1 Corinthians 12:29

 1 Corinthians 12:29

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

a. ASV: Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?   [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all powers?  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: Are all apostles (special messengers)? Are all prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God)? Are all teachers? Do all have the power of performing miracles?  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text: Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?  [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. NLT: Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles?  [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

1. “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?”

a. [Strong: 3361 mḗ, may; a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:—any but (that), × forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

b. [Are] all [Strong: 3956 pâs, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

c. apostles [Strong: 652 apóstolos, ap-os'-tol-os; from G649; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):—apostle, messenger, he that is sent.]

d. [Strong: 3361 mḗ, may; a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:—any but (that), × forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

b. [are] all [Strong: 3956 pâs, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

e. prophets [Strong: 4396 prophḗtēs, prof-ay'-tace; from a compound of G4253 and G5346; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:—prophet.]

f. [Strong: 3361 mḗ, may; a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:—any but (that), × forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

b. [are] all [Strong: 3956 pâs, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

g. teachers [Strong: 1320 didáskalos, did-as'-kal-os; from G1321; an instructor (genitive case or specially):—doctor, master, teacher.]

h. [Strong: 3361 mḗ, may; a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:—any but (that), × forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

b. [are] all [Strong: 3956 pâs, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

i. Workers of miracles [Strong: 1411 dýnamis, doo'-nam-is; from G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):—ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.]

1). Kenneth E. Hagin, Concerning Spiritual Gifts: Then there are those who profess to believe in tongues, but do not feel that tongues are necessary for all Christians. They use the argument that 1 Corinthians 12:30 says, “...do all speak in tongues?” However, one could take part of a verse of scripture,or even one entire verse of scripture out of its setting and prove anything. We have to read the entire context to see what the writer is talking about. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 Paul is talking about the ministry gifts that God has set in the church. “Apostles” is not a spiritual gift, but an office or a ministry gift. “Prophets” is not a spiritual gift, but a ministry gift. Likewise, “teachers” is not a spiritual gift, but a ministry gift to minister to the body of Christ. In the first part of this chapter, Paul dows list the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).It is certainly true that the gifts of the Spirit may be manifested through the laity, for Paul said, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:7). But there are those in the ministry who are equipped with the gifts of the Spirit. We do not call them spiritual gifts but, as Paul says here, that God has set ministries in the church. There are five ministries gifts. In writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul lists them. He said that when Jesus ascended on high, “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). When Paul wrote to the Corinthians about these ministry gifts, we notice that neither the ministry of an evangelist nor that of a pastor is listed (1 Corinthians 12:28. Since the pastor is the head of the church, this is included in the office of government. The working of miracles and gifts of healings are in the office of an evangelist. Philip is a type of a New Testament evangelist. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto these things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed” (Acts 8:5-7). Later on Philip was called the evangelist. If a person is a New Testament evangelist, he is equipped with supernatural gifts such as working of miracles or gifts of healings. It will take that to constitute his office. Many times we call people evangelists who are really exhorters. Paul speaks of exhorters in the book of Romans. Those who just exhort sinners to get saved, who have no working of gifts of healings or miracles or the supernatural in their lives, are not evangelists, they are exhorters. As we have pointed out, Paul is speaking about a ministry of diversities of tongues in 1 Corinthians 12:29, 30. He isn’t talking about being filled with the holy Ghost and speaking with tongues. “Are all apostles? (No) are all prophets? (No) are all teachers? (No) are all workers of miracles? (No) have all the gifts of healings? (No).” Then he said, “Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” According to what he is talking about here, the answer is “No”. He is not talking about people being filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking with tongues. He is talking about ministering tongues in a public assembly with interpretation.. Everyone doesn’t do that.