Chapter 12
(((2021 - I just recently finished reading John MacArthur's book called "Spiritual Gifts", and my much more extensive notes on that book are included under "Book Notes". They go into far more detail than there is here. So before I start reading this year, just a little of what John says about gifts.
The newest concept to me was that of "Gifted Men". MacA says God gifted certain men, with certain abilities, as leaders of the early church, and still "gifts" men to churches in our time. A gifted man would be a pastor teacher, perhaps. There is a list of them, and the list is numbered 1, 2, 3, as to gifted men. Then it changes - the list does - from the numbered things to the gifts themselves. The numbers can be thought of as "offices" in the church. There are men gifted as teachers, for example, and teaching is also a gift given to non-office holding persons. The gifts are divided into speaking gifts and serving gifts, and these are listed in detail in those Book Notes. MacA also says that it is quite probable that there are Spiritual gifts that are not listed. He says we each receive gifts of the Spirit as appropriate to God's will for our place in the church. The gifts are for ministering to the church. So we are not exclusively limited to one each, but we each receive some appropriate combination and measure of one or more gifts. It makes sense that a gifted man - the pastor of the church - might be gifted in both knowledge and wisdom. Or wisdom and mercy. And so on.
One last point - there are a couple of statements in this passage about the role of women in churches. One that I have had some "experience" with lately is the one about women teaching. What I think this means is that no woman is to hold the OFFICE of teacher. This office is for gifted men to fill. This does not for a moment mean that no woman receives the gift of teaching. The key to compliance with these verses is in the way the gifts are applied in real life. Women can teach. Women cannot hold the office of teacher. What I think that means is that a woman should not - is in fact prohibited from - being a teacher in a class containing both men and women. I am not even sure a woman should teach a formal Sunday School class of all women, nor lead a women's seminar with all women. Surely each of these examples constitutes holding the office of "Teacher". But a woman with the gift of teaching can surely organize a Bible study with her neighbors - both men and women. She can teach her own children and/or the neighbors children. She can teach at work - she can expound spiritual principles at work. Men with the gift of teaching can all do the same. But men with the gift of teaching can also teach a Sunday School class when needed - even if they are not a specially gifted man. Preachers are called to be preachers. Gifted men as teachers are called in the same way to be teachers. But some men just have the gift, and not the calling. Hmm...that's a good way to look at it. And the other part is, some women also have the gift, but none have the calling. To think that they do is error. OK, that's enough of book review. Now to this year's reading.)))
Spiritual gifts. Paul starts by saying he doesn't want them to be uninformed. (Actually, he starts with "Now concerning spiritual gifts..." This indicates, per the MSB footnote, that Paul is about to address a question or questions sent to him from the church in Corinth.) He doesn't want them ignorant about these gifts, indicating that he considers this a pretty important question to be addressed. It is likely, based on that importance, that he will go into some extra detail/depth about the gifts. So he's about to be informational. General likely, but at least solid information.
He starts with this verse:
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit. [1Co 12:3 ESV]
So a principle (2021 - I would also call it a test, a verifier, a "prove all things"): If someone is calling Jesus accursed, that person's "message", in whatever form, whether tongues or healing or otherwise, is from the devil, and not from the Holy Spirit. That person is NOT to be believed or followed. On the other hand, neither Satan, nor any demon that can empower a person with the appearance of supernatural gifts, is EVER going to call Jesus Lord. A person doing signs and wonders but who won't call Jesus Lord is suspect, almost certainly demonic. A person doing all kinds of signs and wonders, who calls Jesus accursed, is doing those works of Satan. Look to what they say about Jesus, and go by that. Faith healers come to mind. If they say Jesus is Lord, and heal one in ten, then we should be glad I think. If they say Jesus is accursed, and heal ten of ten, they are deceivers, leading people astray.
2024 - But in light of "Christianity and Liberalism", what if they've redefined what the words mean so that they can say "Jesus is Lord", but what they mean is that "Jesus is the best "man", and only a man, that has ever lived, and we ought to look up to him". That doesn't fly! Think of the work, the digging, the focus on every word spoken, that is required to determine what they are really saying! Surely Paul had to deal with these same problems. The early church had to deal with it before they had the New Testament to test the teachers and pastors against. But it is necessary!
In vs 4, Paul distinguishes between gifts - different, but of same Spirit - and services - different but of the same Lord - and activities - different but of the same God. What does this mean?
(2021 - Three of them. Gifts, services, activities. I've never heard of gifts of "activities before, no one has ever said it that way to me. MacA's book didn't note this third category. Why would anyone leave it out...unless other translations don't say it this way...Yes. This verse is translated many different ways, as in they aren't really all that sure what this means...For instance:
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. [1Co 12:6 KJV]
6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. [1Co 12:6 NLT]
6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. [1Co 12:6 NIV]
6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons.] [1Co 12:6 NASB]
The Greek word is "energema", Strong's G1755. The word is only used two times in the whole Bible, both here in 1 Cor. 12. This is the only context for interpreting the word that the Bible gives. Here is how it is used in the other verse:
10 and to another the effecting[G1755] of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another [various] kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. [1Co 12:10 NASB] The effecting/accomplishing/making factual miracles. Which gift is now gone...as it is one of the sign gifts. Ahh!!!! And there it is! Speaking gifts are still here, serving gifts are still here, this third category was temporary - as affirmation that God was at work. That is why it says God here, instead of Spirit or Lord. God confirms, the Spirit speaks, the Lord serves maybe??? I don't know why I've not seen it before, but this seems to explain it very well.)
((2021-2, So three different words are used in vss 4, 5, and 6 to describe three categories of Spiritual...I will call it empowerments. Here are the verses:
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; The word translated gifts is the Greek word "charisma".
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; The Greek word for service is "diakonia"
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [1Co 12:4-6 ESV] The Greek word for activities is "energema". See the note just above for that word energema. 2024 - Our word "energy" comes from this word.
So are all the missing gifts - all the sign gifts - energema. A power wielded that defies nature? A gift that can only be done through God's help? I am not sure how we'd know....but the sign gifts are listed and underlined below.))
2024 - To do the sign gifts - like speaking in tongues (speaking a language you never learned, not speaking gibberish) and healing - is to do things that are outside what science can measure/define/reproduce. God does these things, and they appear to all who see them as miraculous. That Greek word energema tells us that these gifts are produced via an "energizing" from God - I think Paul specifically means from the Father. Jesus came to carry out the Father's plan, not his own plan. The signs that Jesus did were the visual endorsement of the Father as to the correctness of the work done by the Son. This endorsement continued into the first century church, with the apostles, along with some church members - Stephen being one specifically named - also "energized" to heal and do miracles. Once the church was firmly established, growing, and unstoppable in the world, the sign gifts were no longer needed. The endorsement was replaced completely, after a time, by the faith of those in the church, who, filled with the Holy Spirit, no longer needed to display these signs in order to bring converts into the church. As Jesus said...something along the lines of "You have faith because you see the nailprints, but blessed are those who do not see and yet have faith." That is about us, about we who believe without the signs, without the miracles, without "sight". The energema gifts are gone.
Then, through vs 11, Paul brings these three categories back together as one, each and every one empowered by the Holy Spirit. The gifts are different. Even of different character and category. But the source of all gifts is the Spirit (when we are baptized/immersed in that Spirit at the moment of salvation.)
(2021-2, This verse: 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [1Co 12:8 ESV]. Both wisdom and knowledge are "uttered". That is, both are to be spoken. That means that though revealed to one, they are strictly for the benefit of the whole, and it is therefore important that they be passed on. Maybe that's why I have this compulsion to publish my notes, menial as they are, and from a layman, not a trained scholar. My gift pushes me to pass on what I understand. I had never noticed the uttering part before.)
MSB has a very long note here. Spiritual gifts are not the same as natural talents. Both believers and unbelievers have talents, the same and different talents. No distinguishing based on talent. Gifts are sovereignly and supernaturally bestowed by the Holy Spirit on believers. These gifts are in two broad categories: speaking and serving. (Still paraphrasing the MSB note.) The speaking gifts are prophecy, knowledge, wisdom, teaching, and exhortation, the serving, or non-verbal gifts are leadership, helps, giving, mercy, faith, and discernment. These are ALL permanent gifts that will operate throughout the church age. I skip a little of MSB and then it says this: Miracles, healing, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues were temporary sign gifts limited to the apostolic age and have therefore ceased. The purpose of these temporary gifts was to authenticate the apostles and their message as the true Word of God UNTIL God's written Word was completed and became self-authenticating.
Those with supernatural gifts are always believers. Only believers receive these gifts. If you have such a gift, it is a testimony to your salvation.
However! Paul includes some of the temporary gifts in the list of gifts he presents to the Corinthians. The MSB note on vss 9 and 10 fills almost two full columns. There is a LOT here! In fact, I'm backing up to vs 8:
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [1Co 12:8 ESV]
Utterance indicates a verbal gift. From MSB:
Knowledge centers on grasping the meaning of the truth; wisdom emphasizes the practical conviction and conduct that applies it.
Wisdom is the ability to understand God's Word, and His will, and to skillfully apply that understanding to life. Knowledge is the ability to understand and speak God's truth, with insight into the mysteries of His Word, that cannot be known apart from God's revelation (in our time this means through the written word only!)
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [1Co 12:9 ESV]
Faith is persistence in prayer and endurance in intercession, along with a strong trust in God in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Healing - a temporary sign gift used by Christ (Mt. 8:16,17), the apostles (Mt 10:1), the seventy (Lk 10:1), and a few associates of the apostles such as Philip (Ac 8:5-7). This gift is specifically identified as belonging to the apostles (2Cor 12:12). MSB says many feel these healings should be common throughout every era, but in fact, they are quite rare in the entire OT. Before Jesus, there was never a time when they were common. But during the time of Christ and the apostles, healings practically exploded. "To normalize healing would be to normalize the coming of the Savior." MSB makes the case that even the apostles healing was not "universal" in any sense. Paul didn't heal himself nor ask one of the other apostles to heal him. When Timothy was sick, Paul didn't heal him he told him to drink some wine. Paul left Trophimus "sick at Miletus" rather than just heal him right up. Epaphroditus was near death but Paul didn't heal him, though he was right there. They waited for what God would do. The healing miracles therefore had a specific purpose, and that was to confirm and identify those who were bringing the true gospel, as they entered a new region. Once the veracity of the apostle had been shown with these healings, they didn't persist during the continuance of their ministry.
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [1Co 12:10 ESV]
Miracles were also a temporary sign gift. Miracles are the working of divine acts contrary to nature, so that there was no explanation for them other than the power of God. These two were for authentication of the one doing the miracles. There is no record that any of the apostles ever did a miracle in the natural realm. They never fed 5000, changed one liquid into a different liquid, walked on water, levitated, and so on. Per MSB, the miracles the apostles did were in casting out demons, and that is precisely the power that Jesus gave them. (What about raising the dead though...Peter did that. That is contrary to nature.)
Prophecy is just to speak forth or proclaim publicly. The connotation of "prediction" wasn't added until sometime in the Middle Ages.
Distinguishing of spirits - those with this gift are able to discern false teaching, false prophets, false doctrine. This one is less overt now that scripture has all been written, and this distinguishing and discernment is now based in what the Word has to say, yet some are still "acute" in their ability to recognize the lies of Satan trying to get in than others. I think of all the broken doctrines embraced by the modern church - homosexuality, women as preachers, name it claim it - and I wish this gift was a lot more widespread!
Moving on, after an hour above, to One Body Many Members. MSB note on 13 emphasizes that Paul is not even talking about water baptism here, but about being baptized by Jesus with the Spirit. Water baptism is a symbol of this, and of the unity with Christ and with the body of the church it accomplishes.
2021 - Immersion into the Spirit - submission to leadership, symbolically acknowledging that we will follow the teachings of this leader. As Israel was baptized into Moses, as John's disciples accepted as axiomatic his teaching on repentance. This is the baptism we are talking about, and baptism IN, not OF, the Holy Spirit occurs at our moment of salvation. Drinking of one Spirit implies the internal portion of this. It is not about getting your skin wet. It is about being filled, nourished, maintained, and grown by the Spirit of God in Spiritual matters.
Paul goes into great detail about the necessity of each member of the body to the functioning of the body as a whole. All parts are necessary. If one part has problems, the whole body has problems. Just as with the body, some parts are covered for modesty's sake, other parts not covered as they are more presentable. So with members of the church. Some are more "out in front", more "visible" than others, but this does not lessen the importance of those behind the curtains. The "greater" and "lesser" evaluations of various gifts are man-made, and not from God. Don't do it! Per MacA's book on this, the Corinthians were practicing their gifts as if they could choose what they got, and as if the gifts most similar to the ecstatic/frenzied/trance gifts they were used to in their previous pagan worship were the best, because they gave the most "external evidence" of being gifted. To them, visible gifts meant one was more favored by God. So those with non-speaking gifts were being made to feel that they were just barely part of the group at all, barely contributing, of little use. Paul wants this idea expelled completely. Gifts are not about "position in God's hierarchy" with louder being better. Gifts are about ministering to maintain the whole body, in all that can happen. The gifts are the immune system of the church. If they don't all work right, disease can get in.
Much more on these matters in the book.
Now, after all this explanation of the equality of position of ALL the gifts, we get a second list of them, but in a different way. Earlier, they were listed this way:
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues , to another the interpretation of tongues. [1Co 12:8-10 ESV]
Here is the second list:
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. [1Co 12:28 ESV]
Note that the first three things are numbered. I didn't underline them because they are positions, not gifts.
And just for completeness, here is the Ephesians list:
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [Eph 4:11-12 ESV] This seems to be a listed of offices, not of gifts.
None of the lists are exactly the same, nor ordered the same, leading one to believe that there are more than the ones specifically enumerated. I note that the list in 8 does not include apostles, evangelists, prophets (though it does include prophecy - a very different thing), and so on.
There is an extensive treatment of vss 30, 31 in the Book Notes on Spiritual Gifts. Has to do with indicative and imperative. MacA says that vs 31 should be indicative, and so translated "But you are only craving the showy gifts, so now I will show you a better way!"