1 Corinthians 12 10

1 Corinthians 12:10 kjv

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1 Corinthians 12:10 nkjv

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:10 niv

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.

1 Corinthians 12:10 esv

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:10 nlt

He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

1 Corinthians 12 verses

1 Corinthians 12 10 meaning

First Corinthians 12:10 details five specific spiritual gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit among believers for the edification of the church and the common good. These gifts are: the working of miracles, which involves demonstrations of God's supernatural power; prophecy, which is speaking God's word for exhortation, edification, and comfort; discerning of spirits, which enables believers to distinguish between divine, human, or demonic influences; diverse kinds of tongues, which are supernaturally uttered languages, either human or angelic; and the interpretation of tongues, which makes these utterances understandable to the congregation. Together, these gifts highlight the diverse ways God works through His Spirit in the church, emphasizing interdependence and unity in ministry.

1 Corinthians 12 10 Context

First Corinthians 12:10 is embedded within Paul's comprehensive teaching on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. The Corinthian church faced issues of disunity, competition, and misunderstanding regarding spiritual manifestations, leading to disorder in their assemblies and an overemphasis on more spectacular gifts. Paul's objective is to correct these abuses by establishing a proper theology of spiritual gifts. He stresses that all gifts originate from the same Holy Spirit and are intended for the common good of the church (12:7). He likens the church to a body with diverse but interdependent members (12:12-26), emphasizing that every member and every gift is essential. Chapter 12:8-10 provides a non-exhaustive list of specific spiritual gifts, distributed by the Spirit as He wills (12:11), setting the stage for his subsequent exaltation of love as the "more excellent way" (ch. 13) and practical instructions for orderly worship (ch. 14). Historically and culturally, Corinth was known for ecstatic pagan cults, which might have influenced the believers to value outward emotional displays over true spiritual edification. Paul is guiding them toward authentic, Christ-centered, and beneficial use of divine gifts.

1 Corinthians 12 10 Word analysis

• to another (ἄλλῳ - allō): This Greek dative pronoun, meaning "to another," or "to someone else," appears repeatedly in verses 8-10, signifying the distribution of distinct spiritual gifts among various individuals within the congregation. It emphasizes diversity in endowment, countering any notion that all gifts reside in one person or that uniformity of gifts is desirable.
• the working (ἐνεργήματα - energēmata): From energeō (to be at work, be active), this term denotes effective activity or actual operations. It highlights that these are not merely latent abilities but manifestations or dynamic effects of divine power in operation. It is plural, implying ongoing or multiple acts.
• of miracles (δυνάμεων - dunameōn): Genitive plural of dunamis, meaning power, strength, or ability. In this context, it refers specifically to acts of supernatural power, mighty works, or extraordinary demonstrations of God's might that suspend or override natural laws, often accompanying healing or deliverance from evil spirits.
• to another (ἄλλῳ - allō): Again, stressing distribution and diversity among different individuals.
• prophecy (προφητεία - prophēteia): The gift of speaking forth a divine message, typically inspired revelation from God. While it can involve foretelling, its primary New Testament sense is "forth-telling" – speaking for God to edify, exhort, and comfort the church, making God's truth relevant and clear for a particular situation or person (1 Cor 14:3).
• to another (ἄλλῳ - allō): Further emphasizing distinct, distributed gifts.
• discerning (διακρίσεις - diakriseis): Plural of diakrisis, meaning a distinguishing, judging, or critical evaluating. It refers to the spiritual capacity to perceive, evaluate, and discriminate between different spiritual sources and their true nature.
• of spirits (πνευμάτων - pneumatōn): Genitive plural of pneuma, meaning spirit. This gift allows believers to discern the source and nature of a spiritual manifestation – whether it originates from the Holy Spirit, from a human spirit (e.g., human thought, pretense), or from evil/demonic spirits. It is vital for church protection and spiritual integrity (1 Jn 4:1).
• to another (ἄλλῳ - allō): Continuation of the pattern of diverse spiritual endowments.
• diverse kinds (γένη - genē): Plural of genos, meaning "kind," "sort," or "class." This specifies that there are various categories or types of this gift, perhaps referring to different kinds of languages or expressions, or even distinctions between ecstatic utterances and actual human languages spoken supernaturally (Acts 2).
• of tongues (γλωσσῶν - glōssōn): Genitive plural of glōssa, meaning "tongue" or "language." In this context, it refers to the supernatural utterance of sounds or words in a language unknown to the speaker, enabled by the Holy Spirit. This can be actual human languages (xenolalia) or heavenly/angelic languages (glossolalia) (1 Cor 14:2, 14:10).
• to another (ἄλλῳ - allō): The final repetition in this verse, underscoring the broad spectrum of gifts.
• the interpretation (ἑρμηνεία - hermēneia): From hermēneuō (to interpret, explain, translate). This gift enables one to supernaturally understand and explain the meaning of an utterance spoken in tongues, making it intelligible and edifying to the congregation. It essentially renders the message spoken in tongues as a prophecy.
• of tongues (γλωσσῶν - glōssōn): The genitive plural again referring to the supernaturally uttered languages.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• the working of miracles (ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων - energēmata dunameōn): This phrase describes powerful, supernatural interventions of God that bring about extraordinary effects. It refers to a dynamic manifestation of God's raw power through a person, often to alter circumstances in miraculous ways or display divine authority, validating the gospel message and God's presence. These are not merely symbolic actions but demonstrable acts of divine intervention, showcasing the "deeds of power" (cf. Mk 6:2).
• discerning of spirits (διακρίσεις πνευμάτων - diakriseis pneumatōn): This critical spiritual gift involves the ability to supernaturally distinguish the origin and nature of spiritual activity or influence. In a world full of varying spiritual claims, it provides the insight to correctly identify whether a message or manifestation comes from God's Spirit, a human spirit (good or ill), or a demonic spirit, protecting the church from error and deception (1 John 4:1).
• diverse kinds of tongues (γένη γλωσσῶν - genē glōssōn): This emphasizes the varied nature of speaking in tongues. It can manifest in multiple languages unknown to the speaker, including earthly languages (as seen at Pentecost in Acts 2), or non-human "heavenly" or "angelic" languages (1 Cor 13:1). The plural "kinds" implies a breadth of expression or source within this one gift category, highlighting the Spirit's creativity.
• the interpretation of tongues (ἑρμηνεία γλωσσῶν - hermēneia glōssōn): This gift makes utterances in tongues profitable for the corporate gathering by making their content understandable. Without interpretation, tongues are primarily for personal devotion (1 Cor 14:2). When interpreted, they become a public word from God, analogous to prophecy, building up the community (1 Cor 14:5, 14:28). This pairing demonstrates God's desire for understanding and order in worship.

1 Corinthians 12 10 Bonus section

The specific enumeration of "diverse kinds of tongues" implies that not all instances of glossolalia are uniform in their expression or nature, fitting with the understanding of tongues at Pentecost being known human languages, while some other manifestations might be unknown, possibly even ecstatic, utterances. The pairing of "tongues" and "interpretation" reveals a unique functional dynamic; one gift (tongues in a public setting) remains incomplete and unedifying without the other (interpretation). This interdependence showcases how God structures spiritual gifts to require cooperation among believers, echoing the body metaphor. Historically, within the early church and throughout history, gifts like discerning of spirits have been crucial during periods of significant spiritual upheaval or proliferation of false teachings, acting as a spiritual immune system for the body of Christ. Many early church fathers wrote on the discernment needed to test alleged prophecies and spiritual claims.

1 Corinthians 12 10 Commentary

First Corinthians 12:10 completes Paul's primary list of spiritual gifts, presenting five more distinct manifestations of the Holy Spirit's power. Each gift serves to build up the church, reflecting God's wisdom in providing a diverse toolkit for His people. The "working of miracles" denotes God's power breaking into the natural realm through a believer, manifesting in dramatic, extraordinary ways. This serves as a powerful witness to God's reality and power (Heb 2:4). "Prophecy" is essential for the ongoing guidance and encouragement of the church, delivering direct messages from God that edify, exhort, and comfort (1 Cor 14:3). It keeps the church aligned with divine truth. "Discerning of spirits" is a vital protective gift, equipping believers to test all spiritual activity, safeguarding the church from false teachings and demonic influences that seek to mislead or disrupt. This discernment ensures the purity and authenticity of spiritual encounters. Finally, the pair of "diverse kinds of tongues" and "the interpretation of tongues" highlights both personal worship and corporate edification. Tongues serve as a sign and a means of personal prayer (1 Cor 14:2, 14), but when accompanied by interpretation, they function as public revelation, making divine messages accessible to all, much like prophecy (1 Cor 14:5, 14:27-28). The underlying message in all these gifts is divine power made manifest through human vessels for the unified strengthening and growth of the Body of Christ. They are given, not for personal display, but for the communal good, reinforcing the theme of interdependence and selfless service within the church.