Bible Studies

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This verse-by-verse study on 1 Corinthians chapter 12 was taken from my paper titled "A Verse-by-Verse Study of 1 Corinthians Chapters 10-14; Philippians Chapter 3; and James 3:1-4:6. In the original paper and the version on my internet site I was able to use bold, underlining, italics, and footnotes. I always use the New American Standard Bible, 1995 edition, unless I mention otherwise. Sometimes I will use double brackets [[ ]] and (( )) to make them more obvious.

In 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 the apostle Paul taught about charismatic gifts to address a misuse of the gifts by some in the church at Corinth. 1 Corinthians chapter 12 contains important teaching about the church being like a human body, with each member having different, important functions to perform for the good of the body, by the enablement/gifts of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 is located between two chapters that deal with charismatic gifts, and it deals with the gifts to some extent, but it is known as the great love (Greek "agape") chapter. The apostle demonstrates that love is more basic and more important than charismatic gifts (not that the gifts are not important for this age) and shows that our entire Christian walk, very much including the use of the charismatic gifts, must be characterized by love.

When discussing 1 Corinthians chapter 12 in the original paper, I devoted some ten pages to the topic of baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is a very important, but controversial, topic. It is very important for us to come to a balanced understanding of what the apostle Paul meant by the words, "For by [in] one Spirit we were all baptized into [resulting in] one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit" in 1 Cor. 12:13. The words baptism in the Spirit (or very similar words) are also used six other places in the New Testament, in the Gospels and Acts. Most Pentecostals and charismatics believe that baptism in the Spirit is separate from (it does not include), and is typically subsequent to, the all-important life-imparting work of the Spirit (the new birth). As I have discussed in previous writings (I'll include the references to those discussions as we continue), it seems clear to me that the words baptism in the Spirit, as these words are used in all seven of their occurrences in the New Testament, include the new birth, the all-important sanctifying work of the Spirit, and the charismatic dimension of the work of the Spirit.

It seems to me that Pentecostals and charismatics could modify their viewpoint regarding baptism in the Spirit without giving up anything essential. Even though the New Testament presents the entrance into the charismatic dimension as part of the initial baptism in the Spirit at the time we become Christians (along with the new birth and the sanctifying work of the Spirit), this modified viewpoint leaves room for born-again Christians to enter the charismatic dimension of the Spirit's work as a second experience, as it often happens in our day. (And there always is room for subsequent experiences as God increases our measure, giving us new gifts, etc.)

The ten pages dealing with baptism in the Spirit in the original version of this paper include extensive excerpts from three scholars, one a Pentecostal, one a charismatic, and one who is at least sympathetic to the charismatic renewal. As the quotations demonstrate, we (those three and myself) are all in essential agreement on this topic. In the internet version of this paper that is on my website and in these present articles, I greatly reduced the extensive excerpts that I had included from the three scholars in the original paper. (I had received permission to quote extensively from those other writings for the original paper, but not for the internet version of the paper. You could get a copy of the original version of the verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 by contacting me.)

When Pentecostals and charismatics adopt (what I believe is) a more accurate viewpoint regarding the terminology baptism in the Spirit, they are removing a major source of division in the evangelical Christian community, which will help open the door for Pentecostals and charismatics to share with their brethren what they have learned about the very important charismatic dimension of the work of the Spirit.

The primary topic that the apostle Paul dealt with in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 was the gifts of the Spirit (charismatic gifts). We learn quite a bit about the gifts in these chapters, but we must understand that these chapters (like so many other chapters in the epistles of Paul) were written in a specific context. The apostle wrote these chapters to deal with misunderstandings about and a misuse of the gifts, especially the gift of tongues, at Corinth. He didn't tell us everything we would like to know, but God reveals everything we need to know.


(1 Cor. 12:1) "Now concerning spiritual gifts [[The NASB has "gifts" in italics. "The things of the Spirit" would be a more literal translation of the Greek. However, "the things of the Spirit" here is comparable in meaning with the "gifts [of the Spirit]" mentioned in 12:4 (and with the "manifestation of the Spirit" mentioned in 12:7). The (neuter gender, plural number) Greek adjective translated "spiritual" here in 12:1 (which was derived from "pneuma," which is the Greek noun typically translated Spirit/spirit) is also used in 1 Cor. 14:1).]], brethren, I do not want you to be unaware [or, ignorant]. (2) You know that when you were pagans [The apostle is referring to the pagan background of the Gentile Christians at Corinth.], you were led astray to the mute [cf. Psalm 115:5; Isa. 46:7; Jer. 10:5; and Hab. 2:18, 19] idols, however you were led. [Compare 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Pet. 4:3. Instead of being "led" by the Holy Spirit, they were formerly being "led astray" to the mute (dumb) idols, idols that could not speak. Much of their former guidance came from demon spirits, who were/are actively involved in pagan religions (cf., e.g., 1 Cor. 10:19-21).] (3) Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by [or, in] the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is accursed'; and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit. [[In these first three verses of chapter 12, the apostle Paul somewhat insulted the Corinthians. He was trying to wake them up (those who needed to be awakened) so that they might humble themselves and repent, where repentance was required. I don't believe Paul thought that the Christians at Corinth needed to be taught that the Holy Spirit doesn't lead people to say "Jesus is accursed." Furthermore, I doubt that these words were ever spoken in a prophetic utterance in the church at Corinth, and even if they were spoken, I don't believe that any real Christian seriously wondered if it was the Holy Spirit behind this utterance.

The Holy Spirit is here to lead people to Jesus Christ (and through Him to God the Father) and to exalt Him in every way. There is perfect unity and harmony between the work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 12:4-6). The work of the Spirit exalts Jesus Christ and perfectly harmonizes with His work. All the charismatic gifts that are distributed, and wrought, by the Spirit in and through the body of Christ exalt Christ Jesus, and they work for the good of God's people. But more must be said: When you observed the manifestation of the charismatic gifts in the church at Corinth (and this problem was not at all limited to the ancient church at Corinth), you might have thought that the gifts of the Spirit were given to promote disunity and confusion in the body of Christ. The problems, of course, did not originate with the Spirit; they came from a fleshly misuse of the gifts.

One last point here, I don't believe the apostle was saying that it would be impossible for a non Christian, including one inspired by a demon spirit, to speak the words "Jesus is Lord

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