Les Feldick Bible Study

Were the spiritual gifts available to the carnal Corinthians too?

Yes. Scripture says the carnal Corinthians came behind in no gift. Every gift God was ready to give was just as available to these recently converted, still-carnal believers as to the more spiritual Philippians. Despite their hang-ups, immoral practices, and problems, they were in grace, and nothing God was ready to pour out was withheld from them.

Les explains that these Corinthians were carnal, the opposite of mature spiritual Christians. They had been recently converted out of paganism and still had hang-ups with immoral practices from their past, which was hard to break from. Yet in spite of all their problems, they were in grace. Les points to verse 7, where Paul says they came behind in no gift, meaning all the gifts God was ready to give were just as available for these carnal Corinthians as for the more spiritual Philippians. Corinth was beset with problems and hang-ups, but everything God was ready to pour out was available to them as well as to spiritually giant people. Even with their carnality and moral weaknesses, they were waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:7

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: