Love Does Not Envy
13: 4c

Here is the first of eight negative descriptions of love. Love does not envy (Greek: zeloi, meaning to be jealous). Love and envy are mutually exclusive. Shakespeare called jealousy “the green sickness” and Yeshua referred to it as an evil eye (Matthew 20:15 NKJV). Jealousy, or envy, has two forms. One form says, “I want what someone else has.” If they have a better car than we do, we want it. If they are praised for something they do, we want some or more for ourselves. That sort of jealousy is bad enough. However, a worse kind says, “I wish they didn’t have what they have” (Matthew 20:1-16). The second kind of jealousy is more than selfish; it is desiring evil for someone else. It is jealousy on the deepest, most corrupt, and destructive level. This is the jealousy Solomon uncovered in the woman who pretended to be a child’s mother. When her own infant died, she secretly exchanged him for the baby of a friend who was staying with her. The true mother discovered what had happened and, when their dispute was taken before the king, he ordered the baby cut in half, a half to be given to each woman. The true mother pleaded for the baby to be spared, even if it meant losing possession of him. The false mother, however, would rather have had the baby killed than for the true mother to have him (see the commentary on The Life of Solomon, to see link click At – A Wise Ruling).

Fury is cruel and anger overwhelming, but who can stand up to jealousy (Proverbs 27:4)? In its extreme, jealousy has a viciousness shared with no other sin. If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, says James, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing (James 3:14-16). Selfish ambition, which is fueled by jealousy, is often “successful.” But its wisdom is demonic and its worldly “success” is ultimately destructive.

Jealousy is not a moderate or harmless sin. It was Eve’s jealousy of God, sparked by her pride, to which Satan successfully appealed. She wanted to be like God, to have what He has and to know what He knows. Jealousy was an integral part of that first great sin, from which all other sin has descended. The next sin mentioned in Genesis is murder, caused by Cain’s sin of jealousy of his brother Abel (see the commentary on Genesis Bj – Your Brother’s Blood Cries Out to Me from the Ground). Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery because of jealousy (see the commentary on Genesis Jb – Joseph’s Brothers Sold Him for Twenty Shekels of Silver). Dani’el was thrown into the lion’s den because of the jealousy of his fellow officials in Babylon. Jealousy causes the elder brother to resent the father’s attention to the prodigal son (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Hu – The Parable of the Lost Son and His Jealous Brother). And there are many other similar biblical illustrations.

One of the hardest battles a believer must fight is against jealousy. There is always someone who is a little better. But, love never detracts from the praise that is due to another, nor tries to make him seem less and self seem more by comparison. The practice of the world is quite the opposite. The negatives used in Paul’s description suggest corresponding positives. Instead of being envious, love is satisfied with its own portion and glad for others’ success.⁴⁰⁴ Envy was behind much of the party strife in the Corinthian church, Paul says as much (see Ar – The Immaturity of the Worldly Believer).

In sharp contrast to the many accounts of jealousy in the Corinthian church is the account of Jonathan’s agape love for David, who was not only greater and more popular than Jonathan, but was a threat to the throne that Jonathan normally would have inherited. Yet we are told of nothing by Jonathan’s great respect and love for his friend David, for whom he would willingly have sacrificed not only the throne but himself, he loved David as he loved his own life (First Samuel 20:17). Jonathan’s father, King Sha’ul, lost his throne and his blessing because of his jealousy, primarily of David (see the commentary on the Life of David Ao – Sha’ul’s Jealousy of David). Jonathan willingly gave up the throne and received a greater blessing because he would have nothing to do with jealousy.

Dear Heavenly Father, What a wonderful Father You are! Thank You for all the godly accounts of people in Your Word, people like Jonathan, who showed true love to his friend. Jonathan’s willingness to give up his hereditary right to being Israel’s king, so his friend could be king, shows a deep love that is so much more than mere words but is from the heart. That unselfish attitude helps us to understand how to live in a way that pleases You, even in hard and unfair situations. Having Your love and presence is such a great peace and comfort. What joy knowing that not only did You love us in the past and sent Your Son as our Redeemer (Second Corinthians 5:21), You love us now and will love us thru all eternity! When we live with the goal to please You in all we do and say, we do not need to get upset when discouragement comes our way. Living for Your approval is what counts for all eternity. We have an audience of One! It is refreshing to be able to put any bitter, unfair situation in Your hands, to turn from envy to Your loving arms. It is a joy to live following Your example of love. In Your Holy Son’s name and power of His resurrection. Amen

When love sees someone who is popular, successful, beautiful, or talented, it is glad for them and never jealous or envious. Eliezer of Damascus was the heir to Abram’s estate because he had no son (Genesis 15:2). When Isaac was born, however, and Eliezer lost the privileged inheritance, his love for Abram and Isaac never wavered (see the commentary on Genesis Fx – Go to My Country and My Own Relatives and Get a Wife for My Son Isaac). A loving person is never jealous, but is always glad for the success of others.⁴⁰⁵

Love is Kind
13: 4b

Paired with the more passive side of love (love is patient), is a corresponding active side: love is kind. Paul does not describe love to us in the role of performing great, wonderful, and astounding deeds; he prefers to show us how the inner heart of love looks when it is placed among worldly people and weak believers. He does not picture love in ideal surroundings of friendship and affection where each individual embraces and kisses the other, but in the rough and tuff surroundings of a sinful world and faulty believers, where the stresses of life bring out the positive power and value of love.⁴⁰¹

Just as patience (to see link click Cv – Love is Patient) will take anything from others, kindness will give anything to others. Being kind is the counterpart of being patient. To be kind (Greek: chresteuomai) means to be useful, serving, and gracious (see above). Kindness recognizes those who carry a heavy load in life. It is active goodwill. It not only feels generous, it is generous. It not only desires the welfare of others, but works for it. When Yeshua commanded His disciples (including us) to love their enemies He did not simply mean to feel kindly about them, but to be kind to them: If someone wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well! And if a soldier forces you to carry his pack for one mile, carry it for two (Matthew 5:40-41)! The hard environment of a sinful, fallen world gives love almost unlimited opportunity to exercise that sort of kindness. The kindness of believers in the second century so surprised the pagans that, according to the early Church father Tertullian, they called Christians chrestiani (made up of kindness) rather than christiani (Apol. 3.39).⁴⁰²

Again, God is the supreme model. Or perhaps you despise the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience; because you don’t realize that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to turn from your sins (Romans 2:4). Paul reminds us: But when the kindness and love for mankind of God our Deliverer was revealed, He delivered us. It was not on the ground of any righteous deeds we had done, but on the ground of His own mercy. He did it by means of the mikveh of rebirth and the renewal brought about by the Ruach Ha’Kodesh, whom he poured out on us generously through Yeshua the Messiah, our Deliverer (Titus 3:4-6). Peter tells us that we should long for the pure milk of the Word and thereby grow in respect to salvation because we have tasted the kindness of the Lord (First Peter 2:2-3 NASB). To His disciples Yeshua said: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30). The word He used for easy (Greek: chresteuomai) is the same one Paul uses for kind here in 13:4b. In His love for those who belong to Him, Messiah makes His yoke kind. He makes sure that what His people are called to bear for Him is bearable. No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure (First Corinthians 10:13).

For the Corinthians, kindness meant giving up their selfish, jealous, spiteful, and proud attitudes and adopting the spirit of loving-kindness (see the commentary on Ruth Af – The Concept of Chesed). Among other things, it would allow their spiritual gifts to be truly and effectively ministered in the Spirit, rather than superficially and unproductively counterfeited in the flesh.

The first test of our kindness, and the test of every aspect of love, is in the home! The believing husband who acts like a believer is kind to his wife and children. The believing wife who acts like a believer is kind to her husband and children. Brothers and sisters who are believers are kind to each other and their parents. They have more than kind feelings toward each other; they do kind, helpful things for each other – to the point of loving self-sacrifice, when necessary.⁴⁰³

Dear Kind Heavenly Father, We bow in worship and praise of You our father who is overwhelmingly merciful, kind and loving. ADONAI is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and plentiful in mercy. . . For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy for those who fear Him (Psalms 103:8, 12). Not only do You not punish those who repent and turn to You in love, but amazingly You put their sins at an incredible far distance away. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalms 103:12).

You are also holy and just. It is through Your kindness that You give your righteousness by Yeshua’s painful and shameful death to those who love You so we can live with You in Your holy heaven. He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21). May You help me to live in kindness towards others. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

Love is Patient
13: 4a

Love is patient. This first stroke of the brush shows us that we are to be given a portrait of godly love as it finds itself amid the sins, evils, and trials of this fallen world. Love practices being patient (Greek: makrothumeo, meaning longsuffering, refusing to retaliate in anger). This word is common in the B’rit Chadashah and is used almost exclusively for being patient with people, rather than circumstances or events. Love’s patience is the ability to be inconvenienced or taken advantage of by a person over and over again and yet not be upset or angry. Chrysostom, the early Church father, said, “It is a word which is used of the man who is wronged, and who has it easily in his power to avenge himself but will never do it.” Patience never retaliates.

Like agape love itself, the patience spoken of in the B’rit Chadashah was a virtue only among believers. In the Greek world, self-sacrificing love and non-avenging patience were considered weaknesses. Aristotle, for example, taught that the great Greek virtue was refusal to tolerate insult or injury and to strike back in retaliation for the slightest offense. Vengeance was a virtue. The world has always tended to make heroes of those who fight back, who stand up for their welfare and rights above all else. But love, God’s love, is the very opposite. Its primary concern is for the welfare of others, not itself, and it is more willing to be taken advantage of than to take advantage. Love does not retaliate. The believer who acts like Messiah never takes revenge for being hurt or injured or abused. He refuses to pay back evil for evil (Romans 12:17), but if slapped on the right cheek, will let him hit the left cheek also (Matthew 5:39).

The supreme example of patience, is, of course, God Himself. It is ADONAI’s patient love that prevents the world from being destroyed. It is His patience and longsuffering that allows time for people to be saved: The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some people think of slowness; on the contrary, He is patient with you; for it is not His purpose that anyone should be destroyed, but that everyone should turn from their sins (Second Peter 3:9). As He was dying on the cross, rejected by those He had come to save, Yeshua prayed: Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing (Luke 23:34).

Robert Ingersoll, the well-known atheist of the last century (1833-1899), often would stop in the middle of his lectures against God and say, “I’ll give God five minuets to strike me dead for the things I’ve said.” He then used the fact that he was not struck dead as proof that God did not exist. Theodore Parker, reformer and abolitionist (1810-1860), said of Ingersoll’s claim, “And did the gentleman think he could exhaust the patience of the eternal God in five minuets?” I wonder how Ingersall is doing now?

Since Adam and Eve first disobeyed Him in the Garden, ADONAI has been continually wronged and rejected by those He made in His own image. He was rejected and scorned by His chosen people, through whom He gave the Torah and the revelation of His Word, the very words of God (Romans 3:2). Yet, through thousands and thousands of years, the eternal God has been eternally patient. If the holy Creator is so infinitely patient with His rebellious creatures, how much more should His unholy creatures be patient with each other?

One of Abraham Lincoln’s earliest political enemies was Edwin M. Stanton. He called Lincoln a “low cunning clown,” and “the original gorilla.” “It was ridiculous for people to go to Africa to see a gorilla,” he would say, “when they could see one easily in Springfield, Illinois (where Lincoln lived at that time),” Lincoln never responded to the slander, but when, as president, he needed a secretary of war, he chose Stanton. When his incredulous friends asked why, Lincoln replied, “Because he is the best man for the job.” Years later, as the slain president’s body lay in state, Stanton looked into the coffin and said through his tears, “There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen.” His animosity was finally broken by Lincoln’s long-suffering, non retaliatory spirit. Patient love had won.⁴⁰⁰

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for how patient You are! Often when we are wronged, we call out for justice and justice right away. Yet in Your patience when You are wronged by sinners, You continue to patiently call them to repentance. He is being patient toward you -not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9c). Rather than being hostile and quick to avenge, You wait till the right time to punish. Your patience of waiting 400 years till the Amorites sin was full is amazing. Then in the fourth generation they [your seed] will return here – for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” (Genesis 15:16). May You help us, Your children, to follow Your example of patience. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Necessity of Love
12:31b to 13:3

The necessity of love DIG: Based on Paul’s opening words in this passage, why is love so important? Why are even the best gifts worthless if they aren’t given in love? The love that Paul describes in this passage is selfless and always faithful. Why is it so difficult to demonstrate that kind of love? What does Paul say about the need for spiritual maturity?

REFLECT: What does exhibiting true love require on your part? What are some things that keep believers from showing their love for others? What can you learn from Messiah’s example about loving without limits? How would you describe unconditional love? When have you seen that in your life? In what ways can the love of ADONAI free you to love others?

The loveless person produces nothing, is nothing, and gains nothing.

Gregory Nazianzen, one of the three celebrated Capadocians of the fourth century, a defender of the Nicean faith, and one of the most celebrated orators of the early Church, writes in regard to this chapter on love that here we may read what Paul said about Paul. It is true: only a man in whose heart the Spirit of God has kindled a faith like Paul’s could evidence a love like Paul’s and on the basis of his own experience of that love, record its glories in what may be called the Psalm of Love. Paul’s heart lies open in this chapter. Here is the power, faith working through love, that sent him over land and sea to preach to others the unsearchable riches of Yeshua Messiah. Here is the inner strength that sustained him amid all his labors, burdens, trials, sufferings, and persecutions. Here is what enabled him to overcome hunger and hardship, false friends and bitter foes, bodily injury and dangers of death. We cannot understand this man unless we understand his faith and its fruit of love. All of his great joys and abilities, his high and holy apostleship in the Church, his amazing task and his astounding success – all of it came to be as a result of his love. This we must realize when he tells the Corinthians that besides the instruction of the spiritual gifts themselves, he now shows them the inner, spiritual power that must energize all of these gifts if they are to be of any real benefit to the Church.³⁹³

But now I will show you the best way of all (12:31b). Chapter 13 is the great “love chapter,” just as Hebrews 11 is the great “faith chapter.” Paul’s shift to the first person, I, is significant. It keeps his words from the appearance that he is scolding the Corinthians for their deplorable failure to love one another (although that was certainly true enough). He will show (Greek: deiknumi) them the best way of all, he intends to illustrate love from his own apostolic life rather than offer snappy little sound bites about it. Each verse here begins with a conditional clause (Greek: ean, a conditional particle meaning if) stressing the use of hyperbole. Each verse concludes with a negative consequence. The last two use the word nothing, I am nothing, and I gain nothing. This does more than invalidate the gift; it touches a person’s very being.³⁹⁴

1. Tongues without love are nothing. As stated above, Paul used hyperbole to emphasize his point. He made several extreme statements to underscore the absolute priority of loving others. If (ean) I speak in the tongues of men, even angels (13:1a). Paul is saying, “If I could do this.” He wasn’t saying that he did, he was merely using exaggerated language to make a point. However, many believe otherwise, suggesting the gift of tongues involves some angelic or heavenly language. Indeed, most charismatics believe that the gift of tongues is a private prayer language, a heavenly language, known only to God. But there is no basis in the text for such a view. Paul was making a hypothetical case, just as in the subsequent verses, where he speaks about knowing all mysteries and knowledge (even Paul could not make that claim), giving all his possessions to the poor, and giving his body to be burned. Paul was speaking theoretically, suggesting that even if those things were true (which they were not), without love they would be meaningless. To make his point about the necessity of love, Paul was trying to stretch his examples to the extreme. Besides, there is no evidence in Scripture that angels use a heavenly language. When angels appear in the Bible, they communicate in normal language (Luke 1:11-20, 26-27 and 2:8-14).

Nowhere does the Bible teach that the gift of tongues is anything other than human languages. Nor is there any suggestion that the true gift of tongues described in Corinth (to see link click Do – Tongues are a Sign) was any different from the miraculous signs described in the book of Acts (see the commentary on Acts Al – The Ruach Ha’Kodesh Comes at Shavu’ot). The Greek word in both places is glossa. At Shavu’ot it is clear that the disciples were speaking in known languages. Unbelieving Jews who were in Jerusalem for Shavu’ot were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in their own language (Acts 2:6). Luke went on to name some fifteen different countries and areas whose language was being spoken. In order to be a meaningful sign, these must have been Gentile foreign languages, not some kind of heavenly language.³⁹⁵

Paul’s strategy was to place in center stage the gift that the Corinthians prized the most and that was causing the greatest disruption in their public worship, and bring it down several notches by showing its emptiness without love. But if I lack love, I have become merely a blaring brass or a cymbal clanging (13:1b). It becomes a hollow performance that falls flat. Those who speak in tongues without love become something other than what they intended.³⁹⁶ In other words, tongues apart from love are just a bunch of noise.

2. Prophecy, knowledge, and faith without love are nothing. Continuing his hyperbole, Paul tells us that even the great gift of prophecy must be ministered to in love. If (ean) I have the gift of prophecy. The most gifted believer is not exempt from the mitzvah of love. If anything, he is even more obligated to do so. From someone to whom people entrust much, they still ask more (Luke 12:48). Of all people, the prophet should speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Balaam was a prophet of God. He knew the true God and he knew God’s truth, but he had no love for God’s people. With little hesitation he agreed to curse the Israelites in return for a generous payment by Balak, king of Mo’ab. Because God could not convince His prophet not to do such a terrible thing, He sent an angel to stop the prophet’s donkey (Numbers 22:16-34). Several other times Balaam would have cursed Isra’el had he not been prevented from doing so by God. But what the prophet failed to do through cursing Isra’el he accomplished by misleading them. Because he led Isra’el into idolatry and immorality, Balaam was put to death (Numbers 31:8 and 16). Balaam knew God’s Word, spoke God’s Word, and feared God in a self-protecting way, but he had no love for God and no love for His people.

Jeremiah’s ministry was in stark contrast to Balaam’s. He was the weeping prophet, not because of his own problems, which were great, but because of the wickedness of his people, because of their refusal to turn to ADONAI, and because of the punishment he had to prophesy against them. He wept over them much as Yeshua would later weep over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). Early in his ministry Jeremiah was so moved by the spiritual plight of his people that he cried out: My grief has no cure, I am sick at heart . . . the daughter of my people (Jerusalem) is broken, and it’s tearing me to pieces; everything looks dark to me, horror seizes me . . . I wish my head were made of water and my eyes were a fountain of tears, so that I could cry day and night over the slain of the daughter of my people (Jeremiah 8:18 and 21, 9:1). Jeremiah was a prophet with a broken heart, a spiritual heart, a loving heart.³⁹⁷

Paul employs hyperbole in referring to knowing all mysteries. He understands some mysteries (Romans 11:25; First Corinthians 15:51), particularly the mystery of God revealed in the cross (2:1 and 7, 4:1), but he does not know all things (Romans 11:33-35), or have all knowledge, since he concedes that we know only in part and prophesy only in part (13:9). But even if Paul were to have this prized knowledge revealed to him by ADONAI, it becomes meaningless information without love. Only love can understand the wisdom of the cross. I may know all mysteries, know all things, have all faith – enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing (13:2).³⁹⁸ That sums it up very well.

3. Benevolence and martyrdom without love are nothing. Agape love is always self-sacrificing, but self-sacrifice does not necessarily come from love. Throughout the history of the Church certain groups and movements have believed that self-denial, self-humiliation, and even self-affliction, in themselves, bring spiritual merit. Many cults and pagan religions place great emphasis on the giving up of possessions, on sacrifice of various sorts, and on religious acts of supposed humility, self-deprivation, suffering, or isolation. Even for believers, however, such things are more than worthless without love. In fact, without love they are anything but selfless. The real focus of such practices is not God, nor others, but self – either in the form of legalistic fear of not doing those things or for the praise and imagined blessing for doing them. The motive is self, and is neither spiritual nor loving.

If (ean) I give away everything that I own to feed the poor would not be a spiritual deed if not done out of genuine love, no matter how great the sacrifice or how many people were fed. In the Torah there are three main tithes which equaled about twenty-five percent (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Cx – Do Not Neglect the Levite), so Paul’s illustration suggested unheard of generosity. Even so, the people who received such generosity would have full stomachs, but the giver would gain nothing if not done in love. Both his bank account and his spiritual account would be empty. Yeshua’s command to give secretly (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Do – When You Give to the Needy, Do Not Do It to be Honored by Others) helps to protect us from being tempted by some of those false, unscriptural and unloving motives. Benevolence with love is of great worth; benevolence without love is nothing.³⁹⁹ The supposed self-sacrifice of giving away all of one’s possessions is intensified by the extreme illustration of giving away one’s own body. Finally, Paul says: If I even hand over my body to be burned; but if I lack love, I gain nothing (13:3).

When reading 13:4-7, replace the word “love” with your name. What actions do you need to take to make what you just read to be true?

The Priority of Love Over Spiritual Gifts
12:31b to 13:13

It was Jonathan Swift, the satirical author of Gulliver’s Travels, who said, “We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.” Spiritual gifts, no matter how exciting and wonderful, are useless and even destructive if they are not ministered in love.³⁹¹ The Corinthian believers were not displaying love toward one another. Quite the contrary. They were busily trying to outdo each other by elevating some spiritual gifts above others, and some positions of power above others, by seeking places on the platform to the exclusion of others. No wonder Paul chided them a bit when he suggested that when an unbeliever visited their church won’t he say you’re crazy (14:23)? Therefore, Paul pointed a finger in their faces and essentially told them that without love it didn’t matter what spiritual gifts the Ruach Ha’Kodesh distributed in their church. They meant nothing without love.³⁹²

Interdependence, Not Independence
12: 20-31a

Interdependence, not independence DIG: How does the human body demonstrate diversity? How does Paul counter the tendency toward spiritual pride? How does the variety of gifts in a Messianic congregation or church give greater value to the giftedness of the individual? Why are apostles, prophets, and teachers ranked and the others not? From his rhetorical questions in verses 29-30, what do you see as another problem in this church?

REFLECT: How can you keep diversity from becoming disunity? Of the spiritual gifts listed here, do any have your name on it? How so? How can you support others’ spiritual gifts where you worship? How does your place of worship view the working of spiritual gifts? Take time to reflect on how God has used you to make a difference in His Church. Thank Him for the opportunities and ask Him to help you be more sensitive to being used by Him in the future.

We need others in our lives.

In this chapter Paul deals with two primary reasons some believers never become involved in ministry. Some feel they have no gifts or abilities that are worthwhile, and so they sit back and let others do the work (12:15-17). Now Paul looks at the other side of the coin. He turns from the humbler members, to those who possessed great gifts, who evidently thought they could manage well enough without the “unimportant” contributions of lowly people.³⁸⁴ Paul’s delightful and playful use of the body metaphor continues with more personification to state, one more time, that each part of the body is needed, though this time the stress is a little different. Before he emphasized that no body part should become so depressed as to feel it is unneeded by the rest of the body. But here, he emphasizes that no body part should become so proud and arrogant as to say, “I don’t need you,” to the other body parts. But as it is, there are indeed many parts, yet just one body. So, the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you”; or the head to the feet, “I don’t need you” (12:20-21).³⁸⁵

With this statement, Paul seems to be getting closer to the difficult issue being faced in Corinth. As we have seen on several occasions in this letter, pride was indeed a problem among them (1:29, 3:3-4, 4:18-19, 5:1 and 6, 11:18-22). The eye and the head are transparent metaphors for those in leadership roles, who are likely to be more affluent and better educated. The hands and the feet represent the laboring class or slaves. The eyes and the heads in Corinth were getting special treatment and then began to think that they were special. This bred a sense of pride and self-sufficiency, since those who think they are all-important can imagine that the “minor players” are superfluous and dispensable.³⁸⁶ However, they overestimated their own importance and underestimated that of the other believers. Disobeying the principles of Matthew 18:10 and Romans 14:1 to 15:7, they disdain those they saw as weak and less significant (to see link click Bm – The Weaker Brother or Sister).

On the contrary, Paul continues, the parts of the body that seem to be less important turn out to be all the more necessary (12:22). As important as some of the prominent parts of the human body are, it is possible to live without them. They are important, but not absolutely necessary. You can lose an eye or an ear, a hand or a leg, and still live. Our internal organs are hidden, but more vital. You might notice the breathing of your lungs or the pulse of your heartbeat, but their work is not nearly as obvious as what we do with our hands or feet. Those less noticed parts (internal organs) seem to be less important than the rest of the body (external limbs), but they are actually more necessary. As a result, they are protected by our skeleton and the rest of the body. They are indispensable. The body cannot live without them. You can live without legs, but not without lungs.

The most vital ministries always include some with gifts that are not obvious. The faithful prayers and services of a few dedicated believers who hold no office frequently are the most reliable and productive channels of spiritual power in a congregation. The Corinthian church had failed to be considerate and appreciative of those who did not have the “out front” gifts, such as prophecy, healings, or languages. Those with less noticeable ministries are sometimes vulnerable to misunderstanding, and often to neglect and lack of appreciation. They should be protected by fellow believers, just as the body protects its vital organs.

Continuing the analogy, Paul reminds us that upon body parts which we consider less dignified (Greek: aschemona) we bestow greater dignity. And the parts that are less presentable are the ones we make as attractive as we can (12:23). Unseemly probably refers to the parts of our body that are not especially attractive. It seems to be referring to the torso in general. It might be flabby thighs or a paunch, but is usually covered and considered less attractive. The use of the word bestow (Greek: peritithemi, meaning to put around) suggests the idea of clothing around a body in general. We spend more time and money clothing those parts of our body than the ones that are more obvious (such as the face and hands), and by doing so, we bestow greater dignity . The less presentable parts (Greek: aschemona, meaning shameful, unseemly, or unpresentable) refer to those private parts of the body that are needed for reproduction, but need to be treated with modesty. The face, in the meantime, we leave uncovered. The idea is, that, in like manner, we should not despise or disregard those members of the church who are “seemingly” of lower rank who are “covered up,” or not noticed. It is not those body parts themselves, but the display of them, that is unseemly or shameful. They are not, like the hands, face, and head, exposed to public view.

It is from a warped sense of values that a believer, well known because of a prominent gift, looks down on other believers who possess no obvious gift, and seeks great honor on his or her own. That attitude is a direct contradiction of the principle of concern that characterizes a body. It is far more consistent with self-preservation that the parts of a body that have great outward beauty and more abilities, devote themselves to the well-being of those parts that are not so well equipped, but are essential to life. Sensible people are more concerned about their heart than their hair. Those in leadership positions and prominence not only should not look down on those whose gifts are less noticeable, but should take special care to show them appreciation and to protect them when necessary. More gifted believers are especially obligated to encourage the timid, to assist the weak, and to be patient with everyone (First Thessalonians 5:14).³⁸⁷

While those who have the more noticeable and attractive gifts have no need for such encouragement and protection. Greater dignity and honor comes to them almost as a matter of course, and that honor they should share with members whose gifts are less attractive and more likely to be ignored. Indeed, God has put the body together in such a way that he gives greater dignity to the parts that lack it. It is clear from what Paul says here that heavenly reward will be based not only on what we do with our own gifts and ministries, but on our attitudes toward and support of the gifts and ministries of others. Mutual support is necessary to avoid both overconfidence and lack of confidence. It is also necessary so that there will be no disagreements within the body, but rather all the parts will be equally concerned for all the others (12:24-25).

Drawing his conclusion, Paul states that mutuality is at the heart of fellowship: building reciprocal relationships, sharing responsibilities and helping each other out. Thus, if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; and if one part is honored, all the parts share its happiness (12:26). All have experienced, at one time or another, how the whole physical body suffers when one part hurts. What is natural in the human body should also be apparent in the body of Messiah. Suffering and rejoicing together (13:5-6) are a sign of unity in which each one truly seeks the advantage of the other.³⁸⁸

After drawing the conclusion, Paul makes the application. This is how Paul began the discussion about the body: For just as the body is one but has many parts; and all the parts of the body, though many, constitute one body, and so it is with the Messiah (12:12). and now he ends in a similar manner: Now you together constitute the body of the Messiah, and individually you are parts of it (12:27). These two verses frame the entire discussion of the Church as the Body of Messiah. You are in the emphatic position, put first for emphasis. In case the Corinthians have missed the point, Paul clarifies that he is talking about them!

Paul now reverts back to the subject of spiritual gifts in the Church and gives a different list of those whom God has appointed: And God has placed in the Church first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers. In this listing the apostle does some ranking, the same as he does in Ephesians 4:11. Most important for the Church are the apostles, there are only twelve (Mt 19:28; Rev 21:14), and they have served the unique function of establishing the foundation of the Church by telling the truth about Yeshua and preserving the writings we now have in the B’rit Chadashah. Next comes the prophets, who will receive more attention in Chapter 14 (see Dk – The Priority of Prophecy over Tongues), Third, comes teachers, who take the message of the apostles and teach it to believers in the local congregation and so build them up in the faith. After these first three there is no longer any ranking, merely a listing. Paul includes some of the gifts he listed earlier in 12:8-10, and added a few others. Then those who work miracles; then those with gifts of healing; those with ability to help; those skilled in administration; and those who speak in various tongues (12:28).

As Paul concludes this section, he resorts, as he so often has done, to another series of rhetorical questions, all of which expect a negative answer. By using these questions, the apostle is expressing in a different form what he has already taught earlier (see Cj – The Varieties of Spiritual Gifts), namely, that there is a variety of gifts, and that each believer has received at least one, and that no person has all the gifts. But there is one added implication here: there is no single gift that everyone has received. Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? or teachers? or miracle-workers? Not all have gifts of healing, not all speak in tongues, not all interpret, do they (12:29-30)? The fact that the Ruach inspired Paul to declare: Not all speak in tongues suggests that this is not the second work of grace needed for salvation. It is only one gift among many – and in the context of the church at Corinth, it was a gift fraught with problems from the onset.³⁸⁹

Eagerly seek the better gifts (12:31a). The way this verse is usually translated presents some serious interpretive problems. Since Paul stresses the Spirit’s sovereignty in distributing the gifts, and he writes to rebuke the Corinthians for favoring the showy gifts, why would he command them to eagerly seek the better gifts? Wouldn’t that just encourage them to continue competing for status? But in fact, the verse is not actually commanding that at all. The English translation is misleading as to Paul’s meaning. The verb form used here can be either indicative (a statement of fact) or imperative (a command). A better translation using the indicative form would be: However, you are eagerly seeking the better gifts. In other words, Paul was actually saying, “However, you are jealously coveting the showy gifts.” That is a rebuke, which makes better sense of Paul’s next words: But now I will show you the best way of all (12:31b). He is not commanding them to seek certain gifts, but condemning them for seeking the showy ones. They coveted the admiration of others. They craved the applause of men. They wanted to seem “spiritual.”³⁹⁰

Unified and Diversified
12: 12-19

Unified and diversified DIG: In what ways are the various members of the Church dependent on one another? In what ways have you and your local congregation functioned like a human body – with each part depending on each other? How did that serve to bring unity? Paul warns against any part of the body considering itself less important or more important than the others. What kind of parallel behavior in the Church does this warn you about? Believers are to honor one another as parts of the same Body. In light of this, how does ADONAI want you to treat other members of your local congregation?

REFLECT: Why should we resist the temptation to compete with, or compare ourselves with other believers (Second Corinthians 10:12)? In what ways do petty arguments and divisions in the Church tarnish the message of the Good News? How can believers in Messiah learn to appreciate the differences of others in the Church instead of allowing them to divide the congregation? What threatens the unity where you worship? What steps can you take to promote peace and harmony there? In what ways can you honor someone in your congregation this week who may feel unappreciated or insignificant?

All believers are baptized by one Spirit, into one Body, one time, at the moment of salvation.
There is simply no such thing today as a believer who has not been baptized by the Spirit.

The Corinthians’ misuse of spiritual gifts was one of many reflections of their carnal worldliness, and was closely related to their divisiveness, which Paul now continues to rebuke. While illustrating the diversity of spiritual gifts (to see link click Cj – The Varieties of Spiritual Gifts), Paul repeatedly stresses their One source and purpose in ADONAI, revealing the Ruach Ha’Kodesh’s work and power for the common good of the Church (see Ci – The Source and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts). These unifying realities lead the apostle’s thought to a general discussion of the oneness of the Body of believers.

In these verses Paul explains and illustrates the nature and importance of the unity of the Church itself, and then again the importance of diversity as the key factor in that unity. The diversity of the invisible, universal Church made up of believers all over the world, is the God-ordained means of bringing the fellowship to oneness. But unless each diverse member recognizes and accepts his or her part in the whole Body, diversity will divide rather than unite, destroy rather than build up, and bring discord rather than harmony. In verse 12 Paul gives an illustration of unity, and in verse 13 he explains its origin.³⁷⁶

Unified in one Body: For just as the body is one but has many parts; and all the parts of the body, though many, constitute one body, and so it is with the Messiah (12:12). Once again (10:17) Paul uses the human body to picture the unity and interdependence of the members of the Body of Messiah, the Church. The human body has many parts, even though there is only one body. Each part has a different function, but they all work together to make the body function as a unit. This is the key way the Church ought to function.

Baptized by One Spirit: For it was by one Spirit that we were all baptized (Greek: baptidzo, meaning to dip or immerse, often used of a piece of cloth being immersed into dye) into one Body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (12:13). In order to stress how wide a diversity is actually incorporated into that one Body, Paul picks out two of the most obvious social distinction in ancient society: Jews and Gentiles, and slave and free people. If these sorts of people can come together into one Body, then anything that divides us as human beings – such as social status, economic level, ethnic distinction – should play no role in dividing the Church.³⁷⁷

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for the many blessings that You bestow on those who love and follow You as their Lord and Savior. You not only rescue us from sin’s awful punishment of death (Romans 6:23), but by so graciously indwelling each believer and giving them Messiah’s righteousness (Second Corinthians 5:21), thereby opening heaven’s door for all who love You. And He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua (Ephesians 2:6). How fantastic that You not only forgive our sins (First John 1:9), but you raised the bar of love even higher by both the Ruach Ha’Kodesh living in us and by Yeshua preparing an eternal home for us in heaven. Thank You for being such a gracious and loving Heavenly Father. I can’t wait for the joy of praising You for all eternity! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

Your baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It represents what happened the moment God brought you into His family. Baptism doesn’t make you a member of God’s family; only faith in Yeshua Messiah does that. Baptism shows you are a part of God’s family. Like a wedding ring, it is a visible reminder of an inward commitment made in your heart. It is an act of initiation, not something you put off until you are spiritually mature. The only biblical condition is that you believe.³⁷⁸

Despite their old sin nature (see the commentary on Romans Bm – The Consequences of Adam) all of the Corinthian believers had been baptized into one Body. There is simply no such thing today as a believer who has not been baptized by the Ruach Ha’Kodesh. As Paul told the believers in Rome: Anyone who doesn’t have the Spirit of Messiah doesn’t belong to Him (Romans 8:9). However, the modern charismatic movement says that is not enough. Their belief that Spirit “baptism” as “evidenced” by the speaking in tongues (see Dm – Tongues are a Sign), is a second work of grace, the next crucial step after salvation. Unfortunately, this has become the cardinal doctrine of the charismatic movement. However, the Bible teaches that there is no special blessing of the Spirit that only some believers receive; there is no imagined spiritual elite who have what the rest of us do not.

The real “evidence” of the Spirit’s baptism at conversion is the witness of the Spirit from within (see the commentary on Romans Ci – The Leading of the Ruach). It is not speaking in tongues. All of the believers in the Corinthian congregation had been baptized by the Spirit, but not all of them spoke in tongues (12:30). The “evidence” of the Spirit’s filling are power of witnessing (Acts 1:8), joyfulness and submission (Eph 5:19-20), the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-26) and a growing understanding of the Word (Jn 16:12-15).³⁷⁹

All believers receive the Spirit and His blessings. The number of times Paul stresses the universal gift of the Spirit to all believers hints that some in Corinth may have claimed a “greater measure of the Spirit” than others. To summarize, we either have the Spirit or we do not, and if we have received Messiah as our Lord and Savior, then we have been baptized into the Body of Messiah, or as Paul puts it here, we were all given the one Spirit to drink.³⁸⁰

After salvation, there are two distinct ministries of the Ruach:

First, YHVH seals us with His Ruach (Ephesians 1:13-14; Second Corinthians 1:21-22), and baptized (in the Greek aorist tense, pointing to a past completed action) in, by, and with the Ruach Ha’Kodesh (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5, 11:16), into the Body of Messiah (Galatians 3:27; First Corinthians 12:13) at the moment of salvation. Nowhere does the Scripture command us to seek this baptism, since we have already experienced it, and it need not be repeated. Hence, there is only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). It is something that we don’t cooperate in with God, it is His sovereign act.

Secondly, there is the filling of the Ruach. You are sanctified, this is something that you cooperate with God and is ongoing. This speaks of your daily walk with the Lord. Through filling, God pours out His love through your life to others and sets you apart for His holy use. In the Scriptures to be filled is used to mean to be controlled by, or be under the influence of something or someone else. To be filled with the Spirit, therefore, is to be controlled or strongly influenced by the Spirit. Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled (in the Greek imperfect tense, pointing to continuous action) with the Ruach (Ephesians 5:18). As drunkenness affects behavior for evil, being filled with the Ruach affects a person for good. As a drunken person is under the control of wine, so a Ruach filled person is under the control of the Ruach. This does not make you a robot, without your own will. Rather, you freely comply with the Ruach and His purposes and His Word. That is what it means to be “spiritual.”

The filling of the Ruach is commanded by God: keep on being filled with the Ruach, literally, stay filled (Ephesians 5:18). As imperfect humans, we are leaky vessels of clay, and we need to be constantly refilled. This was true even for the apostles (Acts 2:4, 4:8 and 31, 9:17, 13:9). This continuous condition of being filled with the Ruach is dependent on our submission to the Spirit. You may wonder, can a believer resist the Ruach and still be a believer? Yes, people can resist the filling of the Ruach. Therefore, the challenge we have as believers is to be controlled by the Ruach and not our flesh. This is why we have believers at so many different levels of relationship with Yeshua. Some have a closer walk with the Ruach than others. Some believers have love, joy, and peace while others are depressed and anxious.³⁸¹

Diversified in one Body: The most important characteristic of the Body is unity; but diversity is essential for that unity. The Church is one Body, indeed the body is not one part but many. Unfortunately, many of the Corinthian believers were unhappy with their gifts. They wanted the showy ones, like speaking in tongues, instead of being glad for, and faithfully using, the many diverse gifts that the Ruach had given them. Envy is a sure sign of worldliness, and it seems that everyone wanted a gift that someone else had. Paul’s somewhat humorous analogy extends the illustration of the human body. If the foot says, “I’m not a hand, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it stop being part of the body. And if the ear says, “I’m not an eye, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it stop being part of the body. Continuing with his analogy, Paul reminds us that a body could not possibly function if it were all the same part. If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If it were all hearing, how could it smell (12:14-17)? No matter how important any one part may be, there can be no body formed from it alone. That would be a monster, not a body.

Gifted by one Lord: Discontentment with their spiritual gifts, however, was much worse than the lack of common sense. By wanting gifts they did not have, the Corinthian believers questioned God’s wisdom and goodness by implying He had made a mistake. They also opened themselves up to fleshly and pagan counterfeits (see Ce – The Pagan Background of Counterfeit Spiritual Gifts). Their primary problem was not intellectual, but spiritual. As Creator and Lord, God arranged each of the parts in the body exactly as he wanted them (12:18). ADONAI has created us, re-created us, and placed each of us in His Body exactly where He wants us to be, and equipped us to do exactly what He wants us to do. However, because of the discontentment and disobedience of the Corinthian believers, they were also unproductive. They did not use the gifts they had, and, in light of Paul’s repeated emphasis in 12:4-11 that every believer is gifted, apparently some thought they didn’t have a gift at all. In any case, their gifts were not being used or were being misused.

Now if they were all just one part, where would the body be (12:19)? Paul expands on his point in verse 17. A body that had only one part would not be a body. A Messianic congregation or church whose members all had the same gift and same ministry would not really work. It is foolish and immature not to be content with or use what the Lord has given us. Diversity does not suggest inferiority. We are not perfect, but His gifts to us are perfect and the ministry in which He has called us to use them is perfect. His design for the Church is perfect and His gifting of the Church is equally perfect.³⁸²

As believers, we share one Lord, one Body, one Father, one Spirit, one purpose, one hope, one faith, one baptism, and one love. We share the same salvation, the same life, and the same future – factors far more important than any differences we could count. For unity’s sake we must never let differences divide us.³⁸³

The Distinguishing of Spirits
12: 10c

Even in the Dispensation of Torah (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Da – The Dispensation of the Torah), Isra’el had false prophets (see the commentary on Jeremiah Et – The False Prophet Hańaniah), and false teachers (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Dk – A Prophet Like Moses). The same has been true of the Church since its inception. Behind these false prophets and teachers are demons (see the commentary on Jude Ah – Godless People Have Secretly Slipped in Among You). So, it was valuable to have the ability to distinguish between the Spirit of God and the demons of Satan, especially in the early Church where the Scriptures were scarce.³⁷⁴ Thus, ADONAI provided an important gift for the protection of the Church: the distinguishing of spirits, or the gift of discernment.

The basic meaning of discernment is the ability to distinguish truth from error or falsehood by judging whether the behavior or teaching is from God, Satan, human error or human power. One might call it the supernatural ability to avoid being deceived. The Church needs those with the gift of discernment to warn believers in times of danger or keep them from being led astray by false teaching (also see Acts 5:3-6, 16:16-18; First John 4:1). Satan is the great deceiver, the father of lies (John 8:44), and ever since the Fall he and his demons have counterfeited the message of ADONAI and His work.

All believers should judge carefully what they hear and read and not trust every spirit. On the contrary, test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Here is how you recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit which acknowledges that Yeshua Messiah came as a human being is from God, and every spirit which does not acknowledge Yeshua is not from God – in fact, this is the spirit of the Anti-Messiah. You have heard he is coming. Well, he’s here now, in the world already (First John 4:1-3). That is what the God-fearing and noble-minded Jews of Berea did when they first heard the gospel from Paul (Acts 17:11). They tested Paul’s word against what they knew of God’s Word, and because the two matched up, they believed that what he preached was from God and not from demons. That is what every believer should do with every message that claims to be from God. No preacher or teacher of the gospel should ever resent having what he or she says be judged against Scripture.

Dear Heavenly Father. Praise You, Father, for Your great wisdom! You knew that deceptive prophets would try to deceive Your children and so in Your lovingkindness, You provided the gift of discernment so Your children would know if the message is righteous or is a lie. Do not judge by appearance, but judge righteously (John 7:24). You enable those with this gift to ask for your wisdom if something is true or not. There are many gifts that you give Your children, but the greatest is the gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). We look forward to worshiping and praising you for all eternity ! Love You always! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

Those to whom God has given the gift of discernment have a special ability to recognize lying spirits – this gift is the Spirit’s watchdog. Some ideas that are given as scriptural and on the surface seem scriptural actually are clever counterfeits that would deceive most believers. Those with the gift of discernment are the Ruach’s inspectors, His counterfeit experts to whom He gives special insight and understanding. The gift was especially valuable in the Messianic Community (see the commentary on Acts At – Ananias and Sapphira Lie to the Ruach) because the B’rit Chadashah had not been completed. Because of the difficulty and expense of copying, for many years after its completion the Bible was not widely available. Believers with the gift of discernment were the Church’s protectors.

The gift of discernment is also especially valuable when the Church and the gospel are considered acceptable in society. When the Church is persecuted, counterfeit teachers are usually scarce because the price for being identified with the gospel is too high. They are much more likely to appear in times and in places where the gospel is considered respectable or at least tolerated. In parts of the world today, evangelism is popular and often profitable. All sorts of teachers, preachers, writers, and counselors claim to be evangelical and biblical. Although any thinking person realizes that all the ideas cannot be biblical, simply because many of them are so contradictory of each other, it is not always easy to know which are true and which are not. Most often they are a mixture. Counterfeit teachers used by Satan usually have some truth in what they say. Unfortunately, many basically sound teachers sometimes unknowingly pick up ideas from psychology, philosophy, or popular thinking that seem biblical but are not. It is the ministry of those with discernment to help separate the true from the false. Bank tellers are not trained how to recognize false currency. They are trained to recognize the real thing, so when they see false currency they recognize it immediately. Those with discernment are so gifted.

The Corinthian believers who had the gift were either not using it or were being ignored. Otherwise, the perverted ideas and practices that Paul deals with in this letter could not have flourished as they did. Discernment is the gift, along with prophecy (see Cp – The Gift of Prophecy), that Paul urged the Corinthians to use in relation to judging the use and interpretation of tongues (see Dn – Order in Public Worship). Those with discernment are to judge even those who prophesy (14:29).

Even the phrase of “the gospel” can be deceitful and misleading. When Paul and Silas began to minister in Philippi, Luke reports that once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved” (Acts 16:16-17). What the girl said was not only true, but seemed to be favorable to the gospel and those who were proclaiming it. But the purpose and motivation of what she said was exactly the opposite. The demons who controlled her meant to attack the people, and gain their trust, then ridicule and undercut God’s Word and the work of His servants. In that case, Paul could not judge by what she was saying, because the girl’s words were true. He knew she was a demonic instrument only because the Ruach Ha’Kodesh revealed the false spirit that controlled her.

False teaching can be judged by comparing it with Scripture, but false spirits can be judged only by the true Spirit’s gift of discernment. That gift may be called the Spirit’s gift of gifts, because God uses it to reveal to His Church whether or not a display of the other gifts is of Him. All imitation of the gifts is not demonic. Much of it is simply the work of the flesh, carnal believers trying to serve the Lord in their own power and for their own benefit and glory. Summarizing, it can be said that the gift of discernment is given to tell if the other gifts are merely natural imitations, or if they are demonic counterfeits. ADONAI empowers some of His children to unmask false prophets, false teachers, and carnal hypocrites. He gives them the spiritual insight to expose imitations and deceptions that most believers would take as genuine.³⁷⁵

The Gift of Prophecy
12: 10b

Prophecy, like the gifts of healing, effecting of miracles and tongues, was a temporary sign gift (Romans 12:6; First Corinthians 12:10; Ephesians 4:11). The simplest definition of the gift of prophecy is speaking on God’s behalf. There were prophets during the B’rit Chadashah; Agabus (Acts 11:27-28, 21:10-11); Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:36-38); Barnabas, Simon called Niger and Lucius the Cyrene (Acts 13:17); Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32); the four daughters of Philip who prophesied (Acts 21:9); and the apostle John who prophesied in Revelation. Prophets foretold either near historical events or far eschatological events. But, once the last book in the Bible was written, the canon of Scripture was closed and there was no need for any further revelation. The Ruach Ha’Kodesh has equipped us with everything we would need to live a victorious life (see the commentary on Hebrews, to see link click Ai – The Superiority of Messiah to the Prophets). Therefore, prophecy has ceased (13:8).

There is no continuous revelation. John declares to us: I warn everyone hearing the words of this prophecy in this book that if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written in this book. And if anyone takes anything away from the words in the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the Tree of Life and the holy City, as described in this book (Revelation 22:18-19). Pat Robertson of the 700 Club, and many others like him have made false political prophecies. That is the rotten fruit of the “prophets” we have today. They are all charlatans. Why listen to any of them? Why continue to listen to people who have not been truthful and speak falsely? When wrong, they make excuses. Cults, like the Mormons, believe in continuing revelation. People who are referred to as “prophets” today make up the “social-justice movement,” and other political factions. To think of them as “prophets” is at best confusing, and at worst a demonic distraction.

If prophecy has not ceased then the judgments of prophets has not ceased: If a prophet presumptuously speaks a word in My Name which I didn’t order him to say, or if he speaks in the name of other gods, then that prophet must die. You may be wondering, “How are we to know if a word has not been spoken by ADONAI?” When a prophet speaks in the name of ADONAI, and the prediction does not come true – that is, the word is not fulfilled – then ADONAI did not speak that word. That [person] spoke arrogantly (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). Significantly, this passage follows on Moshe’s prediction that a prophet like me would arise, that prophet being Yeshua (Acts 3:22).

Dear Wise Heavenly Father, Praise You that you know the future as though it was a past event. Though I cannot see in the dark – You see perfectly in the dark. You discern my thinking from afar. You observe my journeying and my resting and You are familiar with all my ways. . . Even darkness is not dark for You, and night is as bright as day – darkness and light are alike (Psalms 139:2b-3, 12).

How incredibly wise of You to send Your prophets to proclaim future kingdoms hundreds of years before they come to power (Daniel 2 and 7). Thank You that Your kingdom power and rule is eternal for You will rule with Your children forever. God’s dominion is an everlasting dominion that will never pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed . . . Then the kingdom, power, and greatness of the kingdoms under all heaven will be given to the people of the kedoshim of the Most High. Their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him (Daniel 7:14 and 27). I keep my eyes fixed on You when problems and trials come, for I trust with confidence that Your kingdom which You predicted is one-hundred percent sure and will definitely come to pass. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

Prophets in the Dispensation of Torah were well known . . . Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezeki’el, Dani’el, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obediah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. We have their names. If there are prophets today, who are they? What are their prophecies? Do their “prophecies” align with God’s Word? That is how we can determine which are true prophecies or false, Satanic delusions!

Because the canon of Scripture was closed at the end of the first century with the book of Revelation, we don’t need any more insights into divine mysteries, for the Bible explains what we need to know. Since teaching and preaching carry the burden to edify and exhort, there is really no need for prophecy to exist. Even Timothy was to study the Word so that he could rightly teach it (Second Timothy 2:15 and 4:2) and to read it publicly (First Timothy 4:13). Thus, the Word that Paul was most concerned with Timothy speaking and teaching was what had already been written. Some prophecy could have still been going on at this point, but once the written Word was finished, the need for it slowly diminished. This can be seen through the Scriptures. The original language in Hebrews 1:1-2 infers that when God spoke through Messiah as recorded by His servants the apostles and prophets, He spoke once for all. In other words, there will be no more revelation or prophecy until the Second Coming of Messiah. Joel indicates that prophesy will be reactivated at that time: After [the Second Coming] I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions (Joel 2:28-29).

In the meantime, Messiah has spoken, and His Church has been established. Ephesians 2:20 says that the household of God, the Church, has been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yeshua Messiah Himself being the cornerstone. Ephesians 3:5 also indicates that God revealed the mystery of Messiah and the foundation of the Church through the apostles and prophets. Thus, prophesy through the TaNaKh, prophesy through Messiah, and prophesy through the apostles and prophets in the B’rit Chadashah was all part of what we now have as God’s written and complete Word. Prophesy will happen again when Messiah returns; but until then, we need to take advantage of all that the Lord has given us in this time through His finished Word and the leading of His Spirit. God’s power has given us everything we need for life and godliness (Second Peter 1:3).    

This does not make the Church boring or dead, for we can still seek the Ruach Ha’Kodesh. ADONAI still speaks through His Word and by His Spirit to our hearts according to His Word. Scripture is alive, and our Savior is alive. See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword – it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Life in Messiah is a living and active experience with our risen Savior as He guides us into all truth by His Spirit and works to conform us into His image (Romans 8:29). We need to pay attention to the Ruach Ha’Kodesh within our hearts, not grieving Him or quenching Him. He has plenty of ministry to do aside from prophetic ministry given that we have an entire Bible to study and learn. We need to let God’s Word dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16) so that we can have the wisdom that we need. We can count on ADONAI to supply us with whatever wisdom that we may be lacking. Messiah is sufficient and His Word is sufficient. We truly have all that we will ever need until Yeshua returns.³⁷³

The Effecting of Miracles
12: 10a

The effecting of miracles was also a temporary sign gift. It refers to God’s power in mighty deeds. A miracle is a supernatural intrusion into the natural world and its natural laws, explainable only by divine intervention. ADONAI often leads us, or warns us by working through other believers, through ordinary circumstances, or through natural laws. These are supernatural workings of providence by God, but they are not miracles. A miracle is an act of God that is contrary to the ordinary working and laws of nature, an act that only He could accomplish by overruling nature, and that could not otherwise occur through any normal circumstances.

John tells us that Messiah’s turning water into wine was the first of Yeshua’s miraculous signs that He did in Cana of Galilee; He revealed His glory, and His apostles came to believe in Him (John 2:11). That was the purpose. The miracle was not to improve the party or to show off great power to the curious. Even with Yeshua, the working of miracles, just as the working of healing (to see link click Cn – The Gifts of Healing), was confirmation of His coming as the long awaited Messiah. Near the end of his gospel, John says: In the presence of the talmidim Yeshua performed many other miracles which have not been recorded in this book. But these have been recorded here so that you may trust that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by this trust you may have [eternal] life because of who He is (John 20:30-31). Yeshua performed miracles to prove that ADONAI was being revealed in Him. At Shavu’ot, Peter told the crowd to whom he was preaching: Men of Isra’el! Listen to this! Yeshua of Nazareth was a man demonstrated to you to have been from God by the powerful works, miracles and signs that God performed through Him in your presence. You yourselves know this (Acts 2:22).

Yeshua performed miracles and healed the sick for only about three-and-a half years of His ministry. Contrary to certain myths and legends that have cropped up through the centuries, the Bible indicates that Yeshua lived a quiet, normal life as a child and as a young man, exercising absolutely no supernatural powers until the wedding at Cana. As is clear from the quotation from John 2:11 above, Yeshua’s miracles began when His ministry began.

The apostles and a few other early leaders in the Messianic Community also performed miracles as confirming signs of the gospel message. In Iconium Paul and Barnabas remained for a long time, speaking boldly about the Lord, who bore witness to the message about His love and kindness enabling them to perform signs and miracles (Acts 14:3). Paul later wrote to the Corinthians, “For the signs of the apostle were performed among you in all perseverance, and in signs, and wonders, and miracles” (Second Corinthians 12:12 BLB). Miraculous signs were the mark of an apostle, authenticating the apostles’ message and work as being of the Lord. In Hebrews we read: The Good News was first declared by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him; while God also bore witness to it with various signs, wonders and miracles, and with gifts of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh which he distributed as He chose (Hebrews 2:3-4). The apostles performed miracles just like Yeshua did (see Acts Ap – Peter Heals a Lame Beggar: A Closer Look at Miracles in Acts). But even the miracles in Acts were not normative that time. They were highly unusual and only used to authenticate the message of the apostles. The early church was not a miracle working church, it had miracle working apostles. Once the apostles passed away, those authenticating miracles were no longer needed because God’s Word and the Church had been established.

But just what kind of miracles did the apostles do? Yeshua made wine, made food, walked on water with Peter, took a coin from the mouth of a fish, disappeared from a hostile crowd, and ascended into heaven in a cloud. All those miracles related to nature and done only by Him. No apostle is ever reported to have done a miracle of nature. Then, what miracles did they do? The answer is in the word for miracle (Greek: dunamis, meaning power). In fact, the term is translated power in the gospels, and is frequently connected with the casting out of demons (Lk 4:36, 6:18, 9:42). It is precisely that power, to cast out demons, that the Lord gave to the Twelve and to the seventy (Lk 9:1, 10:17-19). We have no such power today by which someone can successfully go about commanding demons to come out of unsaved people, as the apostles and the seventy did. Philip and Stephen demonstrated the effecting of miracles (Acts 6:8, 8:7). Paul used it to confirm the hand of the Lord and bring a man to faith (Acts 13:6-12). Some Jews who tried to cast out demons without the true gift were beaten up and chased out by the demons they were trying to exorcise (Acts 19:14-16).

Those miracles accompanied God’s Word only so long as He was revealing the Word. When the revelation stopped, the sign gifts stopped. B. B. Warfield (1851-1921), the great biblical theologian wrote, “These miraculous gifts were part of the credentials of the apostles, as authoritative agents of God in founding the Church. Their function confined them distinctly to the apostolic Church, and they necessarily passed away with it.”³⁷² Nothing in Scripture indicates that the miracles of the apostolic age were meant to be continuous in subsequent ages. Nor the Bible exhort believers to seek any miraculous manifestations of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh. In all the B’rit Chadashah there are only five commands relating to the believer and the Spirit.

Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)

Do not grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30)

Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)

Do not quench the Spirit (First Thessalonians 5:19)

Pray in the Spirit (Jude 20)

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for Your wisdom and great love, bearing our sin so we could have Your righteousness (Second Corinthians 5:21), and also caring so lovingly for the Church that was birthed from Messiah’s resurrection. Thank You for providing different gifts used for building up the body of Messiah, as each individual part produces the body’s growth, for building itself up in love (Ephesians 4:12 and 16c).

Your presence in each of Your children (Romans 8:9-10) is so helpful to guide each of Your children how they should live for you, including how to use their gift for You. Your presence also gives strength to conquer temptations and is comforting in times of trial. For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). How wonderful that we have a sure hope in heaven where our trials will all be past and we will praise You for all eternity! Thank You for being such a loving and caring Father, In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Gifts of Healing
12: 9b

There is not the slightest doubt that gifts of healing existed in the Messianic Community, the early Church; Paul would never have cited them unless they were real.³⁷⁰ It is interesting to note that gifts here is plural, pointing to the fact that Paul is speaking of categories or giftedness in which there may be great variety. The gifts of healing were the first temporary sign gifts that Paul mentions in Chapter 12. And since all these gifts were in operation then, the sign gifts are not placed in a separate category. The word healing is also plural in the Greek (iamaton), emphasizing the many kinds of afflictions that needed healing. These gifts were for Messiah (Matthew 8:16-17), the apostles (Matthew 10:1), the seventy (Luke 10:1), and some associates of the apostles such as Philip (Acts 8:5-7).

God may still heal directly and miraculously, in response to the faithful prayers of His children, when consistent with His will. But no believer has the gifts of healing today. This is obvious because no one today can heal as did Yeshua or the apostles. Those who claim they have the gifts of healing today should be able to heal just like Yeshua and the apostles did. They healed with a word or a touch (Acts 9:32-35, 28:8), they healed instantly (Acts 3:2-8), they healed totally (Acts 9:34), they were able to heal anyone (Acts 5:12-16, 28:9), they healed organic disease from birth (Acts 3:2-8, 28:8) and they raised the dead. In Acts 9:36-42 we learn that Peter brought Dorcus (Tabitha) back to life. Note especially verse 42: This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Again, we see a healing giving credence and impact to the gospel message. In Acts 20:9-12 a young man named Eutychus died in a fall; however, Paul brought him back to life. Not every believer at that time had the gifts of healing, only Messiah, the apostles, the seventy, and some associates of the apostles such as Philip. Despite all the claims being made today, no one is exhibiting these six traits in any healing ministry. If people had this gift today, why aren’t they clearing out hospital wings?

The gifts of healing, like the other sign gifts, were temporary, given to the early Messianic Community for authenticating the apostolic message as the Word of God. The Great Commission does not include a call to heal bodies, but only to heal souls through the preaching of the gospel. It is not that God became no longer interested in our physical health and well-being, or that the Church today should have no such concern. Medicine has long been blessed by God and part of ministering to others and is one of the cutting edges of modern missions. But God’s healing work, whether through medicine or a miracle, is no longer an authenticating sign. The apostles have all died. The canon of Scripture is closed. His word has been authenticated.

As did all the others with gifts of healing, Paul used it sparingly and only for its intended purpose. It was never used solely for the purpose of bringing physical health. Paul himself had an eye disease called ophthalmia (see Acts, to see link click Bo – Paul’s Message in Pisidian Antioch), yet he never healed himself nor asked a fellow gifted believer to heal him. Paul’s dear friend and fellow worker Epaphroditus had been terribly ill and would have died but for God’s intervention. Indeed, he was ill, close to death; but God had mercy on him – and not only on him, but also on me – otherwise I would have had sorrow piled on sorrow (Philippians 2:27). God miraculously healed Epaphroditus, but if the apostle had freely exercised the gifts of healing, he would not have had to make a special plea to God. When Timothy, another co-worker, had stomach trouble and other ailments, Paul did not heal him, but rather advised him to drink some wine (First Timothy 5:23). Paul left Trophimus, still another associate, sick in Miletus (Second Timothy 4:20). Thus, he did not exercise the gifts of healing except when necessary to confirm the power of the gospel, nor to make anyone healthy.³⁷¹

In some circles there is much talk about the casting out of demons today. However, there is no casting out demons from believers. There are those who talk about “the demon of lust,” or “the demon of gluttony,” and so on. Demonic activity is real enough, but no demon ever inhabits any believer. In each instance in the Bible, when Yeshua (God in the flesh) is present, the demons flee in fear. The Bible also teaches us that God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all (First John 1:5). Therefore, with Messiah in you (Ephesians 1:10), neither Satan or his demons can be “in you.” Demons still try to influence believers, but if a believer has a problem with lust or gluttony, it is the old sin nature (see the commentary on Romans Cc – The Reality of the Inner Conflict) that is the problem, not demons living within.

God heals today. We should take our case directly to the Great Physician for the healing of any illness. He may choose to heal in order to accomplish some purpose of His and to show His glory. But He is under no obligation to heal, because He has made no blanket promise to heal during any age (Numbers 12:9-10; Deuteronomy 28:21-22; Second Kings 5:15-27; First Corinthians 11:30), and He no longer is authenticating His Word, because the completed Word is its own verification. It is extremely important, however, to understand that when the Lord chooses not to heal a faithful believer, it is not the result of a lack of faith on his or her behalf. Joni Eareckson Tada is a great example of this. We can rest assured that God will never leave us or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5).

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise you for your mighty power of healing. Amazing how you healed with only a word (Matthew 8:13), and you healed such a wide variety of diseases. Yeshua replied: Go report to John what you hear and see: the blind see and the lame walk, those with tzara’at are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised and the poor have good news proclaimed to them (Matthew 11:4-5). And Lord, I praise You, that You continue to heal today according to Your will. Thank you for your greatest act of healing when by your dying and rising from the dead, you healed from sin all who choose to love and to follow you. And by His wounds we are healed of our sins (Isaiah 53:5c). He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21). We love You! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Gift of Faith
12: 9a

While it is true that Paul considers the “faith” that leads to salvation to be the work of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh in the believer’s life (see the commentary on Revelation, to see link click Cc – For We Must All Appear Before the Bema Seat of Christ), what he has in mind here is the special gift of supernatural faith that can move mountains.³⁶⁷ Those with this gift of faith have a special ability to lay claim to the promises of God. It is an unusual amount of trust in God not exercised by most believers that results in tangible results. It is a faith that looks where nothing exists and sees what can be. They are firmly persuaded of God’s power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose, and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction. They expect God to move and are not surprised when He answers a prayer or performs a miracle (Hebrews 11:1-40).

When Paul was sailing to Rome as a captive, the ship encountered a terrible storm. After throwing all the cargo and tackle overboard, they went for many days without food and without any relief from the storm. At the height of danger, Paul told his fellow travelers: But now, my advice to you is to take heart; because not one of you will lose his life – only the ship will be lost. For this very night, there stood next to me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve. He said: Don’t be afraid, Sha’ul! you have to stand before the Emperor. Look! God has granted you all those who are sailing with you (Acts 27:22-24). Paul’s confidence took special faith. His great faith exercised in the midst of disaster laid hold of God’s promise and brought hope and safety to everyone with him. Abraham was also strengthened by his faith (Romans 4:20).

The gift of faith is primarily expressed toward ADONAI through prayer, appealing to and trusting in God to do that which is His normal provision. Yeshua said: I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20). Paul alludes to that type of faith later in this letter: If I have all faith – enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing (13:2). Paul was not disparaging faith but simply pointing out its emptiness without love. His phrase all faith seems to indicate that it is possessed in degrees.

On the basis of one person’s strong faith others are always helped and served. Throughout the history of the Church, thousands of believers with the gift of faith have believed in God in the face of great danger and often death. And in exercising their faith have strengthened the faith of their brothers and sisters in the Lord. Hudson Taylor believed ADONAI would win many Chinese converts through him, and without any money or support, refusing to ask for a penny of help, he began what became the great and fruitful China Inland Mission. George Muller, solely through trusting God in prayer, continually saw Him provide for his orphanage in miraculous ways. Countless missionaries have claimed tribes or nations for the Lord, and evangelists have claimed cities for the Lord, and seen Him faithfully respond to their faith. Their prayers are answered and their faith itself strengthened and multiplied.³⁶⁸

It is possible that faith stands at the head of this next grouping of gifts because they especially depend on the power of faith. Indeed, it would seem that it would not be possible to differentiate them. Healing (see Cn – The Gifts of Healing) and miracles (see Co – The Effecting of Miracles) are plainly related to faith (Matthew 16:8, 21:21; Mark 5:34, 10:52, 112; Luke 17:5-6; Acts 3:16, 27:25; Hebrews 11:29-30; James 5:15). We may also assume that the gift of discernment also takes root in faith.³⁶⁹

The Word of Knowledge
12: 8b

Paul begins with two gifts that sound very much alike, the word of wisdom (to see link click Ck – The Word of Wisdom) and the word of knowledge. The Greek word for knowledge is gnosis. As with the first term, this is Paul’s way of rescuing the Ruach’s gifting from the Corinthians’ own fascination with “knowledge” and it related pride (see Bl – Let Love Control Knowledge). The word of knowledge is a broad term, which basically refers to perceiving and understanding truths of God’s Word, especially the gift of communicating insight into the mysteries of His revelation. Those truths that could not be known apart from the Spirit’s revelation (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:3; Colossians 1:26, 2:2, 4:3; First Corinthians 13:2).

ADONAI gives certain believers a special ability to study His Word and discover the deeper meaning of the text and context that pastors and teachers read about in commentaries and systematic theologies. This is how the word of knowledge differs from the gift of teaching (Romans 12:7; First Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11). The person that is gifted with the word of knowledge is usually well-versed in the Scriptures and often has committed much of it to memory. They give insights into individual words and phrases and of related passages and truths, and thereby providing understanding to others. Perhaps the best insight on this is found in the phrase know all mysteries and all knowledge (13:2). The word mystery always signifies divine truth that God was hidden at some point in time. Most often it refers to truths hidden from the righteous of the TaNaKh during the Dispensation of Torah (see the commentary on Exodus Da – The Dispensation of the Torah) that have been revealed in the Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 3:3-5). This gift is the capacity of grasping the deeper meaning of God’s Word, which is a mystery to the natural mind.

This gift is foundational for all biblical teaching and preaching, as well as for the proper exercise of counseling, leadership, wisdom and other ministries and gifts. If a person does not have the ability himself, he must rely on those who do in order to exercise his own gifts rightly. The teacher or preacher is especially dependent on knowledge, because he is commissioned to teach or preach God’s truths to others.

A believer with the gift of knowledge may be highly trained in biblical languages, history, archaeology, or theology. But another person with the same gift may have limited formal education. In either case, the ability to comprehend spiritual truth is God-given. The gifted person is supernaturally enabled not only to discover truths from the facts of Scripture but to explain and interpret those truths in order to help others understand them. As with all the other gifts, it comes in many forms and degrees. One believer may have greater ability in this one area alone, while another may have a moderate, or secondary, ability here, mixed with another, stronger, spiritual gift.

The human writers of Scripture had the gift of knowledge in a unique way. God gave them truths directly, which they recorded as part of His written Word. Since the closing of the canon of Scripture, however, the gift has not involved the receiving of new truth, but only the understanding of truth previously revealed. Anyone today who claims to have a divine revelation is a deceiver and contradicts God’s own Word, which expressly warns that if anyone adds or takes away from it will suffer the judgment of God (Revelation 22:18-19). Any word of divine knowledge or wisdom must be based on the Word of God, which was once and for all passed on to God’s people (Jude 3).³⁶⁵

First Corinthians 13:8 says the gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge will cease. Although knowledge appears in the same verse, it is not in the same category as prophecy or tongues, which are temporary sign gifts. Knowledge will cease when the perfect comes, which is the Eternal State (see the commentary on Revelation Fq – The Eternal State), when we will not even have the Bible. We will no longer need the written Word because we will be eternally in the presence and full comprehension of the Living Word.

Just as it is important to understand what the word of knowledge is, it is equally important to understand what it is not. What do I say to a friend who is attracted to the charismatic “word of knowledge” that can give insight into one’s future? The first question is, “Is this really true to the Bible?” It must conform to the rest of the teachings of the Word of God. There are those today that will come up to you and say, “I have a word of knowledge for you from the Lord,” and proceed to tell you things about your personal life that are supposed to happen now or in the future. I get very concerned about present day “revelations,” which, in practical terms, seem to carry more weight than the Word of God. Further, I think that godly counsel is a good source of input as to God’s will, as opposed to consulting a kind of “spiritual guru,” who tells you God’s will for your life.³⁶⁶

Dear Wise Heavenly Father, Praise You that Your wisdom is not limited to known facts. Nothing is hidden from Your all-knowing and all seeing eyes. No person no matter how clever can pull something over on You. You see thoughts. Whenever I sit down or stand up, You know it. You discern my thinking from afar (Psalms 139:2). You know what a person will say even before he knows it himself! Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, ADONAI, You know all about it (Psalms 139:4). More important and amazing is that You know the purposes of our hearts. The Lord . . . will bring to light the things hidden in darkness and also make clear the motives of the hearts (First Corinthians 4:5b). 

Rewards in heaven will not be based on what looks to the world like a great deed, but rather You will test the heart motive of the deed with fire. For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid – which is Yeshua the Messiah.  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work – what sort it is.  If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward (First Corinthians 3:11-14). Thank You for Your love which forgives those who fear You (Psalms 103:11-12) and rewards those whose hearts love You. I desire to lovingly serve You with all my thoughts, actions and money. My whole being. You are worthy! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Word of Wisdom
12: 8a

Paul begins with two gifts that sound very much alike: the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. They apparently were of particular interest to the Corinthians. The Greek word for wisdom is sophia. Some of the Corinthians worshiped “the wisdom” of the world. In Gnosticism, a heresy in the early Christian church, Sophia is sometimes portrayed as a divine being superior to God, who reprimands God for arrogance. In other Gnostic texts, Sophia is a mischievous spirit who indirectly creates a world so evil that God has to rescue it by sending another person named Yeshua. According to these texts, Yeshua taught that we are rescued from evil and returned to God through knowledge (gnosis).

More recently, the Shakers have understood Sophia as the fourth person of the Godhead. A Russian Orthodox priest named Sergei Bulgakov has taught that Sophia is the essence of the Trinity, the glue that binds Father, Son and Holy Spirit together. Thus, Sophia has been gaining popularity in some pseudo “Christian” circles for many years. For a growing number of misguided “Christians,” Sophia is the feminine symbol of divinity desperately needed to balance the patriarchal emphasis of the Church and is worshiped as a goddess!

The gift of wisdom clearly takes us back to the problem addressed at the beginning of the letter (to see link click Am – False Wisdom vs the Good News), where on the basis of worldly “wisdom” the Corinthians were rejecting both Paul and His gospel. Indeed, in contrast to their own criterion for “spiritual” excellence, Paul says he deliberately rejected coming to them either in “wisdom” that consisted of mere rhetoric (1:17), or the eloquence of human “wisdom” (2:1 and 5). With a considerable stroke of inspiration from the Spirit, Paul now used one of their own terms to begin his list of gifts and redefines that term in light of the work of the Ruach so as to give it a significantly different context than their own.³⁶³

The word of wisdom is a broad term. The use of word (Greek: logos) indicates this is a speaking ability. In the apostolic age it may have been revelation at times. In Bri’t Chadashah, wisdom is used most often to refer to the ability to understand God’s will and to apply it obediently (Matthew 11:19 and 13:54; Mark 6:2; Luke 7:35; Acts 6:10; James 1:5, 3:13 and 17; Second Peter 3:15). Therefore, the word of wisdom is the God given ability to apply practical biblical truth to daily life situations for yourself or others. Wisdom doesn’t end with knowledge, but is expressed in transformed hearts and lives. It is an ability a counselor must have in order to apply God’s truth to the questions and problems brought to her. It is a feature of the gift that a shepherd of the flock (Ephesians 4:11), who must know, understand, and be able to apply God’s Word in order to lead his people as he should.³⁶⁴

People with this gift are able to take from their own life experiences and share what God has taught them through those things. They can easily recognize where a decision of action may lead and can warn against those that may be harmful or unfruitful. They can see through the confusion of a situation and can give direction that would help an individual or a group obtain a God-glorifying goal. The Church needs those with the word of wisdom to guide Her through uncertain or difficult times.

Dear Wise Heavenly Father, Your perfect knowledge (Job 37:16) is such a comfort! Praise You that You so generously give wisdom to some of Your children as a gift. Praise You for giving Your wisdom in many ways (Hebrews 1:1). Praise You that when wisdom is needed right away – you are only an arrow’s prayer away. How awesome it is that You, who rule the universe, always have time to listen to those with this gift and to guide their path. Thank You for having such a deep and caring heart and for generously giving Your presence and wisdom for Your Church. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Varieties of Spiritual Gifts
12: 8-11

The varieties of spiritual gifts DIG: The Ruach Ha’Kodesh distributes spiritual gifts to all believers. Why then is there such a variety of gifts? What is the ultimate purpose of spiritual gifts from God? Although there are different gifts, there is only one God. Why is that important for us to remember (Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:1-13). What is your responsibility in regard to your spiritual gift? If all believers receive at least one spiritual gift, why do you think there are some who feel they have nothing to offer? How can you help other believers to identify their gift?

REFLECT: What prevents believers from using their spiritual gifts? What explanations or excuses have you heard people use about not using their gifts? In what ways can believers help one another identify their spiritual gifts? What is the one thing you could do this week to share your thoughts? What is wrong with saying that some gifts are superior to others? How can you use your gifts in a way that draws attention away from yourself and gives glory to God? How can you be challenged to serve where you worship?

After addressing the believers’ responsibilities when it comes to their freedom in Messiah, Paul turns to another problem in the Corinthian church. The believers’ public worship practices had become distorted, chaotic, and dishonoring to God. The church was so splintered, in fact, that it could function as a Body in worship. Their attitudes in the way members dressed – and especially the way they celebrated the Lord’s Supper – betrayed deep dysfunctions. In addition, their use of spiritual gifts, which should be a point of strength in the church, had become a point of weakness, confusion, and competition. Paul would now seek to step back and show his readers the big picture of God’s gifts.³⁶¹ Paul mentions nine spiritual gifts here in First Corinthians. Other lists of spiritual gifts can be found in First Corinthians 12:28-30, Romans 12:6-8 (see the commentary on Romans, to see link click Dc – Responding to the Mercies of ADONAI), Ephesians 4:8-12, and First Peter 4:11. While this list here isn’t exhaustive, it is interesting to look with a little more depth at some of the gifts that Paul mentioned.

1. To one, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom (to see link click Ck);

2. To another, a word of knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit (see Cl);

3. To another, faith, by the same Spirit (see Cm);

4. And to another, gifts of healing, by the one Spirit (see Cn);

5. To another, the working of miracles (see Co);

6. To another, prophecy (see Cp);

7. To another, the ability to discern between spirits (see Cq);

8. To another, the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues (see Dm – Tongues are a Sign);

9. And to yet another, the ability to interpret tongues (see Dp – Order in Public Worship).

One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses (12:11). This verse summarizes verses 4-10. Just as he did when illustrating the differences in the nature, ministries, and effects of spiritual gifts, Paul continues to stress that each gift, though different in many ways from the others, is supernaturally and sovereignly given by one and the same Spirit. In fact, this is the fifth reference to the Ruach as the giver. He also emphasizes again that every believer (distributing to each person) is spiritually gifted. Those with gifts are not the spiritual elite, but make up the whole church, the entire Body of Messiah. All of us are gifted, and all of us are called by the Lord to minister the gifts He has supplied.³⁶²