I Corinthians
Chapter
12
{Relationship
with the Holy Spirit verses 1-11}
1~~
ATTENTION! {new subject}
Now
concerning spiritual things {gifts}, brethren,
I
keep on desiring for you not to be stupid.
{Note: If you do not know doctrine, you are spiritually stupid. An ignorant person does not know bible exists. A stupid person knows it is there but ignores it.}
2~~
You know that you were Gentiles,
carried
away face to face with these dumb idols,
how
so ever you were led astray.
3~~
Therefore, I cause you to understand . . .
that
no one speaking by the Spirit of God
calls
Jesus accursed . . .
and
that no one can say that Jesus is the Lord . . .
but
by the Holy Spirit.
{Note: This means that while a believer is in fellowship and filled with the Spirit and under the control of the Holy Spirit . . . it is impossible to sin or call Jesus accursed. It also means that only believers in fellowhisp can truly call Jesus Christ - Lord.}
{Differences
. . . and the Holy Spirit}
4~~
Now there are diversities of {spiritual} gifts,
but
the same Spirit.
{Note: The Holy Spirit gives everyone at least one spiritual gift at the point of salvation, but each gift is mixed with that person's personality and makes it a little different.}
{Differences
. . . and the Lord}
5~~
And there are differences of administrations,
but
the same Lord.
{Note: We are still discussing spiritual gifts and how they are different. This time we are discussing areas of service. We do different things but have the same Lord.}
{Differences
. . . and God the Father}
6~~
And there are diversities of operations,
but
it is the same God Who works all in all.
{Note: We all operate under the Plan of God the Father that we are to follow. Administration, teaching, praying, giving, etc. These are all different for each believer, we all have the same God.}
7~~
But the manifestation of the Spirit {filling of the Spirit
using their different personalities}
is
given to each one
to
profit for all {believers}
on
account of spirituality.
{Some
of the Spiritual Gifts are listed in verses 8 - 12}
8-10~~
For to one {believer} is given
through
the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit . . .
the
word of wisdom {1}.
To
another the word of knowledge {2} by the same Spirit. 9~~
To
another {believer} the gift of faith {3}
in
the sphere of the operation of the Spirit
{this was the Gift of Faith which was a miraculous temporary
gift - 'mountains could be moved'.}
To
another the gifts of healing {4} by the same Spirit
{this is 'gift' - plural. There were many types of healing powers
that people had. It was a temporary gift given by God to
evangelize the masses before the Canon of Scriptures was
complete.}. 10~~
To
another {believer}, the working of miracles {5}.
{another temporary gift. No one has this gift anymore but God
directly performs miracles.}
To
another prophecy {6}
{this was the ability to accurately see what was to happen in
the future. Again was necessary for books like Revelation to be
completed.}.
To
another the gift of discerning spirits {7}
{this is the Gift of being able to tell a true teacher of doctrine
from a false teacher very quickly, once the Bible was completed,
the true doctrine was now in writing.}.
To
another kinds of languages {8}
{this gift was the ability to speak in a foreign language without
studying or even knowing the language. This gift allowed people
to evangelize people in their own language so they would
understand.}.
To
another the gift of interpretation of languages {9}
{when the person with the Gift of languages spoke, the
evangelized gentiles would 'hear' in their own language the
gospel, but the Jews would think the guy speaking was off base.
This gift was to another person also not knowing the language,
but could interpret for the other believers what the first person
was saying so all would understand it was Biblically correct.}
11~~
But all these are energized by the One . . .
and
same . . . Holy Spirit . . .
distributing
to each one individually {referring to believers}
as
He will.
{Body
of Christ}
12~~
For as the body is one, and has many members,
and
all the members of that one body,
being
many, are one body forever.
So
also is The Christ {The Church/Body of Christ}.
{Note: With the definite article 'The', it refers to Christ and all members in union with him Positional Truth, union with Christ. 'Christ', without the definite article, refers to the person of Jesus.}
{Mechanics
of Positional Truth - Union with Christ}
13~~
For by the instrumentality of one Spirit are we all . . .
once
and for all . . . baptized into one body,
whether
we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether
we be bond or free;
and,
have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
{Problem
of the Spiritual inferiority complex - all parts are important -
Verses 14-31}
14~~
For the body is not one member . . . but many {parts}.
15~~
If the foot shall say - maybe it will, maybe it won't -
"Because
I am not the hand, I am not of the body".
Is
it {the foot} therefore not of the body?
16~~
And if the ear shall say,
"Because
I am not the eye, I am not of the body."
Is
it therefore not of the body?
{Note: This is the same principal as verse 15.Brother ear, for example, may have a non-obvious gift such as helps or administration. Maybe brother eye's gift was an obvious gift of the day- tongues or miracles. Brother ear feels maybe he is not saved because he can not speak in tongues. Paul gives analog in next verse. All members are important.}
17~~
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?
If
the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18~~
But now has God set the members
every
one of them in the body, as He desires.
{Note: God the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gift, at least one to each believer, as He wills. No one ever earns or deserves the gift he receives. Strictly a Grace process - based on Who and What God is - all the merit and Glory then goes to God, not to us- similar to salvation itself - by faith - it is a Gift of God, not of works lest any one should boast.}
19~~ And if they were all one member, where is the body?
{Note: Say we were all a 'bunch of eyes', where would the body be? If everyone had the gift of healing, but no teachers or administrators where would we be? Balance is needed. Teamwork.}
20~~ But now are they many members but one body.
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."
22~~
No, much more those members of the body
which
seem to be more feeble {without apparent usefulness}
are
necessary.
{Principal
of Invisible Hero's in the Body of Christ}
23~~
And those members of the body,
which
we think to be not honored,
upon
these we bestow more abundant honor.
And
our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
{Note: Think how important is the digestive tract, yet if you got to chose the part you would be, who would be the intestines? But they are important.}
24~~
For our comely parts have no need {to be publicly displayed}
but
God has tempered the body together
having
given more abundant honor
to
that part which lacked {praise}.
25~~For
the purpose that
there
should be no division/strife in the body.
But
that the members should have the same care one for another.
26~~And
whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it.
Or,
one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27~~ Now you all are the body of Christ and members in it.
{Spiritual
Gifts listed in order of merit}
28~~
And God has appointed in the church:
first
Apostles,
second
prophets,
third
teachers, after that
powers
{miracles - 4}, then
gifts
of healings {5},
helps
{6},
administration
{7}, and of
tongues
{8-speaking in a foreign language unknown to the speaker}.
{Leadership/Communication
Type Gifts}
29~~
Are all Apostles? No.
Are
all prophets? No.
Are
all teachers? No.
Are
all workers of miracles? No.
{Temporary
Gifts Used in a Spectacular Fashion to Evangelize before the Canon
was Complete}
30~~
Have all the gifts of healing? No.
Do
all speak with tongues? No.
Do
all interpret? No.
{The
More Excellent Way}
31~~
But you all covet earnestly the best gifts,
but
I will demonstrate to you a more excellent way.
{Note: The Corinthians all wanted the spectacular spiritual gifts. Paul will now explain to the 'more excellent way in Chapter 13 -the filling of the Holy Spirit . . . Agape love.}
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