Gifts, Ministrations, Workings

By Ernest E. Lyon

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     Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all (1 Cor. 12:4-6. ASV).

     It seems to me that much misunderstanding of the "gifts of the Spirit" is due to not seeing the outline of the rest of 1 Corinthians 12, following these verses. Paul writes of "diversities of gifts" which are from the Spirit; "diversities of ministrations" which are by the Lord; and "diversities of workings" which are done by God, yet when people try to understand the "gifts of the Spirit" they go over the entire chapter to see what the phrase means.

     If you will keep these three things in mind-- gifts, ministrations, and workings--and read the chapter carefully, you will find that in verses 7 through 11 Paul is writing about the gifts of the Spirit; in verses 12 through 27 he is writing about the ministrations of the Lord; and in verses 28 through 30 of the workings of God. Verse 31 urges us to desire earnestly the greater gifts and opens the door for showing the "most excellent way" of love in the next chapter. When this outline is observed the argument that the gifts of verses 8 through 10 are not present because there are no apostles, becomes a waste of time. It is not germane to the subject. There is room for discussion of how Paul is using the word "apostles," and of whether he is speaking of the twelve appointed by the Lord, or of a traveling ministry of missionaries, as some now feel. But that is not a question of gifts of the Spirit, about which there is so much controversy today.

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
     First, Paul writes that if you are a Christian you have a manifestation of the Spirit, given you to profit the whole body, and not yourself. When God put eyes in your body, he did not give them sight for the sake of themselves, but for the good of the entire body. The list of gifts which follows is for the building up of the whole body of Christ, and not for personal glory or satisfaction. Some used certain of these for personal glory. Anyone using the gifts as intended will derive satisfaction out of being used of the Spirit for the glory of the Lord, but the intention of the Spirit in bestowing the gifts, is the profit of all.

     There are nine gifts of the Spirit listed, but most translations conceal the proper
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grouping of these by the Spirit. In a large library of translations I found only four that show the change of wording which starts the second and third classifications. Here, as a sample and for easier understanding of what we are going to say, is the translation by Rotherham, with paragraphing added to highlight the groups:

"For unto one indeed through the Spirit is given a word of wisdom,
     But unto another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
     Unto a different one faith in the same Spirit,
     And unto another gifts of healings in the one Spirit,
     And unto another energies of mighty works,
     And unto another prophesying,
     And unto another discrimination of spirits,--
     Unto a different one kinds of tongues,
     And unto another translation of tongues;--

But all these energizeth the one and same Spirit,
     Distributing unto each one peculiarly
     Even as it is disposed."

     In most translations the word "another" appears consistently through this passage. But the Greek has two different words: allos, another of the same kind; and heteros, another of a different kind. The Spirit is here dividing these nine gifts into three groups, with similar gifts in each group. The first group places "a word of wisdom," and "a word of knowledge" together. Wisdom (sophia) speaks of the highest wisdom, true knowledge of God himself; while "knowledge" speaks of the gift of conviction, of that absolute assurance which comes from having enlightenment from God.

     In the second grouping are five different (of the same kind) gifts: "faith" (the kind that moves mountains), "gifts of healings", "workings of miracles", prophecy (speaking out for God), and "discernings of tongues." Three of these are in the plural. Paul does not say "the gift of healing," but "gifts of healings." As the need arose for each particular occasion, the Spirit gave a gift to heal, not simply the gift to heal at any time. This is an important distinction in view of modern claims. The person with this gift would know which ones were to be healed. The same distinction goes for miracles and discernings of tongues. These were not gifts present at all times, but only as required.

     The third grouping is causing much stir today, for it classifies together "kinds of tongues," and interpretation of tongues. The plural seems to indicate the gift of speaking in different languages to different persons. The interpretation of tongues is listed with this, and what Paul says in chapter 14 indicates the two are only to be used together.

MINISTRATIONS OF THE LORD
     With verse 12, Paul begins to speak of the one body of Christ. In Christ there are no denominations, no free-lancers, and no "separate" congregations, but all are in the one body, through which our Lord ministers to the world. There is such oneness that verse 12 does not end, "So also is the body of Christ," but rather, "So also is Christ." There is one body of which he is head.

     Verse 13 shows this came to be by the baptism of the Spirit. How much theological grist has gone through the mills over that term, because Peter recognized that the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius had received the baptism in the Spirit (Acts 11:16,17), even as they had received on Pentecost. Immediately men say that the baptism in (or of) the Spirit is the reception of the gift of tongues, ignoring the statement of Luke that "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

     The Holy Spirit did several things on Pentecost. He took the separate disciples, made them into the body of Christ, united in him, and gave them the ability to speak in the varied languages of the people gathered in Jerusalem. After that,
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everyone who received the Lord by faith was baptized into the one body by the Holy Spirit, preceded by being baptized in water, the only baptism in which they could show their faith in and obedience to the Lord.

     The remainder of verses 12 through 27 show how Christ ministers in and through his body, using every member in the work, but individually according to the gifts he has given them. When all of the members function properly, the work makes marvelous progress. When some lag behind and expect others to do the whole work, the work falters. Thanks be unto God that there are a few everywhere who are not discouraged but do that which God has appointed for them to do.

WORKINGS OF GOD
     In verses 28 through 30 the classes of workers in the church, who are used by God to accomplish his purpose, are listed. This time the word "body" is not used, but the word "church," or more properly "community," or "called-out assembly." Because of the overlap of use of the gifts of the Spirit in these workers there is usually an overlooking of the fact that God is here showing his way of working in the Christian community, that elect race, royal priesthood, and holy nation, of which Peter speaks in his epistle.

     This article is not intended to be a complete exposition of this marvelous chapter. That would require a volume. I have sought to encourage study of this chapter once again, so that all of us may share in the blessings it contains, and overcome the divisions which have grown out of the strivings of men. May the Lord show you the gift the Spirit has given you, show you your part in the ministry of the body, and the manner in which God wants to work through you in his church, and may all of you continue in it until he comes.

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