>1. What does Paul remind the Corinthian Christians? (1-2)
* 1 Corinthians 12:1-2 "Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols."
* Chapter 12 Overview.
The chapter is easy enough to understand. All who believe in Jesus are in Jesus. Each has been given at least one gift to be used for the greater good of the congregation. The least part should be honored more than the greater part. Each should use their gift accordingly. Unity exists in the diversity of Jesus' people.
The reason Paul wrote this chapter was obviously because of the division, disagreements, bickering, and gossip in the congregation. Every group whether Christian or not have this problem. I like Star Trek from the original thru 2016. I use to read Star Trek Facebook posts. They claim diversity. Yet, many do not accept, even insult those that do not agree with them.
Are people in congregations different? I have been a member of several congregations as I have lived in different cities. I see similarities to the Star Trek groups, but not as severe.
Everyone is unique in Christ. No one is like me. I am not like anyone else. I should not look down nor up to others in Christ. I should respect everyone in action and word. I find myself congregating towards those who like what I like. Do I exclude and look down on others when I do that? Such actions form niches that often exclude others. Divisions form. Hearts are hurt, some to tears because they feel alone. God does not want divisions. I need others, especially those not like me and those who do not have the sames gifts as me.
Listen to the above Chapter 12 Overview.
* "Now about" -One of the items they asked him about. (7:1)
* "spiritual gifts" -"The word 'gifts' is not in the original Greek, but in all English translations except YLT which has 'things'. The Greek refers to 'spiritual' things in general, or to any thing that is of a spiritual nature. The whole discussion, however, shows that he refers to the various endowments, gifts, or graces that had been bestowed in different degrees on the members of the church - including the distinctions in graces, and in degrees of office and rank, which had been made in the Christian church in general in this chapter, as well as the extraordinary endowments of the gift of tongues which had been bestowed upon many, chapter 14." (Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: 1 Corinthians, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884-1885), 225)
* "brothers" -Acknowledges they are in the family of God with him.
* "I do not want you to be ignorant" -Implying they were ignorant. Paul had an obligation to teach them truth.
* "You know that when you were pagans" -Interesting that Paul starts his teaching on the subject of spiritual gifts by reminding them of their past. They were pagans. They did not have the Holy Spirit. They did not have spiritual gifts. The did not say, "Jesus is Lord." They were led astray meaning someone influenced them to lies and dumb idols. They were susceptible to bad influence.
* "influenced and led astray" -They were dumb sheep. They were prey. They were used by others. They were not wise. Others out witted them. They showed they were not wise as they now claimed to be. So, what they now have was given to them. They are not self made. They in themselves are not great and their past shows it. They did not lead, they were led. They were not even wise enough to know that they were led to a lie. They could not recognize that they were being used and abused. (1:26-31, 2:14-16, 3:1-3, 18-20, 4:18)
* "mute idols" -Paul contrast a piece of rock or wood that does not talk to confessing Jesus as Lord, the greater gifts of message of wisdom (apostles and prophets?) and message of knowledge (teachers?), and the lesser gift of speaking in tongues. No communication from an idol verses communication in Christ.
* False religion and cults deceive. The deceptive schemes are many. Most delight the senses and promise things they either could deliver, but never intend to, or could never intent. The often promise intangible gifts that cost nothing and work to convince their prey they have received. They often use fear and intimidation to keep their sheep in line. They set unreachable limits that must be met to obtain great prizes. They severely punish disobedience and give small rewards that have no real value, a shiny metal or plague that says they are great but couldn't get them anything.
>2. How can a person acknowledge Jesus and accept him as Lord and Savior? (3)
* 1 Corinthians 12:3 "Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit."
* "Therefore" -The conclusion to his opening point concerning spiritual gifts.
* "I tell you that" -Wrote to mark importance as coming from one of authority, equal to "I am informing you" as the Holman Christian Standard Bible has it.
* "Jesus is Lord" -"Lord" is the Greek "Kyrion" meaning supreme in authority.
Romans 10:9 states, "If you declare with your mouth that 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in the heart that God raise him from the dead, you are saved."
* "except by the Spirit" -The Holy Spirit is in within the person who says this.
* The confession of Jesus Christ as Lord is the keynote of all inspired speech. The primary test of the Spirit's inspiration is: Do you acknowledge the Lordship of Christ?
* By the Spirit of God.
Apostle Paul moves to another subject the Corinthian congregation needed to know more about: spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit has been one of the underlying glues of the letter with statements like, "God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." (2:10-11). And "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (3:16). Also, there's, "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (6:1) The Corinthian congregation's improper view of the Spirit and spiritual gifts were surely on Paul's mind when he wrote, "...and I think that I too have the Spirit of God." (7:40)
Paul first makes it clear that ignorance is a large factor in misunderstanding spiritual gifts and the Holy Spirit (1). Pride in spiritual gifts made them blind to their folly. Another source of misconception is forgetting our state before we received spiritual gifts (2). From birth, we were influenced and led to believe and accepted lies as truth. We worshiped something unworthy of worship. As pagans, we unwittingly lacked spiritual gifts. We are not born with spiritual gifts.
The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts are granted by the grace of God when we come to believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. They are gifts, not natural powers that were always in us.
We speak by the Spirit of God who is living in us. We confess Jesus is Lord by the Spirit (3). We would never curse Jesus (3).
Pagans get themselves in an emotional frenzy until they lose control of their minds. They say all kinds of blasphemous and/or emotional rantings, sinful and selfish deceptions and lies. Witlessly, some allow demons to speak through them. Some curse the God who made them (3). Paul in verse 3 contrasts pagan religious ceremonies with worship services led by the Spirit, revealing to the Corinthian congregation that they were influenced and led by mute "prophets" in their mists.
From the introduction in verses 1-3, Paul will move into the main point he needed to make about the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
Listen to the above comments on 1 Corinthians 12:1-3.
>Why do you think Paul emphasized this point?
* "speaking by the Spirit of God" -The gifts of speaking, teaching, and prophecy have been mentioned several times in this letter so for. One or more in the congregation must have been teaching false doctrine, leading people away from Jesus and the truth.
* "Let us learn from this passage how great is the blindness of the human mind, when it is without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, inasmuch as it stands in amazement at dumb idols, and cannot rise higher in searching after God; nay more, it is led by Satan as if it were a brute. He makes use of the term Gentiles here, in the same sense as in Ephesians 2:12. Ye were at one time Gentiles, says he, without God, strangers to the hope of salvation, ect. Perhaps, too, he reasons by way of contrast. What if they should now show themselves to be less submissive to God, after his having taken them under his care, to be governed by his word and Spirit, than they formerly discovered themselves to be forward and compliant, in following the suggestions of Satan!" (John Calvin and John Pringle, Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, vol. 1 p. 396-397)
* "Paul indicates that prophesying is not necessarily a sign of godliness; pagans prophesied, too, and at Greek oracular shrines possessed persons prophesied ecstatically, inspired by gods other than the Christian God. Although interest in oracles had declined in this period, oracles and other forms of divination remained a strong influence on pagan culture. Paul can thus point to his readers' former behavior in paganism as a warning that ecstatic activity by itself cannot constitute proof that they are obeying God. Verse 3 contrasts two extreme examples of evil and true utterances." (Bible Background Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament)
* "The test of the Spirit's presence is the confession of Jesus as the Lord. It would seem that some members of the Church, carried away by their excitement when speaking in the congregation under the power of the Spirit, as they said, had called Jesus accursed, as if they had been unbelievers. No such utterance, says the Apostle, can proceed from any one who speaks by the Spirit." (A Commentary on the Holy Bible: The One Volume Bible Commentary)
>3. Who is the source of the different gifts? (4-6)
* 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men."
A poetic reed stylist composed a tercet, distilling a singular truth - gifts, service, and workings - Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus, and God the Father. The first triad is given for the greater good; the second is the Triune God, three yet one.
The gifts of grace are given by the Spirit. The service to the Christian community is rendered to our Lord Jesus. God the Father initiates, sustains, and accomplishes the work in and through all that is obvious. Diversity and unity in the Trinity.
If you confess, "Jesus is Lord with absolute authority and believe that God raised him from the dead," then you have been baptised with the Spirit. The Spirit gave you at least one gift. What service do you render to Jesus that is for the benefit of the congregation? Do not say, "I cannot do." Rather, ask the Father to initiate, sustain, and accomplish the work in and through you. Have faith, and the mountain will be moved.
Listen to the above comments on 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.
>4. Why is each gift manifested? (7)
* 1 Corinthians 12:7 "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
* 1 Peter 4:10-11 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
* "Now to each one" -Individuals are given their specific gift.
* "the manifestation of the Spirit"
* "is given for the common good." -Not selfish reasons. Not just one part, but the whole body. Not for only the department. Not for an individual. Not for a leader. Not for the boss. ONLY for the common good. Not for evil. Not to harm. Not to tear down. Not to isolate. Not to deminish. Not to aid the enemy. But ONLY for the body and those who will be part of the body of Christ. Paul will soon bring up love, the important factor of service.
>What kind of different gifts are mentioned? (8-11)
* 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 "To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."
* "through the Spirit... by the same Spirit... by means of the same Sprit... by that one Spirit... the work of one and the same Spirit"
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (in order of significance)
"the message of wisdom"
"the message of knowledge"
"faith"
"gifts of healing"
"miraculous powers"
"prophecy"
"distinguishing between spirits"
"speaking in different kinds of tongues"
"the interpretation of tongues"
* "he gives them to each one"
* "just as he determines."
* A Christian talent discovery questionnaire helps individuals identify their God-given gifts, skills, and passions for service. Effective templates, such as the SHAPE assessment or the Wagner-Modified Houts Questionnaire, focus on mapping skills (e.g., teaching, music), spiritual gifts (e.g., mercy, leadership), and personality. These tools are designed to help believers find joy in service and align their abilities with church ministry opportunities.
>Explain what each of these gifts refer to. (1 Kings 3:16-28; Mt. 22:15-22) (Josh. 7:1-26; Acts 5:1-11) (Mt. 17:20) (Ex. 15:26; Mk. 16:15-18) (Lk. 8:44; Rom. 4:18-22; Heb. 11:11-12) (2 Pet. 1:21; and 1 Cor. 14:3) (Mt. 16:13-23; John 16:14) (1 Cor. 14:1-25)
* 1 Kings 3:16-28 "Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, "My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. "During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son--and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne." The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours." But the first one insisted, "No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine." And so they argued before the king. The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.'" Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other." The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!" Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother." When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice."
* Matthew 22:15-22 "Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away."
* Joshua 7:1-2 "But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out Ai."
* Acts 5:1-11 "Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events."
* Matthew 17:20-21 "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
* Exodus 15:26 "He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."
* Matthew 15:16-20 "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'"
* Manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
The truth that God gives manifestations of the Holy Spirit, that is, spiritual gifts, to every believer for the common good of the church, is understood. The Holy Spirit purposely gives the proper and good gift or gifts to each person as he determines (7, 11). His determination is correct. Paul lists some of these gifts in verses 8-10.
However, many have not discovered which gift God's grace has given them. How can we determine which gift we have? First, be sure that God will reveal which gift he has given to each of his children. Do not be anxious about what that gift or gifts are.
Second, do not be idle in discovering which gift was given. This may involve gift-and-talent search questionnaires, as some churches do. The search may include temporarily getting involved with different ministries within your local congregation to see where you fit. Talk to someone you know and trust, asking them what gift they believe you have been given. And pray, always pray as you search. The search can be a fun experience if your mindset is right.
Third, when the gift is determined, do not shy away from it. Do not worry, or decide it's not what you want or what you like. The gift God gives will be satisfying and gratifying, though it at times will not be easy. Jesus tells his disciples, "Deny yourself and carry your cross." (Matthew 10:38, 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23, 14:27)
Fourth, the possibility exists that the first gift we are given will not be the last and will not last till the Lord takes us home. The Spirit may determine to give us a new gift later in life, and the prior gift is no longer needed. We should be ready for changes as times change societies.
Finally, just because God gave you a spiritual gift, do not believe that you will know it all, that you will be perfect at it from the very beginning, and that you will always do very well. Every talent has a learning period that ends the day the Lord takes us home. A job well done involves blood falling like sweat from the brow. Change is a part of life. The gift we are given and the skills we learn will need adjusting as reality changes with time.
The link in the question above has examples of a spiritual assessment tests.
>5. What does Paul teach about different gifts and the Holy Spirit? (12-13)
* 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
* Ephesians 1:22-23 "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
* Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
* John 7:37-39 "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
* Christ's Body Has Many Parts.
When I refer to myself, what am I talking about? Is my hands, feet, head, brain, or some other part what I refer to as me? When I get a haircut or trim my nails, a small part of me is no longer part of me, and I no longer refer to it as part of me. Is my thoughts, my emotions, my spirit, or my conscience me? The individual parts are not what I am referring to when I say "I" and "me". Rather, all the individual parts make up the whole, and the whole is what I am. "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body" (12).
Apostle Paul used the human body to illustrate that Jesus sent his Spirit to his people, and thus we are united as one spiritual body in him. We drink the one Spirit (13). We are the body of Christ in the world.
Jesus said, "'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'streams of living water will flow from within him." By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." (John 7:37-39)
If you call on the name of Jesus, if you believe that he rose from the dead, if you have faith in his body and blood as a remission of your sins, then look around at others who believe the same. They too are a part of the spiritual body as you, the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit is like the blood flowing in our physical bodies, bringing nutrition and health to all the parts (John 3:5-8). Since the same Spirit flows in them as in you, then they should be treated with the same respect and love as you expect to be treated by others.
>How does he explain the importance and interrelationship of all parts of the body? (14-27)
* 1 Corinthians 12:14-27 "Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
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* God's Sovereignty is Christ's Body.
Since you are in Christ and the Holy Spirit is in you, you are no less than your brother and sister in Christ. Paul, continuing the use of the human body illustration, mainly addresses those who feel that they are substandard and unimportant in these verses. Apparently, the more sensational gifts (such as tongues) had been glorified in the Corinthian congregation, making those who did not have them feel inferior.
First, one cannot because they are dismissed and shunned, say, "Because I am less-than, I do not belong to Christ's body." (14-16) Jesus knows what it is like to be rejected and scorned by his own people. He was a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:3) Even though you are ready to walk away, he will never abandon you as an orphan. "Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age," he promises. (Matthew 28:20)
Second, God's wisdom for the church includes design diversity. The gifts he gives coincide with the diversity within his body, which is his church. (17, 20) As the human body must have diversity to work effectively as a whole, so the members of Christ's body have diverse gifts, the use of which can help accomplish Christ's united purpose.
Third, God gives each child a good and proper gift. Once the child recognizes and accepts that gift and learns the skills needed to exercise that gift properly, they will find satisfaction and blessing when they exercise that gift properly. God arranges the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be (18). When we are in the right place using the gift given, we will be one with that place.
Fourth, though Christ's body parts have different functions, we are interconnected. We are designed to work together, each doing our assigned duty. Next to us and connected to us are other parts that work in conjunction with us. We need to recognize that we work with others, depend on others in Christ, and are blessed by what they do and who they are. Many parts exist, one body working together, each in their unique way to help the whole body (19-20). We should not expect others to be like us. We should not shun others because they are not like us.
A stained glass window has many individual, colorful shards. Individually, they have beauty. Collectively, they form the image of Christ crucified, buried, and risen from the dead.
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* One Part Suffers, Every Part Suffers.
The thumb goes unrecognized, though a vital part of daily life. Opposing thumbs allow humans to accomplish things that animals cannot. The ability to grip a hammer, an artist's brush, play a musical instrument, and hold another's hand as we stroll a romantic path is all made possible because of opposing thumbs. We take our thumbs for granted. Until the pain from a paper cut on the thumb awakens us to the importance of what was indispensable yet without honor.
Addressing the divisions in the Corinthian congregation induced by pride in spiritual gifts, Apostle Paul continues to use the analogy of the human body and all its organs, parts, and pieces (25). God made each part of the body dependent on the other parts, both the human body and the body of Christ (21).
The seemingly weaker parts are indispensable (22), like the thumbs. The seemingly less honorable parts we treat with special honor (23a), like our digestive organs. I sure do not like getting food poisoning. I would rather throw away expensive, rotten food than spend a night of agony.
The presentable parts are treated with special modesty (23b). Clothing is a human constant since Adam and Eve's guilty conscience. Blushing is a common human trait regardless of culture, race, and time and place of birth, until the conscience is burned by continual sin. Our presentable parts need no special treatment. True human nature does not cover the face throughout human history unless forced upon it by another.
Paul's point concerning "no division in the body" and "equal concern for each other" is summed up in verse 26. "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." When a believer causes a fellow believer to suffer in any way, then they are bringing suffering on themselves and the whole church. Will not Christ deal with such a sin?
* The "Historiated Headpiece" is in the book by Hermant, Godefroy (1617-1690) titled, "La vie de S. Basile le Grand, archevesque de Cesaree en Cappadoce, et celle de S. Gregoire de Nazianze archevesque de Constantinople, : divisees en douze livres. Dont les dix premiers representent la suitte de leurs actions & celles de plusieurs saints de leur siecle, & les deux derniers contiennent le paralelle de leurs vertus, & la conformité de leur doctrine. / Par M. Godefroy Hermant ..." now in public domain.
This historiated headpiece depicts the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending upon a gathering of priests and soldiers with the Latin phrase "OMNES IN EODEM SPIRITU POTATI SUMUS" from 1 Corinthians 12 which means "we were all given the one Spirit to drink".
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
>6. What kinds of positions are needed in a church according to the gifts? (28-30; Rom. 12:6-8)
* 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 "And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?"
* Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
POSITION IN A CHURCH (in order of significance)
first apostles
second prophets
third teachers
then workers of miracles
those having gifts of healing
those able to help others
those with gifts of administration
those speaking in different kinds of tongues
* "the church"
>What kind of attitudes should Christians have toward those who use their gifts in the church? (Rom. 12:3-5)
* Romans 12:3-5 "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
* "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you"
* "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought"
* "rather think of yourself with sober judgment"
* "in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you"
III. Faith, Hope and Love; With Love the Greatest (12:31-13:13)
>7. What kind of gift should all Christians seek? (31)
* 1 Corinthians 12:31 "But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way."
* 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Chapter 13 Overview.
God has given me different gifts at different times to help others. Yet, these gifts whether tongues, prophecy, miraculous powers, healing, wisdom, and messages of knowledge are all temporary. They are tools meant for the greater good. All tools can be used for good or bad including the gifts of the Spirit.
All is from God. Therefore, all is a gift including health, wealth, prosperity, food, drink, children, and gifts of the Spirit. These gifts should be used in love. Sometimes they are not.
Love is patient, kind, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Yet here when I have lost almost all and own much I find my hope melt away like an ice cube in a frying pan. All I can do is love those I meet and pray for mercy.
* "eagerly desire"
* "the greater gifts"
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>What kind of gift(s) do you think you have received or seeking?
* Some churches offer written tests that seek to help determine gifts.
>How can we receive the gifts mentioned about in order to build up the body of Christ? (James 1:2-8)
* James 1:2-8 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
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>8. What happens to all gifts without love? (1-3) Think about the absolute necessity of love.
* 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
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>Describe the nature of love. (4-7)
* 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
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>In light of the nature of love mentioned in the above verses, how is love different from what you have thought?
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>9. How is the nature of love manifested in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ? (Lk. 19:41-44, 23:34; Phil. 2:6-8; Mt. 18:21-35)
* Luke 19:41-44 "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
* Luke 23:34 "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
* Philippians 2:6-8 "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!"
* Matthew 18:21-35 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
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>What aspect of love do you think that you should really learn?
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>10. What does Paul tell about the value of love compared to all the temporary gifts? (8-9)
* 1 Corinthians 13:8-9 "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part."
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>What does perfection refer to? (Rev. 21:23, Dan. 12:2)
* Revelation 21:23 "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."
* Daniel 12:2 "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt."
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>What would happen when perfection comes? (10)
* 1 Corinthians 13:10 "but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears."
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* The artwork from the Lithograph Society was used to teach children about the Bible. The approximately 4 by 7 inch card contained on the back, Bible study notes that could be used by the teacher.
>11. To what does Apostle Paul compare his present and future spiritual state? (11-12)
* 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
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>What must be with Christians always? (13)
* 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
* 1 Corinthians 13:13 is the basis for the manuscript
