Post by Zac Loh on Dec 7, 2008 12:52:08 GMT -5
1 Corinthians 12:8-10: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:28-30: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, administrations, speak with tongues, interpret.
Key: First Option
Back to our very important key which we learned earlier in this series: the First Option principle.
Applying this principle, we will therefore put the list in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and the list in 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 side-by-side simply because they are of the same.
• We find that both lists have 9 items
• These two lists are found within the same chapter (they are at very close proximity to each another)
• In verse 1, Paul was talking about gifts.
• In verse 31, Paul was still talking about gifts.
Now, we find the connection between these two lists.
We use a simple method which most of us learnt in pre-school.
We draw lines to connect one item in the list, cross-over to connect to one item in the other list.
We connect the easy ones first. It is very much like an objective answer test: A, B, C, D or E answer.
In an objective answer test, we are always advised to do the easy ones first in order to maximize our score because we have limited time.
the word of wisdom ------- teachers
gifts of healings ------- gifts of healings
the working of miracles ------- miracles
prophecy ------- prophets
different kinds of tongues ------- speak with tongues
the interpretation of tongues ------- interpret
• The criteria of a teacher, is wisdom. While knowledge is information, wisdom is the ability to use the knowledge to our benefit. We need wisdom to understand what the data is really telling us to do. We need wisdom to organize the data in such a way that others can understand the message.
A knowledgeable person is not a good teacher if he is not able to make his knowledge understandable and comprehensible to others in a way that others can apply the knowledge.
• You call a person who prophesy; a prophet. Just as you called anyone who drives the car, the driver (1 Corinthians 14:29-32).
So far, connecting them is simple and quite straightforward. But we have a balance, a remaining three gifts which are yet to be connected.
We will first examine two more gifts by looking deeper into the words: `helps’ and `administrations’ which are found in the list of 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.
`helps’
The original Bible Greek meaning of this word:
• `a laying hold of, apprehension, perception’ (this is the primary root word meaning of the original word in Bible Greek)
• `to relief in time of need’, `to take hold-of in turn’.
To really help a person effectively: we need to know the real nature of the problem; we need to know the root cause of the problem; and we need to know how the problem started and entered into the person’s life.
This information might not be known to the sufferer, or the sufferer has only a partial knowledge of it.
To really help a person effectively: we need to `lay hold, apprehend’ the problem.
Therefore, we need divine `perception’.
First and foremost, to help a person, we can pray for the sufferer on our own or together with the sufferer. As a result, the sufferer will find `relief in time of need’. In this way, we bear one another’s burden illustrated by the phrase `to take hold-of in turn’ (a picture of taking turn to hold the burden which will happen when we counsel and pray for the sufferer).
So, it has become simple now to connect. It is quite obvious:
the word of knowledge ------- helps
`administrations’
We erroneously tend to think of this word as in `office administration’.
By going into the root meaning in the original language, we find that this word means:
• `to steer, pilotage, directorship’
The church is basically, first and foremost, a spiritual organization.
Therefore, this is about spiritual `steering, piloting, directing’. To do this, we need spiritual discernment of the move of the Holy Spirit, the anointing of the Holy Spirit present, the specific anointing on individuals, origin of supernatural guidance and messages (whether from the Holy Spirit, or demonic, or just human).
Jesus is the Head of the Church while the Holy Spirit the Administrator of the church. Jesus runs the church. We all need to discern His leading and guidance.
This is how the gift of `discerning of spirits’ come into play.
discerning of spirits ------- administrations
So we have just one gift left to be connected. It is very easy now. There is only one option left.
faith ------- apostle
So here below we have it altogether:
the word of wisdom ------- teachers
the word of knowledge ------- helps
faith ------- apostles
gifts of healings ------- gifts of healings
the working of miracles ------- miracles
prophecy ------- prophets
discerning of spirits ------- administrations
different kinds of tongues ------- speak with tongues
the interpretation of tongues ------- interpret
From the next lesson onwards, we will go into the details of each gift and you will have a clearer view of this connection. In fact, this connection lends clue in helping to understand each gift. Besides that, the exercise is also meant to deter the error of cross-referencing 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 with Ephesians 4:11.
Same Name, Different Level
The titles `apostles’, `prophets’ and `teachers’ are also found in the Ephesians Group Of Gifts (Ephesians 4:11).
However, the Ephesians Group is of a higher level.
Take for example, we call two persons policemen with no ranking mentioned: one might be a Sergeant and the other, an Inspector.
Two lawyers, one might be a junior lawyer and the other, a partner.
Two doctors, one might be a General Practitioner and the other, a Specialist.
We are going step-by-step, line upon line, precept upon precept. The whole panorama will come into view at the end of this long series. You will marvel how everything fits together because we have the right template.
1 Corinthians 12:28-30: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, administrations, speak with tongues, interpret.
Key: First Option
Back to our very important key which we learned earlier in this series: the First Option principle.
Applying this principle, we will therefore put the list in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and the list in 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 side-by-side simply because they are of the same.
• We find that both lists have 9 items
• These two lists are found within the same chapter (they are at very close proximity to each another)
• In verse 1, Paul was talking about gifts.
• In verse 31, Paul was still talking about gifts.
Now, we find the connection between these two lists.
We use a simple method which most of us learnt in pre-school.
We draw lines to connect one item in the list, cross-over to connect to one item in the other list.
We connect the easy ones first. It is very much like an objective answer test: A, B, C, D or E answer.
In an objective answer test, we are always advised to do the easy ones first in order to maximize our score because we have limited time.
the word of wisdom ------- teachers
gifts of healings ------- gifts of healings
the working of miracles ------- miracles
prophecy ------- prophets
different kinds of tongues ------- speak with tongues
the interpretation of tongues ------- interpret
• The criteria of a teacher, is wisdom. While knowledge is information, wisdom is the ability to use the knowledge to our benefit. We need wisdom to understand what the data is really telling us to do. We need wisdom to organize the data in such a way that others can understand the message.
A knowledgeable person is not a good teacher if he is not able to make his knowledge understandable and comprehensible to others in a way that others can apply the knowledge.
• You call a person who prophesy; a prophet. Just as you called anyone who drives the car, the driver (1 Corinthians 14:29-32).
So far, connecting them is simple and quite straightforward. But we have a balance, a remaining three gifts which are yet to be connected.
We will first examine two more gifts by looking deeper into the words: `helps’ and `administrations’ which are found in the list of 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.
`helps’
The original Bible Greek meaning of this word:
• `a laying hold of, apprehension, perception’ (this is the primary root word meaning of the original word in Bible Greek)
• `to relief in time of need’, `to take hold-of in turn’.
To really help a person effectively: we need to know the real nature of the problem; we need to know the root cause of the problem; and we need to know how the problem started and entered into the person’s life.
This information might not be known to the sufferer, or the sufferer has only a partial knowledge of it.
To really help a person effectively: we need to `lay hold, apprehend’ the problem.
Therefore, we need divine `perception’.
First and foremost, to help a person, we can pray for the sufferer on our own or together with the sufferer. As a result, the sufferer will find `relief in time of need’. In this way, we bear one another’s burden illustrated by the phrase `to take hold-of in turn’ (a picture of taking turn to hold the burden which will happen when we counsel and pray for the sufferer).
So, it has become simple now to connect. It is quite obvious:
the word of knowledge ------- helps
`administrations’
We erroneously tend to think of this word as in `office administration’.
By going into the root meaning in the original language, we find that this word means:
• `to steer, pilotage, directorship’
The church is basically, first and foremost, a spiritual organization.
Therefore, this is about spiritual `steering, piloting, directing’. To do this, we need spiritual discernment of the move of the Holy Spirit, the anointing of the Holy Spirit present, the specific anointing on individuals, origin of supernatural guidance and messages (whether from the Holy Spirit, or demonic, or just human).
Jesus is the Head of the Church while the Holy Spirit the Administrator of the church. Jesus runs the church. We all need to discern His leading and guidance.
This is how the gift of `discerning of spirits’ come into play.
discerning of spirits ------- administrations
So we have just one gift left to be connected. It is very easy now. There is only one option left.
faith ------- apostle
So here below we have it altogether:
the word of wisdom ------- teachers
the word of knowledge ------- helps
faith ------- apostles
gifts of healings ------- gifts of healings
the working of miracles ------- miracles
prophecy ------- prophets
discerning of spirits ------- administrations
different kinds of tongues ------- speak with tongues
the interpretation of tongues ------- interpret
From the next lesson onwards, we will go into the details of each gift and you will have a clearer view of this connection. In fact, this connection lends clue in helping to understand each gift. Besides that, the exercise is also meant to deter the error of cross-referencing 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 with Ephesians 4:11.
Same Name, Different Level
The titles `apostles’, `prophets’ and `teachers’ are also found in the Ephesians Group Of Gifts (Ephesians 4:11).
However, the Ephesians Group is of a higher level.
Take for example, we call two persons policemen with no ranking mentioned: one might be a Sergeant and the other, an Inspector.
Two lawyers, one might be a junior lawyer and the other, a partner.
Two doctors, one might be a General Practitioner and the other, a Specialist.
We are going step-by-step, line upon line, precept upon precept. The whole panorama will come into view at the end of this long series. You will marvel how everything fits together because we have the right template.