RSV ~ 1 Corinthians 12 Notes

1 Cor 12:1-14 | ISB Notes

Paul explains the purpose of spiritual gifts (chap. 12) and theological virtues (chap. 13) in order to regulate charismatic worship (chap. 14). Apparently some in Corinth prized more spectacular gifts like “tongues” to the neglect of other gifts and even liturgical order. To correct their thinking, Paul arranges a hierarchy of spiritual gifts, placing love at the top (13:13), ecclesial ministries in the middle (12:28), and tongues at the bottom (12:28).

1 Cor 12:1 | ISB Notes

Now concerning: Paul responds to a question that was put to him in an earlier letter from the Corinthians. See note on 1 Cor 7:1.

1 Cor 12:2 | ISB Notes

led astray to mute idols: Many Corinthians were I formerly pagans and idolaters (8:7). • Paul’s perspective on idols is that of the OT—they are lifeless and therefore speechless (Ps 135:15-18; Hab 2:18-19; CCC 2112).

1 Cor 12:3 | ISB Notes

Jesus be cursed! The origin of this alarming declaration is uncertain. Among various possibilities, it may be (1) an ecstatic utterance spoken by false charismatics, (2) a heretical slogan used by some to drive a wedge between the historical Jesus and the risen Christ of faith, or (3) the slanderous words of Jewish opponents who attacked the gospel. Jesus is Lord: A distinctly Christian confession (Rom 10:9; Phil 2:11). The Spirit empowers us to say it with conviction and live it out through conversion (CCC 449, 683). The title “Lord” (Gk. Kyrios) resonates against the background of Jewish and Gentile traditions: (1) it is used repeatedly in the Greek OT to translate the divine name “Yahweh”; (2) it was used in the Greco-Roman world to address rulers and emperors.

1 Cor 12:4-6 | ISB Notes

The charismatic gifts flow from the Holy Spirit, Christ the Lord, and God the Father. The unity and diversity within the Trinity is the divine model of the unity and diversity of gifts shared by believers (Eph 4:4-7).

1 Cor 12:4 | ISB Notes

gifts: Translates the Greek charismata, which is theologically and linguistically related to the term “grace” (Gk. charis). Charismatic gifts are thus graces given to build up the Church (CCC 799-801, 951). The inventory in 1 Cor 12:8-10 lists extraordinary charisms of instruction and healing. The list in Rom 12:6-8 also includes more ordinary gifts, such as generosity and works of mercy.

1 Cor 12:7 | ISB Notes

the common good: Charisms are given as personal gifts but not merely for private benefit (12:11). They unite us with the Spirit’s mission to build up all members of the Church and bring them to salvation (1 Pet 4:10-11). • Catholic teaching distinguishes between sanctifying grace, which imparts the gift of divine sonship, and charismatic or ministerial grace, which equips the saints for service to others (CCC 2003).

1 Cor 12:9 | ISB Notes

faith: Not the gift of saving faith possessed by all Christians (Eph 2:8), but an extraordinary trust in God that encourages others who witness it (1 Cor 13:2; Mk 11:23).

1 Cor 12:10 | ISB Notes

tongues: May be the earthly languages of men (Acts 2:1-6) or the heavenly speech of angels (1 Cor 13:1). The gift of interpretation is the complement of the gift of tongues, enabling unintelligible utterances to be understood by the assembled community (14:9-19).

1 Cor 12:13 | ISB Notes

by one Spirit: That is, by the divine action of the Spirit working in Baptism.

one body: This is not simply a metaphor for the Church, with the focus on her organizational unity, but it expresses the metaphysical reality that every believer is truly united with Christ by the Sacraments (10:17; CCC 790). The Spirit is the soul of this mystical body, giving life, growth, and direction to each of its members (CCC 797).

Jews or Greeks: Union with Christ makes ethnic and social distinctions irrelevant in the eyes of God (Gal 3:28; CCC 1267).

to drink of one Spirit: Baptism renews (Tit 3:5) and refreshes us through the Spirit (Jn 7:37-39), as does the spiritual drink of the Eucharist (1 Cor 10:4).

1 Cor 12:14-26 | ISB Notes

Everyone serves a vital and indispensable function in the Body of Christ. As the constituent parts of a body perform different functions and yet work together in harmony, so every member of Christ’s Body is assigned an important task for the good of the whole (CCC 791). Some Corinthians apparently disputed the validity of certain gifts—a presumptuous attitude that called into question God’s wise arrangement of the body (1 Cor 12:18) and his free distribution of charisms (12:11).

• Allegorically: the eyes of the body serve knowledge and signify the contemplative life of the Church, whereas the hands serve movement and signify the active life of the Church. So, too, the head of the body is the clergy in authority over the Church, while the feet are the laity who follow the lead of their head (St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12, 3).

1 Cor 12:21 | ISB Notes

the head: Paul visualizes the body as the collective person of Christ, with his members compared to anatomical features of the body from top (ears and eyes, 12:16) to bottom (feet, 12:15, 21). The picture changes somewhat in later Pauline letters, where the “head” represents Christ as distinct from his “body”, the Church (Eph 5:23; Col 1:18; 2:19). Paul may have developed the illustration over the years, or perhaps he was using the imagery in different ways in different letters. For a summary discussion, see word study: Head at Eph 5.

1 Cor 12:26 | ISB Notes

suffer together . . . rejoice together: Unity among believers rules out indifference toward others and encourages mutual support and compassion among them (Sir 7:34; Rom 12:15).

1 Cor 12:28 | ISB Notes

first apostles: Apostleship is given pride of place among the ministerial gifts. This is because the apostles saw Christ risen from the dead (15:5) and were directly charged by him with spreading the gospel (Mt 28:18-20; Acts 9:1-16). Their mission to lay the initial foundations of the Church in the world is essentially unrepeatable (Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14; CCC 858-60). Their work of teaching and sanctifying the world, however, is carried on by their successors, the bishops. See note on 1 Tim 3:1.

1 Cor 12:31 | ISB Notes

desire the higher gifts: Paul prepares readers for the following exposition of God’s greatest gifts: the virtues of faith, hope, and love (13:1-13).