1 Corinthians 12:1

The presence of the phrase peri de ("Now concerning" or "Now about") plus the change in subject mark another matter about which the Corinthians had written Paul with a question (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 8:1). It had to do with the gifts (abilities) the Holy Spirit gives those believers He indwells. [Note: For defense of the view that spiritual gifts are ministries rather than abilities, see Kenneth Berding, "Confusing Word and Concept in ’Spiritual Gifts’: Have We Forgotten James Barr’s Exhortations?" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 43:1 (March 2000):37-51.] This subject is the focus of all that Paul wrote in chapters 12-14, including the famous thirteenth chapter on love.

As in 1 Corinthians 10:1, Paul implied that what followed was instruction his readers needed. "Spiritual gifts" is literally "the spirituals" (Gr. ton pneumatikon). Paul used pneumatika when he wanted to emphasize the Spirit, and he used charismata when he wanted to stress the gift. Pneumatikon is a broader term than the gifts themselves, though it includes them. It appears to refer primarily to the people who are spiritual (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 3:1). Evidently the Corinthians’ question dealt with the marks of a spiritual Christian. A spiritual Christian is a believer under the control of the Holy Spirit compared with one under the control of his or her flesh (Galatians 5:16) or a demonic spirit (1 Corinthians 10:20-21). In 1 Corinthians 2:15 Paul described mature Christians as "spiritual" (Gr. pneumatikos, having the Spirit) in contrast to "natural" (i.e., unsaved, not having the Spirit). However, he proceeded immediately to clarify that it is not only possession of the Spirit but also control by the Spirit that marks one as truly spiritual (1 Corinthians 3:3).