Let me doucument that statement...But in chapters 7 through 14, Paul was responding to questions and statements that the Corinthians wrote to him. Let’s take a look:
1 Corinthians 7:1 “Now concerning things whereof YOU WROTE UNTO ME…”
1 Corinthians 8:1 “Now concerning things offered unto idols…”
1 Corinthians 12:1 “Now concerning spiritual gifts…”
Paul steps through the concerns, statements, and questions that they have written to him. In
1 Corinthians 12:1 Paul finally gets to the questions and matters about spiritual gifts and says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts…” and states that the “manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man (every person male and female)” (verse 7). He mentions different types of manifestations including the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, tongues and the interpretation of tongues, etc. Pay particular attention to the words “every man, each man, all members” etc. In these cases, the Greek word for “men or man” means people, humans–not only males, but both genders. The word “all” in the Greek means ALL, not half, not a certain few, not just males, but ALL! In
1 Corinthians 14:27-31 Paul sets the ground rules for “speaking in the church:”
IF ANY MAN (any person, male or female) SPEAK:
Unless there is NO INTERPRETER (male or female)…
Let the (male or female) PROPHETS SPEAK…
If anything be revealed to ANOTHER THAT SITS BY (whether male or female)…
For you may ALL (male and female) PROPHESY ONE BY ONE, THAT ALL (male and female) MAY LEARN AND ALL (male and female) may be exhorted.