1 Corinthians: Spiritual Gifts and the Division of the Church

The church in Corinth was a vibrant community, but it was also a troubled church, mostly because of the idolatrous surroundings, but also because of internal turmoil.

One of the problems Corinth had was division.

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ" (1 Cor 1:10-12, NIV).

Paul asks, is Christ divided? A body cannot be divided into many parts; it is one. Because we are in Christ, we are one body in him. Why try to divide that which cannot be divided? Secondly Paul asks if he had been crucified for them, and the answer is of course, no. But the question is, if Paul had not been crucified for them, why did they say they were following him! Thirdly he asks if they had been baptized in his name, and the answer is once again, no; baptism represents the death and resurrection of Jesus:

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Rom 6:4, NIV).

Because it was clear that the Corinthians had no good reason for their division, Paul reminded them that those who boast should boast in the Lord (1 Cor 1:21), for all things (including Paul, Apollos, and Peter) belonged to them, and they were of Christ, and Christ is of God (3:21-22).

One of the reasons for the division was their immaturity:

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? (1 Cor 3:1-4, NIV).

The root of their problem was envy and strife; they all wanted to be better and greater then others, and the means for this was greatness was siding with one leader against the others. As in the letter to the Philippians (Phil 2:1-5), Paul offers humility as the remedy for the division. He asks the Corinthians what makes them different from each other, and what they have that they haven't received from God? Since it is God who assigns tasks to each of us, everyone will be rewarded according to their own labor, not the labor of others (1 Cor 3:1-7).

This last thought leads us to the other problem that was causing division in the Corinthian church: spiritual gifts. The Corinthian Christians thought the spiritual gifts was given for their own profit, instead of the profit of all. Paul corrected this misconception.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Cor 12:4-7, NIV).

Every part of the body must work together for the body to grow. The spiritual gifts are the means by which the body works together to build itself up.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:11-13, NIV).

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts (1 Cor 12:27-31, NIV).

Knowledge is important, for without knowledge we fall into error. But knowledge alone is not enough; we need love.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Eph 4:14-16, NIV).

Paul nestles the description of love in between the chapters in which he discusses the exercise of the spiritual gifts, and he has a good reason for doing so: spiritual gifts are worthless unless they are exercised with love.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3, NIV).

Paul encouraged them to desire spiritual gifts, but he asked them also to follow the way of love (1 Cor 14:1). He asked them to submit to each other, give each other space, and allow everyone to use their gifts for the profit of all.

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two-or at the most three-should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God (1 Cor 14:26-28, NIV).

There is a great lesson to be learned from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Just as in Corinth, Christians today consider spiritual gifts as means to gain something for themselves. Instead of seeing overseeing and teaching as profitable for the whole church, they are seen as giving power and authority to the ones exercising the gifts. And not only do we see the gifts as something that give individuals power, we side with one leader against the others, and refuse to submit to others when they exercise their gifts. This is seen especially when it comes to the gift of teaching: brothers refuse to submit to their sisters when they exercise their spiritual gifts of pastoring, overseeing, and teaching. By doing so they refuse also to follow the way of love, for love is not self-seeking, nor is it proud. As a result of this refusal, the church has become divided, and the members of the body aren't united in mind and thought. Paul asked the Christians in Corinth, is Christ divided? We should ask ourselves the same question.