{"id":2334,"date":"2017-10-11T10:54:42","date_gmt":"2017-10-11T09:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/?p=2334"},"modified":"2020-05-29T13:17:06","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T12:17:06","slug":"1-corinthians-1228-structure-local-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/1-corinthians-1228-structure-local-church\/","title":{"rendered":"1 Corinthians 12:28 – Structure of the local church"},"content":{"rendered":"

This study is a supplement to the study: Spiritual life in the church<\/span><\/a>.
\nIn 1 Corinthians 12:28 the apostle Paul gives a rough sketch for the structure of the local church.<\/p>\n

This study is intended to draw attention to the fact that, in that chapter, Paul sketches the principle framework for the structure of the local church and attempts, in doing so, to describe a number of elements.<\/p>\n

Each church will have to develop these further for their own situation, possibly together with people who have experience with structures and leadership.<\/p>\n

Why the local church?<\/span><\/h3>\n

De Corinthians had asked Paul a number of questions, which he answered, as appears from the remark:<\/p>\n

Now for the matters you wrote about: \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (1 Corinthians 7:1)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The two letters Paul writes to this church are addressed specifically to them and are not general letters of instruction, like the letter to the Hebrews, for example.
\nThe teaching Paul gives to the Corinthians is nevertheless useful for every church.<\/p>\n

The text:<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Bible text is reproduced here with a more literal translation.<\/p>\n

And God<\/strong> has laid <\/strong>in the church
\n– first of all apostles,
\n– second prophets,
\n– third teachers,
\n– then<\/strong> miracles,
\n– then<\/strong> gifts of healing\/presents out of kindness of healing
\n– helping,
\n– management,
\n– different kinds of tongues.\u00a0\u00a0 (1 Corinthians 12:28)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Furthermore, God has indeed appointed a place in the church to:<\/span><\/h3>\n

After Paul has pointed out 3 ways in which the Holy Spirit is at work in de church – in verses 4-6 of chapter 12 – (see the study: Spiritual life in the church), he explains in verses 7-11 how the Holy Spirit is at work<\/span><\/a> in each disciple.
\nAfter that he delves deeper into life in the church, whereby he emphasises the unity of the body of Jesus Christ:<\/p>\n

Just as a body, though one<\/strong>, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 (1 Corinthians 12:12)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is also the work of the Holy Spirit:<\/p>\n

For we were all baptised (immersed) by (eis: into<\/strong>) one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.\u00a0\u00a0 (1 Corinthians 12:13)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Through the Holy Spirit the members of the body of Jesus are forged together into one body.
\nIt is expected that every member of this body, every disciple who has given Jesus Christ authority in his\/her life, will be active at the place to which God has appointed him\/her, as Paul writes:<\/p>\n

But in fact God<\/strong> has placed the parts in the body, every one of them<\/strong>, just as he wanted them to be.\u00a0\u00a0 (1 Corinthians 12:18)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Remark that it is God, who joins Himself to the local church and ensures that His Son, Jesus Christ, is given his full rightful place there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In view of Jesus\u2019 admonition, both to the individual members and to the church as a whole:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2026 teaching and structure are needed, in order to avoid chaos arising in the church, which is society in miniature, and so that everyone will turn their life towards Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Each person is unique and the different members of the body need each other, so that the body is able to function as a whole.
\nEveryone will have to take his place in the church, therefore.<\/p>\n

Moreover, God appoints<\/strong> a number of people to a specific task<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A detailed explanation of the text of this verse is given in the study: 1 Corinthians 12:28 – God has placed in the church<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The people to whom God designates a place will be working in the church in a servant function, as Jesus said:<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you are not to be called \u2018Rabbi,\u2019 for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers<\/strong>.
\nAnd do not call anyone on earth \u2018father\u2019, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
\nThe greatest among you will be your servant.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 (Matthew 23:8-11)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Or as Paul writes, that God has assembled the body of His Son Jesus Christ in such a manner:<\/p>\n

\u2026 so that there should be no division<\/strong> in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
\n<\/strong>(1 Corinthians 12:25)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The greatest in the body of Jesus Christ is the servant, as Jesus said.<\/p>\n

… whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant<\/strong>, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man<\/strong> did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life (his soul) as a ransom for many.\u00a0\u00a0 (Matthew 20:26-28)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The commission is:<\/strong><\/span>
\nTo care for one another, so that no division arises in the body.
\nWhen someone has authority<\/strong> in the church, that authority is granted<\/strong> him\/her by the church members, on the basis of a life lived in the Light, in submission to Jesus Christ and His Word.<\/p>\n

Basic structure of the church:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Paul appears to divide the structure of the local church into three parts:<\/p>\n