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1 Corinthians 12 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 HCSB
What does Paul mean by gifts, ministries, and activities?
Gifts – Paul lists many here in 1 Corinthians 12 and others throughout Scripture. The key is that they are diverse and given by God.
Ministries – Most likely this is referring to the different offices that are given to those in leadership such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers. Once again, the emphasis is on the fact that these come from the same God who has given gifts.
Activities – (in Greek, the root word for energy, energetic, and energize) God pours out his power to work out His will in different ways to different people. These activities indicate that once again the power does not come from our work, but the Lord’s sovereign work through us.
Some in the church are given specific gifts. Others are given ministries of leadership. Still others are gifted with timely miraculous events or outpourings of the Spirit. It is human nature to try and figure out where we stand and then compare ourselves to others. This was not Paul’s advice. In fact, he plainly states that all of these gifts come from the same God. They are to be used together, with unity, for the building up of the body of Christ.
“Apparently, the tendency to divde among the Corinthian Christians had made them think separately or competitively about the gifts. Perhaps the “tongues speakers” thought themselves superior to the “prophesiers,” as if the gifts had come from two different gods! Paul emphasizes to them that one and the same Spirit works all these things, so they should reflect that same unity among themselves.”
David Guzik
I see this same problem amongst churches in the same community. One church may be gifted in discipleship while another may be gifted in reaching the poor. Sometimes churches can think themselves better than the rest because of their God-ordained ministry or gifting. This causes an attitude of division and competition which does not please God and effectively stunts the holistic growth of the community. Paul’s advice was to see all giftings through the same Spirit and work together to glorify God!