First Corinthians 12:1 opens with these words: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, I would not have you ignorant.” This is the third time in the letter that Paul uses this expression (“Now concerning”), having first used it in 1 Corinthians 7:1 and again in 8:1. These sections indicate that Paul is responding, at least in part, to questions the brethren in Corinth had written to him.
Their first set of questions concerned marriage: “Is it right not to marry?” “What should one do if married to an unbeliever?” “Should Christians marry in the present distress?” “May one leave his or her mate?” “If one leaves, what then?” “What should a person do if their mate dies?”
The second issue involved the eating of meats sacrificed to idols. The final question concerned spiritual gifts — what they were and what purpose they served. Paul devotes chapters 12 through 14 to answering these questions and giving instruction on how such gifts were to be used.
These “spiritual gifts” represent one of three distinct “measures” of the Holy Spirit. By “measure,” we mean different functions or manifestations of the Spirit in the early church. The gifts described in chapter 12 are to be distinguished from two other measures: the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of the Holy Spirit promised to obedient believers at baptism (Acts 2:38).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit was manifested at the very beginning of the church (Acts 2:1-4; 11:15). On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were gathered in Jerusalem, as the Lord had instructed them, waiting for “power from on high.” This power was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had told them, “John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).
They waited, and on that day “there came from heaven a sound as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:2-4). This powerful manifestation was identified by Peter as the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy: “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (Acts 2:16; Joel 2:28).
This gift was given to the apostles to guide them into all truth (John 16:13) and to empower them to perform miracles, confirming the message they preached (Mark 16:20). The promise extended to “all flesh” when Cornelius, a Gentile, and his household also received this baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10-11).
In addition to this, there was another prominent gift of the Spirit given to penitent believers on Pentecost. When those who heard Peter’s sermon were convicted that they had crucified the Son of God, they asked, “What shall we do?” Peter responded, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).
This gift of the Holy Spirit accompanies the remission of sins. Some understand this promised gift to refer to salvation itself. It is likely this same gift Paul later describes when he writes, “In whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14). What a beautiful picture: the gift of salvation as God’s “earnest,” assuring us that He will complete His work when He raises us from the dead and grants us eternal life with Him.
Finally, in addition to these, there were nine spiritual gifts given to members of the early church to meet their spiritual needs during its formative period — until “that which is perfect” had come and the partial was done away. It is these nine gifts that we will consider in our next study of 1 Corinthians.
Jim McDonald