1 Corinthians 12:7-8

Scripture: 1 Cor. 12:7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Cor. 12:8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

Teaching: Last week we discussed how it is the Lord who gives these spiritual gifts, a certain kind of spiritual gifting does not mean one has more of the Spirit than another, and that gifting is not just magnifying something already within us. It is a outworking of the Spirit that leads to the glorification of God through each of us individually and for the common good of the Body of Christ. In these verse, Paul details some of the spiritual gifts. It’s worth noting that Paul gives a list of spiritual gifts in two other places, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4, as well. So, this list is not exhaustive but rather serves as examples of spiritual gifting. We see in verse 8 the gifts of wisdom and knowledge, notably two different gifts. It is one thing to know the mysteries and purposes of God, and it is another to apply them well. It is interesting that God has established these as separate gifts, saying that not all who have knowledge will have wisdom, and not all who have wisdom will have knowledge. This is indicative of God’s purpose in building His people — be they Israel or the Church — it is not an individual endeavor. While we are known individually by God, no one man or woman is then meant to stand alone in service and relationship to the Lord. We are meant to worship corporately, receive blessing and relationship from one another, and be edified and sharpened by one another, as well. When it comes to leaders in the church, even the wise need those with knowledge and even the knowledgable need the wise.  

Takeaway: We’ve all heard the saying, “Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing it doesn’t belong in a fruit salad.” In the secular world, this concept of knowledge versus wisdom is reasonable to understand. We can see in the Bible people like Joseph and Solomon who were gifted with wisdom while people like Moses and David demonstrated knowledge. Just as they served the Lord in their gifting, we do today, as well. While there may be varying levels of wisdom and knowledge, and varying levels of testing that comes with that gifting, we can rest assured that the Spirit who gives that gifting is the same and has eternal and Godly purposes in mind for it.