1 Corinthians 12:27-31
27: Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
28: And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
29: All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
30: All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
31: But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.
Continuing his thoughts on all believers being a part of the body, Paul plainly said, “You are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” We have the honor to be a part of Christ’s body here in the earth today. As individuals, we work together to make up His whole body. We are strengthened when we come together much like a family comes together with other families to make a community, and the communities together make up a nation. So it is with the body of Christ. When we as individuals gather with other believers, we make up church bodies and communities of churches throughout the earth, of which Jesus is the Head.
As far as the placement of people and gifts within the church, Paul listed an order of members which God appoints. First apostles, second prophets, third teachers, and so on. In the first three we see the grace to establish the church (apostle), with revelation from the influence of the Spirit (prophet), giving instruction and edification regarding known truths of God and His word (teacher). In addition, Paul added miracles, gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and tongues with interpretation. God appoints all of these in the church to establish and maintain it.
Note that miracles and healings are an important part of the church as well as helps, administrations (governing), and tongues with interpretation. While helps and administrations may seem less spiritual in their function, they are listed with these other spiritual gifts. When the church in Jerusalem first chose helpers, they looked for those who were of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom. Stephen was one of the first seven chosen, and was described as being full of faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, and power. He performed great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6). So we see God moved through all of His body, not just the "leaders," and even through gifts which today we would think of as not very spiritual.
After listing these gifts, Paul asked if everyone was an apostle, prophet etc. The answer, of course, is no. Yet each one must seek and discover the gift(s) God has given to them, and their appointed position within the church. We all have a place. Paul said to earnestly desire the “greater gifts” and yet even while desiring these gifts, he will show them something still more excellent, which he does in the next chapter.
28: And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
29: All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
30: All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
31: But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.
***
Continuing his thoughts on all believers being a part of the body, Paul plainly said, “You are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” We have the honor to be a part of Christ’s body here in the earth today. As individuals, we work together to make up His whole body. We are strengthened when we come together much like a family comes together with other families to make a community, and the communities together make up a nation. So it is with the body of Christ. When we as individuals gather with other believers, we make up church bodies and communities of churches throughout the earth, of which Jesus is the Head.
As far as the placement of people and gifts within the church, Paul listed an order of members which God appoints. First apostles, second prophets, third teachers, and so on. In the first three we see the grace to establish the church (apostle), with revelation from the influence of the Spirit (prophet), giving instruction and edification regarding known truths of God and His word (teacher). In addition, Paul added miracles, gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and tongues with interpretation. God appoints all of these in the church to establish and maintain it.
Note that miracles and healings are an important part of the church as well as helps, administrations (governing), and tongues with interpretation. While helps and administrations may seem less spiritual in their function, they are listed with these other spiritual gifts. When the church in Jerusalem first chose helpers, they looked for those who were of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom. Stephen was one of the first seven chosen, and was described as being full of faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, and power. He performed great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6). So we see God moved through all of His body, not just the "leaders," and even through gifts which today we would think of as not very spiritual.
After listing these gifts, Paul asked if everyone was an apostle, prophet etc. The answer, of course, is no. Yet each one must seek and discover the gift(s) God has given to them, and their appointed position within the church. We all have a place. Paul said to earnestly desire the “greater gifts” and yet even while desiring these gifts, he will show them something still more excellent, which he does in the next chapter.
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