SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIANITY IS CORPORATE

SPECIAL TOPIC: BIBLICAL FAITH IS CORPORATE

The Bible is an eastern book which focuses on family, tribe, and national groups. The individual is meant to serve the good of the whole. One person's actions affects the whole.

Old Testament Concept
1. Hebrew corporality can be defined as "one affects the whole"
  1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3, negatively)
  2. High Priest (Leviticus 16, positively)
  3. Achan (Joshua 7, negatively)
  4. Jesus (the new Adam, cf. Rom. 5:12-21, positively)
2. The OT had both an individual aspect (i.e., Ezekiel 18), but mostly a corporate focus. Israel was a chosen people.
3. This sense of corporality is hard for western, individualists to comprehend. Moderns express the value on the individual person, where the eastern ancients focus on the health of the group
  The goal of the believer is the health and growth of the Body!
New Testament Concept
1. Paul's and Peter's use of PLURAL imagery for the people of God
  1. body (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-20)
  2. field (cf. 1 Cor. 3:9)
  3. building (cf. 1 Pet. 2:4-5)
2. The term "saint" is always PLURAL (except Phil. 4:21, but even there it is also corporate)
3. The Reformation emphasis of Martin Luther on the "priesthood of the believer" (i.e., soul competency) is a biblical assumption. In reality the Bible speaks of "the priesthood of believers" (cf. Exod. 19:6; 1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6).
4. Each believer is gifted for the common good (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7)
5. Only in cooperation can the people of God be effective. Ministry is corporate (cf. Eph. 4:11-12).

Beware of western individualism that focuses only on the rights and privileges of the one! The Bible is an eastern book!