SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR THE WELL-BEING OF CHRIST AND HIS BODY (12:1-14:33). Paul now begins his reply to their question about spiritual gifts ('concerning spiritual things') and immediately gives an initial warning that such gifts can easily be perverted by the subtlety of evil spiritual forces. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
A WARNING THAT SPIRITUAL GIFTS CAN BE IMITATED BY EVIL FORCES (12:1-3) 'Now concerning spiritual things (‘what is spiritual'), brothers, I would not have you ignorant. You know that when you were Gentiles you were led away to those dumb idols, however you might be led. Wherefore I make known to you... [ Continue Reading ]
'Now there are diversities of gifts (charismata), but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.' Paul then goes on the point out that there are in fact diversities of spiritual... [ Continue Reading ]
'But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal.' From considering the mighty power of the triune God in His working on behalf of His people, Paul now comes down to the individual believer. The mightiest Being imaginable resources every believer as He chooses. Thus there i... [ Continue Reading ]
'For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit, to another faith, in the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit, and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another disc... [ Continue Reading ]
'But all these works the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.' Paul again emphasises that the one Spirit, the same Spirit, is responsible for all. This stresses that there are no other good spirits that speak through humans. Whatever ministry angels and spirits m... [ Continue Reading ]
'For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.' Paul here likens Christ and His people to a body with its many different parts, and he describes them not as 'the church' but as 'Christ'. This revelation of Paul's inspired... [ Continue Reading ]
'For in one Spirit were we all baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit.' Again note the continued emphasis on the one Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12:4; 1 Corinthians 12:11). His purpose is once more to emphasise the unity of all Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
'For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, "Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body", it is not therefore not of the body. And if the ear shall say, "Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body," it is not therefore not of the body. If the whole body were an eye, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
'But now has God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.' And each member is set in the body by God as they are needed, and in accordance with His good pleasure, so that we can be sure that what the body requires will be provided. Every one individually is chosen and g... [ Continue Reading ]
'And if they were all one member, where were the body?' Indeed if all the members were exactly the same where would the body be? There would be no body, just a pile made up of quantities of one particular member, a pile of legs or a pile of eyes, and so on. The idea is ridiculous. No, all the diffe... [ Continue Reading ]
'But now they are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you", or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you". So the body being made up of many differing members, each has to recognise that all are necessary for the whole. Behind the statement, '... [ Continue Reading ]
'No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary, and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honourable, on these we bestow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness, whereas our comely parts have no need.' Indeed it... [ Continue Reading ]
For God, in tempering (combining) the body together in Christ, has given more abundant honour to those parts which were lacking, so that all would be as one and there might be no schism, so that all may care for one another. In mind here especially would seem to be those Christians who in their phys... [ Continue Reading ]
'And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.' Indeed the literal body is so made one that when one member of a literal body is in pain the whole body is aware of it and suffers, for it affects the whole. When we have a... [ Continue Reading ]
'Now you (the 'you' is emphatic) are the body of Christ, and severally members of it. And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, guidance, divers kinds of tongues.' So he reiterates that all Christians are un... [ Continue Reading ]
'Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?' The questions are a reminder of their interdependence. As he has already demonstrated, the gifts are distributed throughout the body. All do n... [ Continue Reading ]
'But desire earnestly (or 'you desire earnestly') the greater gifts. And moreover I show to you a most excellent way.' At first sight this seems to contradict what has been said before about the gifts being given by God in accordance with His will, but the thought is not of trying to get the greate... [ Continue Reading ]