1 Cor 12:1 says, Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
In the authorized King James renditions, the word “gift” is italicized, which infers that it was not in the original Greek rendering. Though Paul’s aim was to ensure that the church was not misinformed, by adding the word “gift” in this text, the translators of King James Version of the Bible caused confusion, theological argument and denominational misunderstandings.
The Greek rendering says… Now concerning Spiritual, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Pnuematikos is the Greek work translated “spiritual”; it is derived from the word “Pneuma”, which means Spirit. Thus, Pneumatikos denotes that which belongs to, is determined by, influenced by or proceeds from the spirit.
Consequently, a literal rendering of this text is… Concerning things belonging to, determined by, influenced or proceeding from the spirit, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Put differently… Concerning spiritual things or spiritual matters, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
In Verse 2, he proceeds to remind them of their conducts before they received Jesus, saying…Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led” (1 Cor 12:2).
Living Bible Rendering says… You will remember that before you became Christians, you went around from one idol to another, not one of which could speak a singleword.
You see, before the redemptive work of Jesus was accomplished, the world was made up two sets of people. The Jews or God’s covenant people and natural descendant of Abraham and The Gentiles or rest of the world. The Gentiles worshiped dumb Idols or Idols that did not speak, because that was what they had been taught.
You see, it is impossible for someone to go any further in his spiritual quest than he is led: we can’t receive beyond what we believe, neither can we believe beyond what we are taught.
But after, they became born again and were meeting all sorts of people, many of whom aver to speak messages from the Spirit of God. Paul wanted them to know who was real and who was fake and he says here is the test: No man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthian 12:3).
Having shown the church to how decode real from fake spiritual matters, he delves into the gifts of the Holy Spirit, fivefold ministry and the mode of propagating the gospel, saying… Now, there are diversities of gift, but same spirit or it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all.
Note that the gifts of the spirit are given by the Holy Spirit and they are means and instruments of power used to successfully implement the administration and operation of God’s work in his church.
Paul informs us of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1Cor 12:8-10, saying… For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.
These nine gifts of the Holy Spirit can be further subdivided based on their function into three classes. In Verse 7, he states that everyman that is filled with the Holy Spirit can manifest these gifts and that it is for the good of all or it is a means of helping the entire church.
Hear him: But the manifestation (phanerōsis) a disclosure or clear display) of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (sympherō) — for the good of all or as a means of helping the entire church).
Continuing, Paul, in Verse 5, spoke of the fivefold ministry and informs us that it is Jesus who put people into the fivefold ministry or gives the gift of administration, saying… And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord (1 Corinthian 12:5).
Diakonia is the Greek word translated administration; it also means ministries or service. Mounce Reverse Interlinear Rendering says… And there are different kinds of ministries( diakonia),but the same Lord.
Speaking of Jesus, scriptures say… When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:8,11).
This is corroborated in 1Timothy 1:12… And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.
Thus, the fivefold ministry is the gift of Jesus: For what purpose? …For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
Greek Rendering of Verse 12 says…. For the perfecting or maturing of the saints, so that saints can do the work of the ministry, resulting in the edification of the body of Christ.
To be Continued
Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe(Ps)
