primary purpose with which 1 Corinthians 12 was written, we may learn from it

a lesson that will help us when reading Ephesians 4.  While the unity of the

Spirit is all important, the apostle was fully aware of the fact that a unity

is made up of units and that every one counts.  In Ephesians 4:7 therefore he

turns to the individual member of the One Body, and says in effect:

`Even though I have stressed the importance of the unity of the Spirit,

and of the One Body, I would have you remember that just as every

member of the human body has its own special function, so you, as

separate and individual members have your definite place, and that to

each one of you as separate units of a glorious whole, grace is given

according to the measure of the gift of Christ'.

It is an unspeakable comfort that He Who will one day assess our

stewardship is the One Who at the beginning arranged the measure of our gift.

As in the parable, He gives to every man `according to his several ability'

(Matt. 25:15).  He commended the servant who having received five talents

made them another five talents, He commended just as warmly the man who

having two talents made another two, and we are sure that had the servant who

had been entrusted with one talent made one more, the commendation of the

Lord would have been as hearty.

`Are all apostles? are all prophets?' (1 Cor. 12:29).

It is a foolish thing to do nothing because one is not called or

equipped to do everything.  No man since Paul has received a commission and a

qualification as he did, and no man is expected by the Lord to do Paul's

work.  The same Lord, however, whose grace was found `sufficient' for Paul's

deepest need, is the Lord that calls and equips each one of us.

The R.V. alters the phrase `Unto every one' and reads `Unto each one',

which is preferable.  While the two words `every' and `each' are

interchangeable in our language, they still, however, retain a distinctive

meaning, and the apostle's intention in verse 7 is not to speak of what is

the common possession of `every one', but rather what is the individual

possession of `each one', which though it comes to the same total, places the

stress on the unit rather than the unity.  There are some gifts that are

unique and are not to be looked for today.

`He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and

some, pastors and teachers' (Eph. 4:11).

The apostles' and prophets' work is done.  They were engaged in laying

the foundation upon which the superstructure of this dispensation was to rest

(Eph. 2:20).  The evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5) and the teacher (2 Tim. 2:2)

succeeded the apostle and prophet in the work of building.  These are

outstanding gifts and demand outstanding grace.  Where there was one apostle,

there would be thousands of ordinary believers.  These believers are in view

when Paul wrote verse 7 and these are in view when he wrote verse 16.

`The measure of the gift of Christ' (Eph. 4:7).

`The measure of every part' (Eph. 4:16).

Paul's apostolic gift was also according to the measure of the gift of

Christ, as he confesses: