1 Corinthians 1:7 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 1:7 mean?

1 Corinthians 1:7 says that the Corinthian believers do not lack any spiritual gift as they eagerly wait for Jesus Christ to return. The verse highlights that they have been fully equipped by God with every needed gift during this time of waiting.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, a group of Christians living in a busy, diverse city. He reassures them that God has given them every spiritual resource they need, even as they look forward to the future coming of Jesus. This verse sets the stage for Paul’s later discussions about spiritual gifts and how they should be used in the church.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 1:7

• "behind" (ὑστερέω, hystereō): This word means to fall short or lack. Paul uses it to say the Corinthians are not missing out on any spiritual gift, which is important because some in the church may have felt inferior or left out.
• "gift" (χάρισμα, charisma): This refers to a spiritual gift or grace given by God. Paul’s use of this word here emphasizes that these abilities are not earned but given freely by God for the good of the church.
• "coming" (ἀποκάλυψις, apokalypsis): This word means a revealing or unveiling, often used in the New Testament for Christ’s return. Paul reminds the Corinthians that their present gifts are given in light of the future revealing of Jesus.

Why 1 Corinthians 1:7 matters

• This verse clarifies that every believer in the Corinthian church has been given spiritual gifts, countering any sense of spiritual inadequacy or competition.
• Paul’s mention of “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” ties the present experience of spiritual gifts to the future hope of Christ’s return, showing that both are important in Christian life.
• The verse prepares the reader for Paul’s later teaching about the right use of spiritual gifts, emphasizing that these gifts are meant to serve the church as they wait for Jesus.