Kehillah in Corinth I 12:29

29 Surely not all are shlichim? Surely not all are nevi’im? Surely not all are rabbinical morim? Surely not all are those cholel nifa’ot (accomplishing miracles”)?

Kehillah in Corinth I 12:29 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:29

Are all apostles?
&c.] No some are prophets, as distinct from apostles; and some are teachers, as distinct from them both, and some are neither: are all prophets?
no; some are apostles, above them, and some are teachers, inferior to them; and but very few there were who had that peculiar character and gift: are all teachers?
no; the far greater part of the members of churches are hearers, or persons that are taught in the word; are neither in the office of teaching, nor have they the qualifications for it. Are all workers of miracles?
no; in those early times, when the gift of doing miracles was bestowed, it was not given to all, only to some; and now there are none that are possessed of it.

Kehillah in Corinth I 12:29 In-Context

27 Now you are Moshiach’s body (BERESHIS 47:18-19) and individually evarim of it.

28 Now Hashem placed some in the Adat HaMoshiach (community of Moshiach), in the Kehillah, rishon (first): shlichim, second, nevi’im, third, morim (teachers), then those of cholel nifla’aot (“accomplishing miracles—Ex 4:21), then matanot harippuy (gifts of healing), then matanot of helps, then manhigut ruchanit (spiritual leadership, administration), kinds of leshonot.

29 Surely not all are shlichim? Surely not all are nevi’im? Surely not all are rabbinical morim? Surely not all are those cholel nifa’ot (accomplishing miracles”)?

30 Surely not all have matanot harippuy (gifts of healing)? Surely not all speak in leshonot (cf 1C 14:23, 26)? Surely not all have the pitron (interpretation) of leshonot?

31 But earnestly desire the greater matanot (gifts) [of the Ruach Hakodesh]….And yet now I show you a more feste derech. T.N. Rav Sha’ul now turns to the need for balance. Not that he is trying to terminate the miraculous in Moshiach’s Kehillah [a futile endeavor!], but that he is showing the need for the fruit of the Ruach Hakodesh to balance His gifts, especially in an environment where pride and carnality have quenched ahavah, which is the Yn 3:16 center of Moshiach’s saving histalkus (passing, the death of Moshiach in midst of his Redemptive mission on the analogy of Moses dying before he crosses into the Promised Land.)