The first of several thoughts today from the first epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 12:
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. - 1 Cor 12:3
A bit of Greek and ancient cultural study would be helpful for me here to confirm my suspicion that Paul would not consider that someone would say a thing they didn't believe to be true. That makes this passage mean something very different from how a modern person might interpret the verb "to say."
The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus as Lord. This is consistent with our previous consideration of Jesus' teaching that the Holy Spirit convinces the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment, for what greater truth is there about these things than that Jesus is the answer to our need in all three areas?
But this passage is included here to set the context for these three chapters, which will discuss the various gifts that the Holy Spirit pours out upon the church and the implications of this one verse for those who apparently were tending to judge others based on the perceived quality of the spiritual gifts entrusted to them. Paul is starting the conversation by saying, "Enough of this! Our dignity as fellow followers of Christ outweighs any consideration of the superiority of our gifts. Where is your humility?!"
A discussion of the gifts is important today, that we might be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in ways that we might otherwise dismiss. But the gifts are not the most important nor the fundamental thing, which is the lordship of Jesus Christ!
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