Difference between revisions of "1 Corinthians 12"

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(Created page with "=Objectives= *Students will recognize that their freedom in Christ does not allow them to do that which is offensive. *Students will consider how they conduct themselves durin...")
 
(→‎The Standard Criterion (v. 1-3))
 
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=Objectives=
 
=Objectives=
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*Students will recognize that their freedom in Christ does not allow them to do that which is offensive.
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*Students will determine to use their spiritual gifts for the exaltation of Christ and not for personal benefit.
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*Students will consider how they conduct themselves during times of fellowship and determine to act in a loving way towards everyone.
 
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*Students will recognize communion as an ordinance and determine to participate by first examining oneself.
 
  
 
=Opening=
 
=Opening=
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*What are some of the common courtesies that were part of society twenty years ago?
 
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*What common courtesies are part of society now?
 
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**Note: Be careful here, there may be people who will say that no common courtesies exist today because they are stuck in the good ole-days.  Don't let the conversation deteriorate into this.  In fact, there are still common courtesies, but the courtesies have changed.
 
  
 
=Main Body=
 
=Main Body=
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==The opening Salvo==
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==Spiritual Gifts==
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*What does Paul call on the people to do in verse 1?
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===The Standard Criterion (v. 1-3)===
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**To imitate him.
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*Look at various translation of verse 1.  What do you notice about the word gifts?  What does this mean?
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*What is it that Paul is doing that deserves imitation?
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**In context Paul will be speaking about spiritual gifts.  However, the word gets is not actually present in the greek. The word spiritual, πνευματικος, can actually be translated as either neuter or masculine.  Therefore, we might also translate this as spiritual people.  Some versions opt for "you who are spiritual."  The main point is that Paul is taking aim at elitist people who see themselves as being spiritual giants, possibly by use of spiritual gifts, and possibly by other means.
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**Imitating Christ.
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*What might Paul mean by "taken away by dumb idols?"
 +
**It seems likely that those who were engaged in more "spiritual" practices may have in fact been falling into ecstatic loss of control which mimicked the pagan idolatry that they had left for Christ.
 +
*What measure/standard does Paul give for evaluating the exercise of a gift?
 +
**The gift should always exalt Christ.  As an interesting note: testing the exaltation of Christ requires intelligibility.
  
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==Diversity of Spiritual Gifts==
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==Freedom to Serve Not Freedom to Offend (2-16)==
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*In this section we will see that God provides a diversity of spiritual gifts.  Why is it important for Christians to recognize the diversity of gifts?
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In Corinth the expectation was that a women had her head covered.  In particular, as I understand it, uncovering one's head was a symbol of availability.  By worshipping with their heads uncovered women would have been proclaiming that they were single and available for a sexual encounter.  Paul wants nothing to do with this.
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**If we fail to recognize diversity then we fail to value the ways in which God is working on other people.  We can easily over-value God's work in one individual (often ourselves) and miss the opportunity to see the full working of God.
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===Theological Arguments===
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===Diversity and Unity come from God (v. 4-11)===
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*What theological argument does Paul make regarding gender roles in the church?
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*In this passage what common thread ties everything together?
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**Paul argues that just at Christ and God have different roles so do women and men.
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**There is an emphasis on the idea of "one God".  The diversity of gifts are balanced with the oneness God.  We need to recognize that the gifts mentioned in 1 Cor. 12 should be a source of unity.
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*How does the theological argument address those who might argue that women are inferior to men?
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**As a note: we will later argue that some of the gifts of the Spirit have ceased.  This comes later in the passage but some may be confused and could argue that unity means we should accept the gifts which have ceased. 
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**Christ is not inferior to God, but rather Christ has a different role than God.
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*Which gifts are mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:4-11?
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**wisdom
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===Argument from Shame===
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**knowledge
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*What argument from shame does Paul use?
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**faith
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**healing
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===Argument from Honor===
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**miracles
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*What argument from honor does Paul use?
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**prophecy
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**discernment
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===Argument from Nature===
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**tongues
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*What argument from nature does Paul use?
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**interpretation
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**There are obvious physical differences between men and women.  These physical differences mean that God has distinguished men and women.
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===One Body (v. 12-31)===
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*What metaphor does Paul use in verses 12 and 13?
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===Argument for Equality===
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**That of a body
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Remember that Paul has already taken a very forward view on women in the church in previous chapters.  Here Paul is careful to show that despite his forward view, there are still important differences and these differences must be honored.  In verses 12 and 13 Paul again highlights the fact that each sees the other.  In terms of worth and value both men and women are on equal footing.  In terms of responsibilities, some responsibilities have been relegated to men and other to women.
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*What examples of body parts does Paul use in 15-26?
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**foot
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==The Lord's Supper (17-34)==
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**hand
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===Problems (17-22)===
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**ear
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*What problems were occurring during the church's observation of the Lord's Supper?
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**eye
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**Divisions
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**head
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**Selfishness
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*What metaphors does Paul use to argue that we must honor all members of the church?
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**Gluttony
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**Modesty shows that all members of the body are honored.
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**Drunkenness
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*Who unifies the body according to verse 27?
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===The Purpose (23-26)===
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**Christ
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In contrast to the many problems the Corinthians had with the Lord's Supper, Paul wanted them to instead understand the purpose of the Lord's Supper.
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*What rhetorical questions does Paul ask in verses 28-31?
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*According to verses 23-25, what purpose does the Lord's supper serve?
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*What point does Paul prove with his rhetorical questions?
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**As a constant reminder about the sacrifice of Christ.
 
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*According to verse 26, what other purpose does the Lord's Supper serve?
 
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**Proclamation.
 
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===The Warning (27-32)===
 
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*What warning is given in verses 27-32?
 
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**Do not partake unworthily.
 
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===The Response (33-34)===
 
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The Lord's supper should be a time of great unity and celebration of Christ.
 
  
 
=Closing=
 
=Closing=
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*How should the church view gender roles?
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*During an annual physical many parts of the body re checked to ensure that the body is functioning well as a whole.  However, there are many that are not checked.  Indeed, a physician can usually tell if something is wrong with one part of the body by looking at other parts of the body.  When one part of the body is struggling the other parts of the body show evidence (working harder, not working correctly, etc.).  What is the physical health of our church?
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*Are there time when we are guilty of dividing the church during church events?
 
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*What might it look like for someone to eat of the Lord's Supper unworthily?
 

Latest revision as of 21:05, 10 June 2018

Objectives

  • Students will determine to use their spiritual gifts for the exaltation of Christ and not for personal benefit.

Opening

Main Body

Spiritual Gifts

The Standard Criterion (v. 1-3)

  • Look at various translation of verse 1. What do you notice about the word gifts? What does this mean?
    • In context Paul will be speaking about spiritual gifts. However, the word gets is not actually present in the greek. The word spiritual, πνευματικος, can actually be translated as either neuter or masculine. Therefore, we might also translate this as spiritual people. Some versions opt for "you who are spiritual." The main point is that Paul is taking aim at elitist people who see themselves as being spiritual giants, possibly by use of spiritual gifts, and possibly by other means.
  • What might Paul mean by "taken away by dumb idols?"
    • It seems likely that those who were engaged in more "spiritual" practices may have in fact been falling into ecstatic loss of control which mimicked the pagan idolatry that they had left for Christ.
  • What measure/standard does Paul give for evaluating the exercise of a gift?
    • The gift should always exalt Christ. As an interesting note: testing the exaltation of Christ requires intelligibility.

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

  • In this section we will see that God provides a diversity of spiritual gifts. Why is it important for Christians to recognize the diversity of gifts?
    • If we fail to recognize diversity then we fail to value the ways in which God is working on other people. We can easily over-value God's work in one individual (often ourselves) and miss the opportunity to see the full working of God.

Diversity and Unity come from God (v. 4-11)

  • In this passage what common thread ties everything together?
    • There is an emphasis on the idea of "one God". The diversity of gifts are balanced with the oneness God. We need to recognize that the gifts mentioned in 1 Cor. 12 should be a source of unity.
    • As a note: we will later argue that some of the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. This comes later in the passage but some may be confused and could argue that unity means we should accept the gifts which have ceased.
  • Which gifts are mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:4-11?
    • wisdom
    • knowledge
    • faith
    • healing
    • miracles
    • prophecy
    • discernment
    • tongues
    • interpretation

One Body (v. 12-31)

  • What metaphor does Paul use in verses 12 and 13?
    • That of a body
  • What examples of body parts does Paul use in 15-26?
    • foot
    • hand
    • ear
    • eye
    • head
  • What metaphors does Paul use to argue that we must honor all members of the church?
    • Modesty shows that all members of the body are honored.
  • Who unifies the body according to verse 27?
    • Christ
  • What rhetorical questions does Paul ask in verses 28-31?
  • What point does Paul prove with his rhetorical questions?

Closing

  • During an annual physical many parts of the body re checked to ensure that the body is functioning well as a whole. However, there are many that are not checked. Indeed, a physician can usually tell if something is wrong with one part of the body by looking at other parts of the body. When one part of the body is struggling the other parts of the body show evidence (working harder, not working correctly, etc.). What is the physical health of our church?
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