1 Corinthians 12:27–31 (NKJV)
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
As members of Christ’s body, the baptized faithful “are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Being members of His body, all have the same spiritual blessings; the forgiveness of sins, the promised inheritance of everlasting life, and the Holy Spirit by whom they live new lives of love. Being members of Christ’s body, all that is Christ’s is ours equally with all other Christians.
But within the Church God has appointed these: “First apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” The first three are offices. The last five are gifts which God gave to individuals in the church at Corinth according to His will. God did not give every Christian these offices or gifts equally, just as in the human body there are different parts, each with their own specific duties to be done for the sake of the whole body. Many of the gifts ceased early in the church’s history as false prophets arose and showed signs and wonders to deceive as Jesus foretold in Matthew 24:24.
Some of the offices have ceased as well. There are no longer apostles and prophets as God gave the early church. But God still appoints gifts to members of His body by which they serve others in the body. He still appoints men to serve as pastors who teach the gospel and administer the sacraments. They are not apostles—apostles were witnesses of Christ’s ministry (Acts 1:22)—but they continue in the office of the apostles, forgiving and retaining sins since God “had given such power to men” (Matt. 9:8). Not all Christians are ministers. Not all have the same gifts. God has ordered the body this way so that we may serve one another in love and depend on one another as members of one body.
Let us pray: We give You thanks, O Lord, for incorporating us into your body so that we share in your life. Enable us to perform the tasks you give us to do today, according to the gifts and offices you give us. Amen.
