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Unity With Diversity One Body, Many Members A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 12 The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:30-32 that the members of the church are all members of the body of Christ and that as the individual members of that church are diverse and yet act as one unified whole, so it is with the spiritual body of Christ. This provides the theme for a more lengthy discussion of these points in 1 Corinthians 12. Concerning Spiritual Gifts— Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost [Spirit]. The apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian brethren that they were converted from among the heathen, having been carried away and led to worship idols. Paul then states that only the consecrated, those begotten of the holy spirit, can rightfully call Jesus, Lord. By the same token, those who would refer to Jesus as accursed had the spirit of the adversary. The apostle here introduces the gifts of the holy spirit by pointing out that the experiences of the consecrated begin with the holy spirit (John 16:7-11). It is through the holy spirit that we receive the gifts Paul writes about in verse 4. Diversities of Gifts—verses 4-7 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Paul connects the gifts to the “Lord” and to “God” because the Corinthians tended to forget the source of the gifts they had along with the purpose, which was to produce an effective ministry. Their forgetfulness had led to competition in the use of their gifts. These gifts enabled the possessor to minister to the needs of others. They were not for private, individual enrichment nor for rivalry and jealousy, but for the benefit of all. The word administration is diakonia, from which we derive our word “deacon.” It is Strong’s 1248 and has the thought of a servant attending others. Naming the Gifts—verses 8-11 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. Paul here mentions some of the many gifts which the consecrated may possess. These gifts come through or by the Spirit and include:
The grouping of these gifts may be intended to indicate a spiritual check-and-balance system. The first two gifts of wisdom and knowledge may be balanced with faith as some may have had the ability to discern whether the wisdom and knowledge claimed by some were mere oratory or were divine revelations of truth. Likewise the seventh gift mentioned, discerning of spirits, may be paired with the healing, miracles, and prophecy, to discriminate between those whose outward acts were really of the Lord and those who were charlatans. Finally, the gift of tongues must be accompanied by the gift of interpretation of tongues if it is to be profitable. In Romans 12, Paul makes mention of certain talents, such as prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhorting, giving, ruling, and showing mercy. In Ephesians 4 he mentions apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor-teachers. When the New Testament was completed, some of these gifts were phased out and no longer needed. But then as now the holy spirit has given to each individual one or more gifts; but no boasting is warranted. The holy spirit has done as it sees best. These gifts all work “that one and the selfsame spirit, dividing to every man severally as it will.” One Body—verses 12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. Paul presents the analogy of the human body and it is similar to what he says in Romans 12:4-8. Just as a human body is a single, functioning unit having many members, so also is The Christ. All members of a human body (the hand, eye, ear, nose, internal organs, and the like) all function under the direction of the head, so the church as a body functions with Christ as its head and as God desires. As the various members of a human body perform duties which benefit the other members, so also is it among the consecrated here on earth. The various members have gifts and abilities that are to be used for the benefit of the other members. Some of these may be of a humble kind, nevertheless they have their place and these humble inconspicuous duties are necessary to be performed for the good of others and for the benefit of the whole body. The finger is good for grasping or beckoning and the nose is adept for smelling; neither can fulfill the role of the other, yet both are essential for the healthy operation of the body. Paul’s main point is that the members of the body are interdependent: “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). Interdependence—verses 15-20 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. Paul now begins to encourage the brethren to occupy their own place and perform their own duties, and not feel discouraged because they do not occupy some other position. In the church there were Jews and Gentiles, male and female, educated and ignorant—all were products of a diverse set of environmental factors, but they were compacted together by a common experience. They were independent but also interdependent. The holy spirit had joined them together because they were in submission to the will of the head. This same argument is presented forcefully in Romans 12:4-8. One has well said that the twelfth chapter of Romans is an encapsulated description of the entire Christian walk:
Equal Honor—verses 21-26 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Paul here challenges the Corinthians to see their need for each other. Just as the eye could not say to any part of the body, “I have no need of you,” so the Corinthians must understand that they need each other. No member of the body of Christ is sufficient within itself. It is impossible in a physical body; it is impossible in the spiritual body. In fact, the weaker members are essential to the proper functioning of the body. These may only seem to be weaker or they may actually be weaker when compared to other members, but it does not matter. They are part of the body and exist for a specific purpose, without which the body cannot function properly. They are necessary, they are vital, and they are a part of the body. And each is worthy of equal honor and respect, and each is esteemed to be essential to the working of all. God works in and through the human body which he has given to us all; he works in and through the church collectively as he carries out his Divine Plan of the Ages. God Does the Placing—verses 27-31 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Here we see that the apostles were the most important members. Their office was to see first the truths revealed by the holy spirit because they were the Lord’s special mouthpieces. As they heard the voice of the spirit they spoke out the message, and they wrote their epistles for our learning. Evidently some in the early church did not always appreciate that the teaching function of the apostles was most important. The functions of prophecy, or public expounding of truth, and teaching were listed next. Only “after that” were the more spectacular gifts of healings and tongues mentioned. These were thus relegated to a minor position among the gifts of the spirit and were definitely less important than prophesying and teaching. Hence we see, according to the apostle, that whatever gift is possessed, all members collectively constituted one interdependent body. There was to be no spirit of rivalry, no wish to discredit or demean others. All were to recognize that the teaching office was more important than physical healing. There was one way in which all might participate and all might rejoice: the way of love. The gifts of the spirit were not confined to the teaching, miracles, healing, etc., gifts that were distributed “to every man severally as the spirit will” (v. 11). There was and still is a “fruit” of the spirit which is the unceasing privilege of all to exercise and to enjoy. That “fruit” is love. Love, the combination of all those sentiments and virtues, is shed abroad in our heart by the spirit, and enables us to rejoice even in tribulation; it enables us to love and cherish every member of the body, great or small, to appreciate the difficulties and trials of all and to smooth the way of each foot-step follower of the Master on the narrow way that leads to life. |