1 Corinthians – Chapter-12

Paul repeat the gifts although there were 9-gifts given in (12:7-9), he gives ranking.  It is possible that the Corinthian church were more interested in the gifts of manifestation just as the church we see in this present situation. The order of  appointment of God are follows:

1. Apostles: Apostles are those who have seen the risen Christ and are sent by the Holy Spirit. The 11-disciples, Paul and others who have physically seen the risen Lord and are ordained.
2. Prophets: The prophets are the one who spoke by the divine intervention at a particular time
3. Teachers: Men gifted by the Holy Spirit to teach in the church.
4. Workers of miracles: Those who have the power to perform miracles and show God’s power to general public.
5. Healers: Those who have the miracle power of healing the diseases of persons or raising them from dead.
6. Helps: Those who guide the workers or helpers to receive spiritual aid to deacons and leaders.

Spurgeon describes the qualities of someone who is effective in the gift of helps are given below:

• • A tender heart to really care.
  • A quick eye to see the need.
  • A quick foot to get to the needy.
  • A loving face to cheer them and bless them.
  • A firm foot so you will not fall yourself.
  • A strong hand to grip the needy with.
  • A bent back to reach the man.

7. Administration: Those who have administrative abilities for smooth functioning of the church.

8. Different kinds of tongues:  Those  who spoke with tongues or special languages that they had never                  learned. Whenever the tongues are spoken, there must be a person who have the gift of interpretation of                  tongues.

Paul makes an emphasis  that the gift of speaking in tongues us not for every one just the gifts of Apostles, prophets and teachers or the miracles of healing.  Many churches insist that if a person does not speak in tongues, he is not born again or right with God.  This is very narrow erroneous thinking.  Lot of damage has been done specially in charismatic Pentecostal churches on this misunderstanding.  This has caused many to seek the gift of tongues and some end up on fake gift of tongues.   We must be careful in desiring this gift. The gift of speaking in tongues is not necessarily the only evidence of God’s child.

Paul says that all these gifts together form the body of Christ. If all are either Apostles, or prophets or teachers or miracle workers or healers or speakers in tongues,  or interpreters,  then  how can the body of Christ be complete?  The body of Christ cannot be complete if the church has  all these people with different gifts which makes it  spiritually healthy and moving.

The Apostle Paul valued the spiritual gifts.  But more than that he valued the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) which every Christian must develop. Among them the first and foremost thing was Love.  The following chapter-13,  Paul emphasis the most noble gift “love.