Who is Paul talking to in 1 Corinthians 12?
Paul is addressing the believers in the church at Corinth—the assembly of God in that city—who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called saints. Though they had failures, they were in the Body of Christ, and in chapter 12 he continues to the same people.
Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul is still talking to the same people he addressed in chapter 1. He identifies them as the assembly or Church of God at Corinth, sanctified in Christ Jesus and called saints. They were believers, in the Body of Christ, despite their hang-ups, shortcomings, and failures. Because the original text had no chapter headings or divisions, Paul's pen kept going, and he had not changed the direction of his approach. So chapter 12 continues to the same Corinthian believers.
More Questions
Why did Paul write 1 Corinthians 13 between chapters 12 and 14?
The Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, between the problem-filled chapters 12 and 14 in order to soften his approach and prepare the ground.
What does 'unknown tongue' in the singular mean in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14?
Whenever the term 'unknown tongue' appears in the singular in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 — with 'unknown' italicized because the translators added it — it refers to a bunch of sounds that cannot be reduced to print, sounds that are not phonetic and that nobody can write down.