which has a similar reference to food and drink, and says: “All things are lawful; but not all things build up. Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person. Therefore, whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory. Keep from becoming causes for stumbling to Jews as well as Greeks and to the congregation of God, even as I am pleasing all people in all things, not seeking my own advantage but that of the many, in order that they might get saved.”—1 Cor. 10:23, 24, 31-33.

13. Who are imitated by taking this unselfish course?

¹³ This form of consideration for others for the sake of the good news is the correct position of all Christians. It shows the right mental attitude even as Christ displayed it. So Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1: “Become imitators of me, even as I am of Christ.” We must always be seeking the advantage of others for the sake of the good news.

Loving Use of What We Are Given

1. What are the gifts of the spirit mentioned in First Corinthians, chapter 12, and for what purpose were they given?

AFTER Paul had written to the Corinthians about the need to consider others in connection with food he went on to deal with many other things. In the twelfth chapter he brings into consideration various gifts of the spirit that were provided to the early Christian congregations. These gifts were given to the individual Christians, not merely for their own pleasure or benefit, but for the benefit of others. So Paul writes in 1 Co chapter twelve, verses seven to eleven: “But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for a beneficial purpose. For example, to one there is given through the spirit speech of wisdom, to another speech of knowledge according to the same spirit, to another faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of healings by that one spirit, to yet another operations of powerful works, to another prophesying, to another discernment of inspired utterances, to another different tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. But all these operations the one and the same spirit performs, making a distribution to each one respectively just as it wills.”

2. How did Jehovah require these gifts to be used?

² All Christians were members of one body, and all the things received from God were for the benefit of the whole organization. Each one had his position in the body as it pleased God, but it was important how they used the things God had given them as co-workers in the building program. God is a great builder in love; so those who work together with him must also have love as their motivating force. Because one had received a gift of the spirit, such as speaking in tongues, or prophesying, that did not mean he would be acceptable to Jehovah, unless he used the gift in the proper way and with the right motive. Said Paul: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophesying and understand all the sacred secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my belongings to feed others, and if I hand over my body, that I may boast, but do not have love, I am not profited at all.”—1 Cor. 13:1-3.

3. (a) Why were the gifts to cease? When? (b) In contrast, what quality would not cease, and how is that quality expressed by Christians?

³ A building program was to be carried on following the death of Christ Jesus. Special gifts were provided through the spirit of God to impress many persons with the Kingdom message. These gifts were in operation in the early Christian church during the lifetime of the apostles, but with the death of the apostles the giving of them came to an end. The apostle Paul knew they would come to an end; so he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:8: “Whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with.” But while they had these gifts they were to use them in love for the building up of others. Love is expressive toward others and is a quality that is going to continue to be found among Christians forever. Gifts of the spirit may have passed away, but love does not. Love never fails, the apostle says. To show how love is expressed, Paul wrote: “Love is long-suffering and obliging. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”—1 Cor. 13:4-7.

4. If the transmitting of the miraculous gifts of the spirit ended with the death of the apostles, why is so much about them preserved in the Scriptures for our consideration now?

⁴ The giving of the gifts of tongues, prophesying and healing ended with the death of the apostles, and these gifts are not practiced today. Yet there is much information written in the Scriptures about them. Why has God preserved these writings for our consideration? Though the miraculous gifts of the spirit came to an end with the death of the apostles, we are taught a lesson by the instruction given in connection with the use of these gifts. In chapter fourteen Paul ties in the pursuit of love and the use of the spiritual gifts and in a way makes comparison, showing that some gifts were more to be desired than others. The gifts were very beneficial in the early Christian congregation, because when the Christians met together to be built up each one was not fully equipped with a complete Bible and many commentaries and magazines that help one study the Bible, as The Watchtower does today. Which one of the gifts was to be preferred?

5. Which gift was preferred, and why?

⁵ The one preferred was to prophesy. But why was prophesying more to be desired than the gift of healing or the gift of tongues? “For he that speaks in a tongue speaks, not to men, but to God, for no one listens, but he speaks sacred secrets by the spirit. However, he that prophesies upbuilds and encourages and consoles men by his speech. He that speaks in a tongue upbuilds himself, but he that prophesies upbuilds a congregation.” (1 Cor. 14:2-4) This counsel is very practical. Paul showed how a person speaking in a tongue would be building himself up, but unless there was someone to act as an interpreter or translator the congregation would not receive any upbuilding benefits. He compares speaking in tongues to bugles sounding indistinct calls for battle. It is better to speak in a language easily understood so that those who are listening will know the meaning and will benefit. Thus if one did have the gift of tongues Paul urged him, in verse thirteen: “Therefore let the one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may translate.” So he stresses the need for people to understand what is being said, and certainly anyone who is interested in others and not just himself would want to do something beneficial for the others. Very forcefully in 1 Co 14 verse sixteen Paul draws attention to the giving of thanks in a tongue and raises the question: “How will the man occupying the seat of the ordinary person say Amen to your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?” Hence in a congregation it is better to speak five words with understanding and instruct others verbally than to speak ten thousand words in a tongue that others would not understand.

6, 7. (a) Why did God give the gift of tongues to the early Christians? (b) How was prophesying beneficial? (c) What loving use of gifts or abilities given by God is shown to be the Christian objective at First Corinthians, chapter 14?

⁶ Why, then, did God give the gift of tongues to the early Christians? Evidently it was for the purpose of showing that these were God’s true servants. Said Paul: “Consequently, tongues are for a sign, not to the believers, but to the unbelievers.” (1 Cor. 14:22) After making this argument Paul explains the good reasons why the prophesying was to be preferred. It is preferred out of consideration for fellow Christians, or brothers, or those who desire to serve Jehovah. The use of prophesying or the preaching of the good news with understanding and teaching others would result in benefits to those in the congregation and even unbelievers; or ordinary people who might come along could be instructed and come to learn how to worship Jehovah God. “Whereas prophesying is, not for the unbelievers, but for the believers. Therefore, if the whole congregation comes together to one place and they all speak in tongues, but ordinary people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are mad? But if you are all prophesying and any unbeliever or ordinary person comes in, he is put right by them all, he is closely examined by all, the secrets of his heart become manifest, so that he will prostrate himself and worship God, declaring, ‘God is really among you.’”—1 Cor. 14:22-25.

⁷ While each one of the gifts that Jehovah provided had a use and benefit, this gift of prophesying was to be preferred because it was most beneficial for the upbuilding of the brothers and for the teaching of people in the worship of Jehovah. No matter what gift of the spirit an individual did receive, the principle of love stands out; and the ways in which these gifts were to be used showed that consideration was to be given to others and was to be of benefit to them. So it is with whatever Jehovah God provides for those who serve him. “What is to be done, then, brothers? When you come together, one has a psalm, another has a teaching, another has a revelation, another has a tongue, another has an interpretation. Let all things take place for upbuilding.” (1 Cor. 14:26) Obviously the true Christian attitude is, let everything be for the upbuilding of others.

THE MODERN BUILDING PROGRAM

8. Since the miraculous gifts of the spirit are not used by the modern Christian congregations, what provision is made for their upbuilding?

⁸ It is clear from the Scriptures that the giving of miraculous gifts of the spirit for the upbuilding of the early Christian congregation came to an end with the death of the apostles. Gifts of healing,