1 Corinthians 1:7
so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Notice how the abundance of spiritual gifts isn't the goal, but a result of patiently waiting for Jesus' return. This reframes how we think about spiritual gifts – they are a sign of God's presence now as we look forward to His ultimate unveiling.
Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, which is dealing with divisions and immaturity despite possessing spiritual gifts. He reminds them that these gifts were given to help them mature and endure faithfully as they eagerly anticipate Jesus' return, a return that will fully reveal God's glory and set everything right.
Ever feel like you're missing something God wants you to have? Paul reassures the Corinthians, and us, that we are fully equipped.
Fully Supplied by God
Paul's words here are incredibly encouraging. He tells the church at Corinth, 'you are not lacking in any gift.' This isn't just a pep talk; it's a theological statement about God's provision. Every spiritual gift needed for the Christian life and ministry is supplied by God.
His Perfect Timing
These gifts aren't given haphazardly. They are given to equip us for the journey, especially as we 'wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.' This waiting period is not passive idleness but an active state of expectation and readiness. God has given us all we need to live faithfully now, while we anticipate His glorious return.
We're not just waiting for 'something' to happen; we're waiting for a Person. What does this future moment mean for how we live today?
The Ultimate Focus
The 'revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ' refers to His second coming – the glorious moment when He will be fully seen and recognized in His ultimate power and glory. This isn't a distant, abstract event for Paul; it's the driving force behind Christian living and a key reason for spiritual gifts.
Living in Light of the End
Knowing that Christ will be revealed impacts everything. It gives urgency to our mission, hope to our struggles, and purity to our lives. The gifts we have are meant to build up the church and demonstrate God's grace until that day. Our current blessings and future hope are inextricably linked to the person of Jesus Christ.
Understand the original words
charisma · Greek Noun
A spiritual endowment or favor given by God’s grace to believers for the edification of the body of Christ. These are freely bestowed and not earned.
apokalypsis · Greek Noun
An unveiling or uncovering of something hidden. In theology, it refers to the glorious, visible return of Christ at the end of the age.
The Corinthian believers were intensely focused on spiritual gifts and the visible manifestations of God's power, possibly linked to anxieties about the imminent return of Christ. Paul's letter reassures them that true spiritual maturity is seen in their present character and unity, not just future blessings.
c. AD 40-41
Paul visits Corinth
The Apostle Paul establishes the church in Corinth during his second missionary journey, spending about 18 months there.
c. AD 50-52
Paul writes 1 & 2 Thessalonians
These early letters address the believers' understanding of Christ's return and the signs accompanying it.
c. AD 53-57
Paul's ministry in Ephesus
While based in Ephesus, Paul receives reports from Corinth and writes letters addressing their divisions and misunderstandings.
c. AD 55— this verse
Paul writes 1 Corinthians
Responding to deep divisions and various problems within the Corinthian church, Paul addresses issues of spiritual gifts, unity, and the nature of Christian life.
This passage speaks about the groaning of creation and believers, eagerly awaiting the redemption of our bodies and the revealing of the sons of God, echoing the anticipation found in 1 Corinthians 1:7.
1 Peter 1:13Peter exhorts believers to prepare their minds for action, be sober-minded, and set their hope fully on the grace to be brought at the revealing of Jesus Christ, mirroring the forward-looking hope in the Corinthian verse.
Colossians 3:4This verse directly connects the appearing of Christ with our own appearing with Him in glory, providing a powerful parallel to the 'revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ' that believers await.
Philippians 3:20-21Paul reminds the Philippians that their citizenship is in heaven, from which they await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform their lowly bodies to be like his glorious body, linking the future hope with present waiting.
Notice how the abundance of spiritual gifts isn't the goal, but a result of patiently waiting for Jesus' return. This reframes how we think about spiritual gifts – they are a sign of God's presence now as we look forward to His ultimate unveiling.
Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, which is dealing with divisions and immaturity despite possessing spiritual gifts. He reminds them that these gifts were given to help them mature and endure faithfully as they eagerly anticipate Jesus' return, a return that will fully reveal God's glory and set everything right.
Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, which is dealing with divisions and immaturity despite possessing spiritual gifts. He reminds them that these gifts were given to help them mature and endure faithfully as they eagerly anticipate Jesus' return, a return that will fully reveal God's glory and set everything right.
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c. AD 56
Paul's "severe" letter to Corinth
Following 1 Corinthians, Paul likely writes a more difficult letter to address ongoing issues and confront a specific opposition within the church.
c. AD 57
Paul writes 2 Corinthians
Paul's final letter to Corinth, marked by reconciliation and a strong defense of his apostolic authority, reflects on the spiritual maturity and ongoing struggles of the church.
"so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ," — Notice how the abundance of spiritual gifts isn't the goal, but a result of patiently waiting for Jesus' return. This reframes how we think about spiritual gifts – they are a sign of God's presence…
