First Corinthians 12:4-11
12:4
There
are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
diaireseiV de carismatwn eisin to de auto pneuma
Now differences of gifts there are but the
same spirit
12:5
There
are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
kai
diaireseiV diakoniwn eisin kai o autoV kurioV:
and differences of ministries t here are
and the same Lord
“different
kinds”
or diaireseiV is the same
word as above
“of
service”
is “diakoniwn” which is the
genitive (“of . . .”) plural of the word diakonia”diakonia”
which means “administration, minister, office or service”. This comes from the word “diakonoV” where we get our
word “deacon”. The emphasis here is
service, aid, and ministry. It describes
the servant in relationship to his work or service not in his relationship to
people. It is interesting that Jesus is
the servant and this phase of these three parts is associated with the Lord
Jesus. This is the same word used to
describe Jesus ministry and the ministry of his followers.
12:6
There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
kai
diaireseiV energhmatwn eisin
o de autoV
qeoV
and differences of operations there are but
the same God
o
energwn ta
panta en
pasin
operating all things in
all
“different
kinds”
or diaireseiV is the same
word as above
“of
working”
is “energhmatwn ” which is a
noun and is a rare use of this word as a noun.
The verb use of this word means effective working. It means that something is accomplished by
the effort of the work done. The English
word “energy” can be seen in this Greek word “energhmatwn ” or “energamaton”.
(The Greek word for work is “ergon”)
“the
same God works” uses the Greek word
“energwn” or “energon”
which is present (see box below) active and means “to perform, to be at work,
to be effective, to produce”.
|
INTERESTING
NOTE: 1)
Continuous or uninterrupted action – John 15:4 “. . .unless it [continuously] abides. .
.unless you [continuously] abide. . .” 2)
Action that happens over and over again – Matthew 10:1 “. . .to
[repeatedly] cast them out, and to [over and over again] heal every kind of
disease.” 3)
Customary or habitual action – Matthew 7:12 “. . . you [customarily] want
people to [customarily] treat you.” Helping Words: Continuously,
repeatedly, over and over again, uninterruptedly, constantly, keep on,
customarily, habitually. |
12:7
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
ekastw
de
didotai h fanerwsiV tou
pneumatoV proV to sumferon.
but to each one
is given the manifestation of the
spirit to the
profiting
This is Paul’s thesis statement.
Verses 8-10 is an illustration of this
thesis statement.
Verse 11 is this same thesis statement
restated.
The Greek sentence begins with “each
one” in the emphatic position which means this is the emphasis of the thesis
statement.
“Each one” has something from the Holy
Spirit. The emphasis here is not on the
fact (1 Peter 4:10) that each person has a gift or a manifestation but on the
fact that the Holy Spirit gives each person a gift which is stated to continue
proving the wide diversity of the manifestations.
Important to notice that the word “carisma” or “charisma” translated usually as
“gifts” or “spiritual gifts” is not in this sentence. Paul is not saying “each one is given a gift”
but instead says “each one is given the “fanerwsiV
tou pneumatoV” or “manifestation of the Spirit”.
“manifestation”
or
“fanerwsiV” “phanerosis”
means a “making clear, or a manifestation, setting forth plainly.” The genitive is probably objective (The International
Critical Commentary, Driver, Plummer and Briggs editors, First Corinthians by Robertson and
Plummer, T & T Clark LTD, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1999, p.264) which means
it would say:
and not:
The point remains though the emphasis
is on the Holy Spirit manifesting among people and not on the gifts or favors (carisma). Thus the
reason for using “manifestations” instead of “gifts”. “Manifestations” focuses on the Holy Spirit
while concern for the “gift” focuses on the one who has or receives the gift.
“for the common good” translates “proV to sumferon”
“to the profiting” or “for the profiting”.
The manifestation of the Spirit is through the diverse individuals but
it is not for the individuals. The
diverse manifestations of the Spirit are for the group, the union, the cause.
This verse has said:
·
The Spirit
manifests
·
Each one
manifests the Spirit (emphasis here is still on diversity of the Spirit and not
on everyone having a gift from God.)
·
Now it says the
reason the Spirit manifests diversely among each one: for the profiting or
benefit of the whole or the group that is in union.
·
Once again the
point is unity with diversity. Why is
there diversity among a unified group?
To strengthen the group and to cause it to succeed.
The List of Nine Manifestations
of the Spirit
All of these have been suggested as
ways of organizing the gifts in this list:
12:8
To
one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the
message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit
w
men
gar dia
tou pneumatoV
didotai logoV
sofiaV
for to
one through the
spirit is given a word of wisdom
allw
de logoV gnwsewV
kata to auto pneuma,
and to another a word
of knowledge according to the
same spirit
“logos”
“Sophia”
“logos”
“gnosis”
12:9
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit
eterw
pistiV
en
tw autw pneumati allw
de carismata
to another faith
by the same spirit and to another gifts
iamatwn
en tw eni pneumati,
of cures by the one spirit
“pistis”
“charismata”
“iamaton”
12:10
to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
allw
de energhmata dunamewn allw
[de]
profhteia
and to another operations of powers to another and prophecy
allw
[de] diakriseiV pneumatwn, eterw
genh glwsswn
and to another discernings of spirits to
another kinds of tongues
allw
de
ermhneia glwsswn
and to another
interpretation of tongues
“energamata” – means “workings”
“dunameon” – “miracles”
“propheteia” – is the declaration
of that which cannot be known by natural means.
It comes from God and is the forth telling of the will of God concerning
the past, present or the future.
“diakriseis” – means “judging between things, distinguish, discerning”
“pneuma” – means “current of air, breath, breeze. Used to refer to spirit of men or man’s soul,
man’s disposition. Also refers to
angels, demons or God’s Spirit.
“yenos” – means “a generation, kind, stock”. Translated as “kind, kindred, offspring, nation, stock, born, diversity, country, countryman, generation.”
“glossa” it means tongue as in the
organ and by implication it means language
“hermeneia” – “interpretation, translation. It means to interpret what has been spoken obscurely by others.
“glossa” it means tongue as in the
organ and by implication it means language
12:11
All these are the work of one and the
same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines
panta
de tauta
energei
to en kai
to auto pneuma
and all these things operates
the one and
the same spirit
diairoun
idia ekastw kaqwV bouletai
distributing separately to each one as he purposes