Paul continues this letter from ‘chapter 11’ teaching the Corinthian holy-people (sanctified-people, Christians, saints, children of the only true God) who they are in Christ and how they should behave themselves.
I Corinthians 12:1:
12:1But concerning the spiritual-things, brothers, I do not intend you to not-know.
I do not intend you to be unknowing (I do not will, with active volition and desire, that you are ignorant, unaware) concerning the spiritual-things. Paul did not wait until he physically arrived in Corinth to tell them – he wanted them to know this information about the spiritual-things (those matters belonging-to, determined-by, influenced-by and proceeding-from spirit). Spiritual things include God Who is Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ who has his spiritual body, and the gift of holy spirit which every holy-person has graciously received from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.
First Corinthians chapters 12-14 include many details about spiritual things and how we holy-people should behave ourselves. Chapter 12 emphasizes from where and in connection with whom holy-people receive spiritual things. Chapter 13 emphasizes our attitude, motivation, and enthusiasm when manifesting spiritual things. Chapter 14 emphasizes our objective, goal, and focus when we assemble together in a group.
And again, Paul addresses the Corinthian holy-people as "brothers" thus reminding them that they all, including himself, had the same holy spirit-life within them which they received when they first believed what God has given mankind to believe regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:8-10). They were all children of God.
Verses 2 and 3:
.2You knew2 that when (you were) Gentiles you used-to-be being led-away towards the idols, the soundless (idols), as ever you used-to-be led; .3on-which-account I make-known to you that not-one-person uttering-forth in (the) spirit of God says, "Cursed-offering Jesus," and not-one-person is able to say, "Lord Jesus" except in holy spirit.
You Corinthian holy-people knew and you still know (perceive, see) that when you were Gentiles (belonging to people of nations other-than Israel before you believed what God says and therefore before you received the gift of holy spirit) you were continually being led (directed, conducted, conveyed) away towards the idols (for the purpose of approaching and being with the idols), emphatically the idols which are soundless, in whatever way you were continually being led.
No matter what manner or under what pretext you were being led (in all different directions), from God's viewpoint all of you were being led-away from where God wanted you to be towards idols which were without sound, no voice to communicate with you. The idols could not communicate to/with you on the level of communication which all holy-people have available to them to/with God and the Lord Jesus Christ! An attempt was being made spiritually by satan (the devil) to usurp the place of the only true God in your minds and bodies and in your everyday lives and you just followed them, but these dumb idols did not give you or lead you to God's Word.
The Corinthian holy-people who used to be Gentiles knew what Paul was talking about in verse 2. He continues: this is the reason as to why I am making personally known to you that no-one who is presently uttering-forth within the spirit of God says things similar to that-which you used to say to your idols. The spirit of God is God's spirit, that holy spirit-life within every holy-person. When your holy spirit gives you the words that you utter-forth, not-one-person says, "Cursed-offering Jesus." Of course, every holy-person has freedom of will to speak or not to speak what his holy spirit-life communicates to him/her.
With reference to verse 3 above, the Greek word translated "utter-forth" means: to utter sound, voice, speak words - it is used independently of any reason why the words are uttered or what is uttered. But the Greek word translated "says" means: laying out a collection of words in a sentence to communicate something giving the substance or content.
Only someone who has already received holy spirit can utter-forth in the spirit of God. Not one Christian uttering-forth in the spirit says in that communication that Jesus is his offering set-aside for destruction to a god, an idol. It is not the same nor is it similar to that-which you used to say to soundless idols when you used to be Gentiles.
The Lord Jesus Christ has already accomplished redemption and salvation - it has been completed. He was put on a cross, died, and was buried, but God raised him up from among the rest of the dead-people and put him at His right side. This is his position now and he is Lord and Christ. If you hear a person genuinely speaking with tongues, no matter what language it may be, they are not saying that Jesus is a cursed-offering (an accursed thing, an offering set-aside for destruction being devoted to a "god"; refer to Leviticus 27:28 and Joshua chapter 7).
Plus, no-one (not one of you holy-people nor anyone else) is presently able (has the able-power, capability within himself) to genuinely say (definitely communicate with words) that Jesus is his Lord except or unless within holy spirit. There is no other way for any person to truly say that Jesus is his Lord/Master except that he speaks in that holy (sanctified) spirit which God gives by means of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who believe what He says. What is spoken must be within the sphere of action of the holy spirit in order for it to be genuine from God's viewpoint!
Even if a person should repeat the actual words in his own language, "Lord Jesus" or "Jesus is Lord" or "Jesus is my Lord," with all the emotion he can muster but without holy spirit, this does not make Jesus his Lord, because the only way that a person makes himself subject to the Lord Jesus Christ is by believing that-which God has given to believe:
"that if-ever you may express-agreement in your mouth (regarding the) Lord Jesus Christ and you may believe in your heart that God raised him up out-from dead-people you will be saved, for with (the) heart it is believed into righteousness and with (the) mouth agreement-is-expressed into salvation" (Romans 10:9 and 10).
God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ graciously gives that person holy spirit-life and from then on that holy-person is subject to the Lord Jesus Christ, whether he continues to believe and obey him or not, because that holy-person cannot lose the gift of holy spirit within him!
Verses 4-6:
.4But there are divergences of gracious-gifts, but the same spirit; .5and there are divergences of ministries, and the same Lord; .6and there are divergences of in-workings, and the same God – the (One) in-working all-things in all-people.
The word translated "divergences" means: divergences, diversities, varieties, differing choices. Continuing concerning spiritual-things:
There are divergences of gracious-gifts.... A gracious-gift is something freely-given with/by the grace of God and/or of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the result, product, or effect of the action of graciously giving so that the recipient may utilize it appropriately. Every holy-person/Christian has already received the free-gift of holy spirit, and any added information, assignment, etc, given to any holy-person is given by grace. It is a gracious-gift to the recipient. It is unmerited or undeserved on the recipient's part because it is not given as a wage or a corresponding-reward for something he/she had or had-not done. There are divergences of gracious-gifts which can be evidenced in the physical or fleshy realm - but all of these gracious-gifts, even though there are divergences, are by-way-of the same spirit, the spirit itself, that holy spirit-life within every holy-person. There are no divergences of this same spirit.
And there are divergences of ministries (duties of service to bring benefit/profit to others) which can be evidenced in the physical or fleshy realm – and all of these ministries, even though there are divergences, are by-way-of the same Lord, the Master himself; every holy-person's Lord is the Lord Jesus Christ. There are no divergences of this same Lord, whether you have been asked by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ to carry out a specific service to benefit others or not at any given time.
And there are divergences of in-workings.... The word translated "in-workings" is a plural noun meaning: the inner-workings wrought, the effects of energizing, the products or effects produced by work done within, the issuing-products resulting from being in work. There are divergences of in-workings which can be evidenced in the physical or fleshy realm – and all of these in-workings, even though there are divergences, are by-way-of the same God, God Himself, Who is the One Who is presently and actively in-working (verb meaning: doing work within, producing effects by being in work, energizing) all things (all the in-workings) within all holy-people. There are no divergences of this same God. It is God Himself Who is the source actively in-working all of His holy spiritual works/activities in all holy-people.
[Reference: Acts 6:4, and 21:19 (the Book of Acts includes many examples of all of the above in practice); Romans 8:11, and 12:4-8; I Corinthians 1:7, 3:5, and 16:15; II Corinthians 4:1, 5:18, and 6:3; Galatians 2:8; Ephesians 1:11, 19, 20, and 4:4-13; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29, and 4:17; I Timothy 1:12; I Peter 4:10.]
Verses 7-11:
.7But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each-person towards the contributing, .8for indeed, for which (contribution) a word of wisdom is given by means of the spirit, but for another (contribution) a word of knowledge according to the same spirit, .9but for a different (contribution) belief in the same spirit, but for another (contribution) gracious-gifts of healings in the spirit, .10but for another (contribution) in-workings of ability, for another (contribution) prophecy, for another (contribution) through-judgments of spirits, for a different (contribution) genera of tongues, but for another (contribution) interpretation of tongues – .11but the one and the same spirit in-works all these, diverging to each-person according as it deliberately-determines,
Continuing concerning spiritual-things:
The manifestation of the spirit = the spirit's evidence, bringing to light, the showing-forth in the physical realm of (pertaining-to, belonging-to, and proceeding-from) the spirit. The holy spirit-life within each holy-person is able to manifest itself to the person's physical, fleshy mind and/or body whereby that person is aware of what the spirit communicates to him/her.
The manifestation of the spirit is presently given by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ – to whom? To each holy-person/Christian, which includes all those who have already received and those who are presently receiving a gracious-gift or a ministry or an in-working as explained in verses 4-6 above. By using the word “each” instead of “all” Paul emphasizes that the recipient receives the evidence himself/herself individually, particularly, singly, distinctly. Each recipient is to hear, believe and obey what is communicated to him/her whether any other holy-person receives the same or similar information or not and whether or not they carry it out.
The manifestation is presented freely to each individual among the many holy-people and is available for use by each recipient. No holy-person is excluded from the availability to receive what is given because a person could not be a holy-person unless he/she has already received the gift of holy spirit.
Why is the manifestation of the spirit given to each holy-person? Towards the contributing.... The manifestation of the spirit is given to each holy-person towards the-thing that is (with or in the direction and purpose of what is) presently and actively contributing (being contributive, bringing together, conferring help and benefit to the recipient of the thing/contribution which is contributed). A contribution is something that is brought together with other parts to make one whole-unit, a unifying collection. It confers help and benefit. It is conducive to any holy-person's well-being. Therefore, what is contributed contributes to the whole church's well-being in our walk with and for God.
The holy spirit's evidence of itself is given to each holy-person towards the contributing, and a list of what the spirit contributes to each of us is given in three groups:
These three groups are distinguished by use of the Greek word heteros which means: different, other of a different kind/sort. The Greek word allos means: another, other of the same kind/sort. By Paul’s use of these words he clearly stresses that he is writing about the nine contributions made up by three groups. The first contribution in each of these three groups is required in order for any other contribution in the same group to be contributed. Genera of tongues and interpretation of tongues are the only two that were not available during the old covenant times prior to the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2.
Let us go through the nine things (contributions, ways of contributing) that God has available to give to each holy-person via the spirit. Every time any of us receives one or more of these the spirit within us is manifested (evidenced, brought to light, shown, made apparent and known) to the recipient.
In truth and indeed (definitely):
1. for which spiritual contribution: a word of wisdom is given by-means-of (through) the spirit. A spoken-account of God's inner thoughts of wisdom (the skillful or expert application of God's personal knowledge, what to do as the most appropriate action concerning a specific situation or circumstance, even when complete knowledge of it may not be known by the recipient) is given by means of the holy spirit-life. The spirit communicates this word of wisdom (which may contain many individual words constituting what is spoken) to that holy-person. The holy-person must decide by his own freedom of will to communicate to/with his holy spirit and thus accept (receive, take) this wisdom, and do what is required having received this spiritual contribution;
2. for another spiritual contribution: a word of knowledge according to the same spirit. A spoken-account of God's inner thoughts of knowledge (personal knowledge of/about someone or something, a truly active and relative knowing, having information concerning a specific situation or circumstance) is given in accordance with the same holy spirit-life, the spirit itself. The same spirit communicates this word of knowledge (which may contain many individual words constituting what is spoken) to that holy-person. The holy-person must decide by his own freedom of will to communicate to/with his holy spirit and thus accept (receive, take) this knowledge, and do what is required having received this spiritual contribution;
4. for another spiritual contribution: gracious-gifts of (consisting-of) healings in (within, resting and continuing within the sphere of action of) the spirit. The plural noun "healings" means: recoveries from illnesses. Graciously-given completed-healing-acts (unmerited results or products of the action of healing concerning a specific situation or circumstance) are given within the holy spirit-life. The spirit communicates these gracious-gifts of healings to that holy-person. The holy-person must decide by his own freedom of will to communicate to/with his holy spirit and thus accept (receive, take) these gracious-gifts of healings, and do what is required having received this spiritual contribution;
5. for another spiritual contribution: in-workings of ability. "In-workings" is the same plural noun as in verse 6 above. In-workings consisting-of able-power or capability is given by the holy spirit-life. The spirit communicates these in-workings of ability to that holy-person. The holy-person must decide by his own freedom of will to communicate to/with his holy spirit and thus accept (receive, take) these in-workings of ability, and do what is required having received this spiritual contribution;
6. for another spiritual contribution: prophecy. God's words which must be spoken-forth to (before, in front of) a person or people (as directed concerning the past, present and/or future) is given by the holy spirit-life. The spirit communicates this prophecy to that holy-person. The holy-person must decide by his own freedom of will to communicate to/with his holy spirit and thus accept (receive, take) this prophecy, and do what is required (speak it forth) having received this spiritual contribution;
7. for another spiritual contribution: through-judgments of (pertaining-to) spirits. Judgments through-and-through (separating or differentiating decisions, wholly distinguishing or discerning, judging the differences) pertaining-to spirits is given by the holy spirit-life. The spirit communicates these through-judgments of spirits to that holy-person. This includes information regarding their presence and/or what emanates from them such as words spoken, etc, or perhaps it is to inform the Christian that there is no spirit involved in a specific situation or circumstance. These "spirits" include those taking their direction from the only true God or the Lord Jesus Christ, and those taking direction from satan (the devil) plus satan himself. The holy-person must decide by his own freedom of will to communicate to/with his holy spirit and thus accept (receive, take) these through-judgments of spirits, and do what is required having received this spiritual contribution;
9. for another spiritual contribution: interpretation of tongues. The explanation (which is in a language known and understood by the speaker and those listening) of tongues (what the same Christian has just spoken with tongues when in a meeting) is given by the holy spirit-life. The spirit communicates this interpretation of tongues to that holy-person. The holy-person must decide by his own freedom of will to continue communicating to/with his holy spirit, having just spoken with a tongue, and thus accept (receive, take) this interpretation of that tongue, and do what is required (speak the interpretation forth) having received this spiritual contribution.
Some examples of these 9 contributions in evidence are:
Returning to I Corinthians chapter 12, verse 11 continues:
– .11but the one and the same spirit in-works all these, diverging to each-person according as it deliberately-determines,
The manifestation/evidence of the holy spirit-life within each holy-person is given by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ to each holy-person towards/for what is spiritually contributing. Even though there are nine ways for our holy spirit to contribute, making information known to the Christian's mind (either directly or via sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch), it is the one and the same holy spirit within every Christian that in-works all these contributions to each holy-person as needed (also refer to verse 4 above).
The one spirit itself (not different spirits or different parts of the same spirit) energizes all these (does the work within, produces effects by being in work, inner-works all these nine contributions), diverging to each holy-person (diversifying, making the varieties, causing the differing choices it manifests to each Christian) according as it deliberately determines (purposefully wills). The deliberate determination and purpose of our holy spirit-life, after deliberation and consideration of all the circumstances of the case, is to carry out God's will during every situation or circumstance.
Every holy-person has been given holy spirit which can manifest itself in nine different ways to each holy-person towards that-which contributes spiritually, but every holy-person has not been given all gracious-gifts nor all ministries nor all in-workings all at the same time, and therefore every holy-person (each particular limb in the one spiritual body of Christ) does not need to be doing everything at the same time all the time! Every holy-person, who has been given one or more gracious-gifts, and/or one or more ministries, and/or one or more in-workings, has the same holy spirit-life, and the manifestation of the spirit is given to each of us towards the contributing.
Of course, we must remember that God does not force or take control of any Christian and neither does His gift of holy spirit. Therefore it is up to the freedom of will of each and every Christian whether he communicates to/with his holy spirit-life, and then to accept, believe, and do what is required after the spirit makes known this information.
Some translators translate the phrase "as it deliberately-determines" in verse 11 above as "as he wills" as though it were the man who wills or as God wills. And, some Greek texts include the adverb "own" meaning: "in its own way, its own manner, particularly, independently" describing the verb "diverging" - it is the spirit doing the diverging.
How does the holy spirit within a Christian communicate with that Christian?
How does a Christian receive information from the holy spirit within him/her?
The Christian may also initiate the communication by praying with his/her known language or by speaking with tongues to God (refer also to Galatians 5:22 and 23).
[Reference: Luke 15:12; John 16:7-16; Acts 2:4, 3:1-8, 4:8-12, 5:3 and 12, 6:10, 8:23, 9:39-41, 10:19 and 20, 13:8-11, 14:8-10, 16:16-18, 19:6 and 19, 20:9-12 and 20, 21:9, 27:10 and 21-26, and 28:8 and 9; Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 1:30, 6:12, 7:35, 10:23 and 33, 14:27-33; II Corinthians 8:10; Ephesians 3:16, 20, and 4:16; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:27-29; II Timothy 3:16 and 17; Hebrews 12:10; II Peter 1:21.]
Verses 11-14:
.11but the one and the same spirit in-works all these, diverging to each-person according as it deliberately-determines, .12for fully-as the body is one (body) and it has many limbs, but all the limbs of the body, being many, it is one body – thus also (is) Christ, .13for also in one spirit we all were baptized into one body, whether Judeans or Greeks or slaves or freemen, and we were all given one spirit to drink, .14for also the body is not one limb but many.
Paul uses the physical body as an illustration to help us understand all these spiritual-things. But the one and the same spirit in-works all these, diverging to each-person according as it deliberately-determines – in truth…
…fully-as the physical body is one body (not two or more), and this one body has a lot of limbs (members, such as arms, legs, a nose, a mouth, etc), but every one of the limbs together, which are a lot of limbs, make-up that one physical body - …
…in this manner also is Christ,
…for also we holy-people all were baptized (immersed, surrounded) within one spirit (one holy spirit-life – not two or more) into, directed to the object and purpose, resulting in being inside-of one body (the resurrected Christ's spiritual body – not two or more),
…and all of us holy-people were given to drink (let drink and so we all received) one spirit (holy spirit-life),
…for also the spiritual body of Christ is not only one limb, but on the contrary, it is a lot of limbs put all together.
Every holy-person has been baptized in holy spirit and that is how each one of us became a limb of the one body of Christ. We are not all Christs – but spiritually we are all limbs of his spiritual body because we all (all holy-people and the Lord Jesus Christ) have the same holy spirit-life within us, and it is this one and the same spirit that in-works all nine spiritual contributions, diverging to each holy-person according as it deliberately-determines.
There cannot be any holy spiritual things without the only true God Who is Holy Spirit – not even the Lord Jesus Christ could be who he is today if God had not initially given him his holy and spiritual body with its holy spirit-life when He raised him from among the dead-people, nor could any person receive the gift of holy spirit if God had not initially given it to the Lord Jesus Christ to make it available to those of mankind who believe what God says.
[Reference: John 7:38 and 39; Acts 1:5, 2:32-36, and 11:16; Romans 6:3, and 12:4, 5; Galatians 3:27 and 28; Ephesians 1:22, 23, and 3:3-6; Colossians 1:27, 3:10 and 11.]
.15If-ever the foot may say, "Because I am not a hand I am not from the body" – not by-this it is not from the body; .16and if-ever the ear may say, "Because I am not an eye I am not from the body" – not by-this it is not from the body.
Here Paul writes about the limbs of the physical body as though they could speak to more effectively teach how the one spiritual body of Christ functions with many limbs. If the foot should say that because it is not a hand (a different part of the body) then it does not emanate out-from the body – is a consequence of saying this causing the foot to not be part of the one body? No, the foot is still part of the body whether it considers itself to be so or not! This limb is supposed to function as a foot within the body.
If the ear should say that because it is not an eye (a different part of the body) then it does not emanate out-from the body – is a consequence of saying this causing the ear to not be part of the one body? No, the ear is still part of the body whether it considers itself to be so or not! This limb is supposed to function as the ear within the body.
[If a holy-person should say that because he is not someone else (a holy-person who has a different function within the one body of Christ) then he does not emanate out-from the one body of Christ – is a consequence of saying this causing this holy-person to not be part of the one body of Christ, does his denial in the everyday living of life of the spiritual truth cause it to not be true? No, this holy-person is still part of the spiritual body whether he considers himself to be so or not! This holy-person is supposed to function as God and the Lord Jesus Christ intend him to function within the one body of Christ.]
Verses 17 and 18:
.17If the whole body (is) an eye, where (is) the hearing? If (the) whole (body is the) hearing, where (is) the smelling? .18But now God put the limbs, each one of them, in the body according as He intended.
If the whole physical body were an eye (which is for seeing), then where would the faculty or sense of hearing be? There would not be any! If the whole physical body were the hearing, then where would the faculty or sense of smell be? There would not be any! But emphatically at the present time, God has placed (set – He did it Himself) the limbs, every particular one of them, within the physical body to function according as He intended (willed). God did what He Himself intended – not as any of the limbs in the body intended (the eye did not dictate to God that it wanted to be the faculty of seeing and not of hearing when God formed the physical body of mankind and so God did what He was told to do by that limb!).
[If the whole spiritual body of Christ functioned only in one manner, then the spiritual body of Christ would have no capacity to do any other necessary spiritual function(s) which God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ may want it to perform. But at the present time (since the day of Pentecost – Acts chapter 2), God has put (placed, set – He did it Himself) the limbs/members, every particular holy-person, within the one spiritual body of Christ to function according as He wills with the Lord Jesus Christ carrying out God’s will. Of course it is up to the freedom of will of each holy-person to carry-out his particular function when it is needed to be done within that one body of Christ.]
Verses 19 and 20:
.19But if all-things were one limb, where (would be) the body? .20But now (there are) many limbs but one body.
If all-things (everything that makes-up the physical body) were made into only one limb, then where would the body be? There would be no body, only one big limb! God didn't make every man or woman to be the same limb, but at the present time we live in today there are a lot of limbs which make-up the one physical body which each of us has.
[If everything, which makes-up the one spiritual body of Christ, were only one limb, then there would not be any spiritual body of Christ because it would be only one limb, one part of the whole! At the present time, there are a lot of limbs (members – holy-people) but we are all limbs of the one spiritual body of Christ.]
Verses 21-26:
.21But the eye is not able to say to the hand, "I do not have need of you," or again the head to the feet, "I do not have need of you" – .22but much rather the limbs of the body considering to begin weaker are constraining (limbs), .23and which (limbs) of the body we consider to be more-dishonorable to these we put-around more-exceeding honor, and our indecorous (limbs) have more-exceeding décor, .24but our decorous (limbs) do not have a need – but God mixed-together the body having given more-exceeding honor to the lacking (limb) .25in order that there may not be division in the body but the limbs may be anxious-about the same-thing on behalf of one-another, .26and whether one limb suffers all the limbs suffer-together with (it), whether a limb is glorified all the limbs joy-together with (it).
In a physical body, the eye does not have the ability (able-power, capability) to say to the hand that it does not have a needful-use or necessity for it to be a particular limb of the same body; nor does the head have the ability to say to the feet that it does not have a needful-use or necessity for them to be two limbs with similar functions within the same body.
But contrary to one limb not needing another limb in the same physical body, a lot more-so those limbs of the body supposing to originate weaker (naturally made with less physical strength) than other limbs, presently and actively are constraining limbs (limbs which are necessary due to constraint, applied-force). The body cannot function with vitality and productively without them.
And, the limbs of the body which we suppose to be, in comparison to other limbs, more without honor (estimated as being less valuable, deemed not to be worthy of price), then to these we place around them (bestow, confer) a more-abundant estimation of value or price; and our indecorous limbs (not elegant, not well-figured, unseemly from a fleshly point of view) have a more-abundant décor (goodly-elegance with propriety of conduct or deportment, wellness in outward-figure, seemliness); but our decorous limbs do not have a need (a requirement for use of something lacking), they don't need something else.
But contrary to any unbalance within the body, God has mixed-together the body (intermingled, blended, combined parts in conjunction with each other to make a whole compound) after He had given more-abundant honor (estimation of value or price) to the limb which is wanting (deficient, falls-short, being behind others from the fleshly viewpoint). Why? For the purpose and result that there may not be division (a schism, partition, splitting) within that one body.
But contrary to the body being divided up into separate limbs or separate groups of limbs being stuck together without other limbs, God mixed-together the body for the purpose and result that the limbs of the body (all of them) may be anxious-about (mentally distracted with care concerning) the same-thing (to the same end or purpose) in the interests of every one of them together. The body is made-up of limbs mixed-together, not separated from each other, and in order for the one body as a whole to function productively and with vitality all the limbs must function to the best of its ability as God has given it the ability to do so.
Also, because God mixed-together the body, whether one limb in the body presently and actively suffers, then all the limbs suffer in conjunction with it, because what affects one limb affects the whole body in one way or another. Or, whether a limb is glorified (given importance, splendor, renown), then all the limbs joy in conjunction with it. Even though only one limb actually receives this particular glory which would cause this limb to be joyful, the rest of the limbs presently and actively rejoice together with it (they are not jealous of it!).
So also is the one spiritual body of Christ.
Verse 27:
.27But you are (the) body of Christ and limbs in-particular;
You holy-people are the body of Christ and limbs in-particular. How clear this is! In the spirit category: all of you (the Corinthian Christians and this is true of all Christians) presently and actively are the spiritual body of the resurrected Christ, and you are limbs (members) with each one of you being individual parts of the whole body – every part comes out-from the interior of the body. All holy-people are connected to Christ and to each other by means of that holy spirit-life within each one. Christ is the head of the body and we are the other limbs of his spiritual body with different functions.
Christ himself has been raised from among the dead-people and God has given him his own personal new spiritual body and he is seated at the right-hand side of God, second in command to God at this very moment. Christ is continuing to do those things which God asks him to do, and one of these is to build the church of holy-people. Christ is connected to all holy-people by means of the holy spirit which God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ gives those who believe what God has given mankind to believe regarding God Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christ is the head of the church which is his body. Christ is every Christian's Lord/Master. God and the Lord Jesus Christ can communicate to and with us via the holy spirit-life within us, and vice-versa.
[Reference: Matthew 16:15-18; John 8:29; Acts 2:32 and 33; Romans 12:4 and 5; I Corinthians 10:17; Ephesians 1:19-23, 3:6, 4:12, and 5:30(a); Colossians 1:24, 27, and 3:1-4.]
Verse 28:
.28and (you are) whom indeed God put in the church, firstly apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, next abilities, next gracious-gifts of healings, helpers, directional-steerers, genera of tongues –
You holy-people are whom God Himself has placed within the church (set in the assembly of people called-out from among other people because you have received holy spirit-life) which is the one body of Christ.
How does this spiritual body of Christ function as a whole? God…
…firstly put apostles in the church – holy-people who are sent forth or away from God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ on a specific mission or assignment to someone else;
…secondly put prophets in the church – holy-people who speak-forth God's words as directed concerning the past, present and/or future to (before, in front of) a person or people;
…thirdly put teachers in the church – holy-people who teach (instruct) God's Word, right doctrine, to other people as directed.
Paul abruptly breaks-off from the listing of the limbs with these functions within the one spiritual body of Christ (even though he did not write regarding pastors or regarding good-messagers (evangelists) – Ephesians 4:11), and he begins to list other limbs and functions which are to be carried-out when it is the right time to do so in the church. By not listing every limb and function, Paul emphasizes to his readers that it is necessary for every particular limb to function as it has been asked by God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ to function since each limb has been given the ability to do so. This is not a listing of importance or greatness because one limb and its function is not more important, nor is it more inferior, than another limb and its function from God's point of view.
God put (placed, set) in the church:
…next (after what has been listed previously) abilities – able-powers, capabilities (refer to verse 10);
…next gracious-gifts of healings – completed-healing-acts given without merit (refer to verse 9);
…helpers – holy-people who render assistance and support (to give to another what you have already received and thereby you render the appropriate assistance and support in that specific circumstance);
…directional-steerers – holy-people who govern for guidance purposes (like steersmen, helmsmen of a ship, pilots of a plane), they steer the direction for others to go so as to be in accordance with God's will;
…genera of tongues – kinds of tongues (refer to verse 10).
All holy-people are the body of Christ and limbs in-particular; and all holy-people are whom indeed God put in the church – when Christians assemble together at the same time.
[Reference: Acts 2:1-4, 13:1, 21:8-10 (the whole Book of Acts record all of these in practice at different times); I Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 2:20, 3:5, and 4:11-16; II Timothy 1:11.]
Verses 29-31:
.29not all-people (are) apostles, are they? – (no) – not all-people (are) prophets, are they? – (no) – not all-people (are) teachers, are they? – (no) – not all-people (work) abilities, do they? – (no) – .30not all-people have gracious-gifts of healings, do they? – (no) – not all-people utter-forth with tongues, do they? – (no) – not all-people throughly-interpret, do they? – (no); .31but you are jealous-towards the gracious-gifts, the greater (gracious-gifts)! – and yet I point-out to you according to a super-throwing way:
Within the church (when limbs of the one spiritual body of Christ assemble together)…
And again Paul does not include every limb and/or function that is in operation within the body of Christ, thereby he draws attention to the truth that all of the limbs and their functions are to be included in the reader's understanding. In the church…
Paul is not saying that it is not available for some holy-people to function in another capacity if and when the need arises within the church, but he is emphasizing to the Corinthian holy-people that during their meetings they ought not to try to function as others function, not to try to be someone else within the one body of Christ. All of the limbs, every one of them, are to work-together functioning according as God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ and/or the holy spirit-life within each one of them makes-known.
Every holy-person has been given the gift of holy spirit which can manifest itself towards that-which contributes spiritually, but every holy-person has not been given all gracious-gifts nor all ministries nor all in-workings all at the same time, and therefore every holy-person (each particular limb in the one spiritual body of Christ) does not need to be doing everything at the same time all the time! Any holy-person, who has been given one or more gracious-gifts and/or one or more ministries and/or one or more in-workings, has the same holy spirit-life which manifests itself towards that-which contributes spiritually as every other holy-person.
Paul clearly tells the Corinthian holy-people more about what they were doing during their church meetings which did not line-up with what he has been teaching regarding spiritual-things: but you are actively and presently jealous-towards (zealous in the bad sense, a boiling or vehement passion for) the gracious-gifts which you consider to be greater (larger in magnitude, rank, degree, quality, importance, etc)! This, of course, is contrary to the correct behavior of the one spiritual body of Christ.
Anything that God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ reveals and/or gives to any holy-person to enable him/her to carry out a specific function at certain times within the church is a gracious-gift – given without merit on the recipient's part. However, the Corinthian holy-people were jealous of each other's functions, wanting to receive things which other limbs in the body were receiving at specific times, wanting to do what someone else was doing instead of being happy to carry out the assigned functions which God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ had asked them to carry out! Paul of course cannot be saying that the Corinthian church were jealous or zealous towards getting the gift of holy spirit because each one of them had already received it – they could not be part of the church had they not already received this gift (a person cannot be a Christian without first receiving holy spirit-life). He must be talking about those gracious-gifts which God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ gives after the initial gift of holy spirit has already been received by the person.
Instead of continuing in this train of thought regarding being jealous towards certain gracious-gifts considered to be "greater" by the Corinthian holy-people, Paul stops short as if it would be too difficult for him to write the consequences of such occurrences going-on in the church when he is in the middle of teaching them that they are all limbs in the one spiritual body of Christ and that each one of them is to function as God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ would ask them to function. And, they were all mixed-together, so that if one particular limb for some reason did not function as it should, then a different limb or limbs may be asked to do that function for the duration of time that a particular limb refused to do its own function.
In fact, Paul continues: and yet (still giving additional information, even though the Corinthian holy-people were misbehaving by being jealous of gracious-gifts which they considered to be greater than other spiritual things) I point-out (indicate, as showing with the finger) to you how you are to behave yourselves during your gatherings in accordance with a super-throwing way (a manner of action or method of proceeding which is surpassing to a greater-degree, as if this way were throwing or casting itself for an extreme distance or measure beyond the fleshly-limits which the Corinthian Christians had set for themselves concerning spiritual-things).
[Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
Paul is continuing to make-known concerning spiritual-things, but his next sentence has been put into the next ‘chapter’; however, we have already learned that there were no chapter/verse divisions when Paul wrote this letter, therefore let us go ahead in this study to ‘chapter 13.’