Problem: Paul argues that the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you” (1 Cor. 12:21). Earlier, he argues that “the body is not one member, but many” (1 Cor. 12:14). However, in this passage, Paul places the gifts in some sort of prioritized order (e.g. first, second, third, etc.). Are the spiritual gifts equal or not?
Solution: While all members in the Body of Christ are equal, not all gifts are equal.[1] Specifically, Paul devalues the importance of speaking in tongues: “Greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues” (1 Cor. 14:5). In fact, he writes, “Earnestly desire the greater gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31; c.f. 1 Cor. 14:1). If all gifts are equal, then Paul never would have written this. Of course, since these are all gifts from God, we do not merit them. Therefore, we should be content with whatever spiritual gifts we have been given.
In this section, Paul seems to be focusing on the chronological priority of the gifts. That is, we first need apostles to start the church, then we need prophets and teachers to explain the Bible to the people, and then we need the rest of the gifts to make the church thrive. Notice that only the first three gifts are numbers, while the rest are successive with the word “then” separating them. Blomberg,[2] Fee,[3] and Johnson[4] hold to this view.
[1] Mare writes, “As placed first, [these] are to be considered of greatest importance.” Mare, W. H. (1976). 1 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 266). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
[2] Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians: The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 215.
[3] Fee, G. D. (1987). The First Epistle to the Corinthians (p. 620). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
[4] Johnson, A. F. (2004). 1 Corinthians (Vol. 7, p. 236). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Cor 12:28)”
