1 Corinthians 12:1

Contextual Overview

¹Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.¹ Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ¹Alright, cowboys and cowgirls, let's talk about the special abilities God gives his hands who are riding for the brand. I don't want there to be any confusion about these great gifts from the Holy Ghost. ¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. ¹ But about the things of the spirit, my brothers, it is not right for you to be without teaching. ¹ But concerning spiritual [manifestations], brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant. ¹ Now concerning what comes from the Spirit: brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. ¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant. ¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

spiritual: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Corinthians 14:1-18, 1 Corinthians 14:37, Ephesians 4:11

I would not: 1 Corinthians 10:1, 2 Corinthians 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 2 Peter 3:8

Reciprocal: Luke 2:36 - a prophetess Acts 19:2 - We have Romans 1:11 - that Romans 1:13 - General Romans 11:25 - I would 1 Corinthians 2:13 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:2
"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation,And I will bless you,And make your name great;And so you shall be a blessing;

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great people, and wyll blesse thee, and make thy name great, that thou shalt be [euen] a blessyng.

Genesis 12:2
I will build a great nation from you. I will bless you and make your name famous. People will use your name to bless other people.

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:2
and Y schal make thee in to a greet folk, and Y schal blisse thee, and Y schal magnyfie thi name, and thou schalt be blessid;

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I wil blesse thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt bee a blessing.

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now concerning spiritual gifts,.... Though the word "gifts" is not in the original text, it is rightly supplied by our translators, as it is in the Arabic version: for the apostle does not mean spiritual graces, nor spiritual words, or doctrines, nor spiritual meats and drinks, nor spiritual men, each of which are mentioned before in this epistle; though the latter is thought by some to be here intended, and that the apostle's view is to show the difference between those that are spiritual, and those that are not; but as spiritual gifts are the subject of the apostle's discourse throughout this chapter, and the two following, they seem very manifestly to be designed here. The apostle having gone through various heads of discourse, which he either of himself, or at the request of others, wrote upon, proceeds to a new subject, that of spiritual gifts, which he seems to have been desired to give his thoughts upon, and advice about; since there were some in this church who were discouraged, because they had not the gifts which some had; and others that had them were elated and puffed up with them, and treated those below them with neglect and contempt; and with a view to both these the apostle writes as follows,

brethren, I would not have you ignorant; neither of the author of these gifts, who is the Spirit of God, who dispenses them according to his sovereign will and pleasure, and not according to the deserts of men, and are not acquired by the industry, or through the merit of any, but are his free grace gifts; nor of the nature of them, for there are differences and diversities of them, some have one, and some another, but no man all; nor of the design and use of them, which is the edification of the whole body; and every gift, though ever so mean, is of service; and therefore as, on the one hand, none ought to be discouraged, so, on the other hand, none should be lifted up with pride, or give way to a boasting spirit.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now concerning - it is now time that I should speak of spiritual endowments. He had no doubt been consulted in regard to them, and probably various questions had been proposed, which he now proceeded to answer.

Spiritual gifts - The word “gifts” is not in the original. The Greek refers to “spiritual” things in general, or to anything that is of a spiritual nature. The whole discussion, however, shows that he refers to the various endowments, gifts, or graces that had been bestowed in different degrees on the members of the church - including the distinctions in graces, and in degrees of office and rank, which had been made in the Christian church in general 1 Corinthians 12:0, as well as the extraordinary endowments of the gift of tongues which had been bestowed upon many, 1 Corinthians 14:0.

I would not have you ignorant - The subject is of so much importance that it demands particular attention and special care; compare the note at 1 Corinthians 10:1. I would not have you ignorant in regard to the nature of those endowments; the spirit with which they should be received; the rules to which they who are thus favored should be subjected; and the feelings and views which should be cherished in all the members of the church in regard to them. Nothing is of more importance in the church than the doctrine respecting the influences and endowments of the Holy Spirit.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XII.

The apostle proceeds to the question of the Corinthians

concerning spiritual gifts, 1.

He calls to their remembrance their former state, and how they

were brought out of it, 2, 3.

Shows that there are diversities of gifts which proceed from

the Spirit, 4.

Diversities of administrations which proceed from the Lord

Jesus, 5.

And diversities of operations which proceed from God, 6.

What these gifts are, and how they are dispensed, 7-11.

Christ is the Head, and the Church his members; and this is

pointed out under the similitude of the human body, 12, 13.

The relation which the members of the body have to each other;

and how necessary their mutual support, 14-26.

The members in the Church, or spiritual body, and their

respective offices, 27-30.

We should earnestly covet the best gifts, 31.

NOTES ON CHAP. XII.

Verse 1 Corinthians 12:1. Now concerning spiritual gifts — This was a subject about which they appear to have written to the apostle, and concerning which there were probably some contentions among them. The words περι των πνευματικων may as well be translated concerning spiritual persons, as spiritual gifts; and indeed the former agrees much better with the context.

I would not have you ignorant. — I wish you fully to know whence all such gifts come, and for what end they are given, that each person may serve the Church in the capacity in which God has placed him, that there may be no misunderstandings and no schism in the body.