What does this verse mean?

Comment by Bill Benninghoff on September 19, 2008 at 11:21pm

Thanks Cynthia, Joe and Michelle for your comments. They were very helpful to me.

Comment by Dana Cashwell on October 7, 2008 at 12:29pm

Although, I agree with Joe and Michelle, I think the numbering is less theological than that. We know that Paul may have been going blind simply by the sheer size of his writing in certain letters and that some of his letters were probably dictated. With that said, I think it was just the order he dictated them.

Comment by Bill Benninghoff on October 7, 2008 at 12:58pm

Interesting Dana...That is certainly possible. Thanks for your comment.

Comment by Rich Burley on October 13, 2008 at 2:47pm

Hey Bill, how are you brother?????

Comment by Stephen (steve) Cornell on October 13, 2008 at 7:28pm

I think Frank Viola made have a sense of the way in this passage, because he intimates that just as a body has health and immunities and gets built up with vitamins etc., so too the manifestations of the Spirit will be different due to the health or lack thereof in the body of Christ (that's you and me, folks!) The healthy church will exhibit lively functions and manifest the life of Christ in different ways as each part does its own part. The foot walks, the eye sees. Each gifting, enabling, empowering, is accomplished using us as a part of the whole. If we become or are dysfunctional in some way, the manifestation of the life of Christ may cease! Why did the gifting become nonexistent, seemingly, for a few centuries of bureacratic, middle ages, church?
Because the folks in it were not healthy or even alive in the Spirit!

So, I believe, the health of the body is related to the immunity or gifting of the Spirit. The "body" that is sick, doesn't exude life in the Spirit. It's a parable folks! Something the Lord threw down beside something else He is trying to teach us about. "This is like that". We are parts of something living, whole, which can become sick and diseased. The answer is not about which dispensation it is but rather is there health, i.e, the Life of Christ, His Spirit, empowering that part.

Comment by Bill Benninghoff on October 13, 2008 at 9:37pm

Great comment Stephen! Thanks for sharing your insights.

Comment by Matthew Lanty on November 17, 2008 at 10:02pm

I was thinking about this. I think that the numbering system is somewhat of an order of authority in a loose kind of way. The ICs usually do not adhere to this way. They make the pastor a king and are subject to him. Amazing what they can do with one verse of scripture. Most people with the pastor's gift are usually not very discerning people. They rely heavily upon traditions with little regard to looking at their practices to see whether or not they actually work. Healthy churches will have all of these gifts activated and present. Apostles and prophets are not usually welcome in most churches. Many pastors are not very interested in what teachers have to say either. I know that the authority of these positions is not to be sought after and taken by force. These positions should be held in humility and in submission to the Lord with no desire to make a name for yourself.

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