Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity 1 Corinthians 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. These categories of giftedness are not natural talents, skills, or abilities, such as are possessed by believers and unbelievers alike. They are sovereignly and supernaturally bestowed by the Holy Spirit on all believers (vv. 7, 11), enabling them to spiritually edify each other effectively and thus honor the Lord. The varieties of gifts fall into two general types, speaking and serving (see vv. 8–10; cf. Ro 12:6–8; 1Pe 4:10, 11). The speaking, or verbal, gifts (prophecy, knowledge, wisdom, teaching, and exhortation) and the serving, nonverbal gifts (leadership, helps, giving, mercy, faith, and discernment) operate throughout the church age. Their purpose is to edify the church and glorify God. 1 Corinthians 12:5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. Next the apostle points out that there are differences of ministries or services in the church. We don’t all have the same work. But what we have in common is that whatever we do is done for the same Lord and with a view to serving others (not self). 1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. Then again, though there are diversities of activities as far as spiritual gifts are concerned, it is the same God who empowers each believer. If one gift seems more successful or spectacular or powerful than another, it is not because of any superiority in the person possessing it. It is God who supplies the power. 1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: The Spirit manifests Himself in the life of each believer by imparting some gift. There is no believer who does not have a function to perform. And the gifts are given for the profit of the entire body. They are not given for self-display or even for self-gratification but in order to help others. 1 Corinthians 12:8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, The word of wisdom is the supernatural power to speak with divine insight, whether in solving difficult problems, defending the faith, resolving conflicts, giving practical advice, or pleading one’s case before hostile authorities. Stephen so demonstrated the word of wisdom that his adversaries “were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). The word of knowledge is the power to communicate information that has been divinely revealed. This is illustrated in Paul’s use of such expressions as “Behold, I tell you a mystery” (1 Cor. 15:51) and “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:15). There is still a mysterious communication of divine knowledge to those who live in close fellowship with the Lord. The sharing of that knowledge with others is the word of knowledge. 1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, The gift of faith is the divine ability to remove mountains of difficulty in pursuing the will of God (13:2) and to do great exploits for God in response to some command or promise of God as found in His word or as communicated privately. George Müller is a classic example of a man with the gift of faith. Without ever making his needs known to anyone but God, he cared for 10,000 orphans over a period of sixty years. The gifts of healings have to do with the miraculous power to heal diseases. 1 Corinthians 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. Working of miracles could include casting out demons, changing matter from one form to another, raising the dead, and exercising power over the elements. Philip worked miracles in Samaria, and thereby gained a hearing for the gospel (Acts 8:6, 7). The gift of prophecy, in its primary sense, signified that a person received direct revelations from God and transmitted them to others. Sometimes the prophets predicted future events (Acts 11:27, 28; 21:11); more often they simply expressed the mind of God. Like the apostles, they were concerned with the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20). They themselves were not the foundation, but they laid the foundation in what they taught concerning the Lord Jesus. In a weaker sense, we use the word “prophet” to describe any preacher who declares the word of God authoritatively, incisively, and effectively. Prophecy can also include the ascription of praise to God (Luke 1:67, 68) and the encouragement and strengthening of His people (Acts 15:32). Discerning of spirits describes the power to detect whether a prophet or other person is speaking by the Holy Spirit or by Satan. A person with this gift has special ability to discern if a man is an imposter and an opportunist, for instance. Thus Peter was able to expose Simon as one who was poisoned by bitterness and in the bond of iniquity (Acts 8:20–23). The gift of tongues, as has been mentioned, is the ability to speak a foreign language without ever having learned it. Tongues were given for a sign, especially to Israel. The interpretation of tongues is the miraculous power to understand a language which the person has never known before and to convey the message in the local language. It is perhaps significant that this list of gifts begins with those that are connected primarily with the intellect and closes with those dealing primarily with the emotions. The Corinthians had reversed this in their thinking. They exalted the gift of tongues above the other gifts. They somehow thought that the more a man had of the Holy Spirit, the more he was carried off by a power beyond himself. They confused power with spirituality.