These background facts will help put Paul's advice about spiritual gifts in context.
1. The Corinthian congregation is described as the Church of God (I Cor.1:1); God's husbandry, God's building (3:9). They belonged to Christ (3:23). They had been sanctified in Christ Jesus (1:2). They were saints (1:2). They were in Christ - they had been made wise, righteous, sanctified and redeemed (1:30).
Paul had spent longer in Corinth than in many other places, because the Lord Jesus had told him that He had much people in that city (Acts 18:10,11). Jesus had much people in that city!
In fact, Paul planned to visit them three times; and the great confidence Paul showed in the Corinthians inspired other ministers to be diligent to visit them also (8:22, IICor.8:22). Some other respected ministers became eager of their own accord to visit them because they saw such value in them - even without needing to be sent by Paul (II Cor.8:16,17).
During Paul's time with them, the Corinthians had heard a thorough presentation of the Gospel (2:1-2). Paul had sown spiritual things among them (9:11). A solid foundation had been laid in the church (3:10). The Corinthians had become beloved sons (4:14).
Paul brought them up in an environment where they not only heard the Word, but also saw genuine demonstrations of the Spirit and of power, which confirmed the Gospel (2:4).
Despite the past some of the Corinthians had, they had been washed, sanctified, and justified (6:11). They had also come to realize idolatry was nothing (chapter 8).
They were in genuine fellowship with the rest of the body of Christ (1:2) The churches in Asia saluted them; other recognized ministers besides Paul saluted them much in the Lord - all the brethren greeted them (16:19,20).
They were actively acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ (1:2). God's continued grace and peace was extended towards them (1:3). Paul was continually thankful for the grace they had received by Jesus Christ (1:4).
They were enriched by Jesus Christ in EVERYTHING - in ALL utterance, in ALL knowledge (1:5). They were living confirmations of Christ's testimony (1:6). They came behind in NO GIFT (1:7). They were experiencing truth as revealed by the Spirit of God (2:10). They had received NOT the spirit that came from the world, but the Spirit that came from God (2:12).
Some of them were commended for their zeal for spiritual gifts (14:12). They were already exercising the gifts of tongues, interpretation and prophecy, at least.
They were Paul's work in the Lord, a more clear seal of his apostleship than was any other church (9:1,2). They were thoroughly intertwined and inseparable from Paul spiritually and emotionally (II Cor. 2:3). They had become partakers with Paul of the sufferings of Christ (II Cor.1:7). They helped and prayed for Paul's ministry (1:11). Paul was their joy, and they were Paul's joy - in the day of the Lord (1:14).
As such, Paul felt assured of a good future for them (1: 8). Paul's hope of them was steadfast (II Cor.1:7).
2. Paul heard there were divisions and contentions among them (1:11) - but he only partly believed it (11:18). He realized they were still babes, carnal and not always behaving spiritually (3:3).
Paul's main concern was that he had heard there was an individual among them who had committed fornication (5:1). Others had also (II Cor.12:21). Some were getting drunk at mealtimes.
It seems some who were exercising genuine spiritual gifts were doing so with an inadequate understanding of their significance and without understanding how best to express them during a church-service (I Cor.12-14).
While highly commending them in every way, Paul wrote to them primarily to instruct them concerning the one, wicked individual in their midst - but also to warn them all against fornication, idolatry, taking brothers to court, against false ideas about the resurrection, and any activities or ideas that cause division, including inadequate ideas about ministers and about spiritual gifts and their expression.
He wrote to them because he knew they would be obedient in all things. He repeated his confidence in them.
3. Paul sent Titus to them. They received Titus with fear and trembling (verse 15). They were obedient (7:15). They became really careful, clear, indignant, fearful, with vehement desire, even revengeful, about being obedient to God and to Paul. In all things they were clear in this matter - the main matter of Paul's letter (7:11).
The Corinthians filled Paul with comfort by their responsiveness. Great was Paul's glorying of them (7:4). He boasted of them (7:14). Paul had confidence in them in all things (verse 16). They abounded in EVERYTHING - in faith, utterance, knwledge and in all diligence, and in their love for Paul's ministry-team (8:7).
In his second letter, Paul stated that if he didn't repeat certain things, it was not because those things were no longer relevant, or that they had ceased - it was only because he didn't want to hurt their feelings by repeating them. He said they had cleared themselves of the matter.
He did repeat some instructions, and urged continued obedience. He mentioned that some individuals might not yet have repented. He warned against receiving a wrong teacher or a wrong spirit. But his tone was one of continual confidence - even boasting - in them.
He planned a third visit - and other ministers even became eager to visit them after seeing Paul's great confidence in them.
Conclusion: In regard to spiritual gifts, Paul commended the Corinthians for desiring and for having spiritual gifts - he did not say they were operating in false Pagan tongues - he said the opposite - he commended them. He said they should not forbid to speak with tongues. He said they could even continue to pray privately in tongues if no interpreter was present. He only wanted them to understand spiritual gifts better; to be motivated more nobly; and to express them more beneficially.
That advice is still relevant to us today.
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