Devotional on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
For 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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If 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. And 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. If 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? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The 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.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and 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, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
1 Corinthians 12:12 - 27
The culture in which we live tends to have a very highly individualistic nature to it. Looking back as far as Greek literature, we note that the great epic poems like the Iliad and the Odyssey celebrate the achievements of heroes who overcame their enemies (and in some cases the opposition of the gods) through the use of their intellect, cunning, or strength. Modernity has only reinforced these cultural norms. In fact, it was the Enlightenment philosophers that looked back to the Greek philosopher Protagoras and agreed with him that, “"Man is the Measure of All Things". Of all the people on the earth, Americans seem to have embedded this most completely in their national ethos. The virtues of “rugged individualism” and “the protestant work ethic” are commonly (and mostly correctly, in my opinion) cited for various historical successes the American people like completing the westward expansion to the Pacific Ocean and building incredible wealth during the industrial revolution.
However, when we read the scriptures, we find that while the Lord loves his people on an individual basis, he has a special love and purpose for his people on a corporate basis as well. We frequently use the word “corporate” to describe activities or events in the life of the church that occur when God’s people are gathered together. The root of the word is “corpus” which is latin for “body”. In today’s devotion, Paul uses the analogy of the body to teach about God’s design for the church, how we are to understand it, and how we are to carry out life together in it.
One of the first things to note in this passage, is that it forms a bridge between the passage that comes before it, and the one that comes after it. In the science of interpreting written documents, this is referred to as the “literary context” of the passage. Understanding the context helps us understand what the author (in this case Paul) is trying to communicate. The parts of the body tie to the spiritual gifts mentioned in 12:1-11 and the offices or functions mentioned in 28-31.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledgeaccording to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 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.
1 Corinthians 12:8 – 10
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.
1 Corinthians 12:28
Paul is making a larger argument in this chapter that all Christians, regardless of race, ethnicity, or prior religious background, have been united to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the work of the (one) Spirit that allows the believer to confess, “Jesus is Lord,” and then binds that believer to Christ. He then bestows gifts upon Christ’s people so that we all may live and work together in unity in the same way that all of the parts of a body work together to achieve a single purpose. The gifts of knowledge, healing, miracles, etc. exist so that the church would be built up by those appointed to exercise those gifts (teachers, healers, miracle workers, etc.).
However, we can see that a problem may arise as some perceive certain gifts (like miracle working) to be superior to others (like administration or helping). Paul anticipates this issue and uses the analogy of the body to demonstrate God’s purpose of unity in the church through the diversity of the gifts.
The first thing he warns against is looking at the gifts that have been given to us and becoming discouraged that they are not like the gifts of others. We may not be a “hand” or an “eye”, but that makes us no less part of the body! Each are of value and belong to the whole. Do not be discouraged because you lack (in relative measure) gifts that you see in others, like the ability to teach or practice hospitality. The Holy Spirit has bestowed a myriad of gifts upon his people – and no two are alike! In fact, the gifts mentioned in scripture are just a short list of examples. There are as many gifts (and combination of gifts) as there are opportunities to build one another up in the knowledge and unity of our faith in Christ. As a member of Christ’s body you have a Spirit-given role to play in the life of the church!
Next, Paul demonstrates how silly it would be if we all did have the same gifts. If the body were all “eyes” it wouldn’t be able to hear. If it were all “ears” it wouldn’t be able to smell. Paul’s point is that it would be impossible to sustain life without the diversity of the members of the biological body. In the same way, God has made it (in a manner of speaking) impossible to sustain the life of the church, Christ’s spiritual body, without the diversity of gifts he has bestowed on its members. Pastor John indicated this on Sunday morning when he thanked the members for their continued love and support of the elders. As those charged with shepherding the flock, there is plenty of opportunity to grow weary and discouraged. But you all are a wonderful encouragement to us in your willingness to listen, receive correction, and follow our lead in the areas where we have been granted authority. Can you imagine a congregation where only the gift of leading was exercised without the gift of following? I can imagine that it would not feel like a gift for long!
Finally, Paul answers the flipside of the first argument. Not only are we not to despise our own gifts, we are not to despise the gifts of others. It would be sinful to tell members who possess gifts that are unlike our own, or “seem weak”, that we have no need of them. In fact, it is precisely these weak gifts that are brought to a place of honor among us by the working of the Spirit. What is God’s purpose in this? “[T]hat there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” It is for our unity!
This concept of unity in diversity is woven throughout the pages of scripture and into the fabric of existence. God glorifies himself as one being who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three persons are never divided either in essence or in will. They perfectly love and glorify one another throughout all eternity. We reflect God’s image, fulfilling the purpose for which we were created, as we diversely love one another in unity. It displays our union to Christ and to one another as His body. Just as Christ identifies with his people (“Saul why are you persecuting me?”), we identify with each other as well. Practically speaking, we do this as we exercise our gifts for the benefit of one another and we affirm this truth weekly during communion.
Take some time this week to consider how the same Spirit that called you to repentance and faith in Christ has gifted you to be a blessing to the members of Christ our Savior Baptist Church. Our gifts are given to us not so that we might be a blessing to God, but that we might be a blessing to each other as we strive along our pilgrimage together. If you’re having difficulty seeing your gifts, think of the ways in which you have loved and served others recently or opportunities that may exist to love and serve one another soon.
It is a blessing to be an elder among you. Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement!