Monday 21Feb2022
From my New Testament reading today, I am reminded fro 1 Corinthians chapter 12 that there are various forms ("manifestations") of the working of the Holy Spirit among believers in the assembly and that all these different forms are given to us for our common good.
The Bible in Basic English tells us in verses 4 to 7 that the same Spirit of God gives us different qualities, different servants, and different operations. Each of us is given some form of the Spirit's working - for the common good of all believers in the assembly.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4 - 7 BBE Bible in Basic English
- 4 Now there are different qualities given to men, but the same Spirit.
- 5 And there are different sorts of servants, but the same Lord.
- 6 And there are different operations, but the same God, who is working all things in all.
- 7 But to every man some form of the Spirit's working is given for the common good.
The Revised Standard Version renders the words qualities, servants, and operations in verses 4 to 6 as gifts, service, and working respectively. In verse 7, it says that each member in the assembly is given a "manifestation" of the Holy Spirit for the common good.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4 - 7 RSV Revised Standard Version
- 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
- 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
- 6 and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one.
- 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
This common good is elaborated upon by the apostle in his Epistle to the Ephesians, in chapter 6, as follows:
- Ephesians 6:12 - 13 BBE Bible in Basic English
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12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us exercise the gift, service or working given to each of us by the Holy Spirit for the common good of all brethren in our assembly.
