The Body of Christ: God’s gifts for the Church
And God has appointed these in the Church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…(1 Corinthians 12:28, see verses 27-31).
In the final section of 1 Corinthians 12 Paul re-emphasises that the gatherings of God’s people are part of the Body of Christ and we are individually members of it. God appoints and equips those who build up the Church. The gifts in verse 28 have an order. We also need to understand that some were for a specific period. Ephesians 2:20 explains that the Church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” After Christ’s ascension, the apostles and prophets had the ministry of unfolding the revelation of God, which is now contained in the New Testament. The Lord Jesus told the apostles that the Holy Spirit of God would lead them into “all truth” (John 16:13). This ministry was completed in the first century of the Church’s history. People cannot claim today to be Christ’s apostles and prophets, because that work has been finished. In the list we are looking at, the apostles are placed first and prophets second. Teachers are placed third. Their ministry is to unfold all the Scriptures to the people of God and to be a living example of what they teach.
Evangelists are not mentioned, because Paul is stressing the building up of those who are already saved. He lists miracles, healing, helps, governments and tongues. Some of these gifts, such as miracles and healing, were confined to the apostolic period. This doesn’t mean God does not still do the miraculous, but these were foundational gifts. Confined periods of miracles are seen in the ministry of Moses, Elijah and Elisha in the Old Testament, and that of the Lord Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament. Paul in later life was unable to heal some of his friends or himself. The gifts of being a help and support and giving spiritual guidance in the Church are still very much needed. These gifts should not be overlooked or undervalued. The gift of tongues was a sign, especially to unbelieving Jews, as Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 14:20-22.
Paul asks in verses 29-30 if we all have these gifts. No, we do not. They are shared, and he was about to show them, in chapter 13, a more excellent way, that of love. The Corinthians were indeed gifted people. But they had become disorderly, extravagant and self-centred in the way their gifts were used. Paul teaches us that we need the gifts God has given, but we are to use them in sacrificial service for the benefit and blessing of the flock of God. We are not to desire the gifts of others, but minister the gift God has given us in joyful and faithful service to the Lord Jesus. In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:20 we get a lovely picture of a true servant, “Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.” It was a real joy for the servant to use what his lord had given him, and to present it to him.
I came home from work one day, when my daughter, Anna, was a young schoolgirl. The table was set for tea and on my side plate was a very unusual piece of rock-solid pastry. I asked Anna what it was, and with a smiling face, she replied, “I made it for you.” Imperfection will always mark our service. But what the Lord rejoices in is the response of love for Him and His people. It is this love that Paul was about to bring before the hearts of the failing Corinthian church. It was the “more excellent way”.
