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1 Corinthians 12:27

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Chapter 12

Spiritual Gifts

1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,Or languages; also in verse 28 and to still another the interpretation of tongues.Or languages; also in verse 2811All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.13For we were all baptized byOr with; or in one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.19If they were all one part, where would the body be?20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!”22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tonguesOr other languages? Do all interpret?31But eagerly desireOr But you are eagerly desiring the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Topics: Jesus Christ church compared union body_of_christ belonging member

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paulwhelms - (eBible Scholar) 5 months ago.

Here it's clear that Paul doesn't just think of the Body of Christ as something only universal -- after all, he says 'You are the body of Christ' to the Corinthian church. This applies to our own church fellowships, who have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us and unite us with Christ as we believe and hold to the Gospel (Ephesians 2:13-22). Why are we Christ's 'Body'? Paul uses other metaphors even earlier in this letter. We are God's 'building', his 'field' (1 Corinthians 3:9). God has been at work all along to make a new creation, and in Christ he has perfected humanity -- though we will experience this perfecting work gradually and never reach it until the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:42, Philippians 3:13). But for now, God is at work, faithfully building this 'new humanity'. The humbling and convicting truth is that through His church, God is planting new life into a dark and passing world (1 Peter 2:5,2:9-10). Are we Christ's Body if His design is not being revealed in the life that our churches share and live out among those who are in the world? Can we truly say that we are members of the Body of Christ if we are not living as his arms and voice to a broken and rebellious world?