1 Corinthians 1:7 kjv

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Corinthians 1:7 nkjv

so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 1:7 niv

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

1 Corinthians 1:7 esv

so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 1:7 nlt

Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 7 Meaning

The Apostle Paul opens his letter to the Corinthian church with a message of thanksgiving, acknowledging God's abundant grace bestowed upon them through Christ Jesus. Verse 1 Corinthians 1:7 signifies that the Corinthians lacked no spiritual endowment or ability from God. They were richly supplied with all necessary gifts (charismata) for service and for demonstrating the power of God, specifically those of speech and knowledge, as mentioned in the preceding verse. This full provision ensured their readiness and sufficiency as they faithfully awaited the climactic revelation and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It underscores divine faithfulness in equipping believers completely until the consummation of their hope.

1 Corinthians 1 7 Context

1 Corinthians 1:7 is situated within the opening of Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church. After a standard apostolic greeting in verses 1-3, Paul launches into an extended section of thanksgiving in verses 4-9. This thanksgiving sets a crucial tone. Despite the significant problems that will be addressed later in the letter (divisions, immorality, legal disputes, abuses of spiritual gifts, doctrinal error), Paul begins by affirming the genuine spiritual work God had already accomplished among them. Verses 4-6 specifically highlight God's grace "given to you by Jesus Christ" and their enrichment "in all utterance, and in all knowledge." Verse 7 then builds upon this, reassuring them that their spiritual endowment is complete, meaning they lack nothing essential for their spiritual journey and readiness. This initial positive affirmation serves to remind the Corinthians of God's faithfulness and their foundational blessedness in Christ before Paul addresses their many failings. It underscores that their issues were not due to a lack of divine provision, but rather to their misuse or misunderstanding of what God had given them.

1 Corinthians 1 7 Word analysis

• So that (ὥστε - hōste): A conjunctive particle indicating result. It links the previous statement about their enrichment (1 Cor 1:5-6) to the present assertion, showing that their spiritual fullness is the consequence of God's grace upon them.
• you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): Refers directly to the Corinthian believers as a community, highlighting God's corporate gifting of the church.
• come behind (ὑστερεῖσθαι - husterēsthai): To be behind, to lack, to be deficient, to fall short. The negative particle (μὴ - mē) implies "not at all" or "in no way." Thus, "you are in no way deficient" or "you are not falling short." It emphasizes a completeness, a full endowment. This means God's provision was adequate and entire for their spiritual needs.
• in no gift (ἐν μηδενὶ χαρίσματι - en mēdeni charismati):
  • gift (χάρισμα - charisma): Derived from charis (grace), it refers specifically to a spiritual endowment or ability given by God's grace for the benefit of the church. These are supernatural enabling from the Holy Spirit. This word emphasizes that these abilities are not earned but graciously bestowed.
  • in no: Reinforces the comprehensive nature of their spiritual equipping; they were not missing any category or essential spiritual gift necessary for the church body. This does not mean every individual possessed every gift, but the Corinthian church, as a collective, lacked nothing for its function and mission.
• waiting (προσδεχομένους - prosdechomenous): A present participle, indicating a continuous and expectant posture of eagerly receiving, looking forward to, or awaiting. It conveys active anticipation rather than passive idleness. This 'waiting' implies both hope and preparedness.
• for the coming (τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν - tēn apokalypsin):
  • coming (ἀποκάλυψις - apokalypsis): While often translated "coming" here, the literal meaning is "revelation," "unveiling," or "manifestation." In this eschatological context, it refers to the visible, glorious manifestation of Jesus Christ at His return (often synonymous with parousia, meaning presence/arrival). This emphasizes the full unveiling of His divine glory, not merely His physical arrival.
• of our Lord (τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν - tou Kyriou hēmōn):
  • Lord (Κύριος - Kyrios): A title acknowledging Jesus' supreme authority, sovereignty, and divine status. This reflects the early Christian confession of Jesus as God.
  • our: Emphasizes the intimate relationship and possession of Christ by believers.
• Jesus Christ (Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ - Iēsou Christou): The full name of the promised Messiah, indicating His humanity (Jesus) and His divine anointing/office as the Christ (Messiah). The core of their faith and hope is centered on His person.

• "So that you come behind in no gift": This phrase underlines God's completed work of grace in equipping the church. Despite the deep moral and doctrinal problems prevalent in Corinth, Paul affirms that their issues stemmed not from a deficiency in divine provision but from a failure to rightly steward or apply the gifts they already possessed. It assures believers of God's generous provision and sufficiency in equipping His people.
• "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ": This part emphasizes the eschatological hope that drives and sustains believers. The full spiritual endowment is given for a purpose: to enable the church to endure and fulfill its mission while steadfastly anticipating Christ's return. The 'coming' or 'revelation' points to the ultimate hope of the Christian life—the glorious appearance of Jesus, which transforms and perfects believers. This future hope serves as a powerful motivator for present faithfulness and diligence in using the spiritual gifts. It grounds their identity and mission in an ultimate divine goal, shifting focus from earthly accomplishments to eternal realities.

1 Corinthians 1 7 Bonus section

The concept of "no lack" of gifts implies the sufficiency of Christ's equipping for the entire church body to fulfill its mission until His return. It's a foundational truth for understanding divine empowerment. This verse sets the stage for Paul's later, extensive discussion on spiritual gifts in chapters 12-14, where he corrects abuses and misconceptions within the Corinthian church. By affirming their complete spiritual endowment early on, Paul established that their problems were not due to God's neglect but stemmed from misdirection, pride, and disorder in their application of these divine provisions. The phrase "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" subtly introduces the theological backbone for perseverance and holiness that runs through all of Paul's epistles—eschatological hope as the motivator for ethical living and steadfastness. It reminds believers that all current spiritual provision points towards and serves this future, climactic event.

1 Corinthians 1 7 Commentary

1 Corinthians 1:7 stands as a powerful testament to God's generous provision and unfailing faithfulness to His church. It asserts that the Corinthian believers, despite their struggles, were entirely equipped by divine grace, lacking nothing essential in the realm of spiritual gifts. This comprehensive spiritual endowment, including gifts of speech and knowledge, positioned them not for boasting, but for service and a life of expectant faith. Their rich possession of charismata was intended to empower them as they actively "waited" – not idly, but with earnest expectation and preparation – for the glorious manifestation of their sovereign Lord Jesus Christ. This verse highlights a crucial paradox often found in Paul's writings: the immense grace and spiritual wealth bestowed upon imperfect people, serving as both a comfort and a call to responsibility. It frames their existence, between the past bestowal of grace and the future hope of Christ's return, as a period of living out their equipped calling. The underlying implication is that their abundant gifts were given precisely to sustain them through their present difficulties and purify them in preparation for the End, ensuring their stability and readiness for that ultimate encounter with their Lord.