Reading for October 8th

 Read 1 Corinthians 12.12-31. In verses 12-26: One body and many members. In verse 13: Through baptism, people from many back-grounds and social levels become members of Christ's one body (Gal 3.26-28). In verses 14-26: V. 14 states the basic theme of this section. In verses 17-19 The absurdity of the image makes his point. In verse 20: The main point is repeated (v. 12). In verses 22-25: The weaker, less honorable, less respectable, inferior members are the sexual organs, all indispensable and requiring honor and respect. They are compared with the mores respectable members, the parts not covered by clothing. In verse 24: God has so arranged: Paul renders the Genesis creation story in greater detail. In verse 26: The body suffers and rejoices as a single organism (Rom 12.15). In verses 27-31: The church as the body of Christ. In verse 27: This states v. 13 more fully. Their identity as the body of Christ does not appear to be self-evident to the Corinthians. In verse 28: The universal church is in view here (Eph 1.22-23). The first three groups are probably listed in ranked order (Eph 4.11-13). Apostles, literally "those sent," may refer to missionaries rather than the twelve apostles (15.5, 7). The roles and activities doubtless overlapped. In verses 29-30: These rhetorical questions expand on v. 12. Comments or Questions..