1st Corinthians 12:1-3
This is the opening verses of one of the great themes that Paul considers in his letters to the Corinthians, part of a whole that concludes in chapter fourteen.
Paul is dealing with the problem that beset the church in Corinth – who is holiest. The spiritual gifts given to all were looked upon not as gifts for the community but for personal advancement. There was, it appears, an emerging hierarchy of gifts with people competing for importance within the community.
One of the earliest credal statements of the church of the New Testament and beyond was, “Jesus is Lord”. A simple statement in our day, but then, one that could invite enquiry and persecution. There was only one lord in that period and he was Caesar, ruler of the then known world. Paul was suggesting that people could only confess Jesus is Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. That was the gift given to all by faith in Jesus and as a consequence no one could curse Jesus.
This is the opening verses of one of the great themes that Paul considers in his letters to the Corinthians, part of a whole that concludes in chapter fourteen.
Paul is dealing with the problem that beset the church in Corinth – who is holiest. The spiritual gifts given to all were looked upon not as gifts for the community but for personal advancement. There was, it appears, an emerging hierarchy of gifts with people competing for importance within the community.
One of the earliest credal statements of the church of the New Testament and beyond was, “Jesus is Lord”. A simple statement in our day, but then, one that could invite enquiry and persecution. There was only one lord in that period and he was Caesar, ruler of the then known world. Paul was suggesting that people could only confess Jesus is Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. That was the gift given to all by faith in Jesus and as a consequence no one could curse Jesus.