1 Corinthians 1:7

My Notes

What Does 1 Corinthians 1:7 Mean?

Paul tells the Corinthians they come behind in no gift — the charismatic abundance is complete. They're not lacking any spiritual gift. And all of this abundance is experienced while they wait for Christ's revelation (apokalypsis — unveiling, return). The gifts are the waiting-room provision. The revelation is the destination.

The phrase "come behind in no gift" (mē hysterousthai en mēdeni charismati — to be lacking in no charisma/grace-gift) means the Corinthians have EVERYTHING. Every spiritual gift is present in the community. The problem in Corinth was never the lack of gifts. It was the misuse of them. The abundance existed. The maturity to handle it didn't.

"Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" — the gifts are eschatological provisions: given for the period between Christ's ascension and His return. They're travel food. The gifts sustain the church during the wait. And the wait has a specific endpoint: Christ's apokalypsis — His unveiling, His revelation, His return.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Does 'come behind in no gift' (complete charismatic equipment) describe your community — and if so, is the equipment being used well?
• 2.How does the gifts-as-waiting-room-provision change your relationship with spectacular spiritual experiences?
• 3.Where have gifts become the goal (the Corinthian error) rather than the provision for the wait?
• 4.Does 'waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ' actually shape your daily use of spiritual gifts?

Devotional

You lack no gift. Not one. You have everything the Spirit provides. While you wait for Jesus to come back.

Paul acknowledges the Corinthians' charismatic wealth: you come behind in no gift. Tongues? Present. Prophecy? Present. Knowledge? Healing? Wisdom? All present. Every spiritual gift the Spirit distributes is operational in Corinth. The community is supernaturally equipped beyond what most churches can imagine.

And the community is a mess.

The abundance of gifts without the maturity to use them is the Corinthian problem: they have EVERYTHING and handle NOTHING well. The tongues produce confusion (chapter 14). The knowledge produces arrogance (chapter 8). The gifts that should build the body are tearing it apart. Coming behind in no gift. Coming behind in every fruit.

"Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" — the gifts have a purpose: to sustain the church during the wait. The revelation (apokalypsis — the great unveiling of Jesus) is the destination. The gifts are the provisions for the journey. They're not the point. Christ's return is the point. The gifts serve the waiting. The waiting serves the return.

The Corinthians confused the gifts with the goal: they thought the gifts WERE the destination. The spectacular charismata became the identity. Speaking in tongues became the measure of maturity. Prophecy became the platform for ego. The gifts that were supposed to sustain the wait became the objects of the worship.

The gifts are for the waiting room. Christ's return is the appointment. You don't decorate the waiting room and forget to see the doctor. You don't make the gifts the goal and forget the one who gave them.

You lack no gift. Now use them for what they were designed for: sustaining each other while you wait for Him.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture