I Corinthians 12:28-31: "God's Perfect Provision"
Before moving on to his famous chapter on love, Paul concludes his discussion on the interdependence on the church. His goal is to get the Corinthians to understand God's perfect divine purpose in providing all that is necessary for the church. Paul has shown that the church is one unified body, with diverse individuals serving various roles, given different gifts to fulfill those roles. Individuals within the church are not to seek after gifts that they do not have, or ministries that may be more visible for the sake of gaining recognition. Instead we are to humbly submit to our role that God has perfectly placed us in, and work together as a cohesive unit. Paul writes, "And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers". Here we see certain gifted men appointed various roles within the church. The word "appointed" shows that they are strategically placed their by God. No individual is a self-made preacher, or prophet, or apostle based on their own efforts. They are simply men chosen by God to fulfill that specified role in the church. Each has a responsibility to be faithful to their role, however, nothing inherent within them has allowed them to earn that responsibility.
MacArthur, speaking to the divinely appointed offices of "apostles" and "prophets", writes, "the first two offices mentioned in verse 28, those of apostle and of prophet, had three basic responsibilities: (1) to lay the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20); (2) to receive and declare the revelation of God's Word (Acts 11:28; 21:10-11; Eph. 3:5); and (3) to give confirmation of that Word through 'signs and wonders and miracles' (2 Cor. 12:12; cf. Acts 8:6-7; Heb. 2:3-4)". An apostle is one that is sent on a mission. These men were divinely appointed by God to carry out their role to give testimony of Christ and validate Him as deity. Their role was to also establish the church after Christ left as they were eyewitnesses to His whole life. MacArthur points out this office was temporary, to serve a purpose and then cease to exist. "It is not possible therefore, as some claim, for there to be apostles in the church today. Some have observed that the apostles weer like delegates to a constitutional convention. When the convention is over, the position ceases. When the New Testament was completed, the office of apostle ceased".
The next position Paul mentions is that of a "prophet". These men differed from those believers given the gift of prophecy. Prophets were men that spoke forth the word of God, sometimes in a revelatory manner, and other times for personal exhortation and reminder of God's promises. MacArthur explains, "the prophets sometime spoke revelation from God (Acts 11:21-28) and sometimes simply expounded revelation already given (as implied in Acts 13:1, where they are connected with teachers). They always spoke for God but did not always give a newly revealed message from God. The prophets were second to the apostles, and their message was to be judged by that of the apostles (I Cor. 14:37). Another distinction between the two offices may have been that the apostolic message was more general and doctrinal, whereas that of the prophets was more personal and practical". Their office completed at the completion of the New Testament as well.
The third office mentioned by Paul is that of "teacher". This individual has been appointed by God to serve the body by teaching and explaining the completed Word's of God. His responsibility is to spend time studying and interpreting God's Word for the edification of the ministry he has been placed in, whether it be in the main pastor role, or for a small bible study group. These men are to remain faithful to their study that they may bring up and disciple the next generation to do the same.
Paul has shown us various gifted men and their calling, and then he again lists various gifts within the body. "Miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues". The gifts of miracles and healings have been discussed in verses 9-10 of this chapter. Helps is a gift "for service in the broadest sense of helping and supporting others in day-by-day, often unnoticed, ways. It is the same gift as that of serving (Rom 12:7), though another Greek word is used in that text", according to MacArthur. Helps carries with it the idea of shouldering someone elses burden. These were the people that most likely Paul had in mind in the previous section that may not receive much of the glory and praise here on earth, but has multiple treasures saved for them in heaven. The gift of "administration" is that of leadership. These gifted men and women keep the big picture and goal in sight and steer everyone in the right direction to accomplish that goal.
After giving us various people God has divinely appointed, various gifts that individuals can have, Paul shows us the importance of each gift being present in the church, rather than everyone fighting for these various ministries and gifts. "All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?" These are rhetorical questions that Paul is asking to point out that each of these gifts and ministries are vital to the church and everyone only had one gift or one office, the church could not function properly. It was as if the Corinthians were a football team in which each individual desired to be the starting quarterback, so that they might receive all the glory and praise. However, the team could never carry out its purpose without someone to throw to, someone to block, someone to defend, and someone to coach the team.
To conclude this section Paul writes something, that without proper interpretation would seem completely opposite to what he has said this whole section. "But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way". Why would Paul tell them to desire the greater gifts, when he had just told them to fulfill the role and gifts you have been given by God, no matter what it may be. Wasn't the very problem Paul was trying to correct that each of them did desire the greater gifts? MacArthur explains, "Because zeloo (earnestly desire) usually has the negative connotation of coveting jealously or enviously (but contrast 2 Cor. 11:2), and because the Greek indicative and imperative forms are identical, the first half of the verse could be translated, 'But you earnestly desire the greater gifts.' That rendering seems much more appropriate to the context, both of what proceeds and of what follows. It certainly is consistent with the tone of the letter and the sin of the Corinthians. Because they clearly prized the showier gifts, the seemingly greater gifts, it would seem foolish of Paul to command them to do what they already were eagerly doing". Therefore, we can see that Paul is telling them that they earnestly are seeking the greater gifts, but Paul has shown them a more excellent way, that is, to fulfill the God given role and gifts you have been given.
MacArthur, speaking to the divinely appointed offices of "apostles" and "prophets", writes, "the first two offices mentioned in verse 28, those of apostle and of prophet, had three basic responsibilities: (1) to lay the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20); (2) to receive and declare the revelation of God's Word (Acts 11:28; 21:10-11; Eph. 3:5); and (3) to give confirmation of that Word through 'signs and wonders and miracles' (2 Cor. 12:12; cf. Acts 8:6-7; Heb. 2:3-4)". An apostle is one that is sent on a mission. These men were divinely appointed by God to carry out their role to give testimony of Christ and validate Him as deity. Their role was to also establish the church after Christ left as they were eyewitnesses to His whole life. MacArthur points out this office was temporary, to serve a purpose and then cease to exist. "It is not possible therefore, as some claim, for there to be apostles in the church today. Some have observed that the apostles weer like delegates to a constitutional convention. When the convention is over, the position ceases. When the New Testament was completed, the office of apostle ceased".
The next position Paul mentions is that of a "prophet". These men differed from those believers given the gift of prophecy. Prophets were men that spoke forth the word of God, sometimes in a revelatory manner, and other times for personal exhortation and reminder of God's promises. MacArthur explains, "the prophets sometime spoke revelation from God (Acts 11:21-28) and sometimes simply expounded revelation already given (as implied in Acts 13:1, where they are connected with teachers). They always spoke for God but did not always give a newly revealed message from God. The prophets were second to the apostles, and their message was to be judged by that of the apostles (I Cor. 14:37). Another distinction between the two offices may have been that the apostolic message was more general and doctrinal, whereas that of the prophets was more personal and practical". Their office completed at the completion of the New Testament as well.
The third office mentioned by Paul is that of "teacher". This individual has been appointed by God to serve the body by teaching and explaining the completed Word's of God. His responsibility is to spend time studying and interpreting God's Word for the edification of the ministry he has been placed in, whether it be in the main pastor role, or for a small bible study group. These men are to remain faithful to their study that they may bring up and disciple the next generation to do the same.
Paul has shown us various gifted men and their calling, and then he again lists various gifts within the body. "Miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues". The gifts of miracles and healings have been discussed in verses 9-10 of this chapter. Helps is a gift "for service in the broadest sense of helping and supporting others in day-by-day, often unnoticed, ways. It is the same gift as that of serving (Rom 12:7), though another Greek word is used in that text", according to MacArthur. Helps carries with it the idea of shouldering someone elses burden. These were the people that most likely Paul had in mind in the previous section that may not receive much of the glory and praise here on earth, but has multiple treasures saved for them in heaven. The gift of "administration" is that of leadership. These gifted men and women keep the big picture and goal in sight and steer everyone in the right direction to accomplish that goal.
After giving us various people God has divinely appointed, various gifts that individuals can have, Paul shows us the importance of each gift being present in the church, rather than everyone fighting for these various ministries and gifts. "All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?" These are rhetorical questions that Paul is asking to point out that each of these gifts and ministries are vital to the church and everyone only had one gift or one office, the church could not function properly. It was as if the Corinthians were a football team in which each individual desired to be the starting quarterback, so that they might receive all the glory and praise. However, the team could never carry out its purpose without someone to throw to, someone to block, someone to defend, and someone to coach the team.
To conclude this section Paul writes something, that without proper interpretation would seem completely opposite to what he has said this whole section. "But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way". Why would Paul tell them to desire the greater gifts, when he had just told them to fulfill the role and gifts you have been given by God, no matter what it may be. Wasn't the very problem Paul was trying to correct that each of them did desire the greater gifts? MacArthur explains, "Because zeloo (earnestly desire) usually has the negative connotation of coveting jealously or enviously (but contrast 2 Cor. 11:2), and because the Greek indicative and imperative forms are identical, the first half of the verse could be translated, 'But you earnestly desire the greater gifts.' That rendering seems much more appropriate to the context, both of what proceeds and of what follows. It certainly is consistent with the tone of the letter and the sin of the Corinthians. Because they clearly prized the showier gifts, the seemingly greater gifts, it would seem foolish of Paul to command them to do what they already were eagerly doing". Therefore, we can see that Paul is telling them that they earnestly are seeking the greater gifts, but Paul has shown them a more excellent way, that is, to fulfill the God given role and gifts you have been given.
posted by amesfam | 9:52 AM
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