Useful Bible Studies > 1 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 12
Just a few Bible passages mention God the Father, Son and Spirit together. Some examples are Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:10-11, and 2 Corinthians 13:14. Each of these passages shows that the Father, Son and Spirit do not work separately from each other. The Bible always emphasises that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 14:9-10; 1 Corinthians 8:4).
In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, we have another passage that refers to the Father, Son and Spirit. Of course, the words ‘God’ and ‘Lord’ are both general words for God; they could refer to the Father, Son or Spirit (John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8-10). However, in the Book of 1 Corinthians, Paul usually uses the word ‘Lord’ to refer to Christ, and the word ‘God’ for the Father (8:6).
In this passage too, Paul emphasises that the Father, Son and Spirit are the same God. Our one God works among his people in many different ways. Christ, our Lord (master), gives each person different instructions about how to serve him (3:5). That is especially true when God appoints church leaders (12:28).
Also, the Holy Spirit gives different kinds of gifts to God’s people (12:8-11). So God’s people are not all alike (12:14-27).
God arranges all these differences, not to separate his people, but in order to join them together (12:12-14). No single Christian has all God’s gifts. No single Christian can carry out all God’s work. The result is that Christians all need each other. They do God’s work together - but the honour belongs to God alone (3:6-9).
Next part: Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-8)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.