(a) According to Paul, spiritual gifts are gifts from the Lord. Their genuineness can be tested when the beneficiary confesses "Jesus is Lord", but if by the devil, he says "Jesus is cursed". There are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspired them all in every one. Paul then enumerated nine spiritual gifts. These are utterance of wisdom, utterance of knowledge, faith, healing power, miracle working, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues.
Paul compares these gifts with the human body with its different members, each playing an important role for the good of the entire body. No part can say that since it is not the other member, it does not belong to the body, for if the whole body were to be an eye, where would be the ear? Or if the whole body is an ear, where then would be the nose? God has so arranged the individual parts that they are mutually interdependent and necessary for their corporate existence. Infact, some weaker parts are crowned with greater respectability to avoid discord in the body for if one member suffers, the entire body suffers and if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.

(b) The significance of Paul's teaching to the church includes:
(i) Since the human body is one, so are we who have been baptised by one spirit into the body of Christ. The church acts and behaves as one united by the church.
(ii) In the church, there should be no discrimination of people's contributions in the over all good of the church.
(iii) No member should feel proud for his talent or contribution in the over all good of the church.
(iv) There should be no racial discrimination in the church; no Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo or lgbira.