Paul introduces the topic of spiritual gifts by reminding the Corinthians of their pagan past and by giving a Christological test for spiritual speech. No one speaking by the Spirit of God says 'Jesus is accursed,' and no one can truly say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit.
1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.
2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.
Paul teaches that there are varieties of gifts, service, and workings, but the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God is at work in all. The Spirit distributes manifestations for the common good, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
9 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
Paul compares the church to a human body. Though it has many members, it is one body. All believers were baptized by one Spirit into one body and given one Spirit to drink. Diversity of members is not a threat to unity but part of God’s design.
12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body.
16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.
19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now they are many members, but one body.
Paul addresses the opposite danger, that stronger or more visible members might despise others. The body needs every part, and the seemingly weaker or less honorable members receive special care. God has arranged the body to prevent division and produce mutual concern.
1 Corinthians 12:21-26
21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety;
24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,
25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Paul applies the body metaphor directly to the church: they are the body of Christ and individually members of it. God has appointed various roles and gifts, not all identical. He ends by urging them to earnestly desire the greater gifts and then points them toward a still more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.