The Holy Spirit and the Common Good
Now, concerning spiritual gifts [pneumatikos - pertaining to the Holy Spirit, spiritual endowments], brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however, you were led. Therefore, 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. Now, there are varieties of gifts [charisma – gifts imparted to Christians by the Holy Spirit], but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. There are varieties [divisions, distributions] of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation [phanerosis – make visible or observable] of the Spirit for the common good [sumphero – profit every man]. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing [apportioning] to each individual, just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Paul addressed the Corinthian church with clear definition of spiritual endowments, which flow from the life of the Holy Spirit. It is evident that church members demonstrated many spiritual gifts, but their exercise was being abused, and they required a clear definition of their ground rules. I do not want you to be unaware. True spiritual matters must originate from the Holy Spirit, and He apportions these gifts to each individual, just as He wills.
The Holy Spirit conferred all these
endowments and were all for the use of and benefit of the church; that the
church was one, but that there was a necessity for diversified operations in
that church, and that, therefore, no one should value himself based on that
gift above his brother, nor should feel less honorable because of that gift.
All filled essential places in the church, just as the various members and
parts of the human body were necessary for its symmetry, action, and health;
therefore, all should be willing to occupy the place that God had assigned to
them,
Unity
being diligent to preserve the unity [henotes – oneness] of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Ephesians 4:3-7
E pluribus unum, Latin for “out of many, one,” is a motto of the United States and is found on the Great Seal. It was the unofficial motto until 1956, when Congress adopted “In God We Trust” as the official motto. The meaning of the phrase originated from the concept that out of the union of the original Thirteen Colonies (there are 13 letters in the motto) emerged a new single nation. This principle is a reflection of the principle of the Body of Christ. In Ephesians 4, Paul contemplates one body and one Spirit, … one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Seven “ones” suggest that the completion or fulfillment of the Body of Christ is the culmination of the recognition of these seven “ones.”
The unity or oneness ordained for members of the Body of Christ is produced by one! One body means that no matter which local assembly one attends, he and all true believers are part of one Body, with Jesus as its one Lord. One Spirit speaks to the reality that each believer is indwelt with the same Holy Spirit. It is this Spirit who baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ at salvation, sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). One hope promises believers the same future eternal life and one faith means that there are certain doctrines or elements of belief, known as cardinal doctrines that all true believers must accept. Finally, one Father means that all believers are children of the same Father, the God of the Bible.
One mark of being under the influence of the Spirit of God is that He leads each to acknowledge and honor Jesus Christ as Lord. Any counterfeits were in the habit of speaking disrespectfully of Jesus Christ or calling him "accursed," proving that they were not under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Although the same Holy Spirit, the manifestation of His operation will be unique to each individual. 1 Corinthians 12 emphasizes the individual, while 1 Corinthians 14 concerns itself with the corporate manifestation of spiritual gifts.
Many Members, One Body
For even as the body [soma - a whole, aggregate, collective mass, as spoken of the Christian church, the whole body of Christians collectively, of which Christ is the head] 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. For 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. For the body is not one member, but many. If 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. And 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. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
Different parts are needed if a body is to
exist. Spiritual gifts are distributed as the Holy Spirit wills it. As a result,
no believer should think of himself or his gift as inferior and desire another
member's gift; these gifts are not based on an individual’s worthiness but
determined by God’s sovereign will. This means that each gift has an important
part to play in the functioning of the Body of Christ. Without the foot, where
would the body be? As each member operates in his spiritual gift, he becomes an
integral part of the whole. We can conclude that no gift is more important to
God or the Body of Christ than any other gift. This reality challenges each
member to complement other members and other gifts rather than trying to prove
oneself more valuable. But now there are many members, but one body.
Bestowing Honor
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." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary, and those members of the body which we deem less honorable [atimos – of low character or reputation], on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable [euschemon – esteemed or respectable] members become much more presentable, 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, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Within the uniqueness of each member, there is a corresponding mutual dependence. Since each gift is vital to the function of the whole, no one should consider his gift superior to any other gift; otherwise, the body would cease to function properly. Instead, each member operates with maturity in his gift by ministering to other members who appear to function as weaker or see themselves as less honorable or less presentable. Within the Body of Christ, the mature ones understand that they are responsible for attending to the weaker members to strengthen the Body of Christ and function more intentionally as Christ’s life. Paul might have been thinking beyond the immediate discussion of gifts when he referred to weaker and less honorable members who also required special care and consideration. Part of God's plan was to create an atmosphere of unity and one purpose, that members of the spiritual body would demonstrate a mutual concern for the well-being of others so that rivalries would cease. Bear one another's burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
Apportioned by God
Now, you are Christ's body and, individually, members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All 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? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
The unifying member of the spiritual body is Christ. As the Head, He possesses the body and sovereignly expresses His will. He commands that love should prevail among the members. This was the force that would maintain unity within the diversity. Three times, Paul stressed that God, not man, assigned the gifts. As he discussed another sample of gifts, it was the members, the people so gifted, to whom he referred.
The fact that Paul assigned ordinal numbers (first... second... third) to the first three gifts suggests that the Corinthians relegated these to a lesser role. Those three kinds of gifted members - apostles ... prophets... teachers - probably were rated lower than those with the more spectacular gift of tongues. However, the first three gifts may have been greater because of their extensive value to the whole body of Christ. This may be why he listed them first and then said that the church should eagerly desire to exercise those gifts in the assembly. Gifted apostles, prophets, and teachers characteristically ministered to a whole church and would engender unity of the faith and mutual edification and impart the knowledge of the Son of God to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13).
Beware of Self-Centeredness
On the other hand, the gift of tongues suited the Corinthian penchant for self-expression and the pursuit of personal freedom. This self-centeredness also afflicted the church in different areas. Love for others was an essential need in the Corinthian church, and to that fundamental attribute, Paul then turned to pay tribute. And I show you a still more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 13 laid the proper foundation of agape love. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love 1 Corinthians 13:13).
Through 1 Corinthians 14, Paul corrected an erroneous estimate that they had placed on the power of speaking foreign languages. They had prized this, perhaps, because it gave them importance in the eyes of the pagans. By valuing tongues, they undervalued the gift of being able to edify the church by speaking in a known and intelligible language. Correcting this misunderstanding by showing the relative value of these endowments and especially recommending the gift of "prophecy" as the more useful and desirable gifts of the Spirit were the priorities of this chapter. In doing this, Paul first directs them to seek for charity. More conversation on this subject is covered in the chapter entitled “Spiritual Gifts.”
Good Stewards
As each one has
received a special gift, employ it to serve one another as good stewards [oikonomos – one
who administers a public office, a manager] of the manifold grace of God.
Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;
whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength [ischus
– mental ability] which God supplies; so that in all things God may be
glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion [kratos
-manifested power] forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11
Peter clearly understands spiritual gifts as a means of serving one another as good stewards. A steward served as a house manager; he had no wealth of his own but distributed his master's wealth according to his master's will and direction. The "gift" (charisma) stems from God's grace (charitos). His grace is manifested in His church as believers exercise their spiritual gifts in service to each other.
Peter divided Christian service into two
general categories: the one who speaks and the one who serves. This division
relates to God's leaders' distinction between ministry roles. These two general
ministry functions often overlap. Both groups function through dependence on
God's gracious provision. The reason for relying on God's words and mental
ability is that God will receive the praise and glory through Jesus Christ. At
the mention of Christ's name, Peter offered praise as a benediction: To Him be
the glory and the dominion (manifested power) forever and ever. Amen (So be it).
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