As we continue studying 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, in verse 28 Paul puts the gifts of the Spirit in an order appointed by God.
FIRST – Apostles
SECOND – Prophets
THIRD – Teachers
Then, workers of miracles, gifts of healing, help others, administration, speaking in tongues.
If you’re reading that thinking “Time out, Joel. In the previous posts in the series, you said all spiritual gifts are important, but here Paul is clearly saying that God appointed some to be greater gifts?”
I, too, see how that could seem contradictory. But remember the original situation that Paul is addressing? Disunity, because some in the churches were wrongly placing a premium on the gift of tongues. Take a look at where the gift of tongues falls in that list? Dead Last.
Paul is saying that God did appoint some gifts as greater, but not the ones the Corinthian Christians were focusing on. In chapter 14, the gift of tongues, Paul says, has an important role, but the gift of tongues should be seen as far inferior to other gifts.
So is Paul saying that the first three are better? No. Remember he said that all the gifts are important and needed. But he does teach that God appointed some gifts that will serve in a leadership role. Let’s look at each of those three.
Apostles are one who fulfills the role of being a special messenger (generally restricted to the immediate followers of Jesus Christ, but also extended, as in the case of Paul himself, to other early Christians active in proclaiming the message of the gospel)[1].
The original 12 apostles were all chosen by Jesus. Then Judas had his issues. But then in Acts 1 we read the story of when God chose Matthias to fill the spot vacated by Judas. Then lastly, in Acts 9, Jesus chose Paul in a very special manner. Finally it does seem that people like Barnabas and Jesus’ brother James came along later and very much filled an apostolic role. Throughout the ages, apostles are those who extend the kingdom of God in new ways and regions. They are missionary entrepreneurs.
Prophets are people who speak for God, most often for the purpose of pointing to injustice and sin and calling people repent. Rarely do prophets predict the future. Instead the prophetic message is usually “if–then.” “If you continue rebelling against God, then you will face the consequences of separation from God, so repent and return to him.”
Teachers, are pretty easy to describe… “one who provides instruction.” In the church there is to be a primary focus on the teaching of the Word of God.
To make sure that there is no question about how the Spirit of God distributes the gifts, verses 29-30 are a list of seven questions and the form of each question is better translated: “Not are all apostles, are they? Not are all prophets, are they?” And so on, each with the obvious answer…NO!
Paul says that not everyone has all the gifts, and not everyone is gifted in the ways that people consider to be the best gifts, and not all are gifted in the top three gifts.
Yet that is okay! Why? Because of what Paul spent so much time on already! All the gifts of the body of Christ are important and needed.
Do you hear that? All are important and all are needed. You are important and you are needed.
The Lord needs you, the church needs you, the mission of God’s Kingdom needs you.
We need you to use your gifts!
It is okay to desire the greater gifts. That’s how Paul finishes this section: eagerly desire the greater gifts. What does that mean, I think, when I read it? That everyone should desire those top three gifts? The word that Paul uses is where we get our English word zealous. Be zealous for the greater gifts. It could be translated “to be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire—‘to be earnest, to set one’s heart on, to be completely intent upon.’“[2] Or translated “set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts”.
Though we might not know precisely how the Spirit gives out gifts, Paul is saying that it is okay to desire these greater ones, but that desire must be held in check by all the things that he already said. That all the gifts are important. That no matter what gift you have, you using your gift is vital to the functioning of the body. We shouldn’t be jealous. We shouldn’t be angry at God because he didn’t give us a different gift. We should learn to be content with the gifts we’ve been given, and we should joyously use them.
You might notice that the NIV stops this section right in the middle of a sentence, something it rarely does. There is a reason for that. Paul is finishing a main idea, unity in diversity of gifts, but he has also set the stage for making one of the most significant points of the entire letter. That though there are a few gifts that are more important, there is something even more excellent than the more important gifts, something more excellent that applies to them all.
That is Paul’s focus in the next chapter, love. The diversity of the gifts works so well together in a church family when the people that make up the church family love one another.
Today let us focus on the idea that gifts are to promote unity in diversity.
[1] Louw & Nida, 541.
[2] Ibid, 297.
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