Issues Concerning Spiritual Activity (12:1-15:58) 

Paul now turns to his fifth issue, which he will elaborate on through chapter 15. He will open his discussion by addressing the practices within the gathering, with special attention given to the manifestation of the Spirit, especially the use of tongues.

Discerning the Spirit (1-3)

Paul first defines how to discern the Spirit operating within the heart of a man. He was seeking to make sure the church was not led away by pagan gods, nor led away by the deception that one can mold, at will, an image of Jesus (1-2).

Paul claims the Holy Spirit is completely unique in His purpose in that He will lead people to the confession and worship of Jesus Christ as the only King and Lord of the earth (3).

One Manifestation, Nine Gifts (4-11) 

Paul then explains to the church the nine different ways the Holy Spirit can and does manifest Himself through the Corinthian believers. Every believer was to be confident in their ability to reveal Jesus’ Spirit as they ministered to others.

While gifts differ, it is the same Spirit leading to the same Lord (4).

While there are different opportunities to serve, there is one King leading everyone (5).

While God works in different ways and different places, it is the same God who is doing the work for us all (6).

Everyone has been given the manifestation of the Spirit; everyone has something to give that will help others. It is the Holy Spirit who gives it all:

•  Words of wisdom

•  Words of knowledge

•  Faith

•  Gifts of healing

•  Miracles

•  Prophecy

•  Distinguishing of spirits

•  Tongues

•  Interpretation of tongues (7-10) 

It is the Holy Spirit who empowers the Corinthians, who gives each Corinthian “the manifestation” of the Spirit to each person. He gives this manifestation so God's power and presence can be fully experienced (11).

The Body Diverse and Dependent (12-20)  

Paul then launches into a comprehensive explanation of how the church functions, using the metaphor of the body. Christ's body, just like a human body, has many members but it is one awesome body. It is diverse, dependent, and unified (12). The body of Christ at Corinth was formed as each member, no matter what race, gender, or economic background, was water-baptized into Christ and given the Holy Spirit (13).

Paul goes to great lengths to make the point that not one part of the body is more important than another. Not one part is unnecessary. God organized the body perfectly—nothing haphazard or last minute, every detail, every person essential to the body, just as Christ chose and just as Christ had decided (14-18).

Paul deduced that if the body were but one member, it would be grotesque and non-functional because it would not be a living, moving, engaging body. God did the whole thing perfectly.

There were many diverse parts. They were all functioning together dependent on one another.

They were all in unity, moving toward one harmonious goal (19-20).

Every Body Necessary (21-25)

In Paul's view, every person needed every other person in the body. The rich hand could not say to the poor, “Foot, I don't need you” (21). The truth was evident: 

• Those who were weaker were the most necessary and most indispensable members. 

• Those thought to be less honorable were actually the ones who were to be the most honored. 

• Those members who embarrassed the rest actually were to be protected, covered, and insulated from ill-treatment. 

Paul contests that the Lord had comprised the body in such a way that greater honor was given to those who lacked honor. It was in this vision of the body that all division was erased and common care was given to everyone (22-25).

How It Works (26)

Paul then explains how it works. When some person in the body was weakened and made to suffer, was dishonored and made to suffer, or was shamed and embarrassed and made to suffer, the body rallied to their side to strengthen them. They were raised to a place of strength, honor, and esteem by the practice of suffering with each other. 

On the other hand, if a member of the body was honored, then all rejoiced because of the favor the honored had been given. 

What makes the one suffering more necessary and indispensable? Consider the two factors: 

• It requires more energy and time to suffer with the suffering. It requires more love. 

• To suffer with the suffering is to love the suffering. To love with Christian love, someone must give something without it being returned. The person being loved is more valuable than being loved in return. It is the weak, dishonored, and shamed that prove the depth and genuineness of Christian love. The weak, dishonored, and shamed are the most important, for we would never know how to love without them  (26).

All Called to Minister (27-31)

Finally, Paul blows the lid off of the community custom of the day where only males or free people could participate. In the church, everyone in the body of Christ was an individual member or part of it (27). There was order in how everyone functioned, but all could function and all had a place. 

Yes, there was order in offices, ministries, and services:

• Apostles

• Prophets

• Teachers

• Miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues

Yes, everyone had a place, but yes, there was leadership to organize the good ministry to each other (28).

Paul encouraged the church not to rank their gifts and ministries as better or superior, but as necessary and different. Everyone does not do the same thing, and everyone is indispensable. While the motive should always be to desire the gift that would do the most good for others, the important issue is to let everything be done for the sake of love (29-31).