This lesson text follows the lesson text of last Sunday's Sunday School lesson. The subject was "Equipped with God's gifts", today's subject is, "Used in God's service". The changing of the subject within the chapter is not a call to change our perspective as it must hold true through the chapter. Therefore, a careful reading of our lesson text is necessary so as that we will not miss the intent of the writer. Paul is addressing an ugly problem that had reared it head among the Corinthians and the newly formed churches at large. We must note that the problem within the assembly did not go away after being that addressed by Paul in such an eloquent manner. There was, and is a type of confusion that grew and continue to grow within the household of faith, often it is based upon the ability or lack of ability of members within the assembly.
In many assemblies, there are those who have set themselves up as "bosses" of the church. They have claimed authority in all aspects of the assembly without regard to the gifts or talents of others. "My way or the highway", has become the gold standard of how things are done in many organized community churches. A dichotomy emerges because a church organized outside of the community, will have a problem responding to the problems of the community. Today's lesson is stressing that a perfect body consist of many members functioning in harmony. Imagine the discord, the trauma, the brain tells the hand to pick up and object, the hand touches the object and respond, "it too hot!" the brain respond, "I am the brain I said pick it up."
In many assemblies, there are those who have set themselves up as "bosses" of the church. They have claimed authority in all aspects of the assembly without regard to the gifts or talents of others. "My way or the highway", has become the gold standard of how things are done in many organized community churches. A dichotomy emerges because a church organized outside of the community, will have a problem responding to the problems of the community. Today's lesson is stressing that a perfect body consist of many members functioning in harmony. Imagine the discord, the trauma, the brain tells the hand to pick up and object, the hand touches the object and respond, "it too hot!" the brain respond, "I am the brain I said pick it up."
When Jesus addressed the Church in Revelation chapter two and three he exhibited a type of concern about those who claimed to possess a type of leadership skill, and had been allowed to organize and rule over his church. As the chief Sheppard of the flock, it was his intent that all work together for the edification of all, as one body. The concept of, follow me as I follow Christ, or the edification of absent rulers, while the assembly suffers can be viewed as a product of religion indoctrination that is truly not scripturally supported.
1 Corinthians 12:12-16 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1 Corinthians 12:21-22 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
Imagine the brain trying to negotiate a path of egress out of a burning building without consulting the eye for sensor input. What if the feet revolted and refused to recognise the commands of the head. These analogies make for a pitiful existence. The oracles of God as spoken by Jesus, Paul and Peter is presented within the Holy Scripture. When these type of attributes exists within the household of faith, the assembly suffers from what Jesus defined as, a house divided against or within itself.
1 Peter 4:9-11 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
The key word in this verse is hospitality, without grudging. Greek, "without murmurs;" that is, without complaining of the hardship of doing it; of the time, and expense, and trouble required in doing it. The idea of grudging, in the common sense of that word--that is, of doing it unwillingly, or regretting the expense, and considering it as ill-bestowed, or as not producing an equivalent of any kind--is not exactly the idea here. It is that we are to do it without murmuring or complaining. It greatly enhances the value of hospitality, that it be done On our part with entire cheerfulness. One of the duties involved in it is to make a guest, member or friend happy, and this can be done in no other way than by showing him that he is welcome
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
As every man hath received the gift. The word rendered the gift, (carisma,) in the Greek, without the article, means endowment of any kind, but especially that conferred by the Holy Spirit. Here it seems to refer to every kind of endowment by which we can do good to others; especially every kind of qualification furnished by Christianity by which we can help others. It does not refer here particularly to the ministry of the word--though it is applicable to that and includes that--but to all the gifts and graces by which we can contribute to the welfare of others. All this is regarded as a gift, or charisma, of God. It is not owing to ourselves but is to be traced to The Christ.
Even so minister the same one to another, in anything by which you can benefit another. Regard what you have and they have not as a gift bestowed upon you by God for the common good, and be ready to impart it as the wants of others require. The word minister here refers to any kind of ministering, whether by counsel, by advice, by the supply of the wants of the poor, or by preaching. It has here no reference to any one of these exclusively; but means, that in whatever God has favoured us more than others, we should be ready to minister to their wants. See 2nd Timothy 1:18; 2nd Corinthians 3:3; 8:19-20.
As good stewards. Regarding yourselves as the mere stewards of God or shepherds; that is, as appointed by him to do this work for him, and entrusted by him with what is needful to benefit others. He intends to do them well, but he means to do it through your instrumentality and has entrusted to you as a steward what he designed to confer on them. This is the true idea, in respect to any special endowments of talent, property, or grace, which we may have received from God. 1st Corinthians 4:1.
Of the manifold grace of God. The grace or favor of God evinced in many ways, or by a variety of gifts. His favors are not confined to one single thing; as, for example, to talent for doing good by preaching; but are extended to many things by which we may do good to influence, property, reputation, wisdom, experience. All these are to be regarded as his gifts; all to be employed in doing good to others as we have the opportunity through the spirit of unity.
1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
If any man speak. As a preacher, referring here particularly to the office of the ministry. Let him speak as the oracles of God. As the oracles of God speak; to wit, in accordance with the truth which God has revealed, and with an impressive sense of the responsibility of delivering a message from him. The word rendered oracles, (logia) means, properly, something spoken or uttered; then anything uttered by God--a Divine communication--a revelation,
If any man minister. (diakonei). This may refer either, so far as the word is concerned, to the office of a deacon, or to any service which one renders to another. The word commonly refers to service in general; to attendance on another, or to aid rendered to another; to the distribution of alms, etc. It seems probable that the word here does not refer to the office of a deacon as such, because the peculiarity of that office was to take charge of the poor of the church, and of the funds provided for them, (Acts 6:2-3;) but the apostle here says that they to whom he referred should "minister as of the ability which God giveth," which seems to imply that it was rather to distribute what was their own, than what was committed to them by the church. The word may refer to any aid which we render to others in the church, as distributing alms, attending on the sick, etc.
As of the ability which God giveth. In regard to property, talent, strength, influence, etc. This is the limit of all obligation, No one is bound to go beyond his ability; everyone is required to come up to it.
That God in all things may be glorified. That he may be honored; to wit, by our doing all the good we can to others, and thus showing the power of his religion.
Through Jesus Christ. That is, as the medium through whom all those holy influences come by which God is honoured.
To whom. That is, to God; for he is the main subject of the sentence. The apostle says that in all things lie is to be glorified by us, and then adds in this doxology that he is worthy to be thus honored. Many, however, suppose that the reference here is to the Son of God. That it would be true of him, and appropriate.
The key word in this verse is hospitality, without grudging. Greek, "without murmurs;" that is, without complaining of the hardship of doing it; of the time, and expense, and trouble required in doing it. The idea of grudging, in the common sense of that word--that is, of doing it unwillingly, or regretting the expense, and considering it as ill-bestowed, or as not producing an equivalent of any kind--is not exactly the idea here. It is that we are to do it without murmuring or complaining. It greatly enhances the value of hospitality, that it be done On our part with entire cheerfulness. One of the duties involved in it is to make a guest, member or friend happy, and this can be done in no other way than by showing him that he is welcome
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
As every man hath received the gift. The word rendered the gift, (carisma,) in the Greek, without the article, means endowment of any kind, but especially that conferred by the Holy Spirit. Here it seems to refer to every kind of endowment by which we can do good to others; especially every kind of qualification furnished by Christianity by which we can help others. It does not refer here particularly to the ministry of the word--though it is applicable to that and includes that--but to all the gifts and graces by which we can contribute to the welfare of others. All this is regarded as a gift, or charisma, of God. It is not owing to ourselves but is to be traced to The Christ.
Even so minister the same one to another, in anything by which you can benefit another. Regard what you have and they have not as a gift bestowed upon you by God for the common good, and be ready to impart it as the wants of others require. The word minister here refers to any kind of ministering, whether by counsel, by advice, by the supply of the wants of the poor, or by preaching. It has here no reference to any one of these exclusively; but means, that in whatever God has favoured us more than others, we should be ready to minister to their wants. See 2nd Timothy 1:18; 2nd Corinthians 3:3; 8:19-20.
As good stewards. Regarding yourselves as the mere stewards of God or shepherds; that is, as appointed by him to do this work for him, and entrusted by him with what is needful to benefit others. He intends to do them well, but he means to do it through your instrumentality and has entrusted to you as a steward what he designed to confer on them. This is the true idea, in respect to any special endowments of talent, property, or grace, which we may have received from God. 1st Corinthians 4:1.
Of the manifold grace of God. The grace or favor of God evinced in many ways, or by a variety of gifts. His favors are not confined to one single thing; as, for example, to talent for doing good by preaching; but are extended to many things by which we may do good to influence, property, reputation, wisdom, experience. All these are to be regarded as his gifts; all to be employed in doing good to others as we have the opportunity through the spirit of unity.
1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
If any man speak. As a preacher, referring here particularly to the office of the ministry. Let him speak as the oracles of God. As the oracles of God speak; to wit, in accordance with the truth which God has revealed, and with an impressive sense of the responsibility of delivering a message from him. The word rendered oracles, (logia) means, properly, something spoken or uttered; then anything uttered by God--a Divine communication--a revelation,
If any man minister. (diakonei). This may refer either, so far as the word is concerned, to the office of a deacon, or to any service which one renders to another. The word commonly refers to service in general; to attendance on another, or to aid rendered to another; to the distribution of alms, etc. It seems probable that the word here does not refer to the office of a deacon as such, because the peculiarity of that office was to take charge of the poor of the church, and of the funds provided for them, (Acts 6:2-3;) but the apostle here says that they to whom he referred should "minister as of the ability which God giveth," which seems to imply that it was rather to distribute what was their own, than what was committed to them by the church. The word may refer to any aid which we render to others in the church, as distributing alms, attending on the sick, etc.
As of the ability which God giveth. In regard to property, talent, strength, influence, etc. This is the limit of all obligation, No one is bound to go beyond his ability; everyone is required to come up to it.
That God in all things may be glorified. That he may be honored; to wit, by our doing all the good we can to others, and thus showing the power of his religion.
Through Jesus Christ. That is, as the medium through whom all those holy influences come by which God is honoured.
To whom. That is, to God; for he is the main subject of the sentence. The apostle says that in all things lie is to be glorified by us, and then adds in this doxology that he is worthy to be thus honored. Many, however, suppose that the reference here is to the Son of God. That it would be true of him, and appropriate.
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