|  Home  |  New Testament Studies  |  Corinthians Table of Contents  |  Previous Section  |  Next Section  |

÷÷1 CORINTHIANS 12

1 CORINTHIANS 12

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO 12:1-31

1. Chapters 11-14 form one literary unit which deals with gathered worship. There were many problems in the Corinthian house churches. Paul addresses many of these issues, which apparently the church had written to him about (i.e., peri de, "now concerning," cf. 1 Cor. 7:1,25; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1,12; and possibly 15:1). The issues related to gathered worship were:
   1. how to pray and prophesy
      1. man uncovered
      2. woman covered
   2. pride and abuse related to spiritual gifts
   3. how to implement gifts into worship
      1. tongue speakers and interpreters
      2. singers
      3. prophets
   
   
2. There are three tests related to spiritual gifts.
   1. chapter 12 ‒ do they motivate Christocentric unity?
   2. chapter 13 ‒ do they motivate love?
   3. chapter 14 ‒ do they build the body?
   
   
3. There are several lists of spiritual gifts in the NT (cf. Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 4:11; and 1 Pet. 4:10-11). The lists are not the same, nor is the order of gifts the same. They are representative samples, not definitive lists. Some of the gifts function in gathered worship, but others focus outside corporate worship meetings.
    The emphasis which Paul places on spiritual giftedness is surprising, but he says little about how one finds or identifies his/her gift. I am reluctant to affirm many of the "spiritual gift tests" that have been developed in our day. They test only for the gifts listed in the NT. Many of the gifts listed are not clearly defined (i.e., the gifts of leadership in Eph. 4:11). The most helpful guide I have found in this area is the IVP booklet entitled Affirming the Will of God by Paul Little. The same Christian wisdom that helps us find God's will also helps us identify our effective gift for ministry.
   1. pray specifically, "what is my ministry task for the Body?"
   2. ask mature Christians who know you what spiritual strengths they see in you
   3. look for open doors of opportunity to try different areas of personal ministry
   4. follow the desires of your heart (i.e., with several possibilities of service, which one would you enjoy?)

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

÷1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-3
 ¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. ³Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

12:1 "Now concerning" This is a recurring phrase in 1 Corinthians that shows Paul is answering specific questions from the church (i.e., peri de, cf. 1 Cor. 7:1,25; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1,12; possibly 15:1, de, "now").

The Greek term is a GENITIVE PLURAL of pneuma. This can refer to persons, gifts, or spiritualities (i.e., spiritual matters, cf. 1 Cor. 14:1). The emphasis is gifts given by the Spirit!

SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE

▣ "brethren" Paul often uses "brethren" to signal a change of subjects. This first verse has three of Paul's contextual markers of a subject change:

1. "now concerning"
2. "brethren"
3. "I do not want you to be unaware"

Chapters 11-14 deal with different aspects of gathered worship (see Contextual Insights, A and B).

The messages that Paul sent to Corinth were so difficult that he often used "brethren" to remind them of their unity in God's family (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10,11,26; 2:1; 3:1; 4:6; 6:5,8; 7:24,29; 5:12; 9:5; 10:1; 11:2,33; 12:1; 14:6,20,26,39; 15:1,6,50,58; 16:11,12,15,20; 2 Cor. 1:8; 8:1,23; 9:3,5; 11:9; 13:11).

▣ "I do not want you to be unaware" This is a recurrent phrase in Paul's writings (cf. Rom. 1:13; 11:25; 1 Cor. 10:1; 11:3; 12:1; 2 Cor. 1:8; 1 Thess. 4:13). It was one of his ways of introducing a significant new topic.

12:2 "you were pagans" This is an IMPERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE PLURAL. Most of these believers were once pagans, but now they must shed this mindset and related activity. The church at Corinth was deeply influenced by

1. pagan worship practices
2. Roman culture

Both were coloring the gospel in inappropriate ways. What would modern western believers do/think which also affects their understanding of the gospel.

1. individualism
2. socialism
3. capitalism
4. combining worldviews of different world religions
5. secularism
6. historically developed theological grids (i.e., Catholicism, Calvinism, Arminianism, Liberalism, Pentecostalism, etc.)
7. the tenets of the Enlightenment
8. just to mention a few!!!

This phrase has two related verbals from the root "to lead." The first is a PERIPHRASTIC IMPERFECTIVE PASSIVE INDICATIVE and the second is a PRESENT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE, "you were and continue to be led away."

The second term is also intensified by the PREPOSITION apo, which implies "to lead as a prisoner" (cf. Mark 14:44; 15:16). These former pagans had been continuously controlled by the demonic in their worship practices (cf. 1 Cor. 10:20) before their conversion.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND DEMONS

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELIC LEVELS IN PAUL'S WRITINGS

▣ "to mute idols" This refers to pagan images of stone or wood who could not speak, hear, or help (cf. Isa. 46:5-7; Jer. 10:5; Hab. 2:18-19) in contrast to the Holy Spirit.

12:3 "no one speaking by the Spirit of God" This is a Hebrew idiom for inspiration (cf. 1 Sam. 10:10; 19:23-24). This reminds believers that not everyone who claims to speak for God does so. Every believer must evaluate those who claim to speak God's message from

1. Deut. 18:20-22
2. Matt. 7:15-23
3. 1 John 4:1-6

Here are some Scriptural ways to evaluate people who claim to speak for God.

1. speaking in YHWH's name, not the names of other gods (cf. Deut. 18:20)
2. the accuracy of his statements (cf. Deut. 18:22)
3. fruit inspection (cf. Matt. 7:15-23)
4. by these Christians are able to make an evaluation (cf. 1 John 4:1-6)

SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION

This is a shocking statement. Why would anyone (except traditional Jews in the "Eighteen Benedictions") who claims to speak for God say this? The term (i.e., anathema) itself had an OT background (i.e., Hebrew, herem). It related to the concept of Holy War, where a city was devoted to God and, therefore, it became holy. This meant that everything in it that breathed, human or animal, had to die (cf. Josh. 6:17; 7:12).

The theories of how this term was used in Corinth are

1. that it has a Jewish setting relating to the synagogue oaths (cf. Acts 26:11, i.e., later, rabbinical curse formulas ["The Eighteen Benedictions"] were designed to remove Christians from the synagogue). To remain a member one had to reject or curse Jesus of Nazareth.
2. that it has a Roman setting relating to Emperor worship where only Caesar could be called "Lord."
3. that it has a pagan worship setting where the curses were called on people by the use of a god's name. This could then be translated, "May Jesus curse ______" (cf. 1 Cor. 16:22).
4. that someone related the phrase to the theological concept of Jesus bearing the OT curse for us (cf. Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13).
5. Recent studies from Corinth (cf. footnote #1 p. 164 in Bruce Winter's After Paul Left Corinth) document the curse tablets found on the ancient acropolis at Corinth. Biblical scholars have assumed that a linking VERB "is" should be provided in the phrase, "Jesus is accursed," but this archaeological evidence clearly shows that these first century Roman period curses from Corinth lack the VERB (as do some of the curses in the LXX of Deut. 22:15-20), as does 1 Cor. 12:3. There is further archaeological evidence that Christians in first century Roman Corinth used curse formulas in burial curses (i.e., Byzantine period), found on Christian graves (J. H. Kent, The Inscriptions, 1926-50. Princeton: American School of Classical Studies, 1966, vol. 8:3, no. 644).

Some segments of the church were reverting to pagan curses in Jesus' name against other members of the church. Not only is the method a problem, but also the hateful motive. This is another example of the tension within this church. Paul wants them to build up the church, edify the church. They want to curse part of the church!

SPECIAL TOPIC: CURSE (anathema)

SPECIAL TOPIC: EDIFY

▣ "Jesus is Lord" This was the early church's confession of faith at baptism (cf. both Rom. 10:9-13 and Acts 2:21 which quote Joel 2:33; Phil. 2:11). It was a way of affirming Jesus' Deity and Messiahship.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRIST JESUS AS LORD

SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON HIS NAME

SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (Adon and Kurios)

▣ "except by the Holy Spirit" The Holy Spirit's task is

1. to convict the world of sin
2. to draw people to Christ
3. to baptize them into Christ
4. to form them into Christlikeness (cf. John 16:8-14)

No fallen humans can turn to God or Christ unaided (cf. John 6:44,65). This is the mystery of a sovereign God who loves all humanity made in His image (cf. John 1:29; 3:16; 4:42; 12:47; Rom. 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 3:4; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14) yet His covenant mandate is that they must respond (and continue to respond) in repentance, faith, obedience, service, and perseverance (this is my list of New Covenant requirements)!

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

÷1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11
 ⁴Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

This term means (1) to distribute or (2) variety (cf. 1 Cor. 12:4,5,6). There is an obvious literary parallel between 1 Cor. 12:4,5, and 6, which unites the work of all three persons of the Trinity.

1. in creation
2. in redemption
3. in resurrection
4. in indwelling
5. in judgment

12:4-6 "Spirit. . .Lord. . .God" Note the action of the Trinity which emphasizes unity amidst diversity, not uniformity. The church is a group of gifted individuals. We need each other! Each one is important. Each one is gifted for ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7,11).

The term "Trinity" is not a biblical term, but the concept is (see detailed Special Topic below). The term was first used by Tertullian (A.D. 160-220).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY

12:4 "gifts" This is a different word than the one used in 1 Cor. 12:1. This is the Greek term charisma. This is from the root term "chairō," which means to rejoice, or be full of joy (cf. 1 Cor. 7:30; 13:6; 2 Cor. 2:3; 6:10; 7:7,9,16 and the compound with sun in 1 Cor. 12:26 and 13:6). From this develops several spiritual concepts related to "joy" and "gift."

1. chara ‒ joy, rejoicing
2. charis ‒ generous gift (cf. 1 Cor. 16:3; 2 Cor. 8:4,6)
   1. grace (cf. 1 Cor. 1:4; 15:10)
   2. thanks (cf. 1 Cor. 15:57)
3. charizomai
   1. give generously
   2. forgive (cf. 2 Cor. 2:7-10; 12:13)
   3. cancel a debt
4. charisma ‒ a free gift (cf. Rom. 5:15,16; 6:23; 2 Cor. 1:11) or divinely conferred adornment (cf. 1 Cor. 12:4,9,28,30,31)

God has freely gifted His church. The gifts are for building up and growing the body of Christ. In reality they are the work of Christ divided among His followers. Believers must unite their giftedness with love and cooperate with each other so that the church may win and disciple a lost world (cf. Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8).

SPECIAL TOPIC: EDIFY

SPECIAL TOPIC: BIBLICAL FAITH IS CORPORATE

12:5 "ministries" This is the Greek term diakonos. It has several uses in the NT.

1. diakonos
   1. a servant (cf. Matt. 20:28; 22:13; 23:11; John 2:5)
   2. a minister/preacher (cf. 1 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 3:6; 6:4; 11:15[twice],23)
2. diakoneō
   1. to serve (cf. 1 Pet. 4:11)
   2. deacon (cf. Rom. 16:1; 1 Tim. 3:8,10,13; also note Phil. 1:1)
   3. administer (cf. Acts 6:2; 2 Cor. 3:3; 8:19,20)
3. diakonia
   1. rendering aid (cf. Acts 6:1; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1,12,13)
   2. ministry for the gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 12:5; 16:15; 2 Cor. 4:1; 5:8; 6:3; 11:8)
   3. a revelation from God (cf. 2 Cor. 3:7,8,9)

The key idea is serving and helping others in need (i.e., spiritual or physical). God equips His church to serve; serve themselves and serve a lost and needy world.

This is a play on the term energēs from which we get the English term energy. Its basic meaning is to effectively accomplish a task. This sentence has the NOUN and the matching PARTICIPLE (PRESENT ACTIVE). Paul used this term often in his Corinthian letters.

1. energēs, energeia, energeō, energēma, 1 Cor. 4:12; 9:6; 12:6,10,11; 16:9,10; 2 Cor. 1:6; 4:12
2. ergon and sunergeō, 1 Cor. 3:13,14,15; 9:1; 15:58; 16:10; 2 Cor. 6:1; 9:8; 11:15

God's work is effective work. It accomplishes its purpose (cf. Isa. 55:11). Believers are called to active service, but the energy and effectiveness is of God (cf. Phi. 2:12-13).

This truth is so important for the life and ministry of the church.

1. Every believer has a freely-given grace gift given by the Spirit for ministry at the time of salvation.
   1. Every believer is important.
   2. Every believer is gifted (v. 11).
   3. Every believer is a minister (cf. Eph. 4:11-12).
2. The purpose of God's gift is not the elevation of the individual, but for the health and growth of the whole body. We need each other! We are a body with many parts and we need all of them.

This truth was desperately needed by the factious, arrogant, assertive believers at Corinth (and in every age).

The "common good" or "profit" (sumpheron, cf. 1 Cor. 6:12; 7:35; 10:33; 2 Cor. 8:10) is for the body and not the individual. Believers must take personal responsibility to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (cf. Eph. 4:2-3). This is so radically different from western individualism.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIANITY IS CORPORATE

These are two different Greek terms, "wisdom" (i.e., sophia) and "knowledge" (i.e., gnōsis). They reflect the Hebrew distinction between "wisdom" and "knowledge." The first is practical and the second, more academic. The first relates to living the Christian life and the second to a proper explanation of Christian doctrine.

12:9 "faith" This refers not to saving faith like Mark 1:15; John 1:12, because the gifts are only given to believers, but to miracle working faith, which is made clear from 1 Cor. 13:2 (cf. Matt. 17:20; 21:21).

Miracles are meant to

1. show God's merciful character
2. show God's active involvement in this physical realm
3. validate the truth of the gospel about Jesus
4. encourage and build faith in church

The miraculous is not always from God (cf. Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9; also note Exodus 7-8).

1. 1 Cor. 14:29 (between NT prophets)
2. John 4:1-3 (for all believers)
3. see full note at 1 Cor. 12:3

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH (NT)

▣ "healing" This term (iaomai) is PLURAL (cf. 2 Cor. 12:7-9,28,30), which is literally "gifts of cures." Healing is a gift from the Spirit in this context and a ministry of the "elders" in James 5:14. Physical healing was/is an evidence of the love and care of God and a sign of spiritual healing (i.e., forgiveness of sins, salvation, i.e., Ps. 103:3; Isa. 1:5-6).

For the Jews there was a connection between sin and sickness, righteousness and health (cf. Deuteronomy 27-28). However, Job and Psalm 73 clarify the issue as does John 9. The mystery is why some are healed and some are not. One's faith cannot be the key ingredient, but God's will. It is never how much faith we exercise, but the object of our faith (faith the size of a mustard seed moves mountains, cf. Matt. 17:20).

Thank God for healing, healers, and caring churches!

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEALING

12:10 "the effecting of miracles" This seems to be parallel to 1 Cor. 12:9a (i.e., miracle-working faith). Since this is a list, they cannot be completely synonymous. The exact distinction is uncertain.

▣ "prophecy" There are at least two ways to understand this term:

1. in the Corinthian letters this refers to sharing or proclaiming the gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 14:1)
2. the book of Acts mentions prophets (cf. Acts 11:27-28; 13:1; 15:32; 21:10, even prophetesses, 21:9)

The problem with this term is, how does the NT gift of prophecy relate to OT prophets? In the OT prophets are the writers of Scripture. In the NT this task is given to the original twelve Apostles and their helpers. As the term "apostle" is retained as an ongoing gift (cf. Eph. 4:11), but with a changed task after the death of the Twelve, so too, the office of prophet. Inspiration has ceased, there is no further inspired Scripture (cf. Jude 1:20). New Testament prophets' primary task is proclamation of the gospel, but also a different task, possibly how to apply NT truths to current situations and needs.

SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (NT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION

There are three sources of human giftedness:

1. by nature (i.e., natural talents)
2. by the Spirit
3. by the devil and the demonic

This gift is the ability to differentiate among these sources (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1).

SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE NT

▣ "various kinds of tongues" This is the Greek term for "tongue" (i.e., glōssa). It was used in the OT as a synonym for "nation" (i.e., Gen. 10:5,20,31). In Greek it was used for speaking the language of a nation. This would imply that it had the connotation of a known human language. However, the need for an interpreter, which also is a spiritual gift, instead of a translator, along with Paul's fuller discussion in chapter 14, leads one to think this was an ecstatic utterance at Corinth (but a language in Acts).

Exactly how the "tongues" of Corinth are related to the tongues at Pentecost recorded in Acts is uncertain. The miracle in Acts 2 is of the ear (cf. 1 Cor. 2:6,8,11), not the tongue. The tongues experiences of Acts communicated the gospel directly to the Jews of the Diaspora who were present. It also functioned as a way to recognize the presence, power, and will of God for the inclusion of other groups, like the Samaritan (cf. Acts 8) and Cornelius, a Roman army officer (cf. Acts 10). The tongues in Acts were a sign to the believing Jews that God had opened the door for Gentiles to be included (cf. 1 Cor. 15:8). Notice no need for an interpreter in Acts!

Tongues at Corinth are similar to the ecstatic speech of the Greek religions (e.g., Delphi). Corinthian tongues were apparently being misused or over-glorified by some factions of the house churches of Corinth (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1 and 14:1-33).

Tongues were a way for an individual believer to intimately commune with God, but without understanding. It is a valid gift (cf. 1 Cor. 14:39), but it is not for all believers (cf. 1 Cor. 12:29-30, which has a series of questions that expect a "no" answer). It is not a gift that proves one is saved or shows one is a spiritual person. Tongues plus interpretation was another means of communicating the gospel and its relevance.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SPEAKING IN TONGUES

▣ "interpretation of tongues" Corinth was a cosmopolitan city, Roman in culture, Greek in geography. The city's location combined with the danger of sailing around the cape of Greece in the winter combined to make it a commercial crossroads of the eastern empire and the western empire. Every nationality would be in Corinth, but tongues needed a spiritual gift to communicate its message for the church, not just a translator. Tongues in Corinth was not a known language.

12:11 This verse emphasizes the truth that the Spirit gives to each believer a ministry gift (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7,18). Also, which gift is the Spirit's choice, not the believer's. There is no hierarchy of gifts. All the gifts are to serve the body of Christ, the church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7). They are not merit badges, but servant towels.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT

÷1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13
  ¹²For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

12:12 This starts a new paragraph that uses the inter-relationships of the human body as imagery for the church (cf. Eph. 4:4,16). It emphasizes unity amidst diversity. The focus is not on any part, but on the functioning whole; not the individual, but the family.

The OT and NT have a corporate emphasis. This is not meant to depreciate the fact that people become Christians on an individual basis, but that once one is a Christian, the focus is always the health, unity, and well-being of the whole!

SPECIAL TOPIC: BIBLICAL FAITH IS CORPORATE

12:13 "by one Spirit" This PREPOSITION (en) can mean "in," "with," or "by means of." Be careful of using Koine Greek PREPOSITIONS to make doctrinal affirmations. This is parallel to Eph. 2:18; 4:4.

The Spirit is the means by which God

1. convicts people of sin
2. draws them to Christ
3. baptizes them into Christ
4. forms Christ in them (cf. John 16:8-14)

This is the age of the Spirit. His activity is the sign that the new age of righteousness has come. The gift is the Spirit and the Spirit gives gifts which reflect His task of revealing Christ, drawing the lost to Christ, and forming Christlikeness in believers.

▣ "were all baptized into one body" Water baptism is imagery of a previous spiritual experience that occurred at conversion (cf. Eph. 4:5). In several ways Eph. 4:4-6 parallels this passage. This baptism refers to initial salvation, which incorporates believers into the body of Christ, the Church. The often-used contemporary phrase "the baptism of the Holy Spirit" is confusing because biblically it refers to one trusting Christ as savior, but it is used today of an empowering, yielding, later experience in the lives of believers. I do not deny the reality of this subsequent experience, but I prefer the term "Lordship experience." In reading the biographies of great Christians a pattern emerges:

1. trusting Christ
2. trying to serve Him
3. failing to produce lasting fruit
4. frustration at personal efforts
5. yielding to the need for God to do His own work
6. empowering for ministry
7. all glory to God, not the human vessel

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT

▣ "whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free" There are no more worldly human distinctions and barriers between those who trust Christ (cf. Joel 2:28 quoted by Peter in Acts 2:14-36; Rom. 3:22; 10:12; Gal. 3:27-28; Col. 3:11). This truth surely asserts the equality of all human believers (i.e., Rom. 2:28-29). However, it does not necessarily remove all distinctions (i.e., women and men head covering in 1 Corinthians 11). All believers are called, gifted servants, but a Christian may still be a slave or wife.

This equality would have been shocking to Roman society in Corinth, where the male head of the house was the supreme authority over

1. his wife
2. his children
3. his domestic slaves

There was a rigid social hierarchy. Paul's radical theology, based on Jesus' teachings and actions, was a drastic paradigm shift and shocking new worldview which had to be lived out in the fellowship of the church (cf. Eph. 5:18-6:9). It is specifically in this area that the church at Corinth was deviant.

▣ "we were all made to drink of one spirit" This term was used of irrigating water. It literally meant "saturated." This was interpreted as referring to

1. the Lord's Supper by Augustine, Luther, and Calvin
2. but because of John 7:37-39 it may refer to the Spirit
3. it is imagery of unity and community brought about by one agent, the Spirit (cf. Eph. 4:4-6)

Both "baptized" and "made to drink" are AORIST PASSIVE INDICATIVES, which imply a finished work in past time. The tense and parallelism show they do not refer to Christian water baptism and the Lord's Supper, but one past complete event. The PASSIVE VOICE implies conversion

1. by the Spirit
2. by Christ, cf. Matt. 3:11; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5
3. by the Father, cf. Acts 2:33

÷1 CORINTHIANS 12:14-18

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:14-18
  ¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

12:14-26 Paul uses the physical body as an analogy to show the mutual relationship between the individual parts of the body necessary for the functioning of the whole. Each individual part is needed for the health and effectiveness of the whole. There are no insignificant gifts or believers!

12:14 This is the summary truth repeated several times in this chapter (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12,13,14,20,25,27).

12:15-16 "If. . .if" These are both THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCES which denote potential action. These verses show the tension that existed between not only the factious groups, but their over-evaluation of certain spiritual gifts. All gifts are from God and He chooses which one for each believer (cf. 1 Cor. 12:11,18).

12:17,19 "If. . .if" These are incomplete SECOND CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCES (i.e., no VERB in 1 Cor. 12:17 and no concluding clause in all three). The first part is false (i.e., the whole body is not an eye, 1 Cor. 12:17; the whole body is not an ear, v, 17; and the whole body is not one member, 1 Cor. 12:19, cf. A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament In Light of Historical Research, pp. 1015,1023 and Short Grammar of the Greek New Testament, p. 166).

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK GRAMMATICAL TERMS, VII

12:18 "God has placed" This is an AORIST MIDDLE INDICATIVE, which implies a complete and personal action. In 1 Cor. 12:11 the Spirit is said to distribute the gifts. This is an obvious identification of the Spirit as divine!

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT

▣ "God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired" The reference is to creation but the analogy is to spiritual gifts (cf. 1 Cor. 12:27). We don't choose; God places.

÷1 CORINTHIANS 12:19-25

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:19-25
 ¹⁹If they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰But now there are many members, but one body. ²¹And 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." ²²On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, ²⁵so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

12:22-24 "weaker. . .less honorable. . .less presentable. . .that member which lacked" This may refer to those parts of the human body which are covered by clothing. This discussion reveals that some of the less obvious, less culturally desired, less "showy" gifts were still necessary for a healthy, happy body. God/Spirit gave the gifts, all gifts are needed, all gifts have honor.

▣ "abundant honor" This term is in both 1 Cor. 12:23 and 24.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOUND (periseuō)

12:25 This verse expresses Paul's main point (i.e., a hina clause, purpose clause). The church is to be one (cf. John 17:11,21,22), not divided. Believers are to care for one another (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7), not do their own thing!

The VERBS are SUBJUNCTIVE which introduces a contingency. This is what they should do, but there is some doubt about their doing it.

The term "care" usually means anxiety or worry (cf. Matt. 6:25,27; 10:19; 13:22; 2 Cor. 11:28; Phil. 4:6). It can also express legitimate concern, as in this text and 1 Cor. 7:32,33,34 and Phil. 2:20.

▣ "divisions" This is the Greek term schisma, from which we get the English term schism and schismatic. Paul has mentioned these "divisions" before (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10; 11:18). They are the basic problem in Corinth. The divisions were related to

1. certain leaders
2. certain theological emphases
3. Roman social standing
4. magnification of certain gifts
5. residue of a pagan mind set

÷1 CORINTHIANS 12:26

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:26
  ²⁶And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

 12:26 "if. . .if" These are FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCES (eite with PRESENT INDICATIVE, cf. 2 Cor. 1:6; with no VERB, cf. Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 3:22; 8:5; 14:27; 2 Cor. 5:10) which express Paul's desire as to how believers should treat each other (cf. Rom. 12:15).

÷1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-31

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-31a
  ²⁷Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? ³⁰All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? ³¹But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

12:28 "God has appointed" This is an AORIST MIDDLE INDICATIVE. This is theologically parallel to 1 Cor. 12:18.

▣ "church" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH (ekklēsia)

▣ "apostles" The Greek term is from one of the Greek VERBS "to send." It was used in Greek literature and by the rabbis for someone sent as an official representative of another. In the Gospel of John it takes on the implication of Jesus the Messiah who was sent by God. The Sent One sends His followers (cf. John 20:21). See SPECIAL TOPIC: SEND

Originally this referred to the twelve Apostles, but later it was used of other church leaders:

1. Barnabas (cf. Acts 14:4,14)
2. Andronicus and Junia (cf. Rom. 16:7)
3. Apollos (cf. 1 Cor. 4:9)
4. James the half brother of Jesus (cf. Gal. 1:19)
5. Epaphroditus (cf. Phil. 2:25
6. Silas and Timothy (cf. 1 Thess. 2:6)

The gift of "apostleship" is mentioned in Eph. 4:11 as an ongoing gift, but with no indication of what it entails or how one knows they have it.

▣ "prophets" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (NT) and SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT)

▣ "teachers" This gift is mentioned

1. in Acts 13:1 in combination with prophecy
2. in Eph. 4:11 it is linked with pastors
3. in 2 Tim. 1:11 Paul says he is a preacher, apostle, and a teacher
4. here it seems to stand independent as it does in Rom. 12:7
5. it is also discussed as a separate gift in James 3:1ff

This implies that these leadership gifts can be combined in different ways in different believers to meet the need of the church in that day or area. Each of these gifted leaders proclaimed the same gospel, but with different emphases.

▣ "miracles" Notice in 1 Cor. 12:9 and 10 this gift is mentioned twice, here but once. Miracles were a way to confirm the gospel. They are prominent in the Gospels and Acts and mentioned in the Apostolic letters. They are still common in areas where the gospel is new.

▣ "healings" This gift functions both to reveal the love of God and confirm the gospel. The question is not does God still heal, but why some and not others? James 5:13-18 give further guidelines about how this should be dealt with in a local church. In James it is a ministry of the local elders, not a separate spiritual gift.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEALING

This term is used of "helpful deeds." It is a general term and may refer to the regular ministry of deacons (cf. Phil. 1:1 and M. R. Vincent, Word Studies, vol. 2, p. 793).

SPECIAL TOPIC: DEACONS

This term was originally used of a ship's pilot (cf. Acts 27:11; Rev. 18:17). It is used here as imagery for church leaders who function as guides. This is the ability to lead others to accomplish spiritual tasks.

A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures In Greek New Testament, vol. 4, says that

1. "helps" refers to the work of deacons helping the poor and sick
2. "administrations" refers to the work of bishops/elders/pastors, pp. 173-174

▣ "various kinds of tongues" See note at 1 Cor. 12:10.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SPEAKING IN TONGUES

12:29-30 This series of questions all begin with a NEGATIVE PARTICLE (i.e., mē), which denotes that the author's questions expect a "no" answer. This is an important passage in refuting the theological overstatement that "tongues" is a gift for every believer, a sort of confirming sign of salvation and/or a special mark of true spirituality. It is a valid gift, but not for everyone. The other extreme is to reject "tongues" as passing away in the Apostolic era. This is also a theological overstatement (cf. 1 Cor. 14:39).

The whole point of this chapter is that there is one body, but many parts. No one part (i.e., gift) is pre-imminent.

This is either

1. a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE (i.e., a statement of fact)
2. a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE (i.e., a continuing command)

W. Randolph Tate, Biblical Interpretation, prefers the INDICATIVE, "you are striving for the better gifts," as another of Paul's sarcastic comments (p. 22).

The second part of this verse should go with chapter 13. The greater gifts would refer to

1. faith, hope, and love of 1 Cor. 13:13, with love being the greatest
2. the gifts which edify the whole body, 1 Cor. 14:1ff, which would be preaching and teaching (cf. 1 Cor. 12:28)

This admonition seems to refer to the church as a whole, not the individual. Focusing on the individual is a common western predisposition. The focus of this chapter is corporate. The church should ask the Spirit for more of His giftedness (i.e., believers) that proclaims the gospel and builds up the body.

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVE

SPECIAL TOPIC: EDIFY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why was there such a problem over spiritual gifts at Corinth?
2. When does the believer receive his/her spiritual gift? Does everyone have one?
   Can one have more than one spiritual gift? Can one ever choose his/her gift?
3. What is the purpose of spiritual gifts?

SOME PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR HOW BELIEVERS CAN KNOW THEIR GIFTS

1. Ask God specifically to show you (i.e., What is my task in the Body?").
2. Ask other mature believers who know you what they think your spiritual strengths might be.
3. Explore your natural desires (i.e., try different ministries).
4. Move in the direction of the best light you have and your desire.
5. Give it a try and look for personal contentment and spiritual fruit.

These are taken from a wonderful booklet by Paul Little, Affirming the Will of God, published by IVP. It gives Christian wisdom, not Scripture, on how to know God's will, which is analogous to how to know one's spiritual gift.

However, believers need to remember that the lists of gifts in the Nt are not the same. Being able to name our gift is not as important as recognizing that we have one. Believers, all believers, are called, gifted, full time ministers of the gospel (cf. Eph. 4:11-12).

|  Home  |  New Testament Studies  |  Corinthians Table of Contents  |  Previous Section  |  Next Section  |

Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International