Commentary on 1-2 Corinthians by James A. Davis

Author:James A. Davis [Burge, Gary M. and Andrew E. Hill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bible Commentary/New Testament, REL006050, REL006070, First Corinthians, Second Corinthians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians
ISBN: 9781493424696
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2019-10-24T00:00:00+00:00

People would come to the Asclepion, built in honor of the deified Greek physician Asclepius, to be healed. Pictured here are votive offerings, usually representing the afflicted body part, given in gratitude to Asclepius. [Copyright © Baker Photo Archive. Courtesy of the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth. ]

Just as “the body is a unit though it is made up of many parts . . . so it is with Christ” (12:12). (The cult of Asclepius, the god of healing, and his daughter Hygeia was accorded a prominent place in Corinth, and those who sought healing for a part of the body would often leave a representation of it in the Asclepion. Perhaps Paul has this in mind as he reminds his readers that the body is a unit and not simply a collection of various parts.) The point is analogy, not identity. Christ dwells in the church after the resurrection but possesses his own body as well. The basis for comparison lies in the fact that all Christians, despite the inequities of their former existence, have now been brought into one body (see also Gal. 3:27–28) by a common experience of the Spirit in baptism.

This does not mean, however, that all will now be given exactly the same gifts, for a body is not constituted by a single part but by many. Thus the diversity among the parts of the body is no cause for concern about membership or status in the body. For, in fact, “God has arranged the parts in the body” with thought for the proper place and role of each, so that there are “many parts, but one body” (12:20).

Moreover, the unity of the body is not superficial but integral to its existence. Weaker parts of the body are indispensable, less honorable parts (i.e., those not usually receiving recognition) are given “special honor” (12:23), and “parts that are unpresentable” are accorded a modesty that witnesses to their importance. And all this is by design (12:18). For God has now given greater honor to those members who before their incorporation into the body of Christ had little honor outside it, so that no cause for a division of honor, attention, status, or concern might exist within the body. Thus, if any part of the body suffers in its ability to function within the body, “every part suffers with it,” and when one part is honored, all will rejoice in the recognition of its capability (12:26).

Repeating the affirmation with which he began the analogy, Paul now moves to his conclusion. The gifts may be differentiated, but not on the basis of supposition about the degree of inspiration. Rather, those who are given gifts are to be set in order on the basis of their ability (via God’s appointment) to serve and edify the body (1 Cor. 3:5–15). Thus apostles come first, prophets second, teachers third, then “miracle-workers,” healers, helpers, administrators, and last those “speaking in different kinds of tongues” (12:28). The point is reinforced by questions that treat the gifts in the same order.

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