1 Corinthians 12:3

Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

1 Now ^aconcerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

2 You know ^athat you were Gentiles, carried away to these ^bdumb idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus¹ accursed, and ^ano one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

4 ^aThere are¹ diversities of gifts, but ^bthe same Spirit.

5 ^aThere are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God ^awho works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8 for to one is given ^athe word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another ^bthe word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 ^ato another faith by the same Spirit, to another ^bgifts of healings by the same Spirit,

10 ^ato another the working of miracles, to another ^bprophecy, to another ^cdiscerning of spirits, to another ^ddifferent kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^adistributing to each one individually ^bas He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body

12 For ^aas the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, ^bso also is Christ.

13 For ^aby one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^bwhether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and ^chave all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

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1 Corinthians 12:4 >>

What Does 1 Corinthians 12:3 Mean?

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

In I Corinthians 13, the Bible reveals love's supreme importance to life. Paul directly compares love's value to faith, hope, prophecy, sacrifice, knowledge, and the gift of tongues and indirectly with all other gifts of God mentioned in chapter 12. He in no way denigrates the others' usefulness to life and God's purpose, but none can compare in importance to love.

The Corinthians took great pleasure in their gifts, just as we would, but a gift's relative importance is shown in its temporal quality. That is, there are times when a gift is of no use. But love will never end; it will always be of use.

Indeed, the receiving of gifts from God - unless accompanied by and used with love - have the potential to corrupt the one receiving them. God's gifts are powers given to enhance a person's ability to serve God in the church. However, we have all heard the cliché, "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." If gifts are not received and used with love, they will play a part in corrupting the recipient, just as they were corrupting the Corinthians. Love is the attribute of God that enables us to receive and use His gifts without corruption.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: Love

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 1 Corinthians 12:3:

Ecclesiastes 7:23-29
Matthew 24:14
Matthew 25:15
Hebrews 4:1-2

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1 Corinthians 12:4 >>

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Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

Unity and Diversity in One Body

What Does 1 Corinthians 12:3 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning