1 Corinthians 12:27-13:7.
In his discussion of the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, St. Paul uses the expression χαρισμάτων (charismaton).The root of this word is χάρισ (charis), grace. That means, as gifts, they are technically the property of the benefactor and are expected to be used by the recipient in accordance with the will of the benefactor. It is the spirit, that is God, who gives the gifts. And his will is summarized basically in the command to love. That is why Paul’s discussion of the different types of gifts is interrupted by a lengthy aside on love (Chapter 13 in its entirety). Love is the glue that binds together all of the gifts. The value of any of these spiritual gifts is not in the gifts per se, but in that they work for the συμφέρον (sympheron), the common good.
Notes:
Matthew 19:1-8
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
Original intro and outro music composed and performed by Raphael Shaheen.
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A Light to the Nations is a bi-weekly podcast examining all parts of the biblical story from a functional perspective. Instead of asking what words means, we consider instead their function, i. e., how they are used in other parts of the Bible. In each episode will discuss the functionality of words and how that allows us hear the teaching.