1 Corinthians 12:27-31

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

And you all are the body of Christ and members as a part.  And whom, in one case God appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of power, then gifts of healing, ability to help, administration, and kinds of tongues.  Not all are apostles?  Not all are prophets?  Not all are teachers?  Not all are workers of power?  Not all have gifts of healing?  Not all speak in tongues?  Not all interpret?  Rather, deeply commit to the greater gifts.  Even still – according to a better way I make it known to you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought

Paul speaks of apostles, prophets, and teachers first in the list.  Notice that Paul intentionally uses the words first, second, and third in this list.  These three give us a nice summary of how the kingdom of God is spread.  By definition of the word, an apostle is one who is sent out.  They are the ones sent into the world to claim new territory.  Prophets bring words from God to the people around them – both the people who are Christians as well as people who are not following God.  Teachers are one of the main people that God uses to build up and develop the new territory that the apostles have claimed as well as reinforce the truth that the prophets have proclaimed.  In these three we have a simple pattern.  Claim territory for God, speak God’s truth into that territory, and develop it according to God’s truth.

In what ways does this process sound so simple?  Do we tend to make God’s work harder than this?  Do we tend to focus on things other than this?  Why do we have an innate ability to make God’s work harder than it actually is?

Second Thought:

After giving us the concepts of apostles, prophets and teachers using the words first, second, and third, Paul then adds additional supporting gifts in no particular order.  Here are the workers of power – often called people who do miracles.  Here are those with an ability to heal.  Here are the helpers who are willing to do anything to support their leaders.  Here are those with an ability to administrate.  Here are those who speak and interpret tongues.  These are all roles that support the work of apostles, prophets, and teachers.  These are all roles that can make claiming new territory for God easier.  These are all roles where God’s hand can be seen in and through people.  It is through these gifts that the body of Christ becomes well rounded.  As we saw above, the depth of God’s work is claiming new territory, proclaiming God’s truth into it, and developing that new territory through teaching.  The second half of the list gives us the breadth of possibility in how God’s hand can be shown through the body of Christ.

How does this passage help show us the uniqueness of the individual member of the body of Christ?  Where do you fit into this picture that Paul is painting of a single body with many unique members?

Third Thought:

The last verse is often taken the wrong way.  Some people think that Paul is telling them that he is better than they are because he speaks about demonstrating to them a better way.  Some people take this as Paul’s way of saying to the Corinthians that they are okay, but he is living better than they are.  I don’t think Paul is saying this at all.  I believe this sentence actually helps set up what Paul is going to talk about in the following chapter: love.  Remember that the premise of this whole book is that there were divisions in Corinth.  So up until now Paul has been speaking about our uniqueness as well as our unity in Christ.  In the chapter to come, Paul is going to talk about how that unity can come about among people who are inherently unique.  Paul is going to talk to them about the “better way.”  Paul is going to remind them that it is love that is the foundation for all unity.  Love is what keeps the body of Christ together.  But we’ll get into that more in the coming days.

As you think about what Paul might say, what do you think about love?  Do you see God’s love on display in the world around you?  Do you think love is the foundation upon which we build everything else?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3