Paul in Corinth, and his teaching on unity.
“Unity and Diversity in the Body”
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of 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? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a)
Paul, in his correspondence with the churches he has formed, tells us much about the building and behaviour of Christian communities.
First it is helpful to remind ourselves of life on Corinth. Paul first went there on his 2nd missionary journey (AD 49-52) – within’ 20 years of the resurrection of Jesus. Luke’s account in Acts is exciting - Luke was with him. And Luke describes in Acts 16 how Paul was called over to Macedonia, and so bought the Gospel to Europe. After Athens he went to Corinth. He stayed with Aquilla and Priscilla – both tent-makers like Paul. They were Jews who had come for Rome to escape the persecution of Claudius in Rome. Paul had started talking to the Jewish community but when they grumbled, he left the synagogue and went to the Gentiles. He spent over a year with them.
Certain features in Corinth would mould the church there. Corinth was a major trading city with two ports, linked by a causeway, and trading between Italy and the West and Eastern cities. There was a strong Greek culture. Many religions were represented, including a temple to Aphrodite. Sexual immorality was common.
Paul’s letters were written in response to problems that had been reported to him. These included immaturity in faith; divisions; poor behaviour, jealousy, envy and law-suits; sexual immorality; and the miss-use of spiritual gifts. Paul responds in a variety of ways – emphasising the one foundation of Jesus (1 Cor 3), advising on lawsuits, immorality and marriage, guiding on propriety in worship and the conduct of the Lord’s supper. We can learn by using our imagination to see how this guidance then applies to today’s church, and in our culture. Some verses are clearly meant to be understood in context.
However now, starting in Chapter 12 we have a new section. Paul will talk on unity, love and the fact of the resurrection – solid gold foundations.
Paul has already stated that there are various gifts, but the same Spirit (1 Cor 12: 4). In this passage he develops this. How do the different people, all empowered by the same Spirit, relate to each other? This question puts our interpersonal relationships into sharp focus. How do we relate to each other? In answering this we will reflect on our persona (how we like to project ourselves), our ego, our sense of importance or superiority, our judgementalism and our inclusion of others.
So let us look at some general principles in what Paul is saying and then apply them to one group relevant, just now, to the life of the abbey
First, we are baptised into one body… and that body is the body of Christ
Second, that body has many members – all different. And these members are both inter-related and interdependent.
Third, there is a reverse hierarchy – “the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour, and the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty
Finally, there should be no divisions. And if one suffers, we all suffer. If one rejoices, we all rejoice
Paul describes some of the roles, starting logically with the apostles – those who were with Jesus and saw the resurrection. Then there are prophets – discerning the direction of God. Imagine the central importance of teachers – there were no gospel books them – (Mark the earliest was written in around AD60). So, the truth was handed down word of mouth. Accuracy was vital. And then after those enabling miracles and healing, there is mention of administrators and helpers - those members behind the scenes that keep the show on the road. Crucial!
So, three concluding points. First we all have a role. We are all part of the one body and are interdependent. Let us look out for each other – Sue and Lyn, sitting in the office and reception in the Abbey’s Kingston buildings - for example – they see the steady stream of staff and volunteers going upstairs to offices, meetings and rest rooms – why not turn left as you arrive and say hello.
Second and this body is the body of Christ. Jesus is no longer in the world – he is in heaven. So if he wants a task done, a child taught, a sick person cured or his story told, he had to find someone to do it. As the saying goes:
He has no hands but our hands
To do his work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in his way;
He has no voice but our voice
To tell man how he died;
He has no help but our help
To lead them to his side.
(Barclay Commentary – the letters to the Corinthians)
Third, we are called to pause and look at ourselves: look at our persona’s our egos, our judgmentalism, our sense of importance, our inclusion… the marginalised are also part of the body of Christ. And when we look, we find that Jesus is already there.
In our abbey Community, Guy’s excellent letter explaining the PCC’s recent decision to accept and use the Prayers of love and faith to support the LGBTQI+ community is welcome and timely. It is 2 years since the Synod issued its apology and proposed prayers of blessing for same sex couples. The LGBTQI community is also part of the body of Christ
So we all have a role, we are all part of the body, and we welcome each other
AMEN
JNR 30-1-25.
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