Study in 1 Corinthians - Session 15

What we have been learning

We must study the scripture in context or we will misunderstand the meaning.

Paul wants people to align themselves to the will of the Father, not their own view of what they think is right and wrong.

Let’s Rejoin the Community of Believers in Corinth

Paul was talking with the Corinthians last week about how they handled the Lord’s Supper. Now Paul is trying to help a group of people that appear to be struggling with class still.

The Corinthian church suffered with their past lives still regarding self-sufficiency and arrogance.

A term we need to be familiar with:

apostle n. — an envoy of Jesus Christ commissioned directly by Him or by other apostles; normally someone who has been taught directly by Jesus and who is invested with the authority to speak on His behalf.

1 Corinthians 12:1–3 NASB95

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 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.

Somehow people in their “gifts” were laying curses upon Jesus and his holiness.

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 NASB95

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Effects here is meant to express the idea of different ways to go about doing something. These gifts are meant for the body of believers, not as something that benefits just a person.

Notice in v7 why the gift is given. It is not given to edify the person with the gift.

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 NASB95

8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 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.

What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? Some people have the ability to use what knowledge they have experienced and allow it to inform future decision making or judgement calls and this then informs them to a reasonable belief of what a future outcome might be, wisdom.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 12

12:8 exhortation In this instance, the Greek word used here, paraklēsis, refers to encouraging people to live as Jesus taught and in accordance with the gospel (Rom 1:5; 10:16). It also can refer to bringing general comfort.

v12:9 explained more about the word healing

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 12)

helps The Greek word used here, antilēmpsis, refers to assisting people in need (see Acts 20:35), but it also entails the idea of calling upon God in a time of turmoil so that He may act in the situation with His full power and force.

The Greek word antilēmpsis is used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew words meaning “shield” (Psa 89:18), “helmet” (Psa 108:8), and “strength” (Psa 84:5). Each of these is used in the context of war. The gift of healing involves restoration, while the gift of helping (or helps) probably refers to assisting or helping believers in need. The person with the gift of helps aids people in their faith journeys (moving obstacles out of the way), while the person with the gift of healing helps them come to faith—being restored into right relationship with God (see note on 1 Cor 12:9).

Let’s talk to about the gifts still being present or if they left after the death of the Apostles.

1 Corinthians 12:11–13 NASB95

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body 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. 13 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.

Who distributes these gifts? Yahweh.

In some way, the believers were arguing about who was gifted with what gift and by whom was it received?

1 Corinthians 12:14–21 NASB95

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 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. 16 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. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 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.”

Paul wants everyone to realize that they are all part of a metaphorical body of Christ. In this body they are uniquely gifted for the specific service they were designed for. What is interesting is this is not some magical gift we grow into and have some miraculous moment of awakening to. This is a gifting that comes from the Father through the Holy Spirit to equip us for the work .

1 Corinthians 12:22–25 NASB95

22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 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, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.