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Outline of 1 Corinthians 12:1–31 — The Gifts and the Body

I. Introduction: Understanding Spiritual Gifts (vv. 1–3)

• Paul’s desire: Believers should not be ignorant about spiritual gifts.
• Former condition: They once followed mute idols without discernment.
• True spiritual discernment:
  • No one speaking by the Spirit of God curses Jesus.
  • No one can truly confess “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.

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II. The Source and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts (vv. 4–7)

• Diversity, yet unity:
  • Different gifts — same Spirit.
  • Different ministries — same Lord.
  • Different operations — same God.
• Purpose: The Spirit’s manifestation is given to each believer for the profit of all.

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III. The List of Spiritual Gifts (vv. 8–11)

• Gifts given by the Spirit:
  1. Word of wisdom
  2. Word of knowledge
  3. Faith
  4. Gifts of healing
  5. Working of miracles
  6. Prophecy
  7. Discerning of spirits
  8. Divers kinds of tongues
  9. Interpretation of tongues
• Key truth: One and the same Spirit distributes these gifts as He wills.
• Understanding Spiritual Gifts in the Church

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IV. The Body of Christ: One Body, Many Members (vv. 12–14)

• Analogy: The human body has many members but is one body.
• Application: So is Christ’s body—the Church.
• Unity through the Spirit: All believers (Jew/Gentile, bond/free) are baptized into one body and drink of one Spirit.

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V. The Necessity of Every Member (vv. 15–20)

• No inferiority:
  • The foot cannot exclude itself because it is not a hand.
  • The ear cannot exclude itself because it is not an eye.
• Design of God:
  • If the whole body were one part, it could not function.
  • God has placed each member as it pleased Him.

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VI. The Interdependence of the Body (vv. 21–26)

• No superiority:
  • The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you.”
  • The head cannot say to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
• Hidden strength:
  • “Feeble” members are necessary.
  • “Less honorable” members receive greater honor.
• Purpose of God’s design:
  • No division in the body.
  • Members care for one another.
  • When one suffers, all suffer; when one is honored, all rejoice.

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VII. The Church’s Appointed Roles (vv. 27–28)

• Identity: Believers are the body of Christ, each a particular member.
• God’s appointments in the church:
  1. Apostles
  2. Prophets
  3. Teachers
  4. Miracles
  5. Gifts of healings
  6. Helps
  7. Governments
  8. Diversities of tongues

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VIII. Not All Have the Same Gift (vv. 29–30)

• Rhetorical questions emphasize diversity:
  • Are all apostles?
  • Are all prophets?
  • Are all teachers?
  • Do all work miracles?
  • Do all have gifts of healing?
  • Do all speak with tongues?
  • Do all interpret?
• Implied answer: No—God distributes as He wills.

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IX. Final Exhortation (v. 31)

• Pursue earnestly the best gifts.
• Yet: Paul will show them “a more excellent way”—leading into chapter 13, the way of love.

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