1 Corinthians 12:4-31

1 Corinthians 12:4-31

[4] Now  diversities  of gifts,  but  the same  Spirit.  [5] And  differences  of administrations,  but  the same  Lord.  [6] And  diversities  of operations,  but  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  worketh  that one  and  the selfsame  Spirit,  dividing  to every man  severally  as  he will.  [12] For  as  the body  one,  and  hath  many  members,  and  all  the members  of that one  body,  many,  one  body:  so  also  is Christ.  [13] For  by  one  Spirit  all  baptized  into  one  body,  whether  we be Jews  or  Gentiles,  whether  we be bond  or  free;  and  all  made to drink  into  one  Spirit.  [14] For  the body  not  one  member,  but  many.  [15] If  the foot  shall say,  Because  I am  not  the hand,  I am  not  of  the body;  it therefore  of  the body?  [16] And  if  the ear  shall say,  Because  I am  not  the eye,  I am  not  of  the body;  it therefore  of  the body?  [17] If  the whole  body  were an eye,  where  were the hearing?  If  the whole  were hearing,  where  were the smelling?  [18] But  now  God  set  the members  every  one  of them  in  the body,  as  it hath pleased him.  [19] And  if  all  one  member,  where  were the body?  [20] But  now  are they many  members,  yet but  one  body.  [21] And  the eye  cannot  say  unto the hand,  I have  no  need  nor  again  the head  to the feet,  I have  no  need  [22] Nay,  much  more  those members  of the body,  which seem  to be  more feeble,  necessary:  [23] And  those  members of the body,  which we think  less honourable,  we bestow  honour;  and  uncomely  parts have  comeliness.  [24] For  comely  parts have  no  need:  but  God  the body  together,  having given  honour  to that part which lacked:  [25] schism  in  the body;  but  that the members  the same  care  one for  another.  [26] And  whether  one  member  suffer,  all  the members  suffer with it;  or  one  member  be honoured,  all  the members  rejoice with it.  [27] Now  the body  of Christ,  and  members  in  particular.  [28] And  God  hath set  some  in  the church,  first  apostles,  secondarily  prophets,  thirdly  teachers,  after that  miracles,  gifts  of healings,  helps,  governments,  diversities  of tongues.  [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?  [31] But  covet earnestly  gifts:  and  yet  shew I  a more  excellent  way. 

What does 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Paul planned to return to the subject of glossolalia (ch14), but first he wanted to talk more generally about spiritual gifts. In the verses that follow he dealt with differences in gifts in the church.
"Having given the negative and positive criterion of genuine spiritual endowments as manifested in speech, the Apostle goes on to point out the essential oneness of these very varied gifts." [1]
Diversity, not uniformity, is necessary for a healthy church, and God has seen to it that diversity exists ( 1 Corinthians 12:6-7; 1 Corinthians 12:11; 1 Corinthians 12:18; 1 Corinthians 12:24; 1 Corinthians 12:28). Notice that the Corinthians were doing in the area of spiritual gifts essentially what they were doing in relation to their teachers ( 1 Corinthians 3:4-23). They were preferring one over others and thereby failing to benefit from them all. This section of Paul"s argument puts the subject of gifts into proper theological perspective whereas the previous pericope put it into its proper Christological perspective.