Read & explore together
Spiritual Gifts
This part of the letter explains spiritual things so the readers will not remain uninformed. It shows how the Holy Spirit points to Jesus and how a wide variety of gifts can come from one divine source.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
The passage begins with a reminder of the readers’ former life with mute idols. It then contrasts that past with the work of the Holy Spirit, who leads to the confession that Jesus is Lord. After that, the letter lists different gifts and states their shared purpose and source.
1 Corinthians 12:1–11Main takeaway
To each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the profit of all.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01True spiritual speech honours JesusThe writer does not want the readers to be ignorant about spiritual things. He reminds them that they were once led away to mute idols.
Explanation
The writer does not want the readers to be ignorant about spiritual things. He reminds them that they were once led away to mute idols. In contrast, speech shaped by God’s Spirit does not call Jesus accursed. By the Holy Spirit, a person says, “Jesus is Lord.”
02Variety does not mean many sourcesNext comes a repeated pattern: various gifts, the same Spirit; various kinds of service, the same Lord; various workings, the same God.
Explanation
Next comes a repeated pattern: various gifts, the same Spirit; various kinds of service, the same Lord; various workings, the same God. The passage keeps both truths together. There is real diversity, yet the source behind these differences is one, not many.
03The Spirit’s manifestation helps everyoneThe letter says the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
Explanation
The letter says the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. That is the stated purpose in this verse. As an application, this encourages readers to think about shared benefit, because the passage directs attention beyond one person alone.
04Many gifts, one Spirit who distributesThe list includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of languages, and interpretation of languages.
Explanation
The list includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of languages, and interpretation of languages. The closing verse gathers the list together: the one and the same Spirit produces all these things, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What contrast does the passage make between mute idols and the Holy Spirit?
Compare the reminder about being led away to mute idols with the statement that by the Holy Spirit a person says, “Jesus is Lord.”
02How does the repeated phrase 'the same' shape the meaning of gifts, service, and workings?
Notice how each line pairs variety with one shared source: the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God.
03What purpose for the Spirit’s manifestation is stated directly in the passage?
Read the sentence carefully and focus on the words 'to each one' and 'for the profit of all'.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 12:1–11
1Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.
2You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.
3Therefore 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.
4Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
6There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.
7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
8For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10and 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.
11But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.