Holy
Spirit 20
1
Corinthians 12 Part b
Verses
13-31
Teacher’s
notes
Hook: What have we learned about
the Holy Spirit
Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to
do? The answer is yes--all the time! It must be that way, for God's glory and
kingdom. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we
function according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory. He
wants to reveal Himself to a watching world.”
― Henry T. Blackaby, Experiencing the Spirit: The Power of Pentecost
Every Day
What do we learn about the Holy Spirit from I Corinthians
12?
1. A clear
communicator
2. The
source for the Churches equipping
3. The
source for the Church unity
4. The
determining force of the Churches gifting
5. The
Power source for believers so we may
glorify God
BOOK: Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Who is the subject of these verses?
Body of Christ!
My Wife an RN as we went through 1 Corinthians 12 said; This make so much sense the body can always
compensate if it loses an eye or hand etc, but it is never the way it was
created to be. So True!
You are the body of Christ,
if you drop out, we are without a body part we may be able to
compensate-but it will never fully be what God designed until you participate!
Where are we welded together as one?
A Baptism
verse 13
Parenthetically, it should be noted that Paul is no Speaking
here of water baptism. Water baptism is
an outward, physical ordinance believers submit to themselves and which is
performed by other believer, in obedience to Christ command. (Matt 28:19,Acts
2:38) Water baptism plays no part in
conversion, but is a testimony to the church and the world conversion that has
already taken place.
(The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1 Corinthians
pg.311)
There is a rule of Bible reading here to be observed:
whenever the word “baptism” is used in the New Testament, water is the element
of that baptism unless some other element is indicated in the text or
context. This is an invariable
rule. We are tempted to reproduce all
the references to baptism in the New Testament to demonstrate how obvious it
is, but we do not have the space.
Baptism into Christ was obtained by immersion in water. In the same act and at the same time we were
immersed or buried into His death. At
the time and place of our baptism we met His blood in His death and thus
obtained the remission of our sins.
There is only one baptism that will place us into one body. (Don DeWelt
Power of the Holy Spirit Pg 23 Holy Spirit 4 Section 1)
If this is true then what about? –Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:4,
Colossians 2:12?
Those in reform tradition dismiss what the bible clearly
states about baptism by making water baptism and Spirit baptism separate Acts
2:38,39 make clear one baptism where we are both baptized into Christ and by
the Holy Spirit at Water baptism. Which
from these verses also connect the next vers
A Holy
Spirit that indwells every Christian Verse 13
How is this body to function?
1. We are
many parts but one body
2. No
division verse 25
3. Each
Christian is cared for in same way
4. Each
Christian is to rejoice with the success of others!
What is the greater gift? What
is the More excellent way?
Unconditional Love for each other!
What does Verses 27-31 do to the teaching that every Christian, Every
Christian baptized by Holy Spirit should speak in tongues?
It utterly exposes it as false. Right along with this is a teaching that
speaking in tongues is a indistinguishable prayer language. The Problem is . . .
Those who had the ability to speak in tongues were
involved. We cannot stress too much the
need for definition on this word “tongue.”
We have published Knofel Staton’s research on this word. We can offer nothing more helpful than a few
excerpts from this book, SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR CHRISTIANS TODAY:
Now we must ask, “What does glossa mean in Acts and in I
Corinthians?” Based upon research thus
far, it would be expected that the world would be used in one of the two ways
it has consistently been used in every other Bible verse.
Luke’s first usage in Acts is in chapter 2. There it is clear that glossa is used as a
known foreign language (verses 3, 4, 11, 26).
In verse 8, the Greek word dialektos (from which we get our English word
“dialect,” and which always means a language or a nation), is used interchangeably
with glossa found in verse 11.
What does glossa mean elsewhere in Acts? It is used in only two other verses—10:46 and
19:6. The usage in 10:46 is the same as
in Acts 2, as explained by Peter in 11:17.
He says it is the same (equal in Greek) gift. There is no reason to suspect that Luke
changed his usage in 19:6. We have
already seen that he considers the usage to be synonymous with dialektos (Acts
2:8).
Now how is glossa used in I Corinthians? From a usage analysis elsewhere in the Bible,
we would expect one of two usages—(1) physical tongue in the mouth, or (2) a
foreign language. If we had no
presuppositions, this is the methodology we would follow. If this methodology had been followed by all,
many misleading ideas would not have “gotten off the ground.”
The word unknown which appears in some versions is not in
the original Greek. Its addition to the
English text has no textual support.
Until I Corinthians, the Bible does not speak about any “unknown”
glossa. In fact, I Corinthians 12:10 and
28 says that there are “various kinds of tongues.” The word kind refers to a family or
genealogy; Paul could not know that one was from a different family than
another if they had actually been unknown languages.
The phrase “There are various kinds” is significant. The Greek word translated various is heteros,
which means “different.” Every time this
word is used in conjunction with glossa, it refers to a known foreign
language. This is the construction in
Acts 2:4 and in I Corinthians 14:21.
The latter is a quote from Isaiah 28:11, which is a
reference to the Assyrian language. When
Luke used beteros and glossa together, he referred to a foreign language.
Paul and Luke traveled together. It is unlikely that Paul would use the same
construction to refer to a different phenomenon than Luke had in mind. It is further unlikely that Paul would use an
Old Testament reference which speaks about a known foreign language to discuss
an ecstatic utterance in an unknown language (I Corinthians 14:21 and Isaiah
28:11).
There is one other important fact to consider in determining
the nature of the tongues mentioned in I Corinthians 14. That is the meaning of the word interpret or
interpretation. The Greek word is
hermeneuo, from which we get our English word Hermeneutics. In one form or another, that word is used
thirteen times in the New Testament.
What does it mean?
Outside I Corinthians, it is used to mean to translate words
from one known language into another known language. See John 1:38,42; 9:7; Hebrews 7:2; Acts
9:36. The only exception to this is in
Luke 24:27. There it is used to mean to
explain the content-meaning from one known language into the same known
language. Never is the word used in the
Bible to mean to interpret an unknown language into a known language!
The word hermeneuo used with glossa enhances the position
that Paul’s subject in I Corinthians 14 is a known foreign language which is
translatable. Thus its nature could be
checked out by many who knew the language.
It is further noted that the word glossa referred to a known
language. It was not used to speak about
some language which had not been discovered, or which was being used in
isolation. (Don DeWelt
Power of the Holy Spirit Pg 23,24 Holy Spirit
4 Section 1)
WHY IS VERSE 18 SO IMPORTANT?
God in His wisdom placed, made, birthed each of us exactly
as he has desired in the body of Christ.
If we ignore this in our rebellion or apathy the body is not as healthy
as it shout be. Also, if your creator
made you to do something, you will not find fulfillment until you are working
on that task. Are you functioning as God
made you to function.
Look: Is Love a Spiritual Gift
or a virtue to be practiced as we follow Christ?
From the context it is clear to me Love is the motivation we
are to use our spiritual gifts, it is the be the foundation of the whole being
of Christ!
Took: What is the Love Paul tells us is the most excellent way?
Language can tell you a great deal about a culture and that
culture’s priorities – the Inuit (Eskimos) are said to have nearly thirty words
for “ice” which describe various colors, textures, and uses, among other things
(I don’t know if this is true or not, by the way). Any group of adults in the U.S. can probably
come up with that many words for money.
However, we tend to use the same word to describe many
different aspects of another concept: love.
We love our mothers, pizza, baseball, spouses and children, all the time
using the same word to describe these relationships! The one word:
love, cannot be meant the same way in all these situations. To avoid confusion, let’s look at some Greek
words that distinguished between some of the very different situations.
Mania – Manic love is almost not a love at all. The word “lust” is probably not strong enough
– “obsession” is closer to the word.
This is the love of possession. I
“mania” that which I obsessively desire to own.
It is generally seen as taking over the “lover” like insanity – thus the
connection to modern concepts of madness (kleptomania, pyromania). It is like the opposite of a phobia – an obsessive need to avoid something. “Mania”
is translated as “madness” and “beside yourself” in Acts 26.
Eros – Eros is obviously the root word for “erotic,” but it
does not describe sexual love only, it actually describes all emotional love;
the feeling of love. Eros love is that
insatiable desire to be near the target of this love. The exciting, passionate, nervous feelings
that sweep over people in the appropriate circumstances. This is the love that says “I love how you
make me feel.” As an emotion, Eros
changes, sometimes suddenly. Remember
that it is entirely based on circumstances and on the target of its
emotion. As an emotion, alone it is
morally neutral, however, it can just as easily lead to lust (sinful desire) as
it can passion. It is also a good picture to think of Eros as the fruit and
flowers of a new relationship. Eros is
not a bad thing, but it is also not a “good” thing. The word Eros does not
appear in the Bible. I have some more
thoughts on the way “eros” thinking affects our interaction with sex and
intimacy at http://chrismlegg.com/2011/03/01/309/ .
Philos – Philos love, or brotherly/friendship love, is the next
kind we will look at. Philos describes
the love between two people who have common interests and experiences, or a
fondness for. Hemophiliacs apparently seemed
to ancient doctors to have a “fondness” to bleeding, for example. Unlike Eros, which pulses up and down like
waves on the ocean, Philos steadily grows, like a building being constructed
stone by stone. For this reason, when
close friends are separated for a while and reunited, they will often say “it
is like we picked up exactly where we left off.” Philos is half about the circumstances, and
half about the commitment of two people to one another; it says “I love who we
are together,” or in case of a non person:
“I am fond of this food.” Philos
love generally grows over time except in the case of some kind of
betrayal. It is commonly used in the New
Testament, as in Matt. 10:37, John 12:25, and Revelation 3:19.
Storgy – We will not spend much time here; storgy is the love
one has for a dependent. It is commonly
called “motherly love.” It is entirely
based on the relationship between the “lover” and the “lovee.” When the dependent is no longer dependent,
this love remains only in its emotional remnants. It is one of the stronger loves, because it
involves a commitment that relies on only one trait of the receiver – that he
or she is dependent. This type of love
is toxic to a marriage under normal circumstances. Marriages that look more like a mother/son or
father/daughter relationship is moving quickly downhill.
Agapeo – Agape love is the final of the five loves we look at
here. Agape love is entirely about the
lover, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the one loved. Agape love, in its purest form, requires no
payment or favor in response. The most
common word for God’s love for us is Agape (I John, John 3:16) and the love we
are commanded to have for one another (Matt. 5:44, I Cor. 13). This lack of input from the recipient makes
it possible for us to love our enemies even though we may not like them or the
situation they have put us in – because Agape love is not in any way dependent
on circumstances; it says “I love you because I choose/commit to.” Unlike eros or philos, Agape creates a
straight line that neither fades or grows (!) in its perfect form (which of
course only exists from God outward)
Oddly enough, even though many people marry out of eros love alone, they
make vows that speak of commitment despite any circumstance: richer/poorer, better/worse,
sickness/health. This kind of love is
about a commitment to the very best for another, no matter what emotions or
feelings exist! You can see why in the
King James Version of the Bible, Agape was usually translated as
“charity.” It is a love freely given,
and freely committed to. For a more in
depth look at its aspects, look at I Corinthians chapter 13. (http://chrismlegg.com/2009/10/01/5-greek-words-for-love-agape/)
Agapeo is the love we are to have for others , it is the power of the
Holy Spirit expressed!
Holy Spirit 20
1 Corinthians 12 Part b
Verses 13-31
Student Notes
Hook: What have we learned about
the Holy Spirit
Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The
answer is yes--all the time! It must be that way, for God's glory and kingdom.
If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function
according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory. He wants to
reveal Himself to a watching world.” ―
Henry T. Blackaby, Experiencing the Spirit: The Power of Pentecost Every Day
What do we learn about the Holy Spirit from I Corinthians 12?
1. A clear ______________________
2. The __________________
for the Churches equipping
3. The source for the
Church _________________
4. The _________________
force of the Churches gifting
5. The _____________
source for believers so we may glorify
God
BOOK: Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Who is the subject of these verses?
Body of Christ!
Where are we welded together as one?
How is this body to function?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the greater gift? What
is the More excellent way?
What does Verses 27-31 do to the teaching that every Christian, Every
Christian baptized by Holy Spirit should speak in tongues?
WHY IS VERSE 18 SO IMPORTANT?
Look: Is Love a Spiritual Gift
or a virtue to be practiced as we follow Christ?
Took: What is the Love Paul tells us is the most
excellent way?
Five Greek Words for Love
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Holy Spirit 20
1 Corinthians 12 Part b
Verses 13-31
Self-Study
Monday:
Read 1 Corinthians 13
And List all the things Love is. . .
Tuesday
Love is Patient
What does patience look like?
Romans 8:24-26
Ephesians 4:1-3
Revelation 14:12
Wednesday
Love is Kind
What does Kindness look life
Luke 6:34-36
Acts 4:8-10
2 Corinthians 6:3-13
Thursday
Love does not envy
What virtue is not being envious?
Contentment?
Mark 7:14-23
Philippians 4:10-12
1 Timothy 6:5-9
Friday
Love does not boast
What would that look like in your life?
James 4:15-17
2 Peter 17-19
Jude 1:15-17
Saturday
Love is Not Proud-or could say Love is Humble
What does this look like?
Matthew 11:28-30
Luke 14:10-12
Philippians 2:7-9
Sunday
Love does not dishonor others
What would this look like in your life?
John 8:48-50
James 2:5-7
Act 28:9-11
