Chronological Bible Study – Dec 2
What I Noticed Today (1 Corinthians 12-14)
1 Corinthians 12
In verses 1-3, Paul begins by stating the spiritual gifts come from the Spirit, that no one speaking by the Spirit can say Jesus is cursed, and no one can say Jesus is Lord apart from the Spirit.
Note: Apparently, Paul felt it necessary to head off questions about teachers who said they spoke for God. Only those who were speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit could say Jesus is Lord. Those teachers who cursed or spoke against Jesus were not from God.
In verses 4-11, Paul stresses the diversity of spiritual gifts arise from the same source; the Spirit. There are different ministries but the same Lord. There are different activities but the same God. Each gift given by the Spirit is given to produce what is beneficial:
- Wisdom. Insight into doctrinal truth.
- Knowledge. The ability to apply doctrinal truth in your life.
- Faith. An unusual amount of trust in God.
- Healing. The ability to heal others.
- Miraculous Powers. The ability to do miraculous works.
- Prophecy. The ability to give a message from God about the future.
- The ability to distinguish between spirits. Being able to discern false prophets from true prophets.
- Tongues. The ability to speak in unlearned living languages.
- Interpretation. The ability to translate an unknown language for the assembly.
These gifts are given to each person by the Spirit as the Spirit wills.
In verses 12-31, Paul speaks of the diversity and unity that exists in the body of Christ. We were all baptized into the same body and received the same Spirit. Therefore, the body is composed of many parts. One part should not be held in higher regard than another because all the parts of the body are important. One part should not wish to be another part. All the parts are dependent on one another; the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
We cloth the less honorable parts of the body, bringing them greater honor. In the same way, God gives greater honor to the less honorable in the body. God did this, so there would be no division in the body.
You are members of the body of Christ, and God has created a variety of gifts: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, helping, managing, and languages. Everyone is not an apostle, or a prophet, etc.
Note: Paul’s admonition to desire the greater gifts (the first three he numbered for emphasis) may reflect the fact that the Corinthians did not view these gifts as most important. Also, these first three (apostles, prophets, and teachers) ministered to the entire body, whereas the other gifts were more individual.
1 Corinthians 13
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul describes the “better way” he eluded to in 1 Corinthians 12:31b.
In verses 1-4 (written as poetry), Paul describes this better way as love.
- If I speak languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong (noise).
- If I have prophecy and knowledge but do not have love, I am nothing.
- If I give away all my possessions but do not have love, I gain nothing.
In verses 4-10, Paul switches from the first person to the third person as he describes the personification of love.
- Love is patient, love is kind, loves does not envy, is not boastful, is not proud.
- Love does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
- Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.
- Loves bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- Love never ends.
In verses 11-13, Paul uses an analogy of a child growing to adulthood to describe the difference between our current knowledge and the understanding of God we will have in the age to come (I will know fully, as I am fully known).
When all the gifts pass away in the age to come, three things remain: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- The attitude of “everything is permissible” should not be taken to mean everything is beneficial. Many things that are permissible are not beneficial, and this is definitely the case when what is permissible might weaken the faith of another believer.
- The unity of the church is paramount. Every person, as a member of the body is important to the kingdom work to be completed.
- Spiritual gifts are given to us by the Holy Spirit to be used to edify the church and each other.
1 Corinthians 14
In verses 1-25, Paul discussed prophecy as a superior gift to tongues.
Note: There are numerous interpretations of the word “glossa,” which is commonly translated as either “tongue” or “language.” In the New Testament, whether it is used literally or figuratively, it is used in reference to a physical tongue or human language, not to excited utterances.
In verses 1-12, Paul says they should pursue spiritual gifts, prophecy in particular. The person who speaks in another language speaks to God but not to men. Whereas, the person who speaks prophecy speaks for the edification, encouragement, and consolation of the people in a way that builds them up. The person who speaks in another language only builds himself up.
The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages unless someone is there to interpret for them, so the church will be built up.
Note: It is likely that people speaking foreign languages in the Corinthian assembly spoke with no one there to translate for them. Thus, to those who did not understand, it was meaningless.
Paul continues saying if I do not know the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
So, since you are anxious to exercise spiritual gifts, seek those which build up the church.
In verses 13-19, Paul continues saying if you pray in another language, have someone interpret. Otherwise, it is not fruitful. How will anyone understand and say “Amen” if they do not understand the language? You may be praising and thanking God, but no one will know, and no one will be built up. Therefore, Paul says, I would rather speak five words to teach others than 10,000 words in another language.
In verses 20-25, Paul admonished the Corinthians not to be childish in their thinking (quoting Isaiah 28:11-12); even though they speak in foreign languages, some people will not listen to the Lord.
Paul’s conclusion is speaking in other languages is a sign for non-believers, not for believers. Therefore, if people are speaking in foreign languages and non-believers enter the assembly, they will not understand. However, if an unbeliever enters and someone is speaking prophecy, he will understand and may be convicted in his heart and worship God.
In verses 26-40, Paul explains the importance of order in their church meetings.
Paul explains whenever they come together, each person with a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation must be done in a way that edifies the body.
Specifically, regarding foreign languages, there should be two or three at most with an interpretation. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should remain silent.
Regarding prophets, two or three should speak, and the others should evaluate the prophecy. There should be order in the worship because God is a God of order, not of disorder.
In all the Christian churches, Paul said, women should be silent, submit, and ask questions of their husbands at home.
Note: There is some debate as to whether the reference was to all women or married women. The word “submission” and “the phrase “ask their husbands” suggests the admonition is aimed at married women.
Note: It is not appropriate to take this instruction as Paul saying women should not speak in church because that contradicts Paul’s instruction elsewhere (1 Corinthians 11:5). Taken in context, Paul is saying during the interpretation of prophecy for the sake of order, questions should be asked at home.
In verses 37-40, Paul concludes these instructions saying if anyone considers themselves a prophet or spiritual, he should realize what Paul writes was the Lord’s command. Anyone who ignores the Lord’s commands would themselves be ignored. Most important in the exercise of spiritual gifts is that they are used to edify (build up) the body and that the worship is orderly.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.