Thursday evening Bible study time.
We are still in our study of Paul’s first letter to the body of believers at Corinth. Of course, Paul’s writing does reach down through the ages to you and me … so it is well worth the time to study.
Let’s take a quick look at the verses for study tonight:
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
One Body with Many Members
12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves[a] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts,[b] yet one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And 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. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or servants; Greek bondservants
b. 1 Corinthians 12:20 Or members; also verse 22
In my mind, one of the issues that face churches everywhere today is the perception that the work of the church is the sole responsibility of the clergy. How wrong that concept is! All of us have something to contribute to the workings of the body of believers. God made you especially the way you are for His purpose. And His purpose is to lead people to a redeeming knowledge of Jesus Christ AND to have those same people mature in Christ.
Paul uses the parts of the body to describe the different gifts that people have. Some folks have gifts that are very visible to the members of the church: preaching; teaching; healing (yes I do believe it); leadership. Others have gifts that are less visible – but just as critical to the body: administrations; helping; mercy; and so on. There are enough tasks to be done to keep us ALL busy. But when someone decides to be a spectator rather than a participant, it shifts the burden to others … or the task doesn’t get done at all.
So let’s all pitch in … and do the work that God has appointed for us to do.
Agape’
Mr. Jim
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