Bible Studies for Life
Associate Professor of Religion, Samford University
Used in God’s Service
1 Corinthians 12:12–26; 1 Peter 4:9–11
Today’s passage follows last Sunday’s, so refer to last week’s introduction (visit www.thealabamabaptist.org and search “Sunday School lessons”). Chapters 12 and 13 should be read as a foundation for the instructions Paul gives in Chapter 14.
Like Paul, the author of 1 Peter talks about “gifts” and comments on their importance for the congregation.
Don’t consider yourself less useful than others in the church. (12:12–21)
Here Paul introduces his famous metaphor comparing the congregation to Christ’s body (Rom. 12:3–8; compare Col. 1:18, 2:19; Eph. 1:22–23). Paul uses two church institutions — Lord’s Supper and baptism — to talk about unity. In 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 he mentioned Jesus’ words, “This is My body,” along with the idea of “drinking” the cup of the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. Here he talks about all baptized believers being made “to drink of one Spirit.” Our taking communion together and our individual baptisms should erase even our starkest distinctions.
Paul mentions two of the most important distinctions of his day. Although it looks like a religious distinction to modern eyes, in Paul’s day “Jews or Greeks” referred to people of different ethnic groups. “Greeks” denoted descendants of the Athenians, Corinthians and Spartans whom the Romans so admired. “Jews” signified Judeans, that is Syrian foreigners whose native language was Aramaic (Romans said this even of Jews who had been speaking Greek for generations). “Slave or free” referred to people, not merely of different class, but of different rights. A slave was chattel (movable) property without rights. A former slave could not become a Roman citizen. His or her children could, but their names would betray their status as the children of “freedmen,” and no matter how wealthy they became they could not enter the highest ranks of Roman society. Those were restricted to particular families. Paul does not say “male or female,” but we can probably supply it based on Galatians 3:27–28, which also is about baptism.
Contrary to such distinctions in Corinth and everywhere in the Empire, no “member” (the double entendre exists in both Greek and English; body part and part of a group) of the body of Christ may think of him- or herself as less important than any other. God designates each role and God ignores the various ways humans sort themselves into ranks of value and power.
Don’t consider yourself more useful than others in the church. (12:22–26)
In this section Paul talks about “the members that seem to be weaker” and “that we think less honorable.” Some modern commentators use this language to argue that Paul (and therefore God) limits women’s church roles to places of service that are different — but not lesser than — roles restricted to men. However, elsewhere in 1 Corinthians “weaker” refers to vulnerable Christians who are easily swayed (1 Cor. 8:7, 9–12; 9:22; 1 Thess. 5:14).
Accordingly, no member of the body of Christ may think of him- or herself as more valuable or powerful than any other.
Use your gifts to serve others and glorify God. (4:9–11)
Peter talks about gifts as grace from God (compare 1 Cor. 12:4). He even likens the words believers speak to one another to words given by God, and the strength of our service to strength from God. So our various gifts, our words and our very strength all display God’s grace. We use them to serve not our own needs or egos but God, for the purpose of giving glory to God alone.
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