1 Corinthians 12

Therefore, some Christians believe that the moment one puts faith in Christ he is spiritually “baptized”—that is, he receives the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”. But other Christians believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience which occurs some time after one has put faith in Christ (see General Article: Holy Spirit Baptism). This second group of Christians calls this experience “the second blessing”; they say it is the same as being “filled” with the Spirit (Acts 2:4; 9:17), or “receiving” the Spirit (Acts 8:15,19; 10:47).

Whether the so-called “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is something that happens the moment we believe or whether it happens sometime after, the most important thing is that the Holy Spirit comes into our lives when we believe.⁴¹ Because one thing is certain: if the Holy Spirit (Christ’s Spirit) is not in us, we do not belong to Christ (see Romans 8:9). Only when the Holy Spirit is in us do we become members of Christ’s body; it is the Spirit which makes us one body. The Holy Spirit is like blood; it circulates through every member of the body. Without blood, the body dies. Without the Holy Spirit, we also die—spiritually (see John 6:53).

Or, to use another illustration, the Holy Spirit is like living water, which we are invited to drink (see John 4:10,13-14). Here in verse 13, Paul writes that we were all given the one Spirit to drink (see John 7:37-39). When we drink of the Spirit’s living water, we receive the power to serve Christ, and the fruit of the Spirit is manifest in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).

Whether we are Jews or Greeks, slave or free, through the Holy Spirit we are all one in Christ (see Galatians 3:28; Colos-sians 3:11 and comments).

14 See Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12,17-20 and comments.

15 Each believer is a distinct member of Christ’s body. Just as the foot does the foot’s work and the hand does the hand’s work, so each of us has his own work to do. We should not seek to do the work of another member. Suppose, for example, that the foot says: “I am not happy being a lowly foot; I want to be a hand instead. The hand has much more interesting and important work to do. If I can’t be a hand, I won’t be part of the body!” Do we talk like that sometimes? Have we not sometimes said: “If I can’t be on the church committee, I won’t work in the church”? Or, have we not sometimes said: “I’m just a lowly person; I have no great gift; I have no part in this church”? Let us not think such things. Rather, let us each humbly and thankfully do the work that Christ has given us to do in His church, His body.

16 Paul here repeats the thought of verse 15.

17-20 In these verses, Paul adds to the thought of verse 14.

21 Each member of the body is dependent on every other member. Some Christians think that they can do everyone else’s work, and that they don’t need any help from others. But what a mistake! Can the eye do the work of the hand?

22 The eye is one of the weaker members of the body; nevertheless, it is indispensable.

23 The less honorable and unpresentable parts of the body are the excretory and reproductive organs. By covering these parts, Paul says, we treat them with special honor.⁴²

In the same way, we should not despise the humble and less educated members of the church, but rather we should treat them with special honor. They are essential members of Christ’s body. The church needs them (see Romans 12:16).

24-25 Like members of a body, the members of a church should have equal concern for each other (verse 25). God has given honor to all members of the body. Therefore, so should we. Let us not look down on any member of God’s church.

26 If the foot is injured, the whole body suffers. If any member of the church suffers, the whole church shares in that member’s suffering.

If a man receives honor because of the works of his hands or the words of his mouth, that whole man receives the honor, not just his hands or his mouth. So it is with members of the church: if one is honored, all are honored; if one rejoices, all rejoice (see Roman 12:15).

27 In each location, the local church constitutes the body of Christ. Every believer is a member of Christ’s body, the local church. Let us examine ourselves. Are we behaving like members of Christ’s body? Are we obedient to the head of the body, which is Christ? Is our local church doing the work of Christ’s body—that is, the work that Christ Himself would do if He were here on earth? When non-believers look at our local church, do they see Christ working?

28 In this verse Paul gives some examples of different members of Christ’s body. The two most important members are apostles and PROPHETS (see Ephesians 2:19-20). Some Christians believe that there are no apostles and prophets today. They say that the foundation of the church has already been laid by the apostles and prophets of the New Testament, and that, therefore, there is no need for any new apostles and prophets.

However, other Christians disagree. They say that there are still apostles and prophets in the church today, though they are not equal in authority to the original writers of Scripture. Their purpose is not to lay new foundations, but to continue building the church on the foundation that has already been laid. It is not clear from the Bible which of these two opinions is correct.

Having mentioned the two most important positions in the church—apostles and prophets—Paul next mentions a third position, that of teachers. After teachers, Paul mentions five other kinds of people that are needed in every church. These last five are probably not listed in any particular order—they are all equally important.

The Holy Spirit gives the necessary gift or gifts to all these members to enable them to do their particular jobs. Notice that some members of the church have supernatural gifts, such as the gifts of healing and the ability to perform miracles (see verses 1012). Other members, however, have natural gifts, such as the gifts of administration and the ability to help others. Most members of the church have a combination of both natural and supernatural gifts. However, no matter what gifts one has been given, natural or supernatural, they all come from God’s Holy Spirit. And no matter what kind of work one has been given, it can only be done through the Holy Spirit’s power (verse 11).

Paul says at the beginning of this verse that God has appointed all these members to do their various jobs. God gives to each member different tasks and different responsibilities. We members do not choose our own work; our work is given to us by God. And whatever work God gives us to do, He will also give us the necessary strength and ability to do it. God will never order the hand to see, nor the eye to write.

All gifts are given for the upbuilding of the church, Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 4:12). They are not given for the personal benefit of the individual members receiving the gifts.

For further discussion on the subject of spiritual gifts, see Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:10-12; Ephesians 4:22 and comments; General Articles: Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Baptism.

29-30 if everyone in the church did the same work, who would do all the other necessary work? if everyone were a teacher, who would do the healing? What use would there be of a body made up only of eyes!

31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. It is good to desire spiritual gifts and to pray to receive them. However, the Holy Spirit will give His gifts according to His own plans and purposes (see verse 11).

What are the greater gifts? Bible scholars give different answers to this question. Some say that the greater gifts are the “gifts” of being apostles or prophets. Others say that the greater gifts are not the gifts listed in this chapter, but rather are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace. And still others say that both of the above answers are correct. It’s not possible to be completely certain what Paul means by the term greater gifts.

The gift that the Corinthians desired above all others was the gift of speaking in other tongues. But this gift by itself does nothing to build up the church, because no one else can understand the other tongue. Therefore, the Corinthians needed also to pray for the gift of interpretation (see 1 Corinthians 14:12-13).

Up to this point, Paul has not mentioned the one “gift,” or way, which is the highest of all. Without it, all the other gifts are worthless. And this highest gift is the gift of love.⁴³ Love is the most excellent way. Paul describes this way of love in Chapter 13.