthians, where the church is being told
they are using the gift incorrectly.
(c) In every case the word "tongues" is used in
a vague sense, it could just as easily be
referring to any made-up language (i.e.
Pig Latin, Klingon, Orkan).
(3) So what is the gift of tongues as seen in the
Bible?
(a) \\#Acts 2:1-11\\
(b) Someone says, "But Jesus prophesied a "new"
kind of tongue!"
Mr 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that
believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover.
i. The word for "new" means something
completely new and different.
ii. Was not what happened on Pentecost
completely new and different?
iii. Is there any reason to think that what
happened on Pentecost was not a
fulfillment of Jesus’ prophesy?
(c) This speaking in other earthly languages
became "the sign" to prove God has give
salvation to the Gentiles.
Acts 10:46 For they (Peter and company) heard
them (Cornelius’ house) speak with tongues, and
magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should
not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we?
i. Peter statement is that the Gentiles
had received the Holy Ghost AS WELL AS
means "just as much" or "in accordance
to."
ii. In other words, this display of tongues
was LIKE the time the Holy Ghost came
upon the Jews.
iii. The only way that Peter’s point would
be valid is IF it were the same
display of the Holy Ghost that the
Jews had experienced.
iv. Peter used the same wording when he
described the event to the Jerusalem
church later.
Acts 15:8 (Cornelius’ house discussed at the
Council of Jerusalem) And God, which knoweth the
hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy
Ghost, even as he did unto us;
(d) The only other time "glossa" is used in the
Bible, outside of 1 Corinthians, it’s use is
too vague to determine what kind of
language it might have been.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon
them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake
with tongues, and prophesied.
(e) We will read ALL of the other times "glossa"
is used in a vague sense since they are all
in this book.
4. All of His gifts are given and directed by the same Holy
Spirit.
a. \\#8\\ "by the same Spirit"
b. \\#9\\ "by the same Spirit"
c. And again in \\#9\\, "by the same Spirit"
d. \\#11\\
1Cor 12:11 But all these worketh that one and
the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will.
(1) The main emphasis is not just on the different
gifts, but also on the unity (the oneness) of
the Holy Spirit that is in charge.
(2) I suspect Paul was subtly telling the Corinthians
that God’s gifts are not treasures to be fought
over; but gifts to be used as the Holy Spirit
directs.
C. \\#1Cor 12:12-26\\ The believers, like gifts, are many,
different, and one. (The same is true of the believers that
is true of the gifts!)
1Cor 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many
members, and all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1. \\#12\\ We are one body, the body of Christ.
a. Like a human body, the spiritual body has many different
members.
b. And also like the human body, the spiritual body is one.
c. Paul’s point was likely to teach that the members
should not be jealous of the gifts other members
have; but it is also true that the members should not
be hostile toward the other members of the body with
whom they disagree.
(1) After all, we are all members of the same body.
(2) Under no circumstances are we ever each other’s
enemies—not if it is the saved dealing with the
saved.
(a) Believers may disagree with one another.
(b) Believers may debate one another.
(c) Believers may discipline one another.
(d) Believers may have to separate from one
another.
(e) Believers may even have to turn one over to
Satan for the destruction of the flesh, but
believers should never be one another’s
enemies.
(f) Our hearts should break for them.
(g) Our souls should grieve over them.
(h) Our spirits should pray for them.
(i) But we should never hate them.
2. \\#13\\ For the same Holy Spirit has made us all one. (At
this point, Paul started giving many truths about the
believers, mostly how we are all connected and important
to one another. However, he did not elaborated upon any
of them.)
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we
be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit.
a. The Holy Ghost has baptized us into one body.
(1) It does not matter if we are Jews or Gentiles,
bond or free.
(2) Since the Holy Spirit is the Person who draws us
to salvation and empowers us to serve, we have
all "drunk" from Him.
(3) Although many and gifted differently, we are ONE
body.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
b. We are one whether we think we are or not.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the
hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not
of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the
eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of
the body?
c. Yet we are different, and Paul seems to imply that is
the case whether we WANT to be or not.
(1) We are gifted differently because the body has
different needs.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the
hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were
the smelling?
(2) We are gifted differently because God has a
different will for us.
18 But now hath God set the members every one of
them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
d. We would not BE a complete body if we were all the
same member.
19 And if they were all one member, where were
the body?
e. But EVEN BEING DIFFERENT, we make up one body.
20 But now are they many members, yet but one
body.
f. BY BEING DIFFERENT, we are dependent upon one another.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have
no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet,
I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body,
which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
g. And those with the more common gifts, are the most
needed.
23 And those members of the body, which we think
to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more
abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more
abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God
hath tempered the body together, having given more
abundant honour to that part which lacked:
(1) The gifts that Paul called "less
honorable" and "comely" would be the less
spectacular gifts such as caring, giving,
organizing, cleaning, cooking, repairing and so
forth.
(2) \\#24\\ Those with these gifts "have no need;"
that is, they can stand alone.
(a) Paul did not say it, but those with some of
more preeminent gifts cannot stand alone!
(b) Those of us who preach, pastor, evangelize,
and teach cannot exercise our gifts without
others; but those who cook, clean, give,
and help most certainly can!
(c) Yet the more common gifts are often
overlooked—especially by those who have
those gifts!
(3) Those with the more common gifts should be the
ones upon which we "bestow more abundant honor."
(4) Paul was laying the groundwork to later say that
the gift of tongues—whatever you think it
means—is not the gift that should be sought
after. There are far more important gifts.
h. God has deliberately made those with the more
noticeable gifts dependent upon those with the less
noticeable gifts to keep the body in unity, dependent
upon one another.
25 That there should be no schism in the body;
but that the members should have the same care
one for another.
i. Because whenever one member in the body suffers, we
all suffer.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the
members suffer with it; or one member be
honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
(1) The suffering Paul was referring to here would
not be the suffering caused from without the
body but within.
(2) Everyone wants and needs to feel needed,
especially to the body of Jesus Christ.
D. \\#1Cor 12:27-31\\ See Among Yourselves
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.
1. "in particular" - At this point, Paul stopped talking
about the gifts and believers in general, and began to
speak about the Corinthians and their gifts in
particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first
apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
2. The Corinthian church had people within or associated with
the church who had all of the spiritual gifts Paul
listed.
a. Notice that Paul ranked the top three gifts in order
of usefulness and authority. Those with the first
gifts can know and reveal the will of God.
(1) "apostles"
(a) At the very least, they had Paul among them.
(b) Since the plural is used, it is likely that
another with the gifts (although perhaps
not the calling) of an apostle had worked
with them.
(c) The gift of "apostle" made that minister the
most useful and granted to him the most
authority.
(d) We have NO apostles today.
(2) "prophets"
(a) The word primarily means "to speak before"
and refers to the ability to know and
reveal the future.
(b) To be honest, I am not completely
comfortable applying that to a pastor or
preacher, but those are the gifts and
ministers closest to that description.
(3) "teachers"
(a) Those with the ability to understand and to
teach the Word of God.
(b) I believe there is a difference in the gifts
of preacher and teacher.
b. Paul then listed the next tier of gifts. These do not
have all of the authority of the first group, but are
and were very valuable.
(1) "gifts of healing"
(a) Often when the gift of tongues is mentioned,
the gift of healing is also listed.
(b) That does not mean the same person must have
both, but if the gift of healing—as it was
demonstrated by Jesus and the apostles—
does not exist today, then it is evident
that we do not have ALL of the spiritual
gifts of the New Testament among us today.
(c) In my lifetime, I have not seen anyone who
could heal like Jesus and the apostles.
(2) "helps" - The gift and delight of a person to
help another.
(3) "governments" - The gift of organizing,
understanding, and leading others.
(4) "diversities of tongues"
(a) This is the Greek word "glossa."
(b) Some like to emphasis the word "diverse" or
"different" to say this verse proves there
are other kinds of languages besides
earthly languages, but to do that you would
first have to assume that the word tongues
means something other than what the Bible
has revealed it meaning.
(c) So far, the only definition of "tongues" the
Bible has given is "earthly languages."
(d) To assume this verse is talking about
"heavenly" or "angelic" languages is to
read into that verse what some WANT it to
say, not what the Bible actually HAS SAID.
(e) At this point, there is no reason to believe
a heavenly or angelic language even exists.
(f) If we just read the verse based on what the
Bible says and not on what some want it to
say, then Paul was saying the gift of
tongues that was practiced among the
Corinthians is the ability to speak and to
understand different earthly languages.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all
teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak
with tongues? do all interpret?
3. Paul again taught by asking rhetorical questions,
questions whose answers are so obvious that they needed
no answer.
a. \\#29\\ Among the Corinthians, were all apostles?
Obviously, NO.
b. Among the Corinthians, were all prophets? NO.
c. Among the Corinthians, were all teachers? NO.
d. Did they all do miracles? NO.
e. \\#30\\ Did they all have the gift of healing? NO.
f. Did they all speak with tongues?
(1) This is again the word "glossa."
(2) From this reference, we cannot understand
anything NEW about tongues.
(3) We would have to believe that tongues is still an
earthly language.
(4) The answer is NO.
g. Do all have the gift of interpreting the tongues?
(1) First, the answer is obviously NO.
(2) Second, regardless of what kind of tongue is
being spoken, the Holy Spirit also gives to the
the ability to interpret tongues/languages.
(3) This is not the first time the interpretation of
tongues has been mentioned by Paul
\\#1Cor 12:10\\; however, there like here it is
only mentioned, not elaborated upon.
(4) To some, the fact that there is a "gift of
interpretation" means something has changed with
the gift since Pentecost.
(a) They would argue that if the gift of tongues
had not changed, there would not need for a
gift of interpretation because no
interpreter was needed on the Day of
Pentecost.
(b) However, it appears that on the Day of
Pentecost that everyone present had the
gift of interpretation.
(c) In fact on that day, the miracle may not
have been on PETER and the language he
SPOKE but on the PEOPLE who could
UNDERSTAND what he spoke in THEIR language.
Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled,
saying one to another, Behold, are not all these
which SPEAK GALILAEANS?
8 And how HEAR we every man in our own TONGUE,
wherein we were BORN?
i. The hearers supposed Peter and the
others were speaking in a Galilaean
language, probably Greek.
ii. But they were HEARING their words in
the earthly language in which they
were born.
(d) Regardless of whether the miracle on the Day
of Pentecost was on the speakers, the
hearers, or both, the gift of understanding
what was spoken was definitely present on
the Day of Pentecost.
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet
shew I unto you a more excellent way.
4. "covet… the best gifts" - Then Paul challenged the
Corinthians to desire the best gifts.
a. At present, this challenge does reference the gift of
tongues or any other gift.
b. It is just a statement that if we are going to want
the gifts the Holy Spirit offers, we should want the
"best" gifts, supposedly those which would help us to
do the most good and to be the most effective for
Jesus Christ.
c. However, by the time we complete chapter 14, I think
it will be obvious that Paul did not consider the
gift of tongues to be one of the best gifts.
5. "a more excellent way" - But regardless of what spiritual
gift is the best, Paul wanted to show the Corinthians
something even better than the spiritual gifts.
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