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Timothy: I Corinthians 12:12-31
The Unity of the Church

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I respectfully offer my praise and gratitude to You. You are the Almighty God and my Father in Heaven. I joyfully receive the new day that You have bestowed upon me. May You grant me satisfaction on this new day with all the blessings You pour upon me. Please nourish my soul with the Eternal Living Word of God. I pray to Christ for renewed strength and to the Holy Spirit for understanding of the Word of God. I thank the Triune God.

Father, I would like to present my reflection on the unity of the Church, as taught in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Verses 12 and 13: The Apostle Paul uses the imagery of the human body to illustrate the unity of each believer with one another in the church. Each person has only one physical body, but that body consists of many different parts. Similarly, the church is called the body of Christ. There is only one church comprised of many individuals with different roles, but they are united as one. Regardless of one’s nationality or social status, when they have received the Gospel of Salvation, each person is incorporated into the church, sharing the same spirit, which is the understanding of God through the Word of God. Each person is baptized into Christ, becoming a member of His body. Each person also partakes in the same source of power and life from the Holy Spirit, meaning receiving the holy spirit of God [2].

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

Verses 14 to 17: The human body consists of many different parts. Each part has a different function, but they all work together according to their respective functions to serve the body. Similarly, the Church of the Lord also consists of different individuals. Each person is given by the Lord different roles or tasks, but all work together according to the gifts bestowed upon them to build and develop the Church according to God’s will.

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Verses 18 to 21: God has arranged the different parts of the human body to work together, each with its own function, for the benefit of the body. In the same way, He does the same for the church. Each person in the church is a part of the body of Christ. Therefore, everyone needs one another and has a responsibility to support and assist one another in order to build and develop the church of the Lord. No one can stand independently in the church without relying on others or offering support to others.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

Verses 22 and 23: Within the body, there are parts that may seem weak but are actually crucial, such as the eyes. In reality, no part is insignificant. However, if someone has a distorted perception and believes that a particular part of their own body is inferior or unattractive, they should pay even more respect and care to that part. Similarly, within the church, no one is less important than another. If someone thinks that someone else is insignificant within the church, they should have even greater respect for their brothers and sisters.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Verses 24 to 27: The beautiful and strong parts of the body do not require any special attention. However, if any part is weak, it needs care and training. The care and training of the weak parts are the responsibility of the entire body. This means that the remaining parts of the body participate in the training of the weak part. This weakness may be due to illness or injury.

In the Church, if anyone is facing difficulties or lacks material possessions, the entire Church participates in caring for and supporting them. If anyone is weak or stumbles in their faith, the entire Church provides comfort, advice, encouragement, and intercession. The burden of one person in the Church is the shared burden of the whole Church. The blessings of one person in the Church are blessings shared by the entire Church. Each person in the Church is interconnected, just as each part of the body is interconnected. Each local Church is part of the universal Church.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

Verses 28 to 30: God has established offices within the Church, and Christ has bestowed these offices upon certain individuals. The Holy Spirit accompanies these offices with His gifts. The various offices within the Church all share the same purpose of building and developing the Church. Therefore, these offices will remain within the Church until Christ takes the Church out of the world. In these last days, there is a great apostasy within the Church, so these offices are even more necessary in the Church than they were in its early days when it was first established.

The office of apostle has the task of proclaiming the Gospel to all people and establishing local churches. The office of prophet has the task of proclaiming the truths about God, speaking words of praise to God, reproving sins and calling for repentance, foretelling future events through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and revealing the deeper meanings within the Word of God. The office of teacher has the task of teaching the Word of God to both those who do not know God and the people of God within the church. The office of miracle worker has the task of performing signs and miracles to glorify God and demonstrate the power of God. The office of healer has the task of healing the sick in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, bringing about immediate healing. The office of helper has the task of dedicating time, effort, and resources to assist brothers and sisters who are in difficult circumstances or lacking in provisions. Help can also come in the form of comfort, encouragement, advice, and guidance for those facing spiritual challenges. The office of administrator has the task of governing and overseeing the church. The office of speaker in various tongues has the task of speaking the profound things of God and glorifying God in different languages as inspired by the Holy Spirit. The office of interpreter of tongues has the task of interpreting for those who speak various tongues.

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Verse 31: Paul advises the people of God to earnestly desire the most helpful gifts, which means to desire the important offices within the church, such as the offices listed as the highest: apostles, prophets, and teachers. The people of God do not seek any specific gifts, as the gifts are given according to the will of the Holy Spirit. However, the people of God can desire them. When the desire is aligned with the will of God, He will grant the people what they desire: “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9).

“The excellent way” refers to a life filled with genuine love from God, as explained by Paul in the following passage.

Father, I thank You for the instruction in today’s Bible passage. I pray that Your people everywhere may understand and apply the insights from this passage in their lives, so that the Church may always be united and work together in building and developing. Amen.

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
05/23/2023

Note:

[1] (a) Please note that when the term “spirit” is used without a definite article in Greek to refer to God and Christ, it refers to their mindset and should not be capitalized. (b) If it is used to refer to humans, it refers to the human mindset aligning with God’s. (c) When used with a definite article, it refers to the spiritual essence of either God or humans.

[2] Please note that when the term “holy spirit” is used without a definite article in Greek, it refers to the power and life coming from God, not the person of God the Holy Spirit, and should not be capitalized.