1 Corinthians 12

Big idea: Third 'now concerning': spiritual things. The baseline test is confession ('Jesus is Lord' — only by the Spirit), and the framework is trinitarian variety-in-unity: varieties of gifts, same Spirit; of service, same Lord; of workings, same God — each manifestation given for the common profit, distributed as the Spirit wills. The body metaphor then does the heavy lifting: many members, one body; no member self-excluded by inferiority or dismissed by superiority; God composed the body giving greater honor to the lesser parts, so that members share care, suffering, and honor. You are that body. Gifts are ranked by God's appointment, none is universal — and a more excellent way is coming.

The supper chapter exposed a body that couldn't discern itself; ch. 12 teaches what the body is. Its closing tease ('a most excellent way') sets up ch. 13, and its 'for the profit of all' criterion becomes ch. 14's test of tongues and prophecy.

12:1–11 — Same Spirit, many gifts

They knew ecstatic religion as pagans — led wherever, to mute idols. The Christian criterion is different: content, not intensity. No one speaking by God's Spirit curses Jesus; no one confesses 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit. Then the triadic frame — gifts/Spirit, service/Lord, workings/God — and the purpose clause: to each the Spirit's manifestation is given for the profit of all. The sample list (wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation) is punctuated by 'the same Spirit' at every joint, and sealed by sovereignty: one and the same Spirit distributes to each one individually as he desires.

¹ Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. ² You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. ⁸ For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages. ¹¹ But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

12:12–26 — One body, many members

The body: one, with many members — 'so also is Christ,' for in one Spirit all were baptized into one body, Jew or Greek, slave or free, all given one Spirit to drink. The metaphor is then worked from both failure modes. Inferiority ('because I'm not the hand, I'm not of the body'): self-exclusion doesn't work — a body of one organ couldn't function; God set each member as he desired. Superiority ('I have no need of you'): also false — the seemingly weaker members are necessary, and we clothe the less honorable with more honor, because God composed the body, giving greater honor to the lacking part, so there be no division but mutual care: one suffers, all suffer; one honored, all rejoice.

¹² For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. ¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. ¹⁶ If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? ¹⁸ But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now they are many members, but one body. ²¹ The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, ²⁵ that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

12:27–31 — God's appointments

Application: you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. God has appointed in the assembly first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, healings, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. The rhetorical drumbeat — are all apostles? all prophets? all teachers? — expects 'no' every time: no gift is universal, so no gift can be the badge of the Spirit. Desire earnestly the greater gifts — and yet, Paul says, I show you a way beyond category altogether.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. ²⁸ God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.

Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).

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