Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.  You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.  Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.  There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
by John G. Gibbs, PhD

For once the lectionary for the day lists four texts, all of which have something in common. All 4 are visionary texts, loaded with symbols for fragile souls, freighted with more meaning than meets the eye. Each of the 4 pictures makes its own emphasis: here our vision of God, there God's view of us, here the Church's vision of Jesus glorified, there our vision of "the common good." In every case it's theological imagination at work as if our very lives depend on it.

The New Testament portrait in today's exhibition of theological imagination deserves more attention than time now allows. It's the apostolic vision of "the common good" as portrayed in the familiar Pauline image of the body and its members, with Christ as the Head of the Church. Truly spiritual gifts, genuinely charismatic persons all are "activated" by the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God. "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." Personal faith is never private, for it exists only in a public body "for the common good." 

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