1 Corinthians 12 - Day 783

1 Corinthians 12 - Day 783 (link to reading)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13

Commentary: Just as conduct at the Lord’s Supper was out of hand, so too was the way in which ministry was conducted in church. While the Corinthians had written asking for Paul’s apostolic ruling on the specific matter of spiritual gifts, there is no reason for separating the issues in ch. 11 from those in chs. 12–14. Seen together, we find the meetings of Christians in disarray. In whatever way the reader reconstructs the problems which gave rise to a request for clarification from Paul—and it is like piecing together a discussion while listening to the speaker at one end of the telephone—they need to be related to Paul’s summary of his final instructions in 14:39–40. He uses this method elsewhere (cf. 11:33; 15:58). They must be eager to prophesy … not forbid speaking in tongues, doing everything in the church in a fitting and orderly way. The problems appear to relate primarily to the priority of prophecy and exercising the gift of tongues in the Christian meetings. These were to be conducted in such a way as to reflect the character of the God whose meeting it was.

 Winter, B. (1994). 1 Corinthians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1180). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

Application: God has given us spiritual gifts so that "we can help each other" and build up the body of Christ.  Like a good parent, He didn't give us spiritual gifts to make us arrogant or self-centered.  No, God wants us to share our gifts and abilities with others.

Prayer: Lord, Your will be done.  Please provide opportunities for me to glorify You with the gifts that You have entrusted to me...