Showing
the
Spirit

A Theological Exposition of

1 Corinthians 12–14

D.A. Carson

Copyright 1987 by

Baker Book House Company

ISBN: 0-8010-2521-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Carson, D. A.

Showing the Spirit: a theological exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14 / D. A. Carson

p. cm.

“Moore College lectures of September 1985”—Pref.

Bibliography: p.

Includes indexes.

ISBN 0-8010-2521-4

1. Bible. N.T. Corinthians. 1st, XII–XIV—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Gifts, Spiritual—Biblical teaching. I. Title. II. Title: Moore College lectures.

BS2675.2.C38 1987

227’.026—dc19 87-21457

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture references are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Other versions cited are the King James Version (kjv) and the New American Standard Bible (nasb).

For information about academic books, resources for Christian leaders, and all new releases available from Baker Book House, visit our web site:

http://www.bakerbooks.com/

To the principal, faculty, staff, and students of Moore College, Sydney, on the occasion of my first trip to Australia,

September 1985

Contents

Preface

Introduction

List of Abbreviations

1. The Unity of the Body and the Diversity of Gifts (12:1–30)

Reflections on the Background of the Argument in 1 Corinthians 12–14

The Bearing of Christianity’s Central Confession on What It Means to Be Spiritual (12:1–3)

The Bountiful Diversity of the Grace-Gifts (12:4–11)

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the Body Metaphor: The Mutual Dependence of Believers on One Another (12:12–26)

Conclusion (12:27–30)

2. The Most Excellent Way; or, When Does Perfection Come? (12:31–13:13)

The Setting of Chapter 13

The Indispensability of Love (13:1–3)

Some Characteristics of Love (13:4–7)

The Permanence of Love (13:8–13)

3. Prophecy and Tongues: Pursuing What Is Better (14:1–19)

Reflections on the Nature of Several of the Charismata

The Superiority of Prophecy over Tongues (14:1–19)

4. Order and Authority: Restraining Spiritual Gifts (14:20–40)

The Relation of Tongues and Prophecies to Unbelievers (14:20–25)

Order in Public Worship (14:26–36)

Warning (14:37–38)

Summary (14:39–40)

Concluding Reflections

5. Unleashed Power and the Constraints of Discipline: Toward a Theology of Spiritual Gifts

Reflections on Tongues, Miracles, and the Baptism in the Spirit in Acts

Reflections on Second-Blessing Theology

Reflections on Revelation

Reflections on the Evidence of History

Reflections on the Charismatic Movement

Reflections of a Pastoral Nature

Select Bibliography

Index of Subjects

Index of Names

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About Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14

In Showing the Spirit one of evangelicalism’s most respected New Testament scholars speaks to one of evangelicalism’s most troublesome issues. The scholar is D.A. Carson. The issue: spiritual gifts.

Most of the book expounds the crucial passage, 1 Corinthians 12–14. But the concluding chapter integrates material from other portions of Scripture—especially the Book of Acts—so that the author’s conclusions reflect all of the biblical evidence.

The author’s exegesis is exemplary. His command of the relevant literature leaves one breathless. His ability to move from exegesis to theology is singular. And his spiritual wisdom permeates his many pastoral comments.

He interacts with some other Christian doctrines, as well as with the findings of linguists, social anthropologists, and historians. “We must even-handedly attempt to weigh all the relevant evidence,” he writes, “even while we insist that the authority of scripture must prevail.”

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