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1
Corinthians Chapter Twelve
I.
Content of the Chapter
Spiritual Gifts
A. The principles of spiritual things ---- by the
Spirit (v.1-3)
B. The origin of spiritual gifts (v.4-11):
1. The relation of gifts, ministries and activities with the divine Trinity
(v.4-5);
2. The Spirit distributes to each one individually
as He wills
(v.6-11);
C. The relationship of spiritual gifts ---- the
comparison of the members of a body (v.12-27):
1. Many members, one body (v.12-14);
2. God has set the members,
each one of them, in the body
(v.15-20).
3. Different functions of
the members (v.21-24);
4. The members are related to one another (v.25-27).
D. The sorts of spiritual gifts (v.28-30);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1Cor. 12:1 “Now concerning spiritual
gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:”
YLT: “And concerning the spiritual things, brethren, I do not
wish you to be ignorant;”
Literal
Meaning: “now concerning spiritual
gifts, brethren”, it is “spiritual” in the original. The Corinthians
thought one was spiritual as he had spiritual gifts. However, Paul separates
“spiritual” and “gifts” on purpose (see v.4, 9, 28, 30, 31). “Gifts” are given
by the Spirit, but man who has got “spiritual gifts” may not be “spiritual”
(see 1Cor. 1:7; 3:1).
“I do not want you to be ignorant”, Paul did not desire believers at Corinth to be
ignorant of spiritual things lest they should be still puffed up.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) That a man has spiritual gifts does not mean
he has good spiritual condition. The pursuit of spiritual gifts is totally
different from the pursuit of spiritual growth in life.
2) The sect of Lees tells that the pursuit of
spiritual baptism and tongues are pursuit of fuller life (see John 10:10). It
is wrong interpretation of the Scriptures and may mislead believers.
1Cor. 12:2 “You know that you were
Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.”
YLT: “ye have known that ye were nations, unto the dumb idols
-- as ye were led -- being carried away;”
Literal
Meaning: “you were Gentiles”, when you had not
believed the Lord;
“Carried away
… were led”,
be easily misled and deceived by every wind of doctrine and corrupted customs.
“You know that to these dumb idols”, “dumb idols”, one feature of idols is being unable to speak
(Jer. 10:5). Paul here seems to emphasize that those who worship idols tend to
be silent, which is just contrary to the condition of believers in verse three.
1Cor. 12:3 “Therefore I make known to
you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one
can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
YLT: “wherefore, I give you to understand that no one, in the
Spirit of God speaking, saith Jesus anathema, and no one is able to say Jesus
Lord, except in the Holy Spirit.”
Literal
Meaning: “therefore I make known to
you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed”, the greatest
difference between believers and unbelievers is that believers can praise and
thank the Lord by the Spirit and will in no wise be silent or call Jesus
accursed.
“And no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy
Spirit”, believers are saved for they confess with their mouths Jesus as Lord believe in their heart that God has raised
him from among dead (see Rom. 10:9). Therefore, one will neither say the Jesus
is Lord nor be saved by the Spirit.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The more we are
inspired by the Spirit of God, the more will we find the preciousness of the
Lord Jesus and never “call Jesus accursed”.
It is always difficult and hypocritical to confess Jesus as Lord without the
work of the Spirit.
2) All spiritual things are done by the Spirit
and produced spontaneously in the Spirit. All those who are inspired by the
Spirit in the Spirit will certainly not rebel against the Lord Jesus but magnify
the Lord (see Luke 1:46) and let Him have the first place in all things (Col.
1:18).
3) It is in no wise a trivial thing of
confessing Jesus as Lord. The evil spirit fears the name most and even dares
not mentions the name. If we want to discern whether one is possessed by demons
or is filled by the Spirit, we shall let it come out by asking him to call the
name of Jesus.
4) Most of the spiritual gifts listed in this
chapter are gifts concerning words. The feature of Christians is that everyone
can speak for the Lord. And even those who are quiet and are not fond of
speaking by nature open their mouths to speak by the Spirit.
1Cor. 12:4 “There are diversities of
gifts, but the same Spirit.”
YLT: “And there are diversities of gifts, and the same
Spirit;”
Literal
Meaning: “there are diversities of
gifts”, “gifts” refer to talents (see Matt. 25:15). The
whole sentence refers to the differences of the works in abilities or content.
“But the same Spirit”, it is the Spirit that comes upon believers and
gives power to men (Acts 1:8). It is also the Spirit that distributes different
talents to men and leads believers to develop towards different directions.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Anyone who does not believe Christ and even
rebels against Christ has his natural talent. Such talents by nature in the
flesh cannot be counted as “spiritual gifts”. All that are of the Spirit shall
be counted as gifts.
2) If one puts all his talents, knowledge,
skills on the alter of the cross to God after he has believed the Lord, all
that he has may become a part of the “gifts” given by the Spirit for his
service, but may not be “gifts” specially entrusted by God. The “gifts” that
God gives one for service in particular must have something to the
responsibility entrusted by God to him.
3) Gifts are worked in and given to different
believers temporarily (they will be ultimately done away) by the Spirit
according to the principle of “disproportionate distribution” in order to
fulfill different ministries. Therefore, the gifts that believers have obtained
are different.
1Cor. 12:5 “There are differences of
ministries, but the same Lord.”
YLT: “and there are diversities of ministrations, and the
same Lord;”
Literal
Meaning: “there are differences of
ministries”, “ministries” refer to services.
The whole sentence refers to the differences of the ministries in the content
or nature.
“But the same Lord”, the same Lord of the works distributes
the works to everyone.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) What we believers should do in the church
are decided by the Lord of the works. Many believers like to serve the Lord
according to their interest, knowledge, skills and strong points, but actually
we should pray to the Lord and look upon Him and seek what the Lord has
entrusted to us personally.
2) Our works are appointed by the Lord, not
searched by ourselves. Since the Lord is the originator of our works, He will
in charge of providing all that we need in works. We need only to work
faithfully, and the Lord will surely take the responsibility of fulfilling all
faithfully.
1Cor. 12:6 “And there are diversities
of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”
YLT: “and there are diversities of workings, and it is the
same God -- who is working the all in all.”
Literal
Meaning: “and there are diversities of
activities”, “activities” means effects. The whole sentence refers
to the differences of the activities in functions and the effects of one
certain function.
“But it is the same God”, it is the same God that “sets” and “composes”
believers (see v.18, 24)
“Who works all in all”, here it means that God has a specially appointed
will in each of us which should be kept by everyone. Then, the will of God will
work in us so as to make us know our own “function” as well as the “ministry”
entrusted by the Lord to us. And the Spirit will also manifest the “gifts” (the
power of working) on us (see v.7; Eph. 3:7) and we will devote us into diverse
services in the church.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) All of the ministries, gifts and activities
describe three aspects of our service. Though the ministries, gifts and
activities of us are diverse, all of them are of the holy Trinity. We should
cherish what is entrusted to us by the holy Trinity and do our best to fulfill
it.
2) It is indicated from verse four to six that
all gifts are of the holy Trinity and for the holy Trinity. If all the gifts in
the church are used according to the holy Trinity and for the holy Trinity,
there will be naturally a harmonious and full condition, as the body of Christ
is supposed to be.
1Cor. 12:7 “But the manifestation of
the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”
YLT: “And to each hath been given the manifestation of the
Spirit for profit;”
Literal
Meaning: “but the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to each one”, the different
spiritual gifts in everyone are the manifestations of the Spirit. The Spirit
manifests the diverse gifts of everyone in order to manifest Him all.
“For the profit of all”, the purpose that the Spirit distributes
different gifts is to profit all. Thus, all believers can partake of the
spiritual profit in the building of the church.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We should use our gifts well under the
guidance and operation of the Spirit so as to profit others through us thus we
shall also receive more profit.
2) The manifestations of the Spirit on man
brings profit to man. Therefore, we should seek to experience the fulfillment
and out-pouring of the Spirit so as to manifest the Spirit more.
1Cor. 12:8 “for to one is given the
word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the
same Spirit,”
YLT: “for to one through the Spirit hath been given a word of
wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;”
Literal
Meaning: “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit”, “the word of
wisdom”, the words taught by the Spirit can search God's wisdom in mystery and
compare spiritual things with believers (see 1Cor. 2:6-13).
“To another the word of
knowledge through the same Spirit”, “the word of knowledge”, it suggests that
one has internal ability of understanding
God’s truth and has the external ability of expressing them clearly (see
1Cor.1:5).
Enlightenment
in the Word: ‘
1) The wisdom given by the Spirit is distinct
from the natural one. Knowledge of God is vastly different from that of nature.
God’s things can only be perfected by God’s wisdom and knowledge. What is of
God is far beyond that of us.
2) Though man can obtain some wisdom and
knowledge through his connate instinct and
express them through words, it is still extremely infinite of what man can
understand and express without the gifts of the Spirit. Besides, man will be
puffed up and can not edify others (see 1Cor. 8:1-7).
1Cor. 12:9 “to another faith by the
same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,”
YLT: “and to another faith in the same Spirit, and to another
gifts of healings in the same Spirit;”
Literal
Meaning: “to another faith by the
same Spirit”, “faith”, it means that man whose inner eyes are
bright can see spiritual things clearly and hold the words and promise of God
without any doubt so that he often experiences the faithfulness of God.
“To another gifts of healings by the same Spirit”, “gifts of healings”: one who has supernatural power of healing
can heal the sick without any medicine through prayer by laying one’s hands
upon the sick.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith can move the finger of God to remove
the difficulty that we have met (Mark. 11:22-24).
2) A normal Christian believes the healing
through supernatural power. But it does not mean that all diseases of Christian
should be healed by supernatural power, for God not only works through
supernatural way but also through natural ways (medical skills or medicine).
What is most important is our heart towards God.
1Cor. 12:10 “to another the working of
miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another
different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”
YLT: “and to another in-workings of mighty deeds; and to
another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to
another interpretation of tongues:”
Literal
Meaning: “to another the working of
miracles”, “the
working of miracles” refer to the
supernatural power that can work various miracles and signs.
“To another prophecy”,
“prophecy”: one who has got
spiritual revelation can speak for God and testify God Himself and God’s will,
including preachment and prophecy.
“To another discerning of spirits”,
“discerning of spirits”: one can discern the Spirit of God, the spirit of
man and the evil spirit that is not of God (see 1Tim. 4:1; 1John 4:1-3).
“To another different kinds of tongues”,
“tongues”, believers who have other tongues given by the Spirit can speak with
other tongues without learning that tongue (see Acts 2:4-11). Tongues are
neither meaningless voices of tongues nor taught by man, but given by the
Spirit.
“To another the interpretation of tongues”, “the interpretation of tongues”, one can interpret the tongue that men can
not understand into words that all can understand (see 1Cor. 14:13).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “To another… to another… to another”, it
indicates that one certain believer does not have all the spiritual gifts.
Today, the sect of Lees demands that everyone believer should be able to say
tongues, which has totally run against the principle of the revelation of the
Scriptures.
2) Among the diverse spiritual gifts, the
Scriptures list “different
kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues” in the end (see v.28), for such two kinds
of gifts are of profit to individuals, but of little profit to the whole church
(see 1Cor. 14:2-6, 18-19). Therefore, the tongue is not a gift that is so
important that we should seek (see 1Cor. 14:1).
1Cor. 12:11 “But one and the same Spirit
works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
YLT: “and all these doth work the one and the same Spirit,
dividing to each severally as he intendeth.”
Literal
Meaning: “but one and the same Spirit
works all these things”, “all
these things” refer to various
spiritual gifts. Man receives the gifts on account of the Spirit instead of
man’s “importunity”.
“Distributing to each one individually as He wills”, it shows that the origin of the gifts is
the Spirit. The Spirit has the right to decide what kind of gifts and to whom a
particular gift will be given.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) All the gifts in the church are “distributed to each one individually as He wills” by the Spirit, showing that all the activities
of the church are arranged under the sovereignty of the Spirit and manifest the
authority of the Spirit. The church lives according to the sovereignty of the
Spirit. The church will become a dead organization without the authority of the
Spirit even though everything is ready in the church.
2) What is received by man’s learning and
others’ teaching is not given by the Spirit. Lee’s sect teaches man to “speak
tongues” ---- they teach man to say several simple words without hesitation
increasingly quickly to a point that man’s tongue can twirl naturally and utter
some voice that even he himself cannot understand. This is the so called
“tongue” of them. It is meaningless to pursuit such “tongue” , for it is in no
wise given by the Spirit.
1Cor. 12:12 “For as the body is one and
has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one
body, so also is Christ.”
YLT: “For, even as the body is one, and hath many members,
and all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, so also the
Christ,”
Literal
Meaning: “for as the body is one and
has many members”, it shows how believers receive diverse gifts (v.11)
through the working of the Spirit in the church and thus have their respective
ministries and activities by the relation of man’s body with the members.
“But all the members of that one body, being many, are one
body”, “members” refer to
all believers. “One body” is the body of Christ, namely, the church (Eph. 1:23;
Col. 1:24).
“So also is Christ”,
it is amazing that Paul does not say “so also is Christ and His church” or “so
also is Christ and His people” but “so also is Christ”. In other words, the
head is Christ and the body is Christ and the members are also Christ. It shows
us that the head and the body and the members are Christ, so the totality of
Christ in you and me is the church.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The church testifies Christ in the two
aspects: “one” and yet “many” testify the fullness of Christ. And “though many”
and “one” testify the oneness of Christ. It is sure that the church cannot bear
witness to Christ if there are divisions. However, if the church is stiffly
monotonous, there will also be lack of the testimony of the church.
2) “The body is one and has many members”, it
suggests that we can not be alone. Once any member is alone, he cannot live.
3) Here, when the body, the church, is
mentioned, it does not say “so also is church”, but “so also is Christ”, which
means that the body (the church) is Christ Himself. When the condition of the
church is normal ---- it is filled with Christ and manifests Christ and obeys
Christ in all and is united with Christ always ----, such church is the
magnification of Christ in the sight of God.
4) The Lord Jesus and the church is “the
Christ”. Christ in individuals and the church is “the corporate Christ”. The
will of God is that the church shall be “fullness of Christ”.
1Cor. 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were
all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and
have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
YLT: “for also in one Spirit we all to one body were
baptized, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and all into one
Spirit were made to drink,”
Literal
Meaning: “whether Jews or Greeks”, “whether … or”, there is no distinction.
There is no distinction in the body of Christ. Jews and
Greeks represent the
differences of races, languages, culture and religion.
“Whether slaves or free”, it indicates the distinctions of social status,
economic condition, position and achievements.
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--”, thousands of believers were baptized into
one body by the Spirit. It is just like that we are like the small stones
broken from a large rock and the Spirit is like the cement to mix the small
stones into a big one. It shows us that there is no the body of Christ without
the working of the Spirit. Therefore, we children of God should be immersed in
the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit. This is the only way of a good
church.
“And have all been made to drink into one Spirit”, believers are immersed into the Spirit
and receive the Spirit into us so that we will be filled with the Spirit all.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) There are many members in one body, and the
head rules all of them through nerves. In like manner, the head of the church baptizes many members into one body through the
Spirit. We are members one another, and are baptized into one body by the
Spirit. The fellowship of believers is according to the body. Therefore, any
fellowship outside the body is of not fellowship among Christians.
2) Here, the relation of the body with the
Spirit is revealed. The manifestation of the Spirit (the hidden reality) is the
body. The body is one, because the Spirit is one. Remember that the Spirit is a
“person”. You cannot divide a person. God composed the body (v.24) in order to manifest the Spirit. It is
always one in the Spirit. This is the secret of oneness.
3) There are two basic principles in the body
of Christ: if there is not that of Christ, there is not the body of Christ. The
second is that there is not the body of Christ without the working of the
Spirit. Believers must be baptized in the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit
so that the Spirit will baptize all the children of God into one.
4) We can see a fact from this verse:
“spiritual baptism” is not an experience of “any individual” but that of “the
whole church”. Therefore, the “spiritual baptism” is not like “the water
baptism” which should only be received by the man himself. And the whole church
had early received the “spiritual baptism” in the history. Whether we have
partaken of “the spiritual baptism” is decided by whether we have received the
Lord Jesus as our Savior and whether we have become the members of the body of
Christ.
5) When a man has really believed the Lord and
has been saved, he has partaken of “the spiritual baptism”. “Being partaken of
the spiritual baptism” is synchronous with “one’s being saved”. The former is
in relation to our objective “identity” and “position”, and the latter is in
relation to our subjective “condition” and “experience”.
6) Someone thought that God desired the
experience of every Christian to be divided into two phases or levels ---- one
would experience the so-called “spiritual baptism” for the second time after he
had already been saved, and such experience would elevate one’s spiritual life
unto a higher level. If such view was right, believers at Corinth had already
got the experience of second “spiritual baptism” and they were supposed to have
entered into a higher spiritual realm. However, Paul said “they were carnal and
were babes” (1Cor. 3:1). Therefore, the “spiritual baptism” is not the second
spiritual experience.
7) There was also someone who thought that “the
spiritual baptism” referred to “all being made to drink into one
Spirit” of the last half
verse, which parallels the first half verse ---- “by one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body”. Both of them use
the word “all”, showing that here is mentions all believers. Paul uses the word
“baptize” and “drink” to point out the oneness of believers, for they are both
by the Spirit. In a word, Paul uses clear words in this chapter to show that
all Christians have received “the spiritual baptism” and need not to seek the
experience of “the spiritual baptism” after being saved at all. Once one is in
Christ, he has already been partaken of the “spiritual baptism”.
1Cor. 12:14 “For in fact the body is not
one member but many.”
YLT: “for also the body is not one member, but many;”
Literal
Meaning: “for in fact the body is not
one member”, one member cannot
compose a body.
“But many”, it is many
members that compose a body. The multiplicity of the members does not harm the
oneness of the body.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The body needs many diverse members. “Many”
and “diverse” are not abnormal at all, but are normal. It is whereas abnormal
of “one” and “the same”.
2) The Lord Jesus was physically born by from
Mary. The Lord Jesus has also a spiritual body which was born after His
resurrection, namely, His church. Once we have been saved, each of us has
become a member of the body. Each of the members of the Lord’s body in the
flesh has its function, so do all the members of the Lord’s spiritual body.
1Cor. 12:15 “If the foot should say,
"Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not
of the body?”
YLT: “if the foot may say, `Because I am not a hand, I am not
of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body;”
Literal
Meaning: “if the foot should say,
"Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body", “if the foot should say”, it is an grammatical assumption. “I am not a hand”, he has found the difference of the
functions. “I
am not of the body”, one intends to
depart because of dissatisfaction with the church.
“Is it therefore not of the body”? ---- It has several aspects of meaning: 1) it is
not of man’s will that believers are of the church, but of God; 2) it is only
right and proper of the dissimilarities among believers; 3) believers can not
compose a church by assembling those who are congenial to each other.
1Cor. 12:16 “And if the ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not
of the body?”
YLT: “and if the ear may say, `Because I am not an eye, I am
not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body?”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Here, it means that one should perform his
function according what gifts have been give to him instead of what gifts he
desires. Since each of the members is distinct from others, one should not
refuse to perform his own function.
2) Members of one body cannot be compared with
one another, for their functions in a body are different and they are of the
equal significance. Only the individualist is fond of comparing himself with
others. And such the habit of comparing oneself with others shows that one has
not seen the body of Christ.
3) Many believers see lightly the gifts of God
given to them. Since they cannot become the members that they desire to be,
they utterly refuse to perform their own functions. All the members should
perform their respective functions according to the gifts given by God. Any of
us should not find us an excuse, “it does not need me here”. Every member of
the body has his ministry, and each member is called to perform his function in
the place where the Lord appoints to him.
1Cor. 12:17 “If the whole body were an
eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the
smelling?”
YLT: “If the whole body an eye, where the hearing? if the
whole hearing, where the smelling?”
Literal
Meaning: it indicates that
all the members of the body have different ministries and any single member
cannot replace the functions of others. Paul encourages every member,
especially those who draw back, to perform his ministry in verse 15 and 16. And
this verse is spoken to those who are excessive that one member should not take
complete care of all things.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) In the church life, we should leave ample
room for everyone to perform each function in the service. A single member
needs not to do the whole works or do a lot multitasking. No one who has
discernment desires to see there is only a single ministry in the body. It is
improper that the whole body is an eye or the eye wants to do the whole works
of the body. The Lord ordains the diversity of ministries in His body.
2) No matter how great one’s gift is, there are
always works that he can not accomplish. No matter how small one’s gift is,
there is always some work that he can do.
1Cor. 12:18 “But now God has set the
members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
YLT: “and now, God did set the members each one of them in
the body, according as He willed,”
Literal
Meaning: “each one of them”, it emphasizes that all the members in the
body has his feature and his special ministry. And the ministry of each is not
chosen by man himself, but is arranged according to the will of God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Spirit gives to all the members of the
body of Christ different gifts and ministries according to the needs of the
whole body. The Lord has arranges different ministries in His body today, and
He will not let all members be eyes, or feet or ears. The Lord gives the
members different ministries to provide the whole church. A physical body needs
many members, and the body of Christ also needs many different ministries,
especially for spiritual service.
2) A church should give ample chances for every
ministry to serve the body. All the brothers and sisters in the church have
their spiritual functions in spiritual ministries. It is impossible that there
are many members in a body that are of no functions.
3) We should know the arrangement of God is
according to the arrangement of God’s will. That is the arrangement of council,
and is of order. Therefore, we should keep in our own position. Meanwhile, it
is a fact that God has set us in the body and no man can overthrow it. When God
sets the members, none of the members can escape from His arrangement. Members
can only be set in the own body so that they can perform their functions and
live. Otherwise, the members will become deserted.
1Cor. 12:19 “And if they were all one
member, where would the body be?”
YLT: “and if all were one member, where the body?”
1Cor. 12:20 “But now indeed there are
many members, yet one body.”
YLT: “and now, indeed, many members, and one body;”
Literal
Meaning: oneness in variety.
1Cor. 12:21 “And the eye cannot say to
the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet,
"I have no need of you."”
YLT: “and an eye is not able to say to the hand, `I have no
need of thee;' nor again the head to the feet, `I have no need of you.'”
Literal
Meaning: the members of the
body should not be indifferent to or reject one another, but rely on one
another.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Each believer should be satisfied with his
own gifts given by the Spirit and appreciate the gifts of others. However, we
should not exalt those who have great gifts above what is written that we may
not be puffed up one for one against another (see 1Cor. 4:6).
2) The fellowship of life is of crucial
importance to the body of Christ. There will be death without fellowship. What
is fellowship? That is we have been helped by other members. For example, one
has a mouth, so he can speak. And he also needs the help of the ears so that he
can hear and needs the help of eyes so that he can see. Besides, he needs hands
to take things and feet to walk. Therefore, the fellowship is that we receive
the help of other members who have their special gifts and receive what is of
others as ours.
3) The highest and most honorable member (head) cannot say to the lowest
member (feet), “I
have no need of you”, let alone the
rest members of the body. The two members who are the furthest from each other
serve each other in the body, let alone other members who are near.
4) We shall never hope that we can cut off
other members. We have no authority of the head in the body who can deal with
other members as he wishes. A member should not be cut off because of his
weakness or tenderness (the church has indeed the authority of ruling things
concerning sin). We dare not and can not say to another member, “I have no need
of you”. Moreover, we will find that we may learn many things that we need from
the members whom we do not respect enough in our nature eyes (see v.22).
1Cor. 12:22 “No, much rather, those
members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.”
YLT: “But much more the members of the body which seem to be
more infirm are necessary,”
Literal
Meaning: “seem to”, be weak in
appearance; “are
necessary”, it means that the
importance of the body is not less than the strong members.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts (Is.
55:8). What is unnecessary in man’s sight is indispensable in God’s sight.
2) There is no respect of persons in the church
(James 2:1). However, the most common mistake that brothers and sisters make is
being in respect of persons.
1Cor. 12:23 “And those members of the
body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and
our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,”
YLT: “and those that we think to be less honourable of the
body, around these we put more abundant honour, and our unseemly things have
seemliness more abundant,”
Literal
Meaning: “and those members of the
body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor”, “less honorable”: not beautiful, shameful; “bestow”: put on in the
original; today we use beautiful clothes to cover the shameful members in our
body, which may refer to sexual organs.
“And our unpresentable parts have greater modesty”, we may pay more attention to dress up the
unpresentable
parts.
1Cor. 12:24 “but our presentable parts
have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part
which lacks it,”
YLT: “and our seemly things have no need; but God did temper
the body together, to the lacking part having given more abundant honour,”
Literal
Meaning: “but God composed the body”, God composed the
body of Christ just like that He composed our physical bodies. Today, man can
make rocket and space craft, but can not make man’s body. It is God and only
God that created man’s body. In like manner, no one can make the body of
Christ, the church. The church is the workmanship of God. God alone perfects
the church and man can in no wise have a hand in. Man can only do the work in
society, not in the church, and do the work of the false church instead of the
true church. Only God can perfect the true church. Only what is only worked and
built by God is the church.
“Having given greater honor to that part which lacks it”, “which lacks it”: be inferior to others;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since God “composed” the church, He had His
good purpose of saving and arranging all the brothers and sisters. We have no
other choice in the church. We should not appreciate helpful members but reject
other unpleasant ones. Meanwhile, God composed the body, “all the members have
not the same office” (Rom. 12:4) and have their respective ministries and functions
(see Eph. 4:16). Therefore, we should not neglect out own ministry or despise
or override that of others (see v.15-22).
2) Man must prefer to what is the honorable and
presentable if man composes something, so there will be differences of “strong,
weak, beautiful and ugly”. That God composed the church is “to bestow greater honor on those members of the body which we think to be less
honorable and have greater modesty on our unpresentable parts” and “to give greater
honor to that part which lacks it”.
Oh! How far the condition of man from the will of God is!
3) In the church, man tends to pay attention to
the excellent members. But God especially cares for the ignored ones. We should
learn to let the mind of Christ as well as the thoughts of God be ours.
1Cor. 12:25 “that there should be no
schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one
another.”
YLT: “that there may be no division in the body, but that the
members may have the same anxiety for one another,”
Literal
Meaning: “that there should be no
schism in the body”, here it suggests the main reason for the schism in
the church is that believers are in respect of persons and pay attention to
only some excellent members and treat each other with discrimination and
therefore there arises schism.
“But that the members should have the same care for one
another”, “have the same care for one
another”, all the believers
should be treated with the same respect and care.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers should absolutely abandon the
schism, for the will of God is that there should never be schism in the body.
The church in the heavens can never be divided and she is always one. However,
the oneness of the church on the earth may be harmed. On account of her
heavenly life, the body can not be harmed by man. However, as for the
experience on the earth, it is lamentable that she is not only touched by
others but is also even disassembled.
2) Schism also includes individualism. The
principle of many believers’ life is not the body but themselves, and it seems
that the burdens and feelings of others have nothing to do with them. And they
cannot work together with others before God. This is the principle of
individualism, not that of the body. Sometime, individualism may develop from a
certain individual to several individuals. In the church some believers are
united among themselves and love one another, but are out of tune with the rest
members.
3) There is not a personal growth independent
of the body. For instance, that my mouth eats is I eat. The action of one
member is the action of the man. The works and activities of a member are in
relation to the whole body. Therefore, all the members should have the same care for one
another. One cannot be
independent with the view that he has nothing to do with other members. If the
eyes are blind, the man is blind. If one draws back and fails, the whole body
draws back and fails. We should be willing to follow the Lord alone and also
concern ourselves about the condition of brothers and sisters.
4) Once the one, who has the revelation of the
body of Christ and has the feeling of the body, meets and does anything of
divisions among the children of God, he cannot cross over when he because he
loves all those who are of God and will not divide them. It is natural of
loving one another in the body, but it is utterly unnatural of schism in the
body. It just like that one has two hands, no matter how many reason one hand
has listed that the other one is not good, both of them are still not be
divided. It is impossible to be divided.
5) Schism is building up sects. Possibly,
someone may think he has been divorced from a sect so he has known well about
the body of Christ. The one who has seen the body of Christ will be surely
divorced from the sect. However, it does not mean that one will spontaneously
see the body of Christ since he has been divorced from the sect. There are many
people who have been apparently separated from the sects. However, they have
also built them another kind of sect. Their separation from the sects is merely
expressing their “peculiarity”, and yet they have not considered all the
members as our brothers and as lovely. Therefore, no matter the spirit of sect,
or the attitudes of schism, or the external activities or internal thoughts of
being physically separated from the children of God, these are activities of
having not seen the body of Christ.
6) Today, there are some organizations in
Christianity. Though they are not sects apparently, the spirit of sect of them
is deeper than other sects.
1Cor. 12:26 “And if one member suffers,
all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members
rejoice with it.”
YLT: “and whether one member doth suffer, suffer with do all
the members, or one member is glorified, rejoice with do all the members;”
Literal
Meaning: “and if one member suffers,
all the members suffer with it”, to identify with one another in the members. If one
member suffers, the whole body will suffer. Any member who has not such feeling
may have been disconnected with the fellowship with the body.
“Or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with
it”, contrarily, if one has the feeling of
envy when another member is honored, it shows that they are not of the same
body and may thus cause schism.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Here, it is not if one member suffers, all the members
“should” suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members “should” rejoice with it. The word of God does not say whether it
should be or not be, but declares the fact that when one member suffers, all
the members suffer in fact, and when one member is honored, all the members
rejoice with it in fact. Therefore, when you have many feelings without reason,
it is none other than the feelings in the body. This is not only problems concerning
suffering and joy, but also problems of life. Therefore, we should not be one
who consumes life before God but also one who provides life. If there are many
members who need provision of life but insufficient members who provide life in
the body of Christ, the strength of the body will collapse.
2) Suffering is a kind of feeling and rejoicing
is also a kind of feeling. Through there are many members, the life of them is
the same, so they have the same the feeling. The artificial leg can in no wise be
aware of the painful or joyful feeling of other members. The feeling of life
cannot and need not be simulated. The most distinct expression of life is
feeling. Once Christian has the life of Christ, we must have the feeling of the
body and will enter into the fellowship with other members.
3) It has clearly shown us that the body of
Christ is on the earth. If it is in the heaven, there may be joy and yet no
suffering. You can not say the body suffers in the heaven. If one member
suffers, the whole body suffers. The member can only suffer on the earth. And
it is only on the earth the whole body may suffer or be persecuted. Therefore,
the oneness of the body of Christ is not in the heaven in the future but on the
earth at present.
1Cor. 12:27 “Now you are the body of
Christ, and members individually.”
YLT: “and ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.”
Literal
Meaning: this verse is a
connecting link between the preceding and the following. It concludes the
relation between the body and the members from verse 12 to 26, and ushers
another topic of various gifts in the following part (v.28-31).
“Now you are the body of Christ”,
“you” refers to the church at Corinth; “the body of Christ”, it typifies the universal church. And
since the nature of both local and universal church has no difference, the
comparison of the body of Christ can also be fit for the local church.
“And members individually”, “individually”
it refers to the individual believers at Corinth; “members”, every believer has different gifts, ministries
and functions.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We are “members individually”. Members are distinct from cells. It is
insignificant of losing a cell. However, any member cannot be lost. However,
the condition of many Christians is as the cells in the body, not as members.
They become useless to the body of Christ and have not performed their
functions. If life has not been provided to the body of Christ, the body of
Christ will suffer loss.
2) “The body of Christ” shows that we believers
are one in life and spirit; “And members individually”, we believers are
different in gifts and functions. We should keep the unity of the Spirit (Eph.
4:3) as well as work in measure of each one part with a view to work of
ministry (Eph. 4:12, 16).
1Cor. 12:28 “And God has appointed these
in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”
YLT: “And some, indeed, did God set in the assembly, first
apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterwards powers, afterwards
gifts of healings, helpings, governings, divers kinds of tongues;”
Literal
Meaning: “and God has appointed these
in the church”, all the
ministries in the church are of God, who appointed various “men and things” and
bestowed all kinds of gifts and functions to men so that they could fulfill the
ministries entrusted to them.
“First apostles, second prophets, third teachers”, “apostles”: those who have the power of the Spirit
are called by God and sent to preach the gospel everywhere and to build local
churches in new places;
“prophets”: those who have
the inspiration of the Spirit can declare the revelation and message of God so
as to edify, comfort and encourage believers; “teachers”: those who have words of knowledge can
teach believers to know the truth of the Scriptures.
“After that miracles, then gifts of healings”, “miracles”: those who have wonderful power can do
supernatural signs and wonders;
“gifts of healings”: one who has supernatural power of healing can
heal the sick without any medicine through prayer by laying one’s hands upon
the sick.
“Helps, administrations, varieties of tongues”, “helps”: those who have love and are willing to help and
satisfy the need of others;
“administrations”:
those who have faithfulness and discernment can deal with the affairs of the
church in good order and serve the whole
assembly; “varieties of tongues”: believers who have other tongues given by the
Spirit can speak with other tongues without learning that tongue.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is God that “works” (v.6), “arranges”
(v.18), “composed” (v.24) and “appoints” (v.28) the church of Christ.
Therefore, if the church needs man’s labor, or arrangement, or composition or
appointment, it proves that there lacks the reality of the church.
2) “First”, “second”, “after”, “then”, it shows that it is also has order
concerning gifts in the church of Christ. But it is not ordered by man, but
“appointed by God”.
3) Here, the gift of tongues is listed in the
end, showing that the gift of tongue is of less importance than other gifts in
the Scriptures.
1Cor. 12:29 “Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?”
YLT: “all apostles? all prophets? all teachers? all powers?”
Literal
Meaning: “are all”, it
indicates “not all believers are…”. Paul intends to correct the views of
believers at Corinth towards spiritual gifts through these questions.
Enlightenment
in the Word: God has appointed various gifts in the church ---- apostles, prophets, teachers, helps, administrations and etc. The sum of these gifts is the
church. However, some brother is fond of one certain kind of work. And some
brother thinks his work is important and he is unwilling to give opportunities
to others to perform their functions. Once the church sets restrictions upon
works to brothers or sisters, it is not church, but sect, for if the church
gives no chance to brothers or sisters to serve, they will search other ways.
1Cor. 12:30 “Do all have gifts of healings?
Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?”
YLT: “have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues?
do all interpret?”
Literal
Meaning: the answers to all
these questions are “no”, so those who are of Lee’s sect force believers to
speak tongues are wrong.
1Cor. 12:31 “But earnestly desire the
best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
YLT: “and desire earnestly the better gifts; and yet a far
excelling way do I shew to you:”
Literal
Meaning: “but earnestly desire the
best gifts”, “the best gifts”, it is better than “the first” and “the
second” in verse 28.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the Bible does not
encourage us “to speak tongues” (see v.30), but encourages us to seek the best
gift, namely, “love” (see 1Cor. 13:1).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The
Hidden Crises of Believers
A. The crisis of being likely to be ignorant of spiritual things
(v.1).
B. The crisis of being likely to be led and
carried away to worship idols (v.2).
C. The crisis of being likely to speak vain
words (v
D. The crisis of being likely to speak the
truth not in the Spirit (v.3b).
The Works of the
Holy Trinity in the Church
A. The Spirit “inspires” man to say that Jesus
is Lord (v.3).
B. The holy Trinity has relations with gifts,
ministries and activities (v.4
C. God who “works” all in all (v.6).
D. The “manifestation” of the Spirit is given to
each one for the profit of all
(v.7).
E. The same Spirit distributes the gifts to each one individually
as He wills
(v.11).
F. By one Spirit we were all “baptized” into one body (v.13b).
G. All believers have been made to “drink” into one Spirit (v
H. God has “set” the members, each one of
them, in the body just as He pleased (v.18).
I. God “composed” the body (v.24).
J. God has “appointed” various gifts in the church (v.28).
The Sorts of
Spiritual Gifts
A. Gifts concerning words:
1. The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge (v.8);
2. Apostles, prophets, and
teachers (v.10b,
3. Tongues and the interpretation of
tongues
(v.
B. Gifts concerning spirit:
1. Faith (v
2. Discerning of spirits (v.10b);
3. Helps, administrations (v.28b)
C. Gifts concerning miracles:
1. Gifts of healings (v.9b, 28b);
2. The working of miracles (v
See Believers and
Gifts from the Comparison between the Body and the Members
A. Believers whose gifts are less think they
are of little importance to the body (v.14-20):
1. Each member is indispensable to the body
(v.14-20).
2. Each member has his own function (v.14-15).
3. Each member is set by God on the body
(v.16-17).
4. Each member is particular and belongs to one
body (v.19-20).
B. Believers whose gifts are great think they
are of more importance to the body (v.21-23):
1. In fact, the weak members are more
indispensible to the body (v.21-22).
2. Those members of the body
which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our
unpresentable parts have greater modesty (v.23).
C. God composed those honorable members and members that lack honor on one body
(v.24-26):
1. That there should be no
schism in the body;
2. That the members should
have the same care for one another;
D. Each member of the body
has its particular position (v.27-30):
1. God has appointed
different gifts and given them to each member (v.27-28).
2. All the members do not
have the same gift (v.29-30).
E. Every member should earnestly desire the best gifts (v.31).
The Interrelationships
of Gifts
A. Be the same ---- the body is not one member but
many (v.14).
B. Be linked ---- the members who have
different gifts cannot depart from one another (v.15-16).
C. Be interdependent ---- one member cannot say
to another member, “I
have no need of you”
(v.17-22).
D. Have the same care ---- those members of the body
which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our
unpresentable parts have greater modesty (v.23-25);
E. Have the same feeling
(v.26-27);
The Principles of
Performing Functions
A. Each member should fully perform his gifts
given by God (v.15-16).
B. Each member should leave ample room for
others to perform their functions (v.17).
C. Each member should never think of removing
the functions of other members (v.21-22).
D. All the members are complementary and
connected with one another (v.25)
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou