A STUDY OF FIRST CORINTHIANS

Chapter 12

Introduction: In this chapter, Paul confronts another problem plaguing the Corinthian church. They are abusing and misunderstanding the purpose and nature of the spiritual gifts. Satan is using many vices to turn the saints in Corinth away from the will of God. Those members were allowing themselves to be manipulated by their own passions. Such attitudes were causing them to revert to their old pagan ways. Paul tries to turn them around by letting them know the true nature and intent of spiritual gifts. He will also show them the “more excellent way” in chapter 13. The final phase of Paul’s teaching on this subject will be in chapter 14.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts 

Verse 1. Paul definitely did not want the Corinthian brethren to be ignorant concerning the nature of spiritual gifts. Evidently, spiritual gifts may have been one of the concerns the Corinthians had. Paul, by saying, “concerning spiritual gifts,” is moving on to a new subject. His teaching on this subject will cover three chapters. Chapter 13 is a parenthetical point to this subject, yet a much needed point.

Verse 2. Sometimes, in order to excite the vigor and fidelity of Christians, they need to be reminded from whence they came. This would hopefully give them a deeper appreciation for what they have as Christians. The Corinthians were former pagans who allowed themselves to be led away to idols by either their passion or their priest or even some of both. These idols could not speak, yet they heeded (Psa. 115:2-8). The force behind these idols was Satan (1 Cor. 10:20). The force behind their ability to use spiritual gifts is God, who speaks through prophets and uses tongues.

Verse 3. In the assembly of the Corinthians may have existed false prophets and or apostles (1 Cor. 11:13-15). Paul wanted the Corinthians to test the genuineness of those who claimed to speak in tongues or use spiritual gifts. If the gift is truly of God, such would exalt Christ. However, no one speaking by the Spirit would ever curse Jesus Christ.

Verses 4-7. In this section, Paul begins to highlight the real intent and nature of spiritual gifts. There are diversities of gifts. This speaks to the manner in which the Spirit distributes the gifts. There are differences in administrations. This speaks to the way in which the gifts are used. There are diversities of operations. This speaks to the effects the gifts have in their employment. While there are diversities and differences associated with the spiritual gifts, the point the Corinthians needed to keep in mid was that they all served one chief end: to glorify God! These gifts were never intended to produce rivalry of be the cause of division. They were intended to be all encompassing and for the mutual benefit of all. Regardless what gift a person had, it served a common purpose and good. Each possessor of a gift had just as an important role as any other possessor. They had no reason for pride since the gifts were given by one spirit unto one end no in which included puffing up an individual.

Verses 8-11. In these verses, we have a list of some of the various gifts that were used in the church at Corinth. This, I do not know if this is an all-inclusive list. Beyond these particular gifts, I do not recall the use of any other miraculous gifts in Scripture. I will do my best to identify and determine the purpose of each of the gifts mentioned. In verse 8, the same Spirit gave both the gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. The word of wisdom, I believe, is the proclamation of that which is an answer to what appears to be a difficult situation or a solution to a problem. Examples of this kind of gift were prominent in the Old Testament (Joseph – interpreting dreams; Daniel – handwriting on the wall; Acts 6:1-3; Acts 15:1-21). Also, this gift may involve the ability to clearly and convincingly communicate the word of God in such a ways as to enable the people to fully comprehend it (Acts 2:14-39). The word of knowledge could possibly be knowledge of the mysteries that were previously hidden (Eph. 3:3-9; 2 The. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:9; 3:16). In verse 9, the same Spirit that gave the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge also gave faith and the gift of healings. Now faith is not that which comes by the process in Romans 10:17 and defined in Hebrews 11:1. This faith the disciples lacked in Matthew 17:19-20. In Matthew 21:21, Jesus tells the disciples about the kind of faith THEY could have. This is a miraculous faith that Paul apparently had (1 Cor. 13:2). Some commentators miss the mark on an explanation of what this faith is. Though not certain as to what this faith is, I believe it is the confidence the recipient had in God to be able to perform what appeared to be a difficult task far beyond human ability and imagination. Gift of healings is that ability to cure various and sundry diseases and ailments. In verse 10 we find the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking and tongues and interpreting tongues all given by the Same Spirit who gave the other gifts (v. 11). Working of miracles is the extraordinary power to do various wonders (Mark 16:18) which would include casting out demons, inflicting punishments (Acts 5), etc. Prophecy includes forth-telling of events and explaining past events. Discerning of spirits was the ability to search out a person’s heart to discover the true intent or to determine whether a person who spoke was an impostor or not. Speaking “in tongues” was the ability to speak in known languages without the need to learn those languages (Acts 2). Interpreting tongues was the ability to communicate to others, which may not know what the tongue speaker, speaking a foreign language, said. The point of these verses is not to acquire a greater knowledge and understanding of the various miraculous gifts, but to know that the Holy Spirit distributed the gifts to whomever He felt for the purpose of bringing the church to maturity. No one in that church could claim special favor. Each possessor of the gift was equally important toward the up building of the church.

How the One Body Functions 

Verse 12. Paul uses the analogy of the human body to correlate to people in Christ working together. The human body is made up of various members that are unique and serve different purposes. Yet, those parts of the body work together for the good of the body. Those who are members of Christ must work together, while performing different services, for the cause of Christ. As we find no divisiveness among the members of the human body, there must be any among the members of Christ.

Verse 13. All who are members of Christ’s body have become such through the same agency: the revelation of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit intended cooperation among God’s people. The drink is that which the Spirit has supplied (John 7:37-39). What He has supplied these saints are the gifts. Again there should be no rivalry among the saints because they all drank of the same Spirit.

Verse 14. In the church, just as is the case with the human body, you have various individual parts. Each part serves a unique function not performed by any other part. Thus, for the body to function properly and effectively, each part must work together with the other parts. In the congregation at Corinth, none of the spiritual gifts was able to stand-alone and do what was necessary to edify the church.

Verses 15-17. In this section, Paul makes both declarative and rhetorical statements. If any part of our body would cease to function because it is not some other, more honorable part of the body, the body would be impaired. The same is true for the spiritual body. Some members found their service to be useless because they were not able to perform what another was able to do. Just as with the human body, if every member was an eye, we could not talk, walk, smell or hear. The church would not be edified, if everyone were one thing. This principle can be true today. Some people think that because they are not deacons, or elders, or preachers, they are useless. The church needs everyone doing whatever God has blessed them and enabled them to do in His service.

Verse 18. God is the one who constructed the body, both human and spiritual, as He did. He supplied the talents to those in the church in accordance with His own will, for the church to function properly. For one who had the gift of healing to complain that he could not speak in tongues, is to murmur and rebel against God. Today, for a man to complain that he cannot preach, when he his talent is prayer or one who complained that he cannot lead singing when his gift is reading Scripture, is no less rebellion.

Verses 19-20. The human body would not function if it were one member. It would not be a body at all. Thus, the church would not function with one member. Today, the congregation needs more than a song leader, more than a preacher, etc., for it to properly function.

Verse 21. Previously, we considered those who had shown discontentment because they possessed what they believed to be an inferior gift or talent. Paul dealt with both sides of the issue. Evidently, some in Corinth were arrogant. They acted with great superiority over the others who had what they believed to be inferior talents. In so doing, they were telling them they did not need them. God said they needed each other. Today, when a preacher refuses to allow the other members to get involved in doing what is necessary to help the church grow that is arrogance and rebellion. When elders do not permit the contributions of other member’s talents to factor into the work of the church, such is arrogance and rebellion. Pride and discontentment should never find its way into the church. Each member must consider him or herself vital to the work of the Lord using whatever talent they may have. No one would consider himself or others useless and irrelevant to the work of the Lord. Such would cause the church much harm and jeopardize the purpose for which the Lord intended.

Verse 22. We have less conspicuous members of our physical bodies that are more necessary than those obvious members. The body can continue to exist and function without a hand, eye, or ear. However, those least obvious members, lungs, kidneys, liver, etc. are vital to the existence of the body. They are more fragile and susceptible, if exposed. They are protected because they are so valued. The do not need exposure. In the church, the least obvious service is considered the most important. In Corinth, speaking in tongues was the most coveted gift. However, in reality, the church could continue to exist without such a gift. It could not function with out prophecy or knowledge. Even today, a tendency exists in exalting the preacher or sometimes the elders. We glorify the evangelist who holds a good number of meetings each year. Yet, the members who serve quietly and without pomp and circumstance are usually those who are the driving force of the congregation. Notice Matthew. 23:11 and Luke 22:24-26.

Verse 23. Those parts of our body we think are less honorable, we pay the most honor. The word translated “bestow” means “to cloth” or “to put garments upon.” By dressing up and clothing those unseemly parts, we unconsciously show the most attention. This is the point that Paul is making with the body analogy. The weaker are needed, the less honorable are given more attention and now the uncomely (that which causes shame) are made more presentable. Those organs of our body that we may consider shameful and lowly are not so treated by us. If we can do this with our physical bodies, we can do this within the spiritual body. Those members who some may consider weak, uncomely, or less honorable, need to be treated with honor and give to them more attention.

Verses 24-26. God has so designed the human body as to avoid any schism or strive within it. It is so well orchestrated that it blends into on harmonious functioning organism. None of the members of our body can ever stand-alone. They are dependent upon each other. God has so designed the church. The comely parts have no need. That is they do not need any more attention because they are always exposed. Those, which lack the exposure, need more attention. Those members of a congregation who are already in the spotlight do not need the light to be shined any brighter. I believe preachers get to much honor in a congregation. Yet, the preacher by himself cannot make the church function the way it ought. Thus, we must turn to those members who are not in the spotlight and honor them in their service. When all the members blend, the church will not have strife or schisms with in it. If green is the goal, then we would need both blue and yellow primary colors to blend. Blue cannot be exalted over yellow or yellow over blue. The tongue speaker could not stand-alone. He needed that unseemly part for him to perform his service (1 Cor. 14:27-28). For this reason, we the saints must show the same care for each other because they are all equally important. When one member suffers, they all suffer. If my brain is incapacitated, my body will cease to function properly. If I suffer a heart attack, my arm, chest, and jaw may feel it. It can also affect my other members because of poor blood flow. On the other hand, if my feet win a race, my arms and hands will rejoice because they are raised in victory. A football player’s hands may catch the ball, but his feet do the dancing in the end zone. In other words, we too must rejoice with the person who puts their talents to use.

Verses 27-28. The point that Paul makes in these verses is that God has so determined that the church function like a body. He has set in place the various parts and their subsequent functions. This indicates that each individual part is dependent upon the other. No one is left behind and no one can claim superiority. Though each one may not possess the same talent, they do need each other, however.

Verses 29-30. Since the church is made up of individuals that have been given different gifts, each one must work together to benefit the whole. In comparison to the physical human body, every part serves a function and must continue to do so if the whole body is to benefit. Every part of the body cannot be the same nor do the same. Then it would not be a body.

Verse 31. Each member ought to aspire toward the best gifts necessary for the edification of the church. Many of the better gifts did not generate the amazement and awe that many would have liked. Thus, the desire for those gifts that did was nothing more than selfish. The attention should not be on the person to whom the Spirit gave the gift, but on Christ and His message. Rather than focus upon the gifts and their pros and cons, Paul wanted to turn the saints’ attention to something that far exceeded the spiritual gifts in worth and character. To possess such would make a Christian truly great and better in his life and service to the Lord.