1 Corinthians 12 - Introduction

Spiritually Gifted Men And Their Gifts First Corinthians Twelve

In first Corinthians twelve, thirteen and fourteen Paul taught the Christians at Corinth about spiritual gifts. There must be unity in the church even though people are very different in the gifts they have received. The gifts that Paul was dealing with were spiritual gifts or supernatural ability that God gave as gifts to certain Christians. Those that have seriously studied the Bible are aware that these gifts ceased with the completion of the New Testament.

God had predicted that the Marvelous things" or miraculous gifts would last for about forty years in the early church. "According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvelous things." (Micah 7:1) Even though we do not have the same miraculous spiritual gifts of the early church God has still blessed us tremendously. We are new creatures rooted and grounded in the person of Jesus Christ.

In Christ people belong to the one body or church. While gifts differ in the church unity must prevail. There is but one body! The privilege of being a part of the one body is one of the great attractions to Christianity. The church is where you can truly belong and everyone can be a part of this one body, regardless of your gifts. You belong to God and He belongs to you! In this one body you have brothers and sisters and they belong to you and you belong to them.