Question

---

1. What new topic does Paul introduce here? (1) Who led them astray when they were pagans? (2) What was the evidence that now they were led by the Holy Spirit? (3) How is this the basis for being a member of Christs body and for having spiritual gifts? 2. What are different, and what are the same? (4-6) How would this help them solve their problems of division? 3. For what general purpose does the Spirit give gifts? (7) List the different gifts Paul mentions (8-10). From whom do all these gifts come? Who determines the giving of these gifts? (11) How does this help us properly exercise our own gifts, and, recognize the gifts of others? 4. What metaphor does Paul use? (12a) How does it help us understand the church? (12b-13) How could such racially, culturally and socially different people be one? 5. In verses 14-17 what different body parts are mentioned? What is the function of each, and why does a body need all of them? How does Gods wisdom in arranging the parts enable the body to work? (18) Instead of competing with or envying others, how can we find our unique identity and purpose in the body? (19-20) 6. If the eye and the head became proud, what would happen? Note how Paul describes the indispensability, interdependence and coordination of all parts of the body (21-26). 7. Read verse 27. How did Paul apply this metaphor of the body to the community of believers? Read verses 28. What are the different church roles mentioned here, and where do they come from? Read verses 29-31a. How can we not compete, but instead, work well together?

---

Attachment

Message

---

In chapters 12-14, Paul talks about the work of the Holy Spirit in giving spiritual gifts to the Christian church. Chapter 12 explains the general principles regarding the gifts of the Spirit, chapter 13 teaches the way of love as motivation for their exercise, and chapter 14 focuses on the gifts of prophecy and tongues. Some people were proud of their gifts and wanted to show off and boast. Other people did not use their gifts at all. Most of the Corinthians did not know why they had received gifts or how to use them properly. In fact, the use of spiritual gifts had become chaotic for the Corinthian church. Therefore, Paul instructed them. From the day of Pentecost on, some within the Christian church manifested unusual spiritual gifts. They did things like speaking in tongue they did not understand. To many early believers this kind of thing was pre-eminently the mark of a ‘spiritual’ person. By comparison the practice of Christian virtue seemed staid (conventional) and colourless. Paul’s discussion of this subject is epoch-making. In contrast to the usual idea, he was clear that the Holy Spirit comes not only on a few outstanding people, but on all believers (Rom 8:9, 14). And the presence of the Holy Spirit is to be seen characteristically in what he calls ‘the fruit of the Spirit’, qualities like love, joy, peace, and so on (Gal. 5:22-23), not ecstatic behaviour. Here he begins by showing that it is the Lordship of Christ that is the touchstone. If the exercise of ‘spiritual gifts’ does not make for the Lordship of Christ, they are not from God. He proceeds to the point that there are many gifts of the Spirit, and that all are necessary. He lists some of them and proceeds to ‘the most excellent way’, the way of love. Then he relates the exercise of the spectacular gifts to the conduct of public worship and insists that all must be done in an orderly fashion. In today’s passage we can think about the spiritual gifts generally and the church as the body of Christ in the metaphor of our physical body. First, spiritual gifts (1-11). Paul says in verse 1, “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” At the beginning of chapter 10 Paul wrote that he did not want the Corinthians to be ignorant of the terrible example of the Israelites in the desert. Now he did not want them to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts. At the introduction of this message we thought of the importance of correct understanding of spiritual gifts. Then Paul reminds them of who they were and who they are now. In verses 2-3, “You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” They were idol worshippers as pagans. Idols were mute, yet there were demons behind idols. Under the influence of demons and evils spirits, they were tormented and miserable and had no part with Jesus the Lord. Then they heard the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection preached to them. They repented and accepted Jesus who died for their sins and rose again from the dead. And they could confess, “Jesus is Lord.” This was the work of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. “Jesus is Lord” is a great confession especially when the world was a Roman world under whose rule the people were pressured to say, “Caesar is Lord.” To confess “Jesus is Lord” at any place was life-risking. When they followed the leading of the Holy Spirit living in them, they could have courage to make such a confession. To say, “Jesus is Lord” is the basic and most important work of the Holy Spirit. So to recognize the Lordship of Christ Jesus is the ground for the knowledge of spiritual gifts. Then Paul says in verses 4-6, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” Here Paul mentioned different kinds of gifts, different kinds of service, and different kinds of working, which are by the same Spirit, the same Lord and the same God respectively. God’s salvation work is rooted in who God is. He is the Triune God, rich in diversity, yet one in identity and purpose. The Holy Spirit gives gifts. The Lord Jesus serves and teaches his people to serve. The Almighty God works to create, sustain and redeem. Though there are different kinds of gifts, service and working, the same God works all of them in all men for his own purpose. Then after general mention of different kinds of gifts, of service and of working, Paul focuses on spiritual gifts by the Spirit. In verse 7, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” First of all, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. “For the common good” is the opposite of selfishness. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to each person not to make them proud but to make them a blessing. Certainly, it is to serve others and build up the church. Then there are listed 9 gifts in verses 8-10. “To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.” Here we see the words, “one”, “another”, and “still another.” Each person who confesses Jesus as Lord receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, whose life is made manifest in each person differently. Some people appear to have natural talent or abilities; others develop skills through education or training. But spiritual gifts uniquely come from the indwelling Holy Spirit. The message of knowledge teaches us who God truly is based on the Scriptures. It corrects wrong ideas about God. The message of wisdom applies this knowledge to lead one soul to deep understanding of the gospel. The next gift is that of faith (9). The gift of faith is differentiated from common faith. The gift of faith produces miracles and makes history. Verses 9b-10 clearly indicate that the Holy Spirit enables some people to heal others, both physically and spiritually. The Holy Spirit empowers others to drive out demons. There are also gifts of prophecy and distinguishing between spirits. The last two gifts are related to tongues; speaking in and interpreting tongues, dealt with in more detail in a later chapter. And Paul says in 28, “And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.” Here 8 different kinds of people regarding gifts are listed. Apostles, prophets and teachers are related to those given the message of wisdom and the message of knowledge and the prophecy. Yet, we can consider apostles and teachers as those who received different gifts from prophets. So 2 other gifts are added. Doing miracles, healing, and speaking in tongues are repeated. 2 others gifts, helping others and gifts of administration are new and they are added. Then so far 13 gifts are mentioned. And it is written in Romans 12:6-8, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Here 7 gifts are listed: prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, showing mercy. Prophesying and teaching are already considered, and here 5 new gifts are added. Then until now 18 gifts are described. And it is written in Ephesians 4:11, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” These five officers are related to the message of wisdom and the message of knowledge. Yet, still if we treat evangelists and pastors differently, then 2 more gifts are added. And it is written in 1 Peter 4:10-11, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of. If anyone is serves, he should do it with the strength of God…” Speaking the word of God and serving are also already mentioned. So all together we can say that 20 gifts are listed in the New Testament. And then Paul says in verse 11, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” Here the important thing is that each one should be sure of each one’s gift or gifts and use the gifts under the Lordship of Christ to build up the church, and recognize another’s gifts. Our spiritual gifts can be more and more developed as we use them or diminished when we do not use them. Jesus said in Matthew 13:12, “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Mt 25:29; Mk 4:25; Lk 8:18). We remember what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6, “…I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…” Also, definitely we can ask God for the spiritual gifts. It is written, “as he determines” not “as he determined.” Luke 11:13 says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” And James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…” May we use the spiritual gifts given to us fully and ask for the spiritual gifts necessary for us to serve him and build up the church better. Second, you are the body of Christ (12-31). Now Paul says in verse 12, “The body is a unit though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” Paul is using the body metaphor to explain about the body of Christ. Then in verse 13, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Here Paul emphasized “one Spirit” and “one body.” This Spirit is the Spirit of God. It is important to deeply acknowledge that there is one Spirit, not two or more, and also one body of Christ, not two or more. And then verse 14 says, “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” Now “many” is stressed. Then in verse 15 and 16, “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.” The foot and the hand can be very competitive. Maybe from the viewpoint of the foot, the hand seems to be used a lot and so the foot felt useless with no meaning of existence. So out of frustration, the foot said, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body” and “I don’t like this body.” And also, the ear and the eye can be very competitive. From the viewpoint of the ear, the eye seems to enjoy the world very much, while the ear cannot see anything, but just hears many complaints and noises of the world. The ear would say, “Life is not fair” and then say out of rebellious mind, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body.” However, from the objective view how precious the foot and the ear are. But here the foot and the ear did not know their value and preciousness. In fact the foot and the hand can work so beautifully. The foot and the hand work together for their living in this world and for their fight against their enemies like good boxers who use their hands and feet so effectively. And in reality the ear and the eye operate together. Here what the foot and the ear say does not make a sense. That’s not the solution. They cannot escape their position in the body. Then in verse 17, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?” Can you imagine a body without the sense of hearing? There will be no communication at all. And the body cannot hear the beautiful music and the voice of loved ones. And can you image a body without the sense of smell? With the sense of smell we can avoid dirty and corrupted things. Then Paul says in verse 18, “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” So the foot, the hand, the ear, the eye, and so on, every part of the body is there according to what God wanted them to be. Each one’s place is the perfect place to be in a perfect balance. Then in verses 19-20, “If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” Again, oneness of the body with many parts is stressed. Then in verses 21, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’” Here Paul points out the superiority or pride of a certain part of the body. Probably the eye is the most beautiful part of the body, and the hand seems to be weird with five fingers to the eye of the body. So the eye may say, “I don’t need you! Without you we can still survive.” What a stupid pride! We all know the supreme importance of the brain, having the position in the top of the body. Yet, the brain cannot say to the feet in the lowest position of the body, “I don’t need you!” Without the feet the whole body becomes immovable, although the brain commands, “Move and go.” It is like the commander-in-chief without foot soldiers. So if the brain says to the feet, “I don’t need you!”, that is destructive pride. Then Paul says in verses 22-24a, “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment.” Here Paul considers weaker parts of the body, less honourable parts, and unpresentable parts. They are indispensable and are treated with special honour and modesty. We know the smallest toe in our feet is indispensable. We also know the extreme importance of heart or liver or stomach, which is unpresentable. So Paul says in verses 24b-25, “But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” We cannot imagine division in the body. All the members of the body are excellently combined, because God did so. So its parts are to have equal concern for each other in the complete combination by God. As a result, if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it (26). Then in verse 27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Paul used the metaphor of physical body to reach this point. It is very interesting that the Greek word for the body here is σῶμα (so-mah), which is the same word written in 10:17 “And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” and 11:24, “This is my body” when Jesus said after taking the bread. So when it is said, “You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” Each one of us is a living organ of Christ’s body, his hand, foot, eye, ear, or head, etc. When we suffer, he himself directly suffers and shares the suffering. When we are joyful, he himself is joyful and shares the joy. And all the descriptions written above concerning the relationships among each part of the body are applied to us who are collectively his body and individually a part of it. How important this concept is! Then Paul says in verses 27-30. “And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?” Again, different gifts but by one Spirit. And there are many parts, but one body. Let’s keep in mind that we are the body of Christ, and each one of us is a part of it. In that awareness may we clearly know the gift of the Spirit and develop and use the gift for the common good to build the church, also deeply recognizing spiritual gifts in others.

---

Attachment