Expert: Joe Norman - 1/20/2007

Question

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
 I am curious as to other interpretations of 1Corinthians Chapter 12. What are your views?
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Hi Patrticia,

Sorry it has taken me a while to respond to you. I am a full-time Music Education student and have been pretty busy. I do thank you for the opportunity to answer your question. Please note that what you are asking is not easy in just one short post. Yet, I will do my best.

 The context of I Corinthians chapter 12 is that Paul is trying to correct this church in their attempts to be superior to their fellow Christians. They are on the verge of division. He is specifically referring to "Spiritual gifts" in verse one. Verse three is interesting as well because he tells them that no one who say Jesus is accursed is speaking with the Spirit of God and also no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. I believe that he is just providing one indication of descerning if a speaker is teaching truth or a lie.

Next Paul explains that there are many "gifts" but one Spirit(VS.4). He then says there are many services but one Lord(VS.5). Next, many activities, but one God who empowers all(VS.6). In verse seven, he states something quite interesting. He says, "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."(ESV) He explains that these gifts served a purpose..."for the common good." To me, this is important. It must edify others and must never draw attention to the person with the gift.

 In verses 8-12, Paul lists the different gifts that a Christian "might" have. Please notice that when he speaks in regard to tongues, he says varieties of tongues...and after that, he mentions others might have the gift to interpret the tongues. Contrary to what most people in the Pentecostal churches believe, "tongues" only refers to languages that existed but a person did not learn. This is clear when you read Acts chapter two carefully. Everyone heard in their own native language.

 Next, Paul explains that we are one body made up of many members(Verses 13-27). The reason he is doing this is because the Corinthian church was beginning to divide because some with certain gifts were thinking that they were superior to the other fellow Christians. Yet, Paul explains to them that this is ridiculous.

 Now let me paste the last few verses of the chapter for you and then I will comment on them.
 
1Co 12:28-31  And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.29  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?30  Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?31  But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.(ESV)

 In closing the chapter, Paul continues to explain that all serve a purpose and none are superior to the others. His series of questions are rhetorical and meant to spur thought. Yet, keep in mind that when the Bible was originally written, it was not divided up into chapters and verses. Many were letters, and so Paul does not end where the chapter ends. He continues his thoughts in regard to this Spiritual gifts. The last verse shows this. What is the more excellent way that Paul is going to show them?
 Well, as we all know, chapter 13 is called the "Love Chapter." This is the more excellent way that Paul is referring to. Love should be the key motivating factor for Christians. Love never fails. I don't feel I have the time or space to really cover this well, but I will give you some things to consider.

 Let's look at the end of chapter thirteen.

1Co 13:8-13
8  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,10  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.11  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.13  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.(ESV)

Why does Paul say that prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will pass away? He refers to these things as "the partial" and says that when "the perfect" comes(VS.10). Most veersions say, "when that which is perfect comes." So, what is that which is perfect? I firmly believe it is the complete New Testament. I believe that all these "gifts" of the Holy Spirit served a purpose in helping to establish the church in the first century because the New Testament was not yet complete. Once the New Testament was complete, there was no longer any need for these miracles.

 Also, we learn from Acts 8:18 that these gifts were only passed on by the laying on of the Apostles' hands. So once the Apostles all died, no one else was able to pass these gifts on to anyone. Of course, to really understand why miracles do not continue, it would require a much longer study, but I hope this at least gives you some things to consider. I don't believe that the majority of the Bible is difficult to understand and so it doesn't need interpretation. Yet, the thing to do is try to let the Bible interpret itself.


         God Bless You, Joe Norman


 So you believe that the purpose of these gifts such as healing were to help in the establishment of the church and that these "gifts" are no longer given to anyone once the apostles died?  

Answer
Yes I truly believe that the miraculous gifts were to help in the establishment of the church and they are no longer given to anyone once the apostles died. They served a purpose and that purpose is no longer needed. If you would like a more detailed explaination, I can do so. Yet, my time is limited right now. If you would post a new question asking me to show by Scripture that miracles were temporary, I would be more than happy to provide a much more detailed answer; but the end of I Corinthians chapter 13 seems to be pretty clear that these miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were indeed temporary. I thank you again for the opportunity to answer your questions.

         In Christ, Joe Norman