Bible Study

St. Paul addresses his many letters to people and communities he has come across throughout his ministry. He writes to encourage them, to admonish them, and to ensure that they have what they need to be disciples of Jesus. In his first letter to the people of Corinth, St. Paul begins to speak to the division he has encountered among them and encourages them to seek unity and to delight in the different ways the Lord is working through each of them. In this study, we will explore this idea to better understand the body of Christ.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Who is St. Paul speaking to in this letter? Why would they be “unaware” of these truths?
Answer: St. Paul writes to the people of the city  of Corinth. A once pagan people. They worshiped many gods before they encountered the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of them may be new to the ideas of Christianity as a whole and these concepts would all be new to them.

What were the Corinthians “constantly attracted and led away” by?
Answer: Mute idols. Things or ideas that were placed before God or as gods in their past. These idols can influence every aspect of our lives and can often be divisive in nature.

What might this look like in the current day’s culture? How have you seen this manifest itself in your own life? How do these idols distract us and lead us away?
Answer: Reflect and discuss. Mute idols might look like money, status, work, relationships, possessions, or ideas. When we make something an idol, it takes priority over our relationship with God and often impacts our other relationships as well. We can become distracted and resentful and make it our entire identity, closing ourselves off to other ideas and perspectives. This can be seen in today in polarizing behavior. Our ideas and beliefs, or idols, become a sort of obsession, it influences our decision making, the company we keep, and may even cause division with people who do not agree with our polarized viewpoint.

How does St. Paul address the people with this in mind?
Answer: Reflect and discuss. Read verses 3-7. St. Paul reminds the people that while they may live out their faith in different ways, they profess the same God. He says it over and over in different ways, making sure that they understand it well.

What does it mean when St. Paul says, “there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone” and again when he states, “the one Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes?”
Answer: Reflect and discuss. While these people all follow one God, they have been given many diverse gifts and talents and ways in which the same Spirit works through each of them. In this verse, St. Paul explains that this is what God intended. That God is responsible for this diversity of gifts and spirituality. In verse 11, he also alludes to the fact that this distribution of gifts is intentional. The Lord does not simply sprinkle out grace, letting it fall on us by chance, but rather gives to each of us the gift meant specifically for us.

How does this explanation impact your own experience?
Answer: Reflect and discuss.

Take a moment to reflect on your own gifts, both spiritual and human. Write them down and make a prayer of thanksgiving for these gifts that were given to you intentionally.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.

In summary, what is St. Paul’s message in this passage to the Corinthians?
Answer: Reflect and discuss. We are so vastly different, but we are still unified and incredibly important to the body which is Christ.

Why do you think St. Paul chooses the image of the human body to communicate?
Answer: Reflect and discuss. It might have something to do with how incredibly intentional our bodies are created. Each part is so dynamic and different from the next, but without which our bodies would not function properly. Each human person was created with particular gifts and a particular purpose, but all baptized Christians have one universal call to holiness.

How does this passage impact the views you may have of your own gifts and the ways they “fit” in the Church?
Answer: Reflect and discuss.

Read verse 18. Why is it important to mention this again? What might St. Paul be trying to communicate here?
Answer: Reflect and discuss. Diversity is intentional. God created us to be unique and unrepeatable. It also means that the gifts you have were specifically meant for you. He designed it to be so.

What do you think would happen if all Christians were a collective of the same gifts and the same spirituality and the same purpose?
Answer: Reflect and discuss. Without the diverse functions of each person, the body of Christ would cease to function properly, and this strain would be felt by all.

What does this passage teach us about our brothers and sisters in Christ who are different from us? How might this passage change the ways we relate to Christians who have different gifts and spiritualities?
Answer: Reflect and discuss. They are necessary. Read verses 25-26.

The greatest tool the Evil One has to wield against us is the spirit of division. May we stay vigilant, especially in our polarized society, against this tactic and remain faithful to the Lord’s call to holiness, unity, and love for our neighbor. Let us make an effort to recognize and appreciate each other’s gifts, as well as the gifts entrusted to us. So that we may delight in the variety and unity intentionally created by the Lord. We are one body, though many parts. 

How can we better utilize our gifts to glorify God in our everyday lives?
Answer: Take the time to identify your gifts and to pray about what the Lord might be asking you to do with them. Reach out to your local church parish and volunteer your gifts to evangelize. Meet with your pastor or spiritual director to learn ways that you might be needed in the Church and in the community. Lastly, be not afraid! You were made for this!