Free Bible Commentary
“1 Corinthians 12:27-31”
Categories: 1 Corinthians“Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.”
---End of Scripture verses---
Paul listed some of the miraculous gifts given by the Holy Spirit in order of importance in verse 28. There was a reason that he placed “various kinds of tongues” at the very end of this list. The brethren in Corinth placed the greatest emphasis upon “tongue-speaking”. We will see in chapter 14 that their worship services were loud and chaotic as they tried to speak over one another because the “tongue-speakers” were trying to draw attention to themselves. Paul told them to “earnestly desire the greater gifts” (verse 13). Not all of the Holy Spirit’s endowments were equally significant. They were all needed and useful, but some were greater in importance than others.
Notice that the first three gifts on the list were focused upon the teaching and preaching of God’s word. Apostles, prophets and teachers dedicated their lives to disseminating God’s revelation and they ranked as 1, 2 and 3. These were the “greater gifts” that God wanted His people to give the greatest heed to. People have a tendency to glamorize the “miraculous”. But if you think about it, which is more important in the grand scheme of things? The word of God, or the things used to confirm that word? The main reason that God even allowed some of His people at a certain period in time to perform miracles was to validate the message that was being spoken (Mark 16:15-16; Hebrews 2:3-4).
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God instilled within His word the power to save people’s souls (James 1:22), and transform their lives from conformity to the corruption of this world, into the godly image of His dear Son (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18). That internal salvation and transformation is greater (in quality and duration) than any external awe and wonder that a miracle could arouse. Miracles were a very important part of the early stages of God’s plan of salvation, but we will learn in chapter 13 that they have long since outlived their intended usefulness. It is still important to read about then and believe in them (John 20:30-31), but not to see a miracle with our own eyes in order to have faith in Christ Jesus (John 20:29; Romans 10:17).
“And I show you a still more excellent way” (verse 31). Not just a better way but the best way. Paul is not talking about a greater GIFT, but a WAY that is greater than ALL gifts. As we learn in the case of the Corinthians, having the ability to perform miraculous gifts didn’t necessarily make you a better person. Love does. Paul now turns his attention to love (chapter 13). The brethren in Corinth lacked the proper love for one another, and that was the cause of their abuse of one another and their misuse of their miraculous gifts. We will learn in chapter 13 that all the greatest achievements and acts of charity and bravery are meaningless without love. In God’s eyes anyway.
Please read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 for tomorrow.
You are invited to come worship God with us today at the Taylorsville Road church of Christ!
3741 Taylorsville Road. 9:30 AM Bible class. 10:30 AM worship period. 5:00 PM worship period.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
