1 Corinthians 12:9, Part 1: Faith

As we continue through this chapter, we must keep in mind how Paul prefaces this section: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” He is not focused on the self, but on the congregation.  Congregational edification is key.

·       V.9: Paul moves to the next two gifts of the Holy Spirit: faith and healing.  Every believer has faith, so what does Paul mean by this? Does his teaching here promote the idea that every believer can heal? Let’s take a look.

o   Faith: The ESV Hebrew-Greek Study Bible defines faith, the Greek pistis, in this way: “Moral conviction…of religious truth or the truthfulness of God, reliance upon Christ for salvation, constancy in such profession, firm persuasion, confiding belief in the truth.” This word, pistis, is the same word Paul uses in Ephesians when he states, “[B]y grace you have been saved, through pistis….” Although God’s grace is unmerited by us, it is conditional in that it requires faith and repentance.  Therefore, we can make the claim that if you call yourself a Christian, you must have faith to be saved.  Why, then, would Paul list faith as a spiritual gift if it is common to all believers? Let us hearken back to the preceding context that there are varieties of gifts that the Holy Spirit distributes to each believer, individually.  And let us glance at the subsequent section of chapter 12, in which Paul explores the significance of having a variety of spiritual gifts in the church (12:12-30).  So we can be confident that the gift of faith is something uniquely distributed, set apart from general faith.

-Also, the Greek word “another” is allos, which is defined as “another, but of the same kind.”  Allos refers to another numerically.  This is opposed to the other Greek word for another, éteros, which means “another of a different kind.” This éteros refers to another qualitatively.  So what are we to do with this? Well, it appears that Paul is referring to faith, which is something all believers have in common.  But he used the word allos to point to the fact that the special gift of the Holy Spirit is something that varies from common faith quantitatively.  In other words, the one with the gift of faith has a greater measure of faith than the normal Christian.  It isn’t greater in quality, but in quantity.  The one with the gift of faith has a deeper moral conviction of religious truth or the truthfulness of God, a greater reliance upon Christ for salvation, more constancy in the profession of his faith, a firmer persuasion, and a stricter confiding belief in the truth.  This seems like such a wonderful thing for the individual, doesn’t it? How, then, is such a gift used for the common good?

-Jesus is the perfect example of unwavering faith.  For three years, he traveled around with disciples who had weak faith.  Rather than boast of his firm trust in God, condemn them for not being true believers, or tell them to just “trust God,” He did and said things that benefited those who were weaker in faith.  In Matthew 8, the disciples are terrified that the storm will overwhelm them while they are in the boat.  Jesus points out their little faith, but does not leave it at that.  He calms the storm.  In Matthew 16, the disciples are anxious over the fact that they do not have bread.  Jesus refers back to the moment when He multiplied the five loaves for the five thousand, and warns the disciples of the teachings of the Pharisees.  In Matthew 17, we see that the disciples are unable to heal a boy who has seizures.  Jesus bemoans the little faith of His disciples, but then He casts the demon out of the boy.  In each instance, He gives or demonstrates His immense faith.  Imagine how the disciples must have reacted! I can see them saying, “Wow, I want to have that kind of unshakeable faith in God! I want Him to increase my faith!” (Luke 17:5).

-From these examples in Scripture, we can see that those with a weaker faith are less trusting that God will calm the storm.  They are anxious over trivial, everyday matters, such as not knowing how they will be fed.  They doubt the power of God.  I think it’s safe to say that this is most of us! Not all of us have an immovable trust that everything is in God’s hands, and that it will all work together for our good.  We may express that boldly, but actually believing it with constancy takes greater faith.

-The one with the gift of faith should do and say things that show other believers why they have a reason to be confident in their convictions.  Let them show their faith by their deeds (James 2:18).  I don’t think those with this gift have a license to criticize their fellow believers for not having enough faith.  Only the Son of God could bemoan the weak faith of others without being haughty or self-righteous, so we must be careful not to crush those we claim to love with words such as, “You just don’t have enough faith” or “If you had more faith, this would happen for you.” No, he who has been gifted with faith by the Holy Spirit should seek how he may be of maximum benefit to his brothers who are weaker, and who are growing in their faith.  If you have not love, you are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).  Do you have the gift of faith, O Christian? Then ask the Lord how you may be a model of that unwavering trust for the growth and encouragement of the saints.  Don’t criticize.  Don’t boast.  Love and guide your brothers and sisters.

Rose-Gold Petals

You showed me the picture;
The ring sparkled with unmatched elegance.
Expensive, no doubt,
And we were not quite ready for that.

But I was your beast, and you were my beauty,
So I sought the perfect ring when you didn't know;
I would not stop searching until I found it:
The diamond set in rose-gold petals.

You spoke of our wedding, and of the colors therein;
You claimed God showed you we would get a house together;
You said you thought I was the one,
And so with great joy I found the ring and bought it.

Six weeks later, you repeated to me the dreadful words,
"I just don't feel the same way that you feel about me."
And I panicked as you slipped away from me again,
Farther away than you had before.

The diamond set in rose-gold petals remains
In a box in a drawer in a room,
Unused, unseen, useless, abandoned.
Forsaken from its intended purpose.

Everything else I have cast aside;
All memories of you I have deleted or destroyed.
Why can't I let go of this one trinket,
The last emblem of my affection for you?

Perhaps it is the hopeless romantic,
The part of me that never fully resigns.
But resign I must, and come to comprehend
That the ring will never sit on your finger.

Reflections on Madison

On Sunday, July 22, during my vacation in Milwaukee, I decided to drive to the State Capitol after church.  I figured that a leisurely stroll through an old building (created by men with God-given ingenuity) and a restful afternoon beside Lake Monona would be a great way to spend the Sabbath.  The church service I had attended was really encouraging, and undoubtedly I took something away from the sermon that was preached.  Little did I know that my lessons for the day were far from over.

I approached the building from the southeast side, feeling as if I had suddenly walked upon a small slice of Rome.  Every foot of the edifice is awe-inspiring: the Corinthian columns with their intricate capitals; the elaborate friezes; the numerous sculptures that mottle the estate; the exquisite manner in which the staircases were formed; the minute details of foliage at the crest of almost every window; and of course, the dome rising higher than every building in the city.  Inside, the art on the walls and ceilings is breathtaking, as well as the various monuments and overall architecture.  Near the highest point of the interior, they allow you to circle the base of the dome and examine pictures and preserved items from the early 1900s (when the capitol was built).  Being a native Californian, I am fond of Sacramento's capitol; however, I have to admit that Madison is the victor on this one.

After spending about an hour inside the building, I went back outside to get some more pictures of the exterior (I brought my wonderful digital camera with me).  However, I had done quite a bit of walking, and so I rested on a bench and began to post some of my pictures on Instagram.  Due to a glare from the sun, I squinted hard at my phone.  It was at this moment that a man looked over at me from maybe fifteen feet away and said, "Those phones don't get any smarter, you know!" A young woman who was with him (I'm guessing they were both in their early thirties) chuckled at his joke.  I laughed and responded, "It doesn't help that I'm four phones behind the newest model!" as I continued to post my pictures.  The man sat next to me on the bench and introduced himself.

Immediately, I noticed three things: his breath was heavy with the smell of alcohol, he sat very close to me, and his voice was overtly effeminate.  We shook hands and I told him my name.  After this, he looked closely at me and asked, "Did you see the inside of the capitol?" I replied that I had, and that I thought it was amazing.  He peered into my eyes then and asked me, "But did you see?" I informed him that I had spent an hour inside just looking at everything, so I'm pretty sure I saw.  But I had a feeling this wasn't the kind of seeing he wanted from me.  He stood up, reached out his hand, and softly said, "Come with me." The young woman continued her bout of chuckling.  I didn't really want to go with him, to be honest, but I appreciated his philosophical question and his soft-spoken manner.  So I agreed and followed him.

As he gave me a mini tour of the exterior, he pointed out many parts of the building.  "This was built in the 1800s," he told me.  "Everything you see was not made by a machine, but by hand.  Every column, every stair, every frieze, every sculpture....All of it was made by hand.  See the sculpture on top of the building? That's Lady Liberty! Americans didn't design the capitol; they brought over Italian architects to create it." He provided further information in this vein.  Between each factoid was a small period of silence, only broken by his intermittent question: "Did you know?" When I answered that I did not know, he would tell me, "Now you know."

As the tour progressed, he became increasingly affectionate; he would brush my arm with his hand, place a hand on my shoulder, etc.  This made me extremely uncomfortable, and I think he noticed that I was inching away from him every time he made such a move.  I was also somewhat annoyed by his assumption that I was not properly awed by the building, but I did check my heart and observed that perhaps I was not as appreciative of the amount of energy and effort it took to build the edifice as I should have been.  And even though he was well on the way to drunkenness, the young man had a great point when he stated, "All of this took thousands of man-hours to build.  So many men put so much energy into this.  And yet you can capture all of it with a click of a button on your camera." I failed to hide my underlying annoyance during our "tour," so he stopped near the end and asked, "Are you interested? Because if you're not interested, this is a waste of my time." I responded, "I am interested, and I don't believe anything is really a waste of time." He scoffed.  "Typical Californian attitude." Deciding I needed to be slow to anger and try to weave faith into the conversation, I said softly, "I think it's more of a Christian attitude, personally.  God is in everything, even in potentially 'wasteful' situations...so I don't think anything is a waste of time." He thought about that.  "I'm not Christian, so I wouldn't know.  Come on, come with me."

He led me to the bottom of some stairs, where he pointed at a dark sculpture of the person he called "Lady Liberty."  After asking if he could take some pictures of me and the capitol with my camera (I was somewhat apprehensive about this, since I feared he would drop the camera in his tipsiness; but I agreed), he told me, "Kory, this is where we leave." He invited me to have cocktails with him and the young woman, but I declined, since I do not drink alcohol, I still wanted to see more of the capitol, and I was feeling uncomfortable around him.  But I thanked him for all of the factoids and for taking the time to talk to me.  I extended my arm to shake his hand, but he embraced me and kissed my ear.  Then we parted ways.

Reader, I will be honest with you: as I walked away from that man, I felt nauseous.  Never in my life have I received any kind of unsolicited physical affection, particularly from the same sex.  I approached the building again, praying for myself and also for the man's salvation.  I asked that God would bring to his attention the little seed that I tried to plant: that God is in everything (He is sovereign and involved in the small details, after all).  I also asked that the annoyance I displayed during our "tour" would not give Christians a bad name.  In fact, I felt a conviction that I should have acted more upbeat and invited his info more readily.

About half an hour later, I went to the Internet to check some of the information the man had given me.  I always want to make sure I am receiving accurate information, just as the Bereans did (Acts 17:10-11).  It turns out that most of the "facts" he gave me were not true at all.  Although I will not provide all the details here, I will say that Italian architects did not design the capitol (it was George B. Post from New York), the current building was not built in the 1800s, and the statue on top of the building is not Lady Liberty (they call her "Wisconsin").  I'm not sure where the man got his information...or perhaps the alcohol mixed up his facts.

But reader, I don't want you to think I posted this story to make fun of the man.  While the way he acted toward me was unwarranted, I really admire some things about him.  He was gentle, soft-spoken, informative, and thought-provoking.  He challenged me to stop and think about what I was seeing, and reflect on how much effort men put into beautifying such an incredible edifice.  In my research, I learned that the stonemasons had purposely left the designs at the top of one exterior window asymmetrical because, in their words, "Only God is perfect." The young man's information was the impetus for that research.  Furthermore, he was attentive and very friendly toward all strangers we walked past during our tour.

I began to ask myself how differently Christ would have looked if I had met Him outside the capitol building, face-to-face, that day.  Would He not have been gentle, soft-spoken, informative, and thought-provoking? Would He not have been kind to passing strangers? Don't we see that in the gospels? How is it that this man, smelling of alcohol and not a Christian, was able to emulate our Lord and Savior better than we do at times? Sure, I don't think Jesus would be all that interested with the efforts that men put into creating a building.  Nonetheless, He said things that caused people to think outside the box; indeed, many of His words offended and probably even annoyed others.  This young man went out of his way to share untruths with a (partially) willing listener.  I pray for myself and any Christians who read this: may we be gentle and informative as we go out of our way to share the Truth with willing listeners.

1 Corinthians 12:8: Wisdom and Knowledge

·       V.8: If we consider Paul’s purpose in writing this, we will perceive that he is not trying to educate the Corinthians on the meanings of the listed spiritual gifts.  Either they know what these gifts are through a previous teaching from Paul, or he does not consider it essential to define them.  He lists the gifts but does not write a dissertation on each.  Paul seems more interested in telling the Corinthians that the variety of spiritual gifts is for the benefit of the church, and that one gift should not be elevated above another (verses 14-26).  I should also note that there is no hint this list exhaustively covers every spiritual gift, especially considering that there are other lists in Romans 12 and Ephesians 4.

·       Even though he does not describe each gift, the fact that they are mentioned at all is significant.  Let’s look at each gift and see what we can learn about it solely based on what the words meant in the original Greek.  I believe that we must be cautious, not adding anything to the text other than what is there; otherwise, we might end up inventing a spiritual gift!

o   Utterance of wisdom: The word “utterance” is the familiar Greek “logos,” which means “word.” This word is usually spoken, which is likely why the ESV translators decided to go with “utterance.” Logos also connotes rationality, which is why we have the English word “logic.” The utterance of wisdom appears to be an informed, spoken word.  What is the content of this informed, spoken word? It is an utterance of sophia, wisdom.  The following definitions of sophia come from the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: “Skill in the affairs of life, practical wisdom, wise management as shown in forming the best plans and selecting the best means, including the idea of sound judgment and good sense….Natural and moral insight, learning, science, implying cultivation of mind and enlightened understanding….The ability to regulate one’s relationship with God.” This minimal text does not seem to teach that we are to approach a brother or sister, give them a new, special revelation from the Lord, and claim it was a word of wisdom. No, it does not even imply a spontaneous “Thus sayeth the Lord” moment.  It pictures the idea of someone being especially empowered by the Holy Spirit to give valuable, insightful instruction on how to proceed in life or in a particular circumstance.  Also important to note is that Proverbs declares, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Someone who is wise will have a deep fear of the Lord.  It is right of us to be skeptical of someone’s advice if he or she has no relationship with God or is very unlearned in what God declares in His Word.  Christians are capable of steering someone in the wrong direction if they are not saturated in God’s truth.  One who has the gift of the utterance of wisdom will (or should) not be one who promotes worldly ideals and philosophies, particularly if they contradict the wisdom found in Scripture.

o   Utterance of knowledge: To know something is to have a firm intellectual grasp of it.  In the New Testament, it commonly refers to knowledge of Christian doctrine.  The word in the Greek here is “gnosis,” which comes from the root word “ginosco.”  (Note: If any Spanish speakers are reading this, note that “ginosco” sounds almost identical to “conozco,” a verb generally used to refer to personal knowledge of a person or place).  It is from this Greek word that we get the English word “cognizant,” which means “intellectually aware.”  The person with an utterance of knowledge has received a disclosure of this knowledge, somehow.  Charismatic circles might claim that this intellectual awareness, expressed verbally for the edification of other believers, is spontaneously prompted by the Holy Spirit.  Conservative circles might declare that this gift, while also from the Holy Spirit, is less of a spontaneous gift and more of one that is nurtured by regular communion with scriptural truths—and declared vocally for the edification of other believers.  What do I believe? I do not think there is enough information in the text to make a definitive stance on one or the other.  This might have been a well-known gift at the time of Paul’s writing, but we simply do not have enough context to definitively state that the utterance of knowledge is a spontaneous prompting or something that the Spirit empowers the believer to boldly provide after long-term review of doctrine.  However, I will say that it would be unwise for one to claim to have the gift of the utterance of knowledge and do nothing to increase his understanding of theology.  God may grant someone amazing musical talent, but if the musician does not reinforce his comprehension of his instruments with regular practice, he is not being a good steward of the gift that God has entrusted to him.  I believe it is much the same with the utterance of knowledge.  Vocalize what you know for the edification of believers, but do not be presumptuous that the Holy Spirit does not want you to know more of the deep things of God.

In His Hands

Lord of Hosts,
How great is Your love for Your people;
Its richness cannot be fathomed by any in heaven or on earth,
And its depths will never be plumbed by man or angel.
The King of Kings, the friend of sinners,
Never experienced a moment's disobedience,
And was wholly unacquainted with failure--
But still it pleased You to crush Him.

The One who did not spare His own Son, the perfect God-Man,
But delivered Him up for the transgressions of many--
Surely this is the God who will uphold us in the trial
And whose great love we can never escape.
Think you, O saved one, secure in His salvation,
That you can flee too far from His presence,
That you can ascend the highest mount or descend the deepest sea,
And remove His favor from you eternally?

No, height nor depth can separate you from the love of God,
And mimicking Jonah's cowardly flight before Him
Will not exempt You from his ever-present love,
And His mercies which are new every morning.
He does not love as man loves,
And is not fickle in His affections for us.
We can be confident that we are forever safe in His hands
And that our resting place is a sure promise.

Praying for Those in Authority

Today, I overheard someone speaking negatively about President Trump.  That seems to be the popular thing to do these days.  Navigate to any renowned news website and I can almost guarantee that within 30 seconds, you will find an article or picture that attempts to discredit, disfigure, or disqualify Trump.  It is easy to do, and these news sources are having a field day--or field year--with it.

Yes, you can be a Christian and disagree with some of Trump's policies, his demeanor, and his words.  I do not consider myself extraordinarily political (and I tend to hold my tongue when groups are having political debates), but I will admit that I sometimes cringe at the tweets that come from the president's Twitter page.  We are to be discerning, after all, and well-versed in biblical matters so that we can compare a leader's words against the teaching of Scripture.  In fact, I would actually consider it unwise for us to be readily ignorant of a leader's willful and frequent departure from the teaching of the Bible, particularly if he or she claims to be a genuine follower of Christ.  However, there is a wide gap between readily ignorant and hypercritical.

It is easy for us as believers to criticize.  It would be easy for me, even now, to attempt to discredit Trump's faith by stacking up evidence of his belittling of others, mockeries, etc.  But what is that going to accomplish? The same Word that tells us to watch out for wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15) also tells us to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).  It does not tell us to verbally assault, belittle, slander, scoff at, gossip about, or mock those in authority.

Let us say that, hypothetically, Trump is not a genuine follower of Jesus Christ.  Do we then have the right to slander and dishonor him? No.  Peter, an eyewitness of our Lord, told his brethren to "honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17).  Most scholars believe that this emperor was Nero, known for his persecution of Christians.  If Peter commanded believers to honor such a malevolent figure, do you really think he would change his advice regarding how believers ought to esteem Trump? I doubt it.  Actually, "I doubt it" isn't good enough.  The Word of God never changes, so the answer is a solid "no."

We are not only to honor Trump, but we are to follow Paul's command in 1 Timothy to make petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving for him.  Yes, thanksgiving.  You don't know what to be thankful for when it comes to President Trump? Research until you find something.  If you notice his speech not lining up with that which should display Christian character, pray for his maturity.  If you doubt that he is truly saved, intercede by asking God to awaken him to salvation (or to grow him if he is saved).  If you doubt that various measures he implements are for the good of society, lift up your petitions to God.

Maybe you are a believer who never says anything negative about President Trump.  Maybe you're already praying for him all the time.  Awesome! But remember that the title of this blog post is "Praying for Those in Authority." Do you ever slander or dishonor your boss? A manager? Your husband? Someone else's husband? Your mother or father? Someone else's parents? Anyone in a position of authority? Reread this post and ask yourself how any of it might apply to these sorts of leaders.  As I said, it is easy for us believers to criticize.  I posit that we ask God to help us to be less critical and more prayerful.  Let us be obedient in petitioning, praying, interceding, and giving thanks for those in authority so "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:2).  But even more importantly, as you are doing this, know that it is good and pleasing to God (1 Timothy 2:3).

It Is Finished

Eternal Father,
I am unable to stand for a minute apart from Your grace;
Any attempt to live according to the flesh or my own ideals
Can result only in sorrow and failure.

Perhaps this was the lesson,
The understanding You desired Your people to come to.
Left to their own devices, Israel spiraled into idolatry
And offered sacrifices in attempted atonement.

But only the Messiah could bring reconciliation;
Only the Savior could satisfy Your righteous wrath.
And in Your goodness You have disclosed
That it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

And beyond this You have also made known
That apart from Christ I can do nothing--
So why is it that I turn to the world for comfort
Or hope in man rather than in God?

To live as if Christ is not my all-in-all,
As if I have not been grafted into this olive tree,
Is to seek a slavery of the past
And to long for chains over liberty.

But Your new creation was never meant for chains;
Your people were not freed to turn to their own ways or ideals.
No, they were called to be bondservants of Christ,
To rejoice in service to the One who bought them.

O Lord, grant that I, Your child,
Come to a deeper and richer understanding
That all fleshly efforts of mine are ever insufficient,
But that in my Lord Jesus, "It is finished!"

Preservation

High King of Heaven,
I stand in awe of Your hand in my life
And Your presence in all circumstances.
I can declare with happy certainty
That You never forsake or give up on me,
That You never tell me I'm not enough.
For although I am not enough,
Your Son's sacrifice has given me a righteous standing,
And so I am pure in Your sight.

How good You are, O God!
Countless times You have saved me from myself
And left me not to my own devices.
"This is the way I must go," thought I,
But in Your unfathomable lovingkindness
You safeguarded me in my naivete.
If I had been the shepherd of my ways
Or the captain of my own soul,
Surely I would have plunged my life into the deepest chasm.

But though my flesh, and Satan, and my enemies rise up,
My blessed destination is declared secure,
And nothing will derail me on this track of life.
You will preserve me amidst the turmoil
And ensure that all things work for my good--
Even when all seems evil before me.
I am not alone,
For my Father is with me
And He will uphold me all the days of my life.

1 Corinthians 12 Exposition: Verses 1-7

V.1: It is significant that Paul opens this section by expressing that he does not want the Corinthians to be uninformed about spiritual gifts. We must read his words carefully and frame them within the literary and historical context so we, too, can be properly informed.

V.2: The word “pagans” is often translated as “Gentiles.” When they were unregenerate, the Corinthians were led astray by idols. The implication is that they are no longer Gentiles, so they must no longer be led astray.

V.3: Now that the Corinthians are no longer led astray by mute idols, but follow the true God who has disclosed His truth, they must be discerning. If someone claims to be speaking according to the Holy Spirit, he will be unable to say that God does not favor the Son (and there are some cults in existence that would lessen the esteem that the Father has for Christ). Similarly, it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that one can perceive that Jesus is Lord. I will here quote Steve Lewis from spiritandtruth.org: “Spectacular behavior, even if it has the appearance of being under the influence of a higher power, is no guarantee of divine inspiration. The true test of whether the Spirit is at work is a test of correct doctrine.”

V.4: Only one Spirit disburses the “charisma” granted to the people of God. These gifts or abilities originate from one source, which is part of the united Trinity. Even though there are “diversities” or “divisions” of gifts, the recipients must be unified under the one Spirit.

V.5: Just as there is a diversity of gifts but one Spirit, there is a diversity of ministries but one Lord.

V.6: The word “activities” here comes from the Greek energeō, which in turn finds its root in the word energēs. This is a compound word combining “en” (in) and “ergon” (work). There is an inner working within every believer, a certain empowerment granted to each. If Paul were to end his thought there, then perhaps believers would have a reason to boast in their empowerment. However, he completes his thought by explaining that it is God who empowers these “energies” in the Christian. Interestingly, the word “empowers” comes from the same root from which “activities” is derived. The inner working within the believer is worked in him by God. Note that it says God empowers these activities in everyone. No believer is left without some sort of empowerment.

V.7: “To each” means “to every man separately.” This is a gift uniquely given to each individual without discrimination. The word “manifestation” comes from a word that means “to be made known, clearly or publicly.” In other words, it is something that is brought to the surface—not hidden. This does not mean it should be put on display in a boastful manner; it is not something to be made a spectacle. It is an apparent working or empowerment of the Holy Spirit. But how should such empowerment be used? What is the function of the inner working within the believer? Is it to make himself known, to bring himself glory and fame, to aid him in his quest through life, or to boost his self-esteem? No. Amazingly, the function of the believer’s gift is external. The term “common good” in Greek means “to bring together for everyone, in the sense of contributing.” The Christian is empowered not for himself, but rather for contribution to others.

-Is that the view of charisma in the church today? Are you being taught that your gift is for your own personal aid and edification, or for the edification of others? And if the empowerment granted you is, in fact, a gift from God, then are you giving Him all the glory for any exercise of your gifting? If man praises you for your giftedness, are you pointing to God as the giver? I must echo Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 4:7: “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

1 Corinthians 12 Historical Context

The historical context of chapter 12 is also the greater literary context of Paul's letter.  He had several purposes in writing to the Corinthian church:

1. Praising the church's giftedness in all speech and all knowledge
2. Discouraging disunity, jealousy, and immoral living
3. Defending his apostleship
4. Addressing sexual immorality in the church and disputes among believers
5. Encouraging marriage due to lust, and encouraging singleness for those who are capable
6. Discussing food sacrificed to idols, the consciences of "weak" and "strong" believers, the importance of denying one's rights for the sake of the gospel and the consciences of others, and not being mastered by any idol
7. Head coverings and hair length in promotion of orderly worship services and biblical marriage roles

The Corinthian church appears to have enjoyed great giftedness (1:4-5) and were commended for following traditions that Paul passed on to them (11:2). Even though there was carnality, misapprehension of doctrine, and immaturity in the congregation, Paul referred to them as saints (1:2). One must ask why Paul went to such lengths to give detailed accounts of doctrine in two canonical letters of Scripture, as well as two letters that have been lost to us (see http://evidenceforchristianity.org/did-paul-write-other-letters-what-about-3rd-corinthians/). There is no need to provide detailed doctrine to those who know it well. But as Paul states,

"I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?" (3:1-3).

Infants need to be informed regularly so they can grow and mature in understanding. No parent wants his or her child to remain youthfully minded forever; it is important that the child grow into an adult, capable of correct apprehension of subjects and the ability to navigate through life. One earmark of the carnal mind, Paul seems to be saying, is "strife and jealousy." He does not want the Corinthians to be at odds with one another, but unified. It is this thread that carries through his obvious frustration over their lawsuits with other believers in 1 Corinthians 6 ("To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you" [v.7]).

By the time we reach 1 Corinthians 11, Paul commends the believers for adhering to the traditions of husband-and-wife conduct in the church. But just as he is later adamant that believers understand why they are taking the Lord's Supper (11:27-29), he is here adamant that the husbands in the church understand why they are not wearing head coverings or growing out their hair, and that the wives in the church understand why they are wearing head coverings and maintaining long hair. Moral and biblical conduct are critical, but Paul wants his hearers to be informed of why they do what they do, and unified in doing it.

If it is true, then, that Paul wants the recipients of his letter to be informed and unified, then this is the lens we must look through while analyzing 1 Corinthians 12. And the chapter does, in fact, begin with Paul saying, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed" (12:1). This is a topic about which it is easy to be misinformed. So he will explain to them the nature of spiritual gifts and God's intended function for them. It as if Paul is saying, "You are blessed with spiritual gifts. But I want you to understand why you have these gifts, and I want you to be unified in exercising them."

Now that we have examined the literary and historical context, we will begin the exposition of the text.

1 Corinthians 12 Literary Context

I will now begin an exposition of 1 Corinthians 12, using chapters 10 and 11 as the context in which these verses are framed.  I will also provide some historical data that is relevant to the passage.  I believe this chapter is frequently misunderstood.  Paul told the recipients of his letter that he did not want them to be uninformed concerning spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1), and I believe he would not want us to be uninformed, either.  I pray that this study would remain faithful to the original meaning of the text, and that brothers and sisters in Christ would find it encouraging.

• Paul has just finished warning the Corinthians against giving offense to anyone, including the church of God; he has also stated that he tries to please everyone in everything he does, not seeking his advantage but that of many (1 Cor. 10:32-33).
• With that in mind, he commends the Corinthians for adhering to one tradition he passed down: the custom of exposing or covering one’s head during a worship service.  In that society, an uncovered head symbolized rank and authority, whereas a covered head symbolized subjection and submission. The men are to leave their heads uncovered during prayer and prophecy, since they are the image and glory of God.  For the man to cover his head, he would dishonor his “head,” namely, God.  For the woman to uncover her head, she would dishonor her “head,” namely, her husband.  Both must operate within the prescribed roles God has assigned to them—man as the figure of authority and leadership, and woman as the one in subjection to his leadership.  If a wife were to shave her head or remove the veil during prayer or prophecy, she would be making a public statement that she is of equal authority with her husband—which would be disgraceful.  Paul ends the section by declaring that the uncovering or covering of one’s head is practiced by the churches of God, so one ought not to be contentious with the practice.  (Of course, this practice is not present in our culture.  However, Paul’s primary concern is that we operate in the roles God has assigned to us, particularly in marriage.  The husband is the authority and leader, and the wife is subject to him.  He warns wives against acting in a manner that usurps—or appears to usurp—the authoritative role of the husband.)
• Paul does not commend the Corinthians for the manner in which they celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  Apparently, some Corinthians were hungry before taking the supper, so they gathered a great heap of food and wine and ignored other members in the church.  Some were getting drunk while others went hungry.  We must remember Paul’s earlier words about not giving offense to anyone, and about trying to please everyone in everything he does—not seeking his own advantage but that of many.  That idea must linger in the background of our minds as we examine subsequent passages.  Inhibiting others from partaking in the Lord’s Supper is not in keeping with Christian kindness or self-deprecation.  He warns the saints that it is dangerous to eat the bread and drink the cup in an unworthy manner; some have done so and fallen ill or died.  It is proper to be discerning and self-reflective during the Lord’s Supper.

Deliverance

Your perfect Word stands firm in its promise:
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Your chosen people, Your royal priesthood
Are tasked with the troubles that characterize this world;
Our faith does not ensure a painless life.

We will face sorrow, fear, doubt, and injury
As we cling with everything to our beloved Savior,
But the enemy and our flesh wage war upon us.

We declare the sufficiency of Your Word
And announce the unchanging doctrines of the faith,
But are met with contention even by those who claim to be Your own.

With hopeful tears we proclaim Your grace and mercy,

But in turn are mocked and ridiculed

By a loveless and perverse people in a crooked generation.

Herein lies the blessing and curse of the child of God:

That he is blessed by his gentle Savior

Even as he is cursed by those who are worldly.

But may you be praised, O Lord Almighty!

For You have seen fit to make the blessing heavier than the curse,

To make the joy of salvation greater than the insult.

Cast your words at me, O enemy!

Join in the chorus of degradation, O scoffer!

For my Lord and God is not deaf to your scornful assault.

My sorrow before your violence may last for a season,

But His love and mercy last for eternity;

On them shall I fix my eyes.

Heavenly Father, thank you for considering us worthy

Of being hated with Your beloved Son

And for promising us deliverance from every snare.

Self-Righteous Doubt

O Lord of Lords,
How my soul desires and needs the Comforter
To drive away weariness and bestow healing.
Long have I suffered
Under the critical eye and contentious tongue
Of my ruthless enemy.
The never-ending questioning of my passion
And the distrust of my knowledge of Your love
Have worn me to the bone.
The scolding of my sensitive and gentle nature
Has prompted me to flood my bed with tears
And made my eyes weak with sorrow.

How long, O Lord, how long?
But I will remember the kindness of my Savior

And His promise to take my burden and give me rest.

And yet I will remember this also:

That our enemy, that old serpent, called the Devil,

Is labelled the accuser of the brethren.

So here I stand accused, O God,

A finger pointed at my spiritual welfare;

A self-righteous doubt of my love for You.

But You know, Lord, You know,

And to my enemy you gently but firmly declare,

"Let Him without sin cast the first stone."

Insults

Insults! Accusations! Judgments!
All have been lobbed at me
By one who professes Christ, but loves me not.
With bitter words this child has wounded me;
With unforgiveness this babe has assaulted my name
And the work of the Spirit in my life.

I extended apology and received scorn;
I attempted to make amends, but was smitten with degradation,
Whilst my identity in Christ was criticized.
O Lord, how my flesh longs to crush this rival,
To rise up with eloquent words and destroy every argument--
Yet You have called me to love.

My Savior was questioned, but He answered with kindness;
Reviled, but He never reviled in return,
Even though He would have been just in His defense.
Instead, He left all in Your sovereign hands,
Likely recalling that vengeance is Yours.
"I will repay," says the Lord.

Thus I ask that You would increase my love
And decrease my anger, unless it be righteous,
All the while working on the heart of my foe.
May Your child, if Your child she be,
Have the clarity to see the plank in her own eye
As You remove her focus from the speck in mine.