1 Corinthians – Study 9
1 Corinthians 12
Recap
1. What were the key ideas/themes of chapter 11?
Chapter 11 is divided into two ideas;
a) On how we as a Christian brothers and sisters supposed to worship in church,
b) and correct practice of the Lord’s Supper, and how it should be representative of the Church’s unity.
Read 1 Cor 12:1-11
2. List the spiritual gifts that Paul mentions.
· Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation. (Can’t argue with Son here!)
Read Eph 4:7-12
3. What is Paul trying to tell the Corinthians, and the Ephesians, about spiritual gifts? Where do they come from? For what purpose are they given?
In both readings, Paul emphasizes the common origin of spiritual gifts, and as to the common goal such gifts are to directed towards.
In 1 Cor 12, Paul devotes a majority of the passage to describe how the Holy Spirit is the giver of a diversity of spiritual gifts (v4, v11). No matter the gift given however, its goal is to work ‘for the common good’ (v7). Common good is left as a general statement, to which the second passage provides a bit more light!
In Eph 4:7-12, Paul instead chooses to concentrate on Christ’s desire to build up the Church as the reason behind the different roles/talents that a gifted to Christians throughout the community.
A nice little complement can be seen between the two readings, where in 1 Cor Paul writes that the proclamation that Jesus is Lord is in of itself conferred by the Holy Spirit, where in Ephesians Paul instead concentrates on Christ as the give of gifts.
Read 1 Cor 12:12-26
4. Explain how the metaphor of a physical human body is used to illustrate the body of Christ. (In what ways is the body of Christ – the church – like a physical body?)
Pauls body analogy is used to explain how diversity amongst the Christian body is not a justification to segregate a group of people from the wider community. In fact, Paul goes further with his analogy put arguing that just as a body is the sum total of its parts, so too is the Church body incomplete if it chooses to ignore part of its congregation, or a group willingly distances itself from the rest of the community.
The second concept that Paul develops throughout 12-26 is the interdependence between members within the Church. The specific functions of each body part serve to fulfil a part of the Church’s’ needs, yet without the cooperation of everyone else within the community the Church’s’ overall purpose is not achieved.
In Dota, a team of Carry’s does not win the day…
Read 1 Cor 12:27-31 and Rom 12:4-8
5. How should we view the different spiritual gifts?
In neither reading does Paul point set out an order of gifts from most to least important. In Christ, each gift fulfils a different yet equally valued function.
Whatever the gift is, make sure that it is used to the utmost of its potential! Christ’s gifts are the product of our salvation through Him, and what better way is there to show appreciation for a gift then by its constant usage?
6. What is the common theme covered by Chapters 11 and 12?
· Unity in the church. Chapter 11 talks about honouring God in an appropriate way, not hindering others from worshipping, and recognising the body of Christ at the Lord’s supper. Chapter 12 talks about the body of Christ and the different gifts given, to be used to build up the body, not for self-glorification.
Now behave yourselves.
