An Exegetical Glimpse into the Pauline Usage of Charismata and Oikodomen in 1 Corinthians 12:1-7: A solution for Ecclesiastical Disunity in 21st Century
b. The Purpose of Charismata; Bringing together (verses 4-7)
Verse 4- Διαιρέσεις δὲ χαρισμάτων εἰσίν, τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Διαιρέσεις (noun nominative feminine plural) is a form of expressing the idea of a differences but here it deals much with distribution. According to Morris, the noun thus mean ‘apportionment’ or ‘allotment.’ χάρισμα, means a gift (freely and graciously given), a favour bestowed may be generally Rom 1:11; 5:15f; 6:23; 11:29; 1 Cor 1:7; 2 Cor 1:11.or of special gifts bestowed on individual Christians 1 Cor 7:7; 1 Ti 4:14; 2 Ti 1:6; 1 Pt 4:10. It is used here to refer to extraordinary endowment that Holy Spirit confers on men and the fact that it is freely given. It has its root from the Greek Charis (grace). I am of the opinion that Paul was using this term to remind the people the origin of the Spiritual gifts. It is God who gives it out through the Holy Spirit by grace not by merit. If, then, it is God who gives it to people base on grace, then it becomes a misguided usage for one to use what he got through faith for self-adulation and pride. The Corinthians had apparently used the gifts as a means of fomenting division. They regarded the possession of such gifts as a matter for pride, and set up one against another on the basis of possession of a gift. The recognizes that there is diversity in the gifts given by the Holy Spirit but He gives to whosoever He wishes and determining factor is grace.
Verse 5- Καὶ διαιρέσεις διακονιῶν εἰσίν, καὶ ὁ αὐτὸς κύριος.
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
The Greek word translated “ministries” is “διακονιῶν” noun genitive feminine plural common from “διακονία” which can also be translated “service.” When this word is used in conjunction with “διαιρέσεις” (difference or diversity), it means that there are different ways of service but the variety is not important, it is the same Lord. Though the word διακονία may be used to refer to any service render to Christ, but if the word is to be examined in its context, it is the action of the divine within the Christians, that is the service that are carried out through the enablement of indwelling spirit. Though this service differs from person to person it is the same Lord in them that work. It is reasonable to suggest that the way the term διακονιῶν is used here signifies the relevancy and necessity of charismata to the service of God.
Verse 6- καὶ διαιρέσεις ἐνεργημάτων εἰσίν, ὁ δὲ αὐτὸς θεὸς ὁ ἐνεργῶν τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν.
And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
This is most likely a piece of semitic parallelism, where both clauses make essentially the same point. One argues for diversity another argues for unity.
“ἐνεργημάτων“ is a noun genitive neuter plural from “ἐνέργημα“. It is derived from the Greek word for “energy.” The word “energy” was derived from “ἐνεργημάτων“. In physical science the word energy means “capacity to do work”. In this context, the word ἐνεργημάτων is used to denote the enablement of the Holy Spirit in various way to work or serve (note that διακονιῶν is used in the previous verse) God. Next to this Paul mentioned ‘δέ’ (‘but’- adversative particle) to let his audience know that even if there are varieties of gifts of Holy Spirit (here Holy Spirit giving them the enablement in different ways), yet it is the same God who provides the “gifts” that is energizing. The conjunction δέ shifts the emphasis from the differences in the gifts to the source of the gift Who is One and the same. Also, Paul’s repetitive use of “all” is important (πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν). The first πάντα is in neuter gender and thus mean “all things” while the second πᾶσιν can refer to masculine gender or neuter, but some biblical reference to it make the masculine to hold more water. Again, the emphasis in this chapter is God working within men. Paul, therefore, shows that it is the same God who are working in ALL in different ways.
Verse 7 – Εκάστῳ δὲ δίδοται ἡ φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον.
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