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Berean Expositor Volume 1
The gifts of the Spirit
The origin, object, use, and cessation of the gifts of the Spirit (I Cor. 12:-14:).
"Concerning spiritual gifts, I would not have you ignorant" (I Cor. 12: 1).
pp. 19-21
We sought to show in the article "The Abrahamic Covenant" that the dispensational
dealings of God, from Pentecost to the final setting aside of Israel in Acts 28:, was
Abrahamic in character, and anticipatory of the kingdom. We now desire to direct
attention to one element which is particularly marked in this period, viz., that of the gifts
of the Spirit.
Some teach that these gifts were granted at the commencement of the church, in order
to give it a good start off, and that they ceased when the church had obtained a standing.
Others teach that the gifts should have continued, but that they were taken away from the
church in chastisement. There are many other opinions, but we do not desire to advertise
them; "I hate thoughts, but Thy law do I love," said the Psalmist, and we would echo
these words.
Let us open at I Cor. 12: Here is a chapter giving instruction to an assembly of saints,
of which each one may expect Satan to be busy. Verse 3 sounds a warning note. To
understand it we must also read I John 4: 1-3. Many unsaved ones will say, "Lord,
Lord," but that is not the thought here. The apostle gives a divine test which must be
applied to anyone speaking under the influence of a "gift." Satan's travesty could go
very far, but there was a point at which his servants stayed--they would never confess
that Jesus Christ was Lord, and this would immediately expose the blasphemous
counterfeit. Continuing, the chapter gives a description of these "gifts" and
"manifestations" of the Spirit; the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith,
healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, kinds of tongues, the
interpretation of tongues.
To prevent either pride, despising, or envying, the apostle likens this gifted assembly
to a body. The use of the word body is ecclesiastical and practical, not dispensational;
the dispensation was Abrahamic, that of the one body not having been revealed by Paul.
In I Cor. 12: there are mentioned eyes, nose, ears, &100:, showing that the body, including
the head, was contemplated as being on earth, whereas in Ephesians and Colossians the
Head is in heaven, and the members, though down here, are viewed as being in the
heavenlies also. I Cor. 12: 27 (A.V.) wrongly reads, "Ye are the body." The original
omits the word "the." The words "in particular" (ek merous) are translated in I
Cor. 13: 9, 10 by the words "in part," and are contrasted with "that which is perfect."
They have the same meaning in I Cor.12: 27.
The meaning of the passage is this.
Although I have used the illustration of the body in connection with the use of these
wondrous gifts, you are not yet "the body," for that which is perfect has not yet come;
you are of the nature, essence, or character of the body; that is why I say, "Ye are body of