First Corinthians 12 is Paul's inspired treatise on miraculous spiritual gifts. In previous bulletin articles, we have studied the fact that true knowledge concerning spiritual matters must come from God (1 Cor. 12:1-3), which in our day is revealed through the pages of the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16-17); that there were a variety of gifts, but only one Deity (1 Cor. 12:4-6); that the purpose of miraculous spiritual gifts was to benefit all (1 Cor. 12:7); and to what each of the nine gifts listed referred (1 Cor. 12:8-11). In the rest of this chapter, Paul shows that each member of the church is important, no matter what miraculous gift he possesses or does not possess. Let us examine these important truths!

Christ's Body Is United

As the physical body is one, even though it is made up of many members, so also is Christ's body, the church. Paul declares, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ" (1 Cor. 12:12). With this statement, Paul seems to be showing how ridiculous it is for some of the Corinthians to think themselves superior to other members of the body because of their miraculous spiritual gifts-all are members of the same body and each one's function is as equally important as the other's. The statement, "one body; so also is Christ," shows that "Christ" is the same as His "body." Christ is the head of the body, the church (Eph. 1:22-23). To affect Christ's body, the church, is to affect Him (cf. Mt. 10:40; Acts 9:4). The term "members" does not refer to denominations, for denominations are not part of the true body of Christ. They do not respect Christ's prayer for unity (Jn. 17:20-21); they do not respect Paul's plea for unity; and they do not respect the Spirit's plan for unity (Eph. 4:1-6).

All who are members of that one body of Christ were baptized into that body. Paul writes, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13). The "Spirit" (through the word of God) is the agency of this baptism into one body (cf. Jn. 3:3-5). When one is taught the Spirit's word to be baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 15:15-16), he or she can be said to be baptized by the Spirit, "not in the sense that the Spirit is the administrator or the element, but as one who has revealed (authorized or directed) the baptism."1 The scope of this baptism into one body is all people (cf. Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:27-28; Col. 3:11). "Jews or Gentiles [Greeks, NKJ]" includes all people, no matter their religious background. "Bond [slaves, NKJ] or free" includes all people, no matter their social standing.

Spiritual blessings are the result of this baptism into one body. The "all" who are baptized are the same "all" who are "made to drink into one Spirit." The word translated "drink" can mean to give drink (Mt. 25:35, i.e., nourish, 1 Cor. 3:2) or to irrigate (1 Cor. 3:6-8). "Baptize" and "drink" have something in common: as Christians have been buried with Christ (Rom. 6:3-4), even clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27), in baptism, so also are they nourished and/or irrigated with the Holy Spirit through obedience to His word. Jesus elsewhere connects the Holy Spirit with the concept of "drinking" living water (Jn. 4:10; 7:38-39).

Before leaving this point about being baptized into one body "by the one Spirit," it is important for us to know the following reasons why this is not referring to Holy Spirit baptism:2 (1) the baptism mentioned here is also commanded by Jesus (Mk. 16:16; Acts 10:48), but Holy Spirit baptism was a promise (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8); (2) the baptism mentioned here is commanded to those who first believe and do repent (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38); (3) the baptism mentioned here is a burial into the death of Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12); (4) the baptism mentioned here is a burial in water (Acts 8:35-39; 10:47-48); (5) the baptism mentioned here is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38); (6) the baptism mentioned here places the penitent believer into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27); and (7) from the baptism mentioned here, one arises to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4-5).

The Body: Unity of Purpose in Diversity of Function

Christ's body, the church, is like the human body in that it is made of many different members (body parts), but with a single purpose (1 Cor. 12:14). No one member of the human body (such as a foot) can say to another member (such as a hand) that because it does not have the same function that it is not part of the body (1 Cor. 12:15-17). Each member is a vital part of the whole! In fact, if the whole body were made up of entirely one member, it could not be a body (1 Cor. 12:18-19). Suppose, for example, the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? Thus, no one member of the body can say that since it is "more important" than another part that it has no need of that part (1 Cor. 12:20-21). Paul even goes on to say that members of the body that seem insignificant are actually very significant to the functioning of the whole body (1 Cor. 12:22-24a). Since God composed the body with all its members, we have no business determining the composition of that body (1 Cor. 12:24b). This comparison to the human body shows the foolishness of the Corinthians' division. Because one member of the church may have a miraculous spiritual gift does not mean that he is more important than someone who does not. Likewise, because one member does not have a miraculous spiritual gift does not mean that he is insignificant to the body of Christ. Every member is as important as the other members!

God arranged it this way for two purposes. First, "that there should be no schism [division, NAS] in the body" (1 Cor. 12:25a). All members of Christ's body, guided by the same Head, must work together to God's glory. Second, "that the members should have the same care one for another" (1 Cor. 12:25b). No matter what part of Christ's body we are, we must truly care for one another so that when "one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Cor. 12:26). Let us all fulfill our function in Christ's body and realize the unity that can convert others (Jn. 17:20-21)!

End Notes

1 Howard Winters, Commentary on First Corinthians: Practical and Explanatory (Greenville, SC: Carolina Christian, 1987) 169.

2 Adapted from Winters 169.