ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 12 v12 - 26

OVERVIEW:

Once again Paul uses a metaphor, this time to describe the nature of the Christian church. We are one in Christ (CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA), baptized into one body (AMBROSE). God who formed the body is one, and the body he formed is one (CHRYSOSTOM). So treat no one with contempt (AMBROSIASTER, SEVERIAN OF GABALA), since each member is necessary (THEODORET OF CYR). The foot is no less a part of the body because it is not a hand (AMBROSIASTER, JEROME). Do not envy those slightly above you, as if the ear might envy the eye (CHRYSOSTOM). Suppose that the body possessed only its most important member—it would still be useless without the others (THEODORET OF CYR). There is no better explanation for this mystery than it pleased the Creator to arrange the members in the way he chose (CHRYSOSTOM). The diversity in the members, without which the body would not be a body (GREGORY OF NYSSA, CHRYSOSTOM), unites to ensure that the body fulfills its potential (AMBROSIASTER). The eye will have no joy if other members are missing (ORIGEN). Iron can do what gold cannot (AMBROSIASTER). The greater gifts cannot do without the lesser ones (CHRYSOSTOM). What we may find despicable God finds beautiful (AMBROSIASTER). Though our genitals may be hidden, they are given the greater honor (CHRYSOSTOM, AUGUSTINE). So no one is to be despised as useless (AMBROSIASTER). The whole body suffers as one (CYPRIAN, BASIL, AUGUSTINE).

12:12 | Many Members, One Body

MANY MEMBERS IN ONE BODY. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul talks about Christ when perhaps he might well have said the church. In doing so, he raises the level of discourse and appeals more and more to the hearers’ sense of awe. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 30.1.

EVERY MEMBER NECESSARY. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul is pointing out that just as the body has many members, some of which are more important than others, so it is with the church also. But every member is necessary and useful. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 246.

12:13 | Baptized into One Body

ONE IN CHRIST. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: You are all one in Christ Jesus. It is not that some are enlightened gnostics and others less perfect spirituals. Everyone, putting aside all carnal desires, is equal and spiritual before the Lord. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 1.5.31.

ONE MYSTERY. AMBROSE: There is one work because there is one mystery, there is one baptism because there was one death for the world. There is a unity of outlook which cannot be separated. THE HOLY SPIRIT 1.3.45.

TREAT NO ONE WITH CONTEMPT. AMBROSIASTER: Paul is teaching that we should not treat anyone with contempt, nor should we regard anyone as perfect. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE BODY IS ONE. CHRYSOSTOM: He who formed the body is one, and the body which he formed is also one. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 30.2.

12:14 | Not One Member but Many

THE UNITY OF THE VIRTUES. GREGORY OF NYSSA: Those who are experts in such matters say that the virtues are not separate from each other and that it is not possible to grasp one of the virtues properly without attaining to the rest of them, but where one of the virtues is present the others will necessarily follow. ON VIRGINITY 15.

MANY MEMBERS SUPPLY WHAT OTHER PARTS LACK. AMBROSIASTER: The unity of the body consists in the fact that its many members supply the things which the other parts lack. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

DO NOT OVERLOOK HUMBLER MEMBERS. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: Paul says this in order not to overlook the humbler members of the church. For even if someone is lesser by nature, he still belongs to the body of the church. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

12:15 | No Less a Part

WEAK AND STRONG. AMBROSIASTER: This means that a weak brother cannot say that he is not a part of the body simply because he is not strong. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

12:16 | “I Do Not Belong”

NONE UNNEEDED. AMBROSIASTER: Paul is saying that the person who is slightly inferior should not for that reason think that he is unnecessary to the body. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

ABSURD ENVY. CHRYSOSTOM: Note that Paul couples the foot with the hand, which is mounted a little above it, and the ear with the eye likewise. This is because we are prone to envy not those who are far above us but those who are only a little bit above. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 30.3.

12:17 | If the Whole Body Were an Eye

USELESS ALONE. THEODORET OF CYR: Even if the body had only its most important member, it would still be useless without the others. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 247.

12:18 | Arranged as God Chose

IT PLEASED THE CREATOR. CHRYSOSTOM: God has placed each part of the body where he has chosen, so we must not enquire any further as to why he has done it the way he has. For even if we could come up with ten thousand explanations, we would never find one better than this—that it pleased the Creator to make it the way he chose. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 30.4.

12:19 | If All Were a Single Organ

DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. AMBROSIASTER: If everyone in the church were equal, there would be no body, because a body is governed according to the difference in the functions of its members. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

12:20 | Many Parts, One Body

DIVERSITY UNITES. AMBROSIASTER: The diversity in the members of the body unites for the purpose of ensuring that the body fulfills its potential. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

NO BODY WITHOUT DIVERSITY. CHRYSOSTOM: If there were not great diversity among you, you could not be a body. If you were not a body, you could not be unified. If you were not one, you would not be equal in honor. It is because you are not all endowed with the same gift that you are a body. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 30.5.

12:21 | “I Have No Need of You”

NO JOY IF OTHER MEMBERS MISSING. ORIGEN: If the eye is healthy and one can see clearly, what joy will it have if the other members of the body are missing? How would it appear to be perfect without the hands, the feet or the other parts of the body? HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 7.

IRON CAN DO WHAT GOLD CANNOT. AMBROSIASTER: The person who is greater in rank or dignity cannot do without those who are lower. For there are things which a humbler person can do which an exalted one cannot, just as iron can do things which gold cannot. Because of this, the feet perform an honorable function for the head. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

GREATER GIFTS CANNOT DO WITHOUT THE LESSER. CHRYSOSTOM: The greater gifts cannot do without the lesser ones, because if even the lesser ones are harmed, the body will not function properly. What is lower than the foot? Or what is more honorable or necessary than the head? But the head, however important it is, is not self-sufficient, nor can it do everything by itself. If that were so, there would be no need to have feet. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 31.1.

EYES, HANDS AND FEET NEED EACH OTHER. JEROME: The church has real eyes: its teachers and leaders who see in sacred Scripture the mysteries of God. … It also has hands, effective persons who are not eyes but hands. Do they plumb the mysteries of sacred Scripture? No, but they are powerful in works. The church has feet: those who make official journeys of all kinds. The foot runs that the hand may find the work it is to do. The eye does not scorn the hand, nor do these three scorn the belly as if it were idle and unemployed. HOMILIES ON MATTHEW 85.

12:22 | Weaker Members Necessary

THE EMPEROR NEEDS AN ARMY. AMBROSIASTER: No matter how elevated a person may be, if he has no one under him, his rank is worthless. The greatest emperor still needs an army. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

12:23 | Lesser Members

LESS HONORABLE PARTS. AMBROSIASTER: Because our feet are lowly and lacking in dignity, we adorn them with shoes. It is clear that our private parts, which are thought to be shameful, cover themselves with respectability by avoiding public display, so as not to obtrude irreverently. Likewise, some of the brothers who are poor and unseemly in their dress are nevertheless not without grace, because they are members of our body. They go about in dirty little garments and barefoot. Though they may look contemptible, they are more to be honored because they usually lead a cleaner life. What men find despicable, God may find quite beautiful. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

USING THE UNSEEMLY WELL IN PROCREATION. AUGUSTINE: Just as it is good to use evils well, so it is honest to use the unseemly well. Not because of the beauty of the divine work, but because of the ugliness of lust, the apostle calls these members of the body unseemly. The chaste are not bound by a necessity to depravity, for they resist lust lest it compel them to commit unseemly acts. Yet not even honorable procreation can exist without lust. In this way in chaste spouses there is both the voluntary, in the procreation of offspring, and the necessary, in lust. Honesty arises from unseemliness when chaste union accepts, but does not love, lust. AGAINST JULIAN 5.9.37.

12:24 | Honoring the Inferior Part

GREATER HONOR TO THE INFERIOR PART. AMBROSIASTER: We do not have to add anything to those whose eagerness for expertise and respectability is obvious—the honor due to them is given already. But an exhortation is necessary regarding the despised and lowly, to ensure that due honor is given to them, so that they may be seen as useful. Otherwise, if these people are despised, they will become more negligent about themselves. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

GIVEN GREATER HONOR. CHRYSOSTOM: Nothing in us is dishonorable, seeing that it is God’s work. What is there in us which is less esteemed than our genitals? Nevertheless, they enjoy greater honor, and even the very poor, who may be completely naked otherwise, cannot allow those parts to be uncovered. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 31.2.

THE ANALOGY OF THE BAD HAIRCUT. AUGUSTINE: Aren’t the hairs of your head certainly of less value than your other members? What is cheaper, more despicable, more lowly in your body than the hairs of your head? Yet if the barber trims your hair unskillfully, you become angry at him because he does not cut your hair evenly. Yet you do not maintain that same concern for unity of the members in the church. THE USEFULNESS OF FASTING 6.

12:25 | The Same Care for One Another

WHERE THE BOND OF PEACE IS NOT PRESERVED. BASIL: With those among whom harmony is not secured, however, the bond of peace is not preserved, mildness of spirit is not maintained, but there is dissension, strife and rivalry. It would be a great piece of audacity to call such persons “members of Christ” or to say that they are ruled by him. It would be the expression of an honest mind to say openly that the wisdom of the flesh is master there and wields a royal sovereignty. ON THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.

NO ONE DESPISED AS USELESS. AMBROSIASTER: Paul is saying that the human body is so organized that all its members are necessary, and because of this, all are concerned for one another. One cannot exist without the other, and parts which are thought to be inferior are usually more necessary. No one ought to be despised as useless. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

GREATER ATTENTION TO INFERIOR PARTS. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul points out that if division in the body is to be avoided, greater attention must be given to the lesser parts, so that they will not be harmed or feel excluded. If they were badly treated they would be destroyed, and their destruction would be the ruin of the body. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 32.3.

12:26 | Suffering and Rejoicing

THE GRIEF OF THE CHURCH UNDER PERSECUTION. CYPRIAN: I suffer with, I grieve with our fellow believers who, having lapsed and fallen by the impetus of persecution, drawing part of our hearts with them, have brought a like sorrow on us with their wounds. LETTER 17.

THE CHURCH SUFFERS OVER THE WHOLE WORLD. BASIL: Our sufferings are such as to have reached even to the limits of our inhabited world. When one member suffers, all the members suffer along with it. LETTER 242, TO THE WESTERNERS.

ALL REJOICE TOGETHER. CHRYSOSTOM: Sharing all things in common, both good and bad, is the only way to achieve complete communion. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 31.5.

IF ONE MEMBER SUFFERS. AUGUSTINE: Suppose you had a disjointed finger. Would you not tremble in all your limbs? Would you not hurry to the doctor to have the finger set? Surely, then, your body is in good condition when all its members are in agreement, the one with the other. Then you are considered healthy, and really are well. THE USEFULNESS OF FASTING 6.

ALL SUFFER TOGETHER. AUGUSTINE: Far be it from us to refuse to hear what is bitter and sad to those whom we love. It is not possible for one member to suffer without the other members suffering with it. LETTER 99.

THE SPIRITUAL HIERARCHY 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-31

OVERVIEW: The body does not consist of members electing to join themselves together (SEVERIAN OF GABALA). No special gift is given to everyone. None is merited (AMBROSIASTER). They are diversely distributed to enable us to see our need of each other. The church in Corinth belongs to the worldwide community of resurrection faith (MAXIMUS OF TURIN, CHRYSOSTOM). The order by which Paul lists the gifts is deliberate, because the Corinthians put speaking in tongues at the top of the list (CHRYSOSTOM).

12:27 | The Body of Christ

BE AT PEACE WITH THE CHURCH EVERYWHERE. CHRYSOSTOM: The Corinthian church was not the whole body by itself but was part of a worldwide community of faith. Therefore the Corinthians ought to be at peace with the church in every other place, if it is a true member of the body. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 32.1.

NOT INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTARILY JOINED. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: We are not individual members who elect to join together to form a whole but rather organic members of a wider whole, which is the whole body. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

RISEN WITH HIM. MAXIMUS OF TURIN: In Christ’s resurrection, all his members have necessarily risen with him. For while he passes from the depths to the heights, he has made us pass from death to life. SERMON 54.

12:28 | Gifts Given by God

GOD HAS APPOINTED. AMBROSIASTER: Paul has placed the apostles at the head of the church. They may be identified with bishops, as Peter said of Judas: “Let another take his bishopric.” There are two types of prophets, those who predict the future and those who interpret the Scriptures. The apostles are also prophets, because the top rank has all the others subordinated to it. Even a wicked man like Caiaphas uttered prophecies on the strength of his rank, not for any virtue he might have possessed. Teachers are those who instructed boys in the synagogue, a practice which has come down to us as well. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

WHY TONGUES LISTED LAST. CHRYSOSTOM: The order goes from the higher to the lower, and quite deliberately, because the Corinthians were in the habit of putting speaking in tongues at the top of the list. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 32.2.

12:29 | Given the Same Gift?

ONLY ONE BISHOP. AMBROSIASTER: A church has only one bishop, and prophecy is not given to everybody. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

12:30 | Other Gifts

GIVEN TO MAXIMIZE HARMONY. CHRYSOSTOM: Even as God did not grant the greater gifts to everyone, so also did he give the lesser gifts to some and not to others. He did this in order to obtain the maximum of harmony and love, since each one would see his need of the others and therefore be brought closer to them. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 32.4.

12:31 | A More Excellent Way

NOT BY MERIT. AMBROSIASTER: The graces of the Lord which are seen in persons do not relate to the merit of the individual but to the honoring of God. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE GREATEST GIFT. CHRYSOSTOM: All along he wants to point them higher still and whets their appetite for the greatest gift of all. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 32.5.