Introductory remarks:
Chapters 1-11 had to do with the carnal Christian; now in chapter 12 Paul begins to deal with spiritual things. "Paul says that different spiritual gifts are given to enable them to work together like parts of the body. All are necessary and he urges them not to fight but to work in loving unity" (A Survey of 1 Corinthians by - Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Spiritual gifts vv. 1-11; one body with many members vv. 12-31.
Spiritual Gifts
Verse 1, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant."
LGT "Now concerning spiritual things, brethren, I do not wish you ignorant."
Now concerning spiritual things: the word "gifts" is not in the Greek NT. In chapter three verse 1, Paul wrote, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as babes." From chapter three through chapter eleven Paul was dealing with the carnal Corinthians; now he is dealing with true spiritual things. Not too often do I read of expositors of the Bible who agree with me regarding spiritual gifts, that they were confined to the Apostolic Age, but when I do, I feel compelled to quote them:
Stanley wrote:
"Before this consciousness of a higher power than their own, the ordinary and natural faculties of the human mind seemed to retire, to make way for loftier aspirations, more immediate intimations of the divine will, more visible manifestations of the divine power. . . . It resembles in some degree the inspiration of the Jewish judges, psalmists, of prophets of religions; but in its energy and universality it was peculiar to the Christian society of the apostolic age."
Brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant: as in chapter three, Paul makes it clear that he is writing to believers only. There he dealt with the carnal ones, the babes, and now he is dealing with the things spiritual. A Christian may be spiritually mature and still not be spiritual; and conversely, a newborn Christian may be spiritual, and still not spiritually mature. Spirituality, if you remember in our studies on the subject in chapter three, is one who has confessed their sins and is in fellowship with the Lord. So, we learned that we are either one hundred percent spiritual, or one hundred percent carnal; there is no in between.
Verse 2, "Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led."
LGT "Ye know that ye were Gentiles, led away to dumb idols, as ye might be led."
Ye know that ye were Gentiles: before their conversion to Christ, these Corinthian believers were pagan. Led away to dumb idols: "led away by your passions and your priests" to dumb idolatry. No idol made by human hands had life, nor could they speak. "The idea of Paul here seems to be, (1.) That their idols never could have uttered the oracles which were ascribed to them, and consequently that they had been deluded, (2.) That these idols could never have endowed them with such spiritual privileges as they now had, and consequently that their present state was far preferable to their former condition" (Barnes). Even as ye were led: even as the priests in the temples of the idols led them to desecrations.
Verse 3, "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."
LGT "Therefore I give you to know, that no one in [the] Spirit of God speaking says, Accursed [is] Jesus, and no one is able to say, Lord Jesus, except in [the] Holy Spirit."
Therefore I give you to know: I make known to you. That no one in the Spirit of God speaking says: no true believer would say. Accursed is Jesus: no one indwelt with the Holy Spirit would say Jesus is anathema. No true believer would speak blasphemously against the Lord Jesus Christ. And that no one is able to say, Lord Jesus: only those who are genuinely saved are able to say Lord Jesus; yes, even the unbeliever may pronounce these words, but to say them and mean them is impossible outside the control of the Holy Spirit. Except in the Holy Spirit: there is an old Negro Spiritual that says, "Every body talk about heaven ain't a-goin there." Just because someone speaks spiritual jargon, doesn't mean they're saved. The organized church today is full of members that speak the language expected of them, but they haven't the foggiest idea what they're saying.
Verse 4, "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."
LGT "But there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."
The Greek word for "Gifts" is charismata, and it does not only refer to the 'gift of tongues'; people who pretend to speak in tongues today are called 'charismatic.' This proves their stupidity because charismata refer to all the gifts of the Spirit. Paul says that there are diversities of gifts (enumerated in vv. 8-11), received without any merit of the recipient, they are gifts of grace, but only one Holy Spirit that produces these gifts in the apostolic church.
Verse 5, "And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord."
LGT "And there are diversities of services, and the same Lord."
There are many ministries among the assembly, but only one Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 6, "And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all."
LGT "And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God, Who operates all things in all."
Here we have the beautiful Trinity described in these three verses. The Holy Spirit produces the Spiritual Gifts and distributes them through the means of grace (vs. 4); the several ministries are by and for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 5); and One Only God the Father Who designed and empowered these gifts of grace to profit collectively to the same purpose (vs. 6).
Verse 7, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
LGT "But to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit."
This verse explains the last phrase of verse 6, that is, the Holy Spirit produces in the believer through the manifestation of these gifts, God's divine plan for the Apostolic Church in getting the Word of God out before it was completed. Now that the Word of God is complete, and we all have access to it, the Holy Spirit produces good works in the grace age believer through the Word of God; we cannot glorify God until we know God; and we cannot know God until He is revealed to us in His Word; so we must study Bible doctrine to understand the "power of the resurrection, and the fellowship of the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ"; the Holy Spirit reveals to us, or as Paul puts it here, "makes manifest" to us all these truths; now we have no need of spiritual gifts because we have God's precious Word, and it has everything we need to live the Christian life as He planned. In the Apostolic Church, these supernatural gifts were also given to each believer "to profit withal", that is, for the edification of each believer; just as they used the gifts to build one another up, we have the Word of God for this same edification (1Co 10:23).
Verse 8, "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit."
LGT "For to one by the Holy Spirit is given a word of wisdom, but to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit."
For to one by the Holy Spirit is given a word of wisdom: the word is God's Word given supernaturally, and wisdom is "practical action in accord with the Word." To put it in context today, what we learn from God's Word is the gathering of knowledge, and then "wisdom" is the application of this knowledge in every day life. But to another a word of knowledge: spiritual insight. According to the same Spirit: the Holy Spirit produces all these gifts, and gives them to each of these believer's as God wills. These gifts are perfect gifts, so they cannot be cultivated nor improved upon, as natural talents may be. These gifts were not given this first church for the benefit of the individual believer, but for the benefit of the entire assembly.
Verse 9, "To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit."
LGT "To a different one faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit:"
To a different one faith by the same Spirit: "not saving faith in general, but wonder working faith" (Vincent). And to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit: miraculous healing, even raising the dead. We have many pretenders today claiming this gift; I believe this was made manifest in the first church alone, and anyone who says he or she possess these gifts is fooling themselves, but they are not fooling all of us. I make this point, although I believe I have made it before; these gifts were given only to the believers in the assemblies of God, and not to the world. This is another proof that physical talents are given to all men, believers and unbelievers alike, and they should not be confused with supernatural spiritual gifts.
Verse 10, "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues."
LGT "And to another a workings of powers, [and] to another prophecy, [and] to another discernings of spirits, [and] to a different one kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues."
And to another a working of powers: these "workings of powers" are distinguished from the gift of healing the sick (vs. 9), in that they were of the more potent type, such as, raising the dead and casting out demons; these were the miracles that opposed Satan and his cohorts. Mark 16:18 where Christ said 'they would take up serpents, and if they drank any deadly thing it should not hurt them.' The apostles already possessed these powers, but now they were given to some in the first church. And to another prophecy: this is not as we think as the foretelling of future events, but speaking out the will of God under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And to another discernings of spirits: this is the ability to discern whether the spirits are from Satan or from our God (see 1 John 4:1,2). And to a different one kinds of tongues: this gift was on the lowest rung of the gifts; this gift was uttering a foreign language not understood by the one speaking it, and thus needed an interpreter. This gift was not for the edifying of the church at large, but directed toward the speaker. And to another the interpretation of tongues: these were not professional linguists, but endowed by the Holy Spirit with the supernatural gift of interpreting the foreign language which was undistinguishable to the speaker, but not undistinguishable to God.
Verse 11, "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
LGT "But all these things the One and the same Spirit operates, dividing separately to each just as He wills."
But all these things the One and the same Spirit operates: the Holy Spirit energizes the supernatural gifts He gives to the believers in Corinth. "Paul again calls the Corinthians to unity, by reminding them that all have derived from one fountain whatever they possess, while he instructs them, at the same time, that no one has so much as to have enough within himself, so as not to require help from others" (Calvin). Dividing separately to each just as He wills: because it is in the hands of the Holy Spirit to give these gifts as He sees fit, there is no cause for those believers to be conceited, or to be proud, nor to detract by being contentious regarding which was the best gift.
One Body with Many Members
Verse 12, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."
LGT "For just as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, being many, are one body, just as also the Christ."
For just as the body is one and had many members: Paul uses the human body as a type of His body, the church. The human body has many diversified members, as does the church. But all the members of the body, being many, are one body: Just as the body is composed of many members, performing their particular function, so the church of Christ must work together for the glory of the Lord. Just as also the Christ: the church is the body, while Christ is the Head. "What Paul here means is Christ as the Head of the church has a body composed of the members who have varied gifts and functions like different members of the human body. They are vitally connected with the Head of the body and with each other" (Robertson). Augustine had this particular saying about the Church's connection to Christ: "Since we are in Christ a fruit bearing vine, what are we out of (fellowship, that is) Him but dry twigs?" (John 15:4) Since Christ and the Father are one, so the Christ and we are one.
Verse 13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
LGT "For also by one Spirit we all were baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bondmen or free, and all were given to drink of one Spirit."
For also by one Spirit we all were baptized into one body: this is definitely Spirit baptism and not water, symbolic baptism. The Holy Spirit has baptized every member of Christ's body the moment they received Christ as their Savior. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is His act of placing us into the body of Christ, permanently. Whether Jews or Gentiles: nationality has nothing to do with Salvation; every member of the human race who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, have been baptized into Christ Body. The human barrier between Jew and Greek has disappeared by the sacrifice paid by our Lord Jesus Christ. Whether bondmen or free: many slaves were converted to Christianity, and therefore are regarded by God as one. And all were given to drink of one Spirit: The aorist tense in were given speaks of a completed act the moment a person believed on Christ; the water baptism during the apostolic age, represented all that had taken place in the salvation of souls. I have no reason to believe that any of the sacraments have a logical place today, because we have the completed Scriptures, which were not yet given at that time.
Verse 14, "For the body is not one member, but many."
LGT "For also the body is not one member, but many."
In the early Church with all the various spiritual gifts, they were given to edify the body as a whole; just as the body has many members, so the church, and they are to work in unison for the good of the whole entity.
Verses 15-17, "If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?" And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?"
LGT "If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body; on account of this is it not of the body? And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body: on account of this is it not of the body? If the whole body [were] an eye, where the hearing? If [the] whole hearing, where the smelling?"
Just as the entire body was created to work in unison for the good of the person, so the apostolic church, with their gifts, were to work in unison for the glory of the Lord. In Corinth there was striving among the Christians because they were jealous of the other persons gifts; Paul uses the anatomy of the body to show how ridiculous it was for them to bicker with each other. We must keep the context clear regarding these spiritual gifts.
Verse 18, "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."
LGT "But now God set the members each one of them in the body, according as He would."
In this context of the first Church, Paul tells them it was God who decided which gift fit which member, and it was foolish of them to be jealous of one another. If we had the gifts today, I would, like McGee and others, be able to say much more regarding these passages; but seeing how I believe the gifts have ceased, I have no more write.
Verse 19, "And if they were all one member, where were the body?"
LGT "But if all were one member, where the body?"
In the case of this first church, if every one had the same spiritual gift, there would be no body, for there would be nothing but confusion. If all were teachers, there would be no one to teach; if all spoke in tongues, there would be no interpreter, etc. etc. etc.
Verse 20, "But now are they many members, yet but one body."
LGT "But now many [are the] members, but one body."
God has designed it this way in order for the one body to function at its maximum, for the edifying of the whole.
Verse 21, "And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you."
LGT "And the eye is not able to say to the hand. I have not need of thee, or again the head to the feet, I have not need of you."
The superior organs need the inferior ones in order to function at its greatest. A body that has lost the use of one of its members is invalid and in extreme cases, even worthless.
Verse 22, "Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary."
LGT "But much rather the members of the body which seem to be weaker, are necessary."
"Things are not always what they seem. The vital organs (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys) are not visible, but life cannot exist without them" (Robertson).
Barnes adds:
"A man can live though the parts and members of his body which are more strong were removed; but not if those parts which are more feeble. A man can live if his arm or his leg be amputated; but not if his brain, his lungs or his heart be removed. So that, although these parts are more feeble, and more easily injured, they are really more necessary to life, and therefore more useful than the more vigorous portions of the frame."
Verse 23, "And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness."
LGT "And those to be of the body which we think more void of honor, those we place around more abundant honor, and the uncomely [parts] of us have more abundant comeliness:"
And those to be of the body which we think more void of honor: those parts of the body which are regarded as best being hidden. Those we place around more abundant honor: this means to cover with clothing, that is, to make sure they were covered. And the uncomely parts of us have more abundant comeliness: "We adorn and decorate the body with gay apparel. Those parts which decency requires us to conceal we not only cover, but we endeavor as far as we can to adorn them. The face in the mean time we leave uncovered. The idea is, that, in like manner, we should not despise or disregard those members of the church who are of lower rank, or are less favored than others with spiritual endowments" (Barnes).
Verse 24, "For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:"
LGT "But the comely [parts] of us have no need. But God mixed together the body, having given more abundant honor to that being deficient:"
But the comely parts to us have no need: the parts of the body considered to be beautiful, such as the face, have no need to be covered with clothing or ornament. But God mixed together the body: to work harmoniously working together for the maximum efficiency of the body. Having given more abundant honor to that being deficient: giving more care to cover these parts with clothing to protect and conceal them from the elements, among other things. Greater attention is paid to these delicate parts.
Verse 25, "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another."
LGT "In order that there may not be division in the body, but the members might have the same concern for one another."
Paul here gives the reason for the tender care taken for the body; he says that each one works together in order for it to run efficiently, and not to be divided to the detriment of the whole body. So it is in the family of God; each member should give preference to the other; each member should care for the edification of the whole family.
Verse 26, "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it."
LGT "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with [it]: if [one] member be glorified, all the members rejoice with [it]."
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it: when one member of the human body suffers, the whole body feels it. The same principle is applied to the body of Christ, the Church. When any of the family suffers, the whole church suffers; that is, it suffers if it is in fellowship with the Lord. We should never come to the point where we rejoice in the suffering of another brother or sister. If one member be glorified: "The head is crowned, and all the members have a share in the honor; the eyes laugh when the mouth speaks" (Chrysostom). All the members rejoice with it: the entire body benefits at the soundness of each member. So it should be with the family, the body of Christ; no member should become jealous at the honor given to another member; conversely, the response should be one of rejoicing with the success of another family member.
Verse 27, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
LGT "Now ye are [the] body of Christ and members severally."
Each member has its own position and place in the family. In the Corinthian church these verses about the human body are applied to the gifts that had been given them. Calvin has a very nice paragraph applying these verse to the church universal: "Hence what has been said respecting the nature and condition of the human body must be applied to us; for we are not a mere civil society, but, being engrafted into Christ's body, are truly members one of another. Wherever, therefore, any one of us has, let him know it has been given him for the edification [building up] of his brethren in common; and let him, accordingly, bring it forward, and not keep it back - buried, as it were, within himself, or make use of it as his own."
Verse 28, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversity of tongues."
LGT "And God did set certain [ones] in the assembly: first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, kinds of tongues."
This verse should convince any thinking Christian that the Holy Spirit is no longer using these gifts. However, in the Apostolic Church at Corinth they were not only being used, they were also being abused. And God set certain ones in the assembly: Paul use the middle voice here in the phrase: "set certain ones", meaning that God set certain ones for his own use. English does not have the middle voice, so it means that the subject of the sentence participates in the action with the benefit rebounding back to Him, that is, in this case, God. First apostles: all these supernatural gifts were unique to the first church, before the Bible had been completed and placed at the disposal of all members. We do not have apostles functioning today; any person claiming this office is tripping out playing the game, Let's pretend. Secondly prophets: these were inspired men revealing God's word to the rest of the assembly. Thirdly teachers: these teachers were also inspired explaining doctrine to the assembly. Today we have teachers, but they are not inspired, but they do help us understand the Scriptures by their dedicated study of God's Word. Whether or not they should be paid is a matter for you to decide; I personally do not believe any man should make a living teaching God's Word. Then works of power: miracles. Then gifts of healing: these ones were inspired by the Holy Spirit with the supernatural gift of healing the sick ones in the church. I believe this is the context of the laying on of hands, which was practiced in the first church. Of course we know that neither one of these things happen today. Helps: I believe this was in accordance with helping the sick and the poor ones in the assembly. Governments: "For the primitive Church had its Senate [governing body], for the purpose of keeping the people in propriety [decency] of deportment [behavior], as Paul shows elsewhere, when he makes mention of two kinds of Presbyters (1 Tim. 5:17). Hence government consisted of those presbyters who excelled in gravity, experience, and authority" (Calvin). Today we have only the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Word of God, explained to us by the Holy Spirit. It is because the church decided to organize, and break off into denominations, that we now have those who pretend to have authority over the sheep; and am I glad I am not a sheep, but one of Christ's chosen brothers. Kinds of tongues: in kinds of tongues Paul merges the two gifts of speaking in unknown tongues, and the gift of interpreting these tongues. Today, we also have people out in the world pretending to speak in these tongues that have ceased since the completion of Scripture.
Verses 29, 30, "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
LGT "[Are] all apostles? [Are] all prophets? [Are] all teachers? [Are] all works of power? Have all gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"
Every believer in the first Church had at least one spiritual gift; but no one had all the gifts. When commentators say that some of these gifts ceased, but some of them are for today, I believe they do this in order to be able to clear their conscience of letting other members support them.
Verse 31, "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."
LGT "Be ambitious of the greater gifts. And yet a more surpassing way I will show to you."
Paul obviously ranks the gifts as some greater than others; we know this by what he says in the next chapter. He says that it is good for the Corinthian believers to desire supernatural gifts. And yet a more surpassing way I will show to you: this phrase belongs with verse one of chapter thirteen. Paul says here, I will show a supremely excellent way, that is, the way of love. Paul will demonstrate to them a way of love that will far superseded their desires for these gifts.
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