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12:14
The same Spirit is given to every member of the community,
but not to all in the same way. There is an amazing variety of gifts, and, no one individual can or should have them all. Each one receives a gift “for some bene t” (12:7)—that is, gifts are given to individuals, men and women alike, to be used for the good of the whole community.
12:12
Paul uses the metaphor of
the human body to urge the Corinthians to treasure each other, not to compete with each other. We need each other.
* [11:29–32] Judgment: there is a series of wordplays in these verses that would be awkward to translate literally into English; it includes all the references to judgment (krima, 1 Cor 11:29, 34; krinō, 1 Cor 11:31, 32) discernment (diakrinō, 1 Cor 11:29, 31), and condemnation (katakrinō, 1 Cor 11:32). The judgment is concretely described as the illness, in rmity, and death that have visited the community. These are signs that the power of Jesus’ death is not yet completely recognized and experienced. Yet even the judgment incurred is an expression of God’s concern; it is a medicinal measure meant to rescue us from condemnation with God’s enemies.
* [12:1–14:40] Ecstatic and charismatic activity were common in early Christian experience, as they were in other ancient religions. But the Corinthians seem to have developed a disproportionate esteem for certain phenomena, especially tongues, to the detriment of order in the liturgy. Paul’s response to this development provides us with the fullest exposition we have of his theology of the charisms.
* [12:2–3] There is an experience of the Spirit and an under- standing of ecstatic phenomena that are speci cally Christian
and that di er, despite apparent similarities, from those of the pagans. It is necessary to discern which spirit is leading one; ecstatic phenomena must be judged by their e ect (1 Cor 12:2). 1 Cor 12:3 illustrates this by an example: power to confess Jesus as Lord can come only from the Spirit, and it is inconceivable that the Spirit would move anyone to curse the Lord.
* [12:4–6] There are some features common to all charisms, despite their diversity: all are gifts (charismata), grace from outside ourselves; all are forms of service (diakoniai), an expression of their purpose and e ect; and all are workings (energēmata), in which God is at work. Paul associates each of these aspects with what later theology will call one of the persons of the Trinity, an early example of “appropriation.”
* [12:12–26] The image of a body is introduced to explain Christ’s relationship with believers (1 Cor 12:12). 1 Cor 12:13 applies this model to the church: by baptism all, despite diversity of ethnic or social origins, are integrated into one organism. 1 Cor 12:14–26 then develop the need for diversity of function among the parts of a body without threat to its unity.
CHAPTER 11
m. [11:32] Dt 8:5; Heb 12:5–11.
CHAPTER 12
a. [12:2] Eph 2:11–18.
b. [12:3] Rom 10:9; 1 Jn 4:2–3. c. [12:4] Rom 12:6; Eph 4:7, 11. d. [12:8] 2:6–13.
e. [12:10] 14:5, 26, 39; Acts 2:4.
f. [12:11] 7:7; Eph 4:7.
g. [12:12] 10:17; Rom 12:4–5; Eph 2:16; Col 3:15. h. [12:13] Gal 3:28; Eph 2:13–18;
Col 3:11 / Jn 7:37–39.
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 CORINTHIANS -
cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment* on himself. 30That is why many among you are ill and in rm, and a considerable number are dying. 31If we discerned ourselves, we would not be under judgment; 32but since we are judged by [the] Lord, we are being disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.m
33Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that your meetings may not result in judgment. The other matters I shall set in order when I come.
C. SPIRITUAl gIfTS*
1Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to
You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols.a 3Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.”
And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.b
4* There are di erent kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;c 5there are di erent forms of service but the same Lord; 6there are di erent workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some bene t. 8To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;d 9to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; 10to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues.e 11But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to
each person as he wishes.f
One Body, Many Parts.* 12As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.g 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.h
Unity and Variety.
be unaware. 12
2*