Spiritual Gifts
Paul says he does not want them uninformed about spiritual gifts and reminds them how, when they were pagans, they were led astray to mute idols. Therefore he tells them that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can truly say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
N1ow about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
Verse 1Paul says that about spiritual gifts, he does not want the brothers to be uninformed.
It opens the new topic with a desire for clarity.
Verse 2They know that when they were pagans, they were led astray to mute idols.
It recalls their former religious confusion.
Verse 3So Paul tells them that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
It gives the foundational Christological marker of the Spirit's work.
Paul then says there are many gifts, ministries, and workings, yet the same Spirit, Lord, and God stand behind them all. To each person the Spirit's manifestation is given for the common good, and Paul lists a range of gifts from wisdom and knowledge to healings, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation, all distributed by the one Spirit as he wills.
4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
Verse 4There are different gifts, Paul says, but the same Spirit.
It begins the repeated pattern of diversity within unity.
Verse 5There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
It extends the same pattern from gifts to forms of service.
Verse 6There are different workings, but the same God works all things in all people.
It completes the triadic pattern with God as active source.
Verse 7To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
It states the purpose governing every gift.
Verse 8To one is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, and to another a message of knowledge by the same Spirit.
It begins the list of differing gifts.
Verse 9To another are given faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit.
It continues the list while repeating the Spirit's unity.
Verse 10To another are given miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, various tongues, and interpretation of tongues.
It rounds out the list of manifestations under discussion.
Verse 11All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
It closes the section by placing every gift under the Spirit's sovereign giving.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 1-3
Paul says he does not want them uninformed about spiritual gifts and reminds them how, when they were pagans, they were led astray to mute idols. Therefore he tells them that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can truly say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
The paragraph begins the discussion by setting a Christ-centered test of the Spirit's work. - vv. 4-11
Paul then says there are many gifts, ministries, and workings, yet the same Spirit, Lord, and God stand behind them all. To each person the Spirit's manifestation is given for the common good, and Paul lists a range of gifts from wisdom and knowledge to healings, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation, all distributed by the one Spirit as he wills.
The paragraph gathers diversity and unity together under God's active giving.