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"Concerning spiritual gifts..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1

COMPLEX PROBLEMS

The problems that Paul had to address in the Corinthian Church were anything but easy! The problems were deep and complex. Chapter after chapter was devoted to resolving these issues. They could not be easily dismissed! Solutions had to be found or the church could flounder and fail!

PROBLEMS UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Paul began writing 1 Corinthians with noting that the Church had been enriched in so many ways (1 Corinthians 1:5). One of the blessings that God gives was “spiritual gifts”. But even in this area, the Corinthians Church was engulfed in problems. 1 Corinthians 12-14 ought to be read together closely. These chapters are inter-related.

THE PROBLEM OF “IGNORANCE”

Paul swiftly entered into the discussion of spiritual gifts with these words. One of the attendant problems was “ignorance”.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren,
I do not want you to be ignorant:
You know that you were Gentiles,
carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.”
1 Corinthians 12:1-2

1. What are “spiritual gifts”?

a) These are gifts bestowed by the Lord.

b) All genuine children of God are blessed with one or more gifts.

2. Bearing in mind the context of writing 1 Corinthians

a) This letter was written in the Apostolic age.

b) In the first century, special supernatural gifts were given.

c) These gifts included the following special and supernatural gifts:

i) The gift of Apostles

ii) Prophecy

iii) Healing

iv) Speaking in foreign languages hitherto unlearned in the usual way (through being taught)

3. The background of some of the Corinthians

a) A good number came from an idolatrous background.

b) They were led to worship idols.

c) They were taught to believe that idols were powerful.

d) These idols had human messengers through whom they communicated “divine messages”.

4. The danger of ignorance

a) It was all too easy to transfer past knowledge and experience into Christianity.

b) This could result in serious doctrinal flaws errors.