Tag: Book of 1 Corinthians

Prophets are men of God who are the mouthpiece for God. They speak as they were instructed by God. They were the representatives of God to rebuke sin and to foretell the future.

William MacDonald observed well, “The apostle now gives us another list of gifts. None of these lists is to be considered as complete. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles. The word first indicates that not all are apostles. The twelve were men who had been commissioned by the Lord as His messengers. They were with Him during His earthly ministry (Acts 1:21, 22) and, with the exception of Judas, saw Him after His resurrection (Acts 1:2, 3, 22).”

The Apostle Paul presented the truth that the church is the body of Christ. And the members individually formed that unified collective body that Christ purchased by His blood. He highlights the whole and he highlights the particular members. This body lived for the interests of God and His kingdom.

William MacDonald said well, “… if we see another Christian honoured, we should not feel jealous, but we should rejoice with him.”

There is a sense that the members of Christ’s body love the prosperity of the other members. It is understood principally that God distributes spiritual gifts sovereignly according to His good will and wisdom. As such members are at peace because they submit to the common wisdom that God knows better. As such, there is a willingness to submit to God’s wisdom.

The suffering of one member will have consequence repercussion on the other members. This is so when one part of the body suffers, the entire body is affected. There was a Christian who gradually became blind. He impacts his life so much, he has to rely on the other functioning parts of his body for his daily sustenance. He has to rely on the heightened sensitivity of his hands and feet since he is unable to appreciate his environment due to the gradual loss of his sight. The other parts of the body have to double up to support the suffering member.

William MacDonald observed, “The mutual care of the members prevents division or schism in the body.”

He further explained, “One gives to another what is needed, and receives in return the help which only that other member can give. This is the way it must be in the church.”

We observe the wisdom of God in the construction of the human body with the varied parts that make the whole body. It is a mutually inclusive design that gives the overall functionality through interdependence.

Walvoord observed well, “… Paul was reaching back in thought beyond the immediate discussion of gifts when he referred to weaker members (v. 22; cf. 8:7-13) and less honorable ones (12:23; cf. 11:22) who also required special care and consideration. This too was part of God’s plan (God … combined the members), that members of the spiritual body would demonstrate a mutual concern for the well-being of others (12:25b-26; 10:24, 33) so that rivalry would cease (so that there should be no division in the body; 1:10; 11:18) and genuine unity would exist (12:26).”

The Lord makes in His sovereign and infinite wisdom the miracle of the human body. And He breathes into the man and he becomes a living soul. The man whom God created has the imprint of the living God. The man is to reflect in his life the praise and glory due to His Creator. The church, the body of Christ, consisting of many members, endowed with diverse gifts for God’s honour and glory.

William MacDonald said well, “Just as it is folly for one person to envy another’s gift, so it is equally foolish for anyone to depreciate another’s gift or feel that he doesn’t need the others. 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.” The eye can see things to be done, but it can’t do them. It depends on the hand for that. Again, the head might know that it is necessary to go to a certain place, but it depends on the feet to take it there.”