1 Corinthians 12:12 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Corinthians 12:12

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Here in verse 12 another theme is added. The distribution of gifts is for the whole body in which the members are mutually dependent one upon the other, and this applies to us today. Prophets are past; apostles are past; but these verses describe the gifts that remain among us too. The overriding subject of this chapter is the revelatory and sign gifts; but there is no doubt that the apostle Paul moves into a great digression which applies particularly to individual congregations.Up till now, and including this verse, the illustration of the body applies to the church universal. The apostles benefit the church universal from all countries and all times, because the word, the New Testament came through them. But now, Paul seems to digress to Corinth alone. And we know he does so, because in verse 27 we read, ‘Now ye [Corinthians] are the body of Christ, and members in particular.’ He tells them that the illustration of the body applies not just to the church universal, but to the particular individual local congregation. The body is a wonder. What diversity – its limbs, its parts, its organs – and yet, what unity – everything cooperating together, hopefully; everything coordinated when we are well. The body is a piece of divine genius. Great diversity, each part so very important and yet great harmony. So it is with every single member of the church, whatever our role, whatever gifts or abilities God has given to us.‘So also is Christ’. This is an amazing statement. The church is composed of all those who are saved, hopefully, and though they are many, yet they are one body. But what we would expect to read here is this: ‘all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is the church’, but the apostle doesn’t say that, and we are surprised. He seems to have used the wrong word, but it is no mistake, because he uses the same terminology elsewhere. In fact, says many times in his epistles, that the church is Christ, and so we need to understand that. It is a precious point, and it is a very deep point. Christ is the church? Well, of course, the church cannot be totally identified with Christ. Christ is the second Person of the Godhead. He is a divine Person. He has taken upon himself a human body and personality, and he wears it now eternally in glorified form. He is mysteriously both God and man. And as the God who is man he is not to be identified with the church. We are not divine. There is nothing divine in us nor will there ever be. When we are purified and we go to heaven, we shall still be people, saved, purified, glorified, but we won’t be made gods. And yet, there is a sense in which the apostle Paul can say, not once, not twice, but many times, that the church is his body; that Christ is the church, and it is a very precious thought. Truly converted people, the Church of all ages is the body of Christ, and may be termed Christ. It is true that a local church may include some who have brought into membership mistakenly. They have become baptised members of the church, and they think they are saved, but they have not truly yielded to Christ. We would love to hope that all are converted, but only the last day will show. But truly converted people are the body of Christ, because they are under his rule, and because they listen to his voice, and obey him. They reflect, even here on earth, his mercy and his love. When he was on earth he went about doing good – he healed the sick; he had compassion on the needy; he was a constant outflow of benevolence and patience and care. Because the church of Jesus Christ, the true church reflects his mercy, his love, and goes about knocking the doors and winning souls and taking abuse for it, out of love for lost people, it may be called the body of Christ.

Application

The chapter began with, ‘You were led away to dumb idols’, the dumb idols of possessions, and houses, and clothing, and all the things that could never speak or explain life or living, or give you heaven or eternity. But now you have come to Christ, and the word speaks to you day by day. It is salvation, it is life, it is peace; it explains why we are here. It teaches us of God; it gives us the doctrines; it gives us the ethics for the Christian life, the standards. It gives us direction and comfort and guidance; it gives us inspiration as we see Christ.

You may be a believer and you love the Lord, and you have found him and you walk with him and he proves himself to you, but you are not part of a local church. Maybe you worship with the people of God, but you don't participate with them in anything. You are not a member; you never joined a spiritual family; you don't throw in your energies and your lot; you don't play your part; you may be on the fringe even though you are a seasoned believer and you love God and he has dealt with you. Listen to the impossibility of this: ‘For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.’ Didn’t you know you were meant to be part of the body? You are an arm, or a leg, or an eye, or an ear, and you are missing from the body, from its service. You have exempted yourself, excused yourself. You may be shy constitutionally, or there may be some other reason. You may be too much of an individualist. That can be a gift very often – such a person is blessed with a lot of private personal initiative – but that gift has got the better of you, and you are actually an isolated individualist. You don't make friends very easily; you don't share very easily; you don't do teamwork; you are not in the church. Your gift has become spoiled because it has gone to your head, and it determines your whole policy of life.

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1 Corinthians 12:12 Commentary and Bible Study