TEACHING NOTES Introduction In this session we are continuing Paul’s instructions about the church gathering. Paul began this discussion in chapter eleven and will continue through chapter fourteen. This section is the subject of much debate. However, knowing and understanding the context of the Corinthian believers will help us read this passage as the Corinthians read it. ‌ Background Context: ‌ Most Christians in Corinth were former pagans. ‌ Pagan worship and sacrificial feasts often included immoral and chaotic behaviors (mystical trances, babbling unknown languages, oracles). ‌ So, the Corinthians need to learn how a Christian gathering should and should not be conducted. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:1–3 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. ‌ Now concerning = As we have already learned in this study, this letter is a response to a letter Paul received from the Corinthians. The phrase “now concerning” indicates that Paul is responding to a question the Corinthians had asked in their letter to Paul. We also know from 1 Cor. 5:9 that this is not Paul’s first letter to Corinth. ‌ Spiritual gifts = Grk. ton pneumatikon - Literally, “the spiritual things.” ‌ Uninformed = Grk. agnoeo - to be ignorant, not to know. In 1 Cor. 11 Paul addresses things that he had taught them about before (modesty, communion). But on the topic of spiritual gifts, it seems that Paul had not taught them on this topic before—at least not in detail. Apparently, the Corinthians were practicing spiritual gifts without knowing much about them. ‌ When you were pagans you were led astray = The Corinthian church was made up of mostly former Gentile pagans. Now that they are Christians, they know that they had been led astray in worshiping spirits masquerading as gods. What Paul is about to teach about practicing spiritual gifts in the church should be understood as a contrast to pagan worship. Pagan worship included mysticism, drunkeness, immorality, falling into trances, babbling, repeating phrases over and over, etc. Paul is going to teach against these things in his instructions for the Christian gathering in 1 Cor. 12-14. ‌ Mute idols = Grk. eidola ta aphona - The NET Bible reads, “you were often led astray by speechless idols.” Paul wants the Corinthians to remember that their former gods/idols were speechless. This is a contrast to the Holy Spirit who speaks to His people in various ways. ‌ Jesus is accursed = Paul is referring to Jewish people who reject Jesus as the Messiah. They reject Jesus because they believed that anyone who was crucified was cursed by God—hence the phrase “Jesus is accursed.” Obviously, anyone claiming that Jesus is cursed and is not the Messiah is not speaking from the Spirit of God. ‌ Jesus is Lord = A comprehensive study of Paul’s writings show that when Paul mentions Jesus by name he is often referring to His humanity. The Greek word for Lord is kyrios, and was the word used for Yahweh in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint). Therefore, the phrase “Jesus is Lord” is more like “Jesus is Yahweh.” Paul does not mean that an atheist could not physically say “Jesus is Lord” but that only true believers really believe that Jesus is God incarnate. ‌ Why is Paul saying this? Paul is likely saying this because in many Greek cities there were Jewish opponents to Christianity (especially in Corinth—see Acts 18) and pagan opponents. The Jewish opponents would argue “cursed is anyone who is hanged on a tree.” Paul corrects this in Gal. 3:13, which is written to a church who was dealing with Jewish opponents. Pagan opponents would argue that a human from low social status cannot be a god. Therefore, Paul is making sure that the Corinthians know that their opponents are not being led by the Holy Spirit and not to fall for their clever arguments. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ‌ Varieties of gifts = Grk. diaireseis charismaton - differences of gracious gifts. Paul wants to emphasize that there are more than one gift and these gifts are not all the same. The Greek word charis is the word for both “grace” and “gift.” In the ancient word, there was no concept of a gift with no strings attached. If you received a gift from someone, you were expected to reciprocate in some way. To do nothing in return indicated that you did not want the gift nor did you want a relationship with the gift giver. Grace is offered to us by God (the Giver) and we are expected to receive His gift and reciprocate by being faithful to Him and staying in close relationship with Him. In the same way, the Spirit gives us gifts to use for others. ‌ Varieties of service = Grk. diaireseis diakonion - differences of services/ministries. The Greek diakonion is the plural of diakonos (deacon), which is the word for a servant. The gifts of the Spirit are meant to be used in service to others. ‌ Varieties of activities = Grk. diaireseis energematon - differences of effects. The Greek root is energema, which is where we get our word for energy. So, these various gifts of the Spirit lead to various services/ministries that have various results. ‌ Same Spirit, Lord, God = Although there are varieties of gifts, service, and activities, it is the same Spirit and the same Lord and the same God “empowering” (Grk. energon - working, energizing) them all. This was a stark contrast to polytheistic paganism, in which people chased after different spirits/gods. ‌ Manifestation of the Spirit = Grk. phanerosis tou pneumatos - revelation of the Spirit. Paul is saying that each Christian receives gifts from the Spirit that bring revelation about ourselves and about God. As each person uses their gift, they will grow in their understanding. ‌ For the common good = Grk. sympheron - bring together for collective benefit. Notice that this is the opposite of selfishness or self-centeredness. The Spirit gives gifts to believers to benefit everyone in the gathering of believers. Therefore, a spiritual gift is not to be used for one’s self but for the benefit of others. ‌ Now Paul will describe these various gifts, services, and activities. Paul will list the gifts a second time but in a certain order. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:8–9 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ‌ Utterance of wisdom = Grk. logos sophias - word of wisdom/discernment. As we will see, Paul associates a word of wisdom with prophesy. ‌ Utterance of knowledge = Grk. logos gnoseos - word of knowledge/understanding. Paul associates a word of knowledge with teaching. ‌ Faith = Grk. pistis - faithfulness. Paul cannot mean that some believers have a gift of believing and some do not, for that would be an illogical contradiction. Paul is writing to believers about the gathering of believers. So, it would make no sense that in a group of believers some are “believing really good” and others have no belief. Paul is referring to faithful obedience and allegiance to Christ. In every church there are some who are more faithful than others. In the next chapter Paul urges the Corinthians to seek “faith, hope, and love” (1 Cor. 13:13) because these last forever and the other gifts will cease. ‌ Healing = Grk. iamaton - the power to heal. Notice that Paul is clear about the source of healing, which is the Spirit and not the human. Although someone may be given the gift of healing, it is not in the power of the believer to decide who will be healed nor when they will be healed. The power of healing comes from God alone. But sometimes God work through the prayers and laying of hands to heal a person. If we pray over a person and they are healed, we should not assume that we can heal anyone at any time. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:10–11 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. ‌ Working of miracles = Grk. energemata dynameon - performing of powers. The fact that Paul separates “gifts of healing” from “working of miracles” indicates that he is referring to extraordinary things like casting out demons and raising the dead (Acts 9:36-42; 19:11-12). ‌ Prophesy = Grk. propheteia - an inspired utterance. ‌ Ability to distinguish spirits = Grk. diakriseis pneumaton - ability to evaluate spirits. Not all spiritual activities are from the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 “14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” The church needs people who can discern which spirit is at work. ‌ Various kinds on tongues = Grk. gene glosson - different languages. The Greek gene is the word for nations. So, Paul is not referring to some spiritual language that is unknown, but to real languages spoken by people of different nations. While there is much debate about tongues, the clearest example is found in Acts 2 where people of many nations were hearing the apostles preach in their own language (Acts 2:5-11). ‌ Interpretation of tongues = Grk. hermeneia glosson - translation of languages. Paul will say later that tongues should not be practiced without a translator (1 Cor. 14:27). We must remember that the early church was made up of people who spoke different languages. In Corinth there would be people speaking Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Syriac, and others. As people became believers and begin attending the church gathering, someone needed to translate. So, God gifted people to speak and translate various languages so everyone in the gathering could understand. ‌ Empowered by one and the same Spirit = Unlike paganism, the church is driven by one Spirit, not many spirits who conflict with each other. ‌ Apportions individually as He wills = Grk. diairoun idia kathos bouletai - distributes to each one as He desires. Notice that we do not choose our gift nor when we receive it. God chooses to give us a gift to use at certain times of His choosing. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. ‌ Just as the body is one with many members = Paul is using the human body to illustrate his point. We have one body that is made up of many parts. In a healthy body, each part works together in harmony to function properly. ‌ So it is with Christ = Paul is saying that Christ also has a body that is intended to function the same as our bodies (when healthy). ‌ Baptized into one body = Just as circumcision set a man apart (and his family by default) as a member of Israel (the family of God), baptism sets a person apart as the new family of God. Water baptism is understood as the moment a believer is washed by the Spirit of God and receives the Spirit of God within them. Because this is the same Spirit that lived in Jesus, everyone who has the Spirit of God within them have become part of Jesus. ‌ Drink of one Spirit = Paul uses the imagery of drinking because the Spirit is often associated with living water (John 7:37-39). In the Torah, living water was understood as pure and could not be contaminated. Living water purifies water is contacts. In the same way, the Spirit is described as pure living water that purifies us from sin and makes us holy. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:14–16 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ‌ “Because I am not a hand” = Paul is being funny here, but he is also being serious. If one member of the body thinks it is too insignificant, it may become complacent and ineffective. Paul is setting us up to tell us that all parts of the body are needed. ‌ No less a part of the body = A person may assume that their role in the body of Christ is insignificant, but this assumption does not change the fact that they are a vital part of the body. What a person thinks or feels does not determine their identity in Christ. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:17–20 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. ‌ If the whole body were an eye, how would it hear? = Paul uses an obvious and silly example to show that each part of the body has an important function. Each part of the body is dependent on the other parts. If everyone in the church had the same role, not much would be accomplished and the church would be dysfunctional. ‌ God arranged the members as he chose = Just as God created and designed the human body to work the way it does, God also created the church body to function in the way He chose. We do not get to redesign how the church works. Many have tried to redesign the church only to find out that the new design is not the church at all. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:21–22 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ‌ “I have no need of you” = Your eyes don’t need hands until something gets in your eyes, then you need a hand or two. Each part of the body depends on the other parts of the body. ‌ The weaker parts are indispensable = Just as the parts of the body that seem weaker or more fragile are indispensable (Grk. anankaia - necessary, essential), the same is true of the church. ‌ 1 Cor 12:23-24a 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. ‌ Less honorable, unpresentable parts = At risk of sounding inappropriate, Paul saying that the private parts of the body, though covered publicly, are also given greater honor. Why? Because the private parts of the body are necessary for the reproduction of life. Paul seems to be saying that even those who work in the background of the church are worthy of high honor. ‌ Practical Example: The church janitor does their work behind the scenes. But if they cease doing their work, the church could not function properly. The person who plans and prints the teaching material for the kids class does their work behind the scenes. But if they stopped everyone would suddenly realize our need for their work. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:24b–26 But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. ‌ No division in the body = God designed the human body to be a diversified unity. Each part is dependent on the other parts for the functions of life. We should view the church in the same way. The church is made up of a diversity of people with a diversity of gifts working together for life. ‌ The same care for one another = It would be unwise and unhealthy to care for some parts of your body but not others. This could even be deadly. In the same way, we should have the same care (equal care) for every member of the body of Christ. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:27–28 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ‌ You are the body of Christ = Now Paul gets to his main point. The “you” here is plural so that it could be read as, “Now all ya’ll are the body of Christ.” The Greek word for body is soma, which also means “physical life.” So, we should understand that we are the physical life of Christ on the earth until He comes again visibly. ‌ Individually members of it = Each individual believer is a member (body part) of the body of Christ. However, we not intended to be separate individuals but a unified community of individuals. There is no Christianity apart from the church. One cannot be a Christian and reject the body of Christ. Remember, the Greek word for church is ekklesia, which literally means “gathering.” There can be no church without a gathering. ‌ God has appointed = Grk. tithemi - put/set in place. What Paul is about describe is the design of the church that God has put in place. Just as God designed creation with order and laws that cannot be violated, so too the church. God designed the life of the church to function according to His will. ‌ First, second, third, then = It is debated whether Paul is communicating order of importance, leadership, or simply the order in which these roles began. It is unlikely that Paul is saying that apostles, prophets, and teachers are more important than the other parts of the body. Paul actually argues against a hierarchy of importance in every he said up to this point. It seems more likely that Paul is following the order we see in the Gospels. Jesus first called the apostles to follow Him and taught them about the kingdom. Then Jesus empowered them with spiritual gifts. As the book of Acts describes, the other gifts came later as they spread the Gospel all over the Roman empire. ‌ Apostles = Grk. apostolous - a person sent with a message. Heb. 3:1 tells us that Jesus was the first apostle sent by God with a message. In the New Testament, there are at least two categories of apostles. The first is the twelve apostles who walked with Jesus and were directly discipled by Jesus. The second is a group of Christians who devoted their lives to spread the Gospel to the nations. This second category of apostles is similar to what we would call missionaries. ‌ Prophets = Grk. prophetas - a person inspired to speak God’s Word. While modern readers often associate prophesy with telling the future, Paul associates prophesy with wisdom (see verse 8). Prophesy is not a gift that function at a person’s will, but is more like a moment of inspiration from God to speak into the current moment on His behalf. ‌ Teachers = Grk. didaskalous - instructor, teacher, disciple-maker. It is clear from Paul writings that the church should give apostles, prophets, and teachers a high degree of respect. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” The word “elders” (Grk. presbyteros) refers to those who are farther along in the faith and are shepherding (leading/feeding) the church. “Double honor” probably refers to “double care” or “double portion” because Paul goes on to describe this double honor as providing for preachers and teachers (1 Tim. 5:18; also see 1 Cor. 9). ‌ Miracles = Grk. dynameis - power, mighty deeds, wonders. In the Bible, a miracle is describes as the supernatural overriding the natural. The miracles of Jesus are portrayed as God’s power and glory overriding the powers of demons and sickness. Jesus gave this power to His followers and told them to go do what they witnessed Him doing. However, even the apostles failed to heal on every occasion (Mark 9:27-29). Miracles come from the power and will of God, not the power and will of humans. ‌ Gifts of healing = Grk. charismata iamaton - Paul separates miracles and gifts of healing because not all miracles are healings. God’s act of creation was not a healing but it was a miracle. ‌ Helping = Grk. antilempseis - In Greek “anti” indicates an opposite or negation of the follow word. In this case, lempsis from lambano means “to take or receive.” So, antilempseis means, “to give.” ‌ Administrating = Grk. kyberneseis - guidance, leadership. Every church needs a group of leaders who guard and guide the church. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” ‌ Various kinds of tongues = Grk. gene glosson - different languages or national languages. While in modern charismatic or pentecostal churches tongues has become central, Paul always lists the gift of tongues at the bottom of the list. As we will see in chapter fourteen, Paul speaks more negatively about tongues than any other gift. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:29–31 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. ‌ Are all apostles? = In each of these questions the answer is obviously “no.” No one has all the gifts and everyone does not have the same gifts. ‌ Earnestly desire the higher gifts = Grk. zeloute ta meizona charismata - Literally, “strive for the greater gifts.” This does not mean that some gifts are more valuable or better than others. Paul is saying that some gifts have more effect on more people other gifts. We find out later in the letter that the greater gifts are love and prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1, 39). So, to love like Jesus loves and hearing from God are greater gifts. ‌ I will show you a more excellent way = Paul is saying that there is “a more excellent way” to pursue God’s power in the church. It seems that the Corinthians were seeking and practicing the gifts in a way that was divisive and self-seeking. So, in the next chapter Paul is going to teach them to pursue love over all the gifts. ‌ Application ‌ The church is the gathering of the body of Christ. ‌ Each believer is a body part with a function. ‌ No one has all the gifts, everyone has different gifts, and everyone is needed. ‌ The gifts are received to be given. ‌