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1 Corinthians 12:1-11
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • II.XXVIII.7, IV.XX.6, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180) 
  • I.6, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • V.6, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter XIV, The Prescription of Heretics, Tertullian (c. 200)
  • Chapter IX, On the Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • V.8, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • I.III.2, 7, 8, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • II.6, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • III.XLVI, VI.XIII, Against Celsus, Origen (c. 246)
  • XIV.6, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Now he enters into the third part of this treatise touching the right use of spiritual gifts, in which he gives the Corinthians plainly to understand that they abused them. For they that excelled bragged ambitiously of them, and so robbed God of the praise of his gifts: and having no consideration of their brethren, abused them to a vain display, and so robbed the church of the use of those gifts."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "The greater the gifts are, the more the possessor is exposed to temptations, and the larger is the measure of grace needed to keep him humble and spiritual; and he will meet with more painful experiences and humbling dispensations. We have little cause to glory in any gifts bestowed on us, or to despise those who have them not."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "The gift of healing need not be wholly confined to the healing diseases with a word or a touch. It may exert itself also, though in a lower degree, where natural remedies are applied; and it may often be this, not superior skill, which makes some physicians more successful than others. And thus it may be with regard to other gifts likewise. As, after the golden shields were lost, the king of Judah put brazen in their place, so, after the pure gifts were lost, the power of God exerts itself in a more covert manner, under human studies and helps; and that the more plentifully, according as there is the more room given for it."
  • On Schism (1 Cor 12:5). Sermon by John Wesley.
    • "But the ill consequences of even this species of schism do not terminate in the heart. Evil tempers cannot long remain within, before they are productive of outward fruit. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "By the love which pervades the whole, the gifts of the several members, forming reciprocal complements to each other, tend to the one object of perfecting the body of Christ. The ordinary and permanent gifts are comprehended together with the extraordinary, without distinction specified, as both alike flow from the divine indwelling Spirit of life. The extraordinary gifts, so far from making professors more peculiarly saints than in our day, did not always even prove that such persons were in a safe state at all."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "The inward workings of the Spirit are not always the same, but it is God, one God, the same God, who causes them all. The object of this section is to show that one divine source accounts for spiritual gifts diverse in their manifestations."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, James Boyce, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2013.
    • "We are reminded that in the end the gifts, the ministry, and the empowering of the community for service all belong to God."
  • "A World Emerging," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer, 2013.
    • "Through all the ebb and flow of history, the church has been and will continue to be 'emerging.' It cannot help but continue to emerge because it is a part of God’s new world that has been 'emerging' And it will continue to be 'emerging' until the day when God’s glory—God’s love, God’s freedom, God’s joy, God’s very life—fills the whole earth."
  • "Supernatural Vending Machine," Roy M. Terry IV, The Hardest Question, 2013.
    • "Are Christians any more gifted than others?"
  • "Being a Supernaturally Gifted Servant of God," Richard Mario Procida, Modern Lectionaries, 2013.
  • Narrative Lectionary: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Pentecost, 2012, Working Preacher.
  • Commentary, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Karoline Lewis, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
    • "In the midst of divisions, especially denominationally in my own church (ELCA), how do we talk about Christian unity?"
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year C Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Epiphany 2, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Paul is suggesting that focus on spiritual gifts can amount to nothing more than being carried away and can achieve exactly the opposite of what Jesus stands for (in effect, cursing him, rather than acclaiming him)."
  • Commentary, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Janet Floyd, Esq., The African American Lectionary, 2010.
    • "This text provides a powerful opportunity to share the profound impact racism has had on the idea of diversity amidst unity, labeling it as something deviant or unachievable. Such thinking has undermined America?s ability to become the global salad bowl (not melting pot) it alleges to be."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Beginning at the End," Confessing Jesus as Lord: Selected Epistles (Epiphany to Palm Sunday), David Fredrickson, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1998.
  • "Making Difficult Decisions," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Cloning," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2005.
  • "Showing the Body: Reflections on 1 Corinthians 12 - 13 for Epiphany," Dennis Ormseth, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1986.
  • "The Gifts of the Spirit," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources.
    • "In what ways do we limit the development and exercise of spiritual abilities within our congregation?"
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "Gifts are activated by a common good (a holy spirit moment) that senses a turning tide and shifts gears to a next gift, already present, even as we momentarily shift away from a previous gift."
  • "Communicating 'Church," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
    • "What are your gifts? How have you used your gifts within your community?"
  • Environmental & earth-centered reflections from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Commission.
    • "Truly spiritual gifts, genuinely charismatic persons all are "activated" by the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God. "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." Personal faith is never private, for it exists only in a public body "for the common good.""
  • "The Dilbertization of Work Al Hsu, (other resources at) "Vocation," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2004.
    • "Some of us are deeply unsatisfied with our work, but we hang on - we need the paycheck. How should we think about work when we are unhappy with our jobs?"
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Berding, Kenneth, "Confusing Word and Concept in 'Spiritual Gifts': Have We Forgotten James Barr's Exhortations?" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Charles, Gary W., "Expository Article: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13," Interpretation, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Craddock, Fred B., "From Exegesis to Sermon: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6," Review and Expositor, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Dorman, David A., "The Purpose of Empowerment in the Christian Life," Pneuma, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Easley, Kendell H., "The Pauline Usage of Pneumati as a Reference to the Spirit of God," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1984.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Elbert, Paul, "Calvin and the Spiritual Gifts," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1979.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fredrickson, David, "Confessing Jesus as Lord: Selected Epistles (Epiphany to Palm Sunday)," Word & World, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • González, Justo L, "What Is a Body?" The Living Pulpit, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ji, Won Yong, "The Work of the Holy Spirit and the Charismatic Movements, from Luther's Perspective,"  Concordia Journal, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Macchia, Frank D., "Rediscovering the Church's Charismatic Structure," The Living Pulpit, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Moore, Tracie N., "Experiencing God's Presents: Is Every Believer Guaranteed at Least One Spiritual Gift?" Christianity Today, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Murre-van den Berg, Heleen, "Bible Study: 1 Corinthians 12, Mission Relationships and Partnership: New Models of Partnership?" International Review of Mission, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Nichols, David R., "The Problem of Two-Level Christianity at Corinth," Pneuma, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ormseth, Dennis, "Showing the Body: Reflections on 1 Corinthians 12-13 for Epiphany," Word & World, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Paige, Terence, "1 Corinthians 12.2: A Pagan Pompe?" Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Patrick, James, "Insights from Cicero on Paul's Reasoning in 1 Corinthians 12-14: Love Sandwich or Five Course Meal?" Tyndale Bulletin, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pearson, Birger A., "Did the Gnostics Curse Jesus," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1967.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Poythress, Vern Sheridan, "Modern Spiritual Gifts as Analogous to Apostolic Gifts: Affirming Extraordinary Works of the Spirit within Cessationist Theology," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Russell, Letty M., "Partnership of the Holy Spirit," The Christian Century, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Smalley, Stephen S., "Spiritual Gifts and 1 Corinthians 12-16," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1968.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sprague, Rosamond Kent, "Parmenides, Plato, and 1 Corinthians 12," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1967.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Stephanou, Eusebius A., "The Charismata in the Early Church Fathers," Greek Orthodox Theological Review, 1976.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Talbert, Charles H., "Paul's Understanding of the Holy Spirit: The Evidence of 1 Corinthians 12-14," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 1984.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Thompson, James W., "Ministry in the New Testament," Restoration Quarterly, 1984.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tibbs, Clint, "The Spirit (World) and the (Holy) Spirits among the Earliest Christians: 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 as a Test Case," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Upkong, Justin S., "Pluralism and the Problem of the Discernment of Spirits," Ecumenical Review, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Walvoord, John F., "The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wieser, Thomas, "Community - Its Unity, Diversity and Universality," Semeia, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Division, Diversity, and Oneness in the Parish: A Conflict Drama," Pastor Edward F. Marquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Epiphany 2C, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2013.
  • "Fingers and Thumbs," and "Stand Up and Sit Down," Talks to Children, Rev. Donald McCorkindale, Dalgety Parish Church, Fife, Scotland.
  • "God's Toolbox," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "The Holy Spirit Brings Many Gifts to Us," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Spiritual Gifts," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
  • "Am I Late?" Joanne Miller, dramatix.
  • "The Inside Story," MAry Anne Brannon, dramatix.
  • "The Health Centre," Trevor Fletcher, dramatix.
• Liturgy:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Commercial Site: "Body of Christ," Visual Liturgy/Film, The Work of the People.
  • Clip Art, 1 Corinthians 12:4, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
• Hymns and Music:
  • “There Are Many Ways of Sharing,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2004, based 1 Corinthians 12. Tune: NETTLETON 8.7.8.7 D (“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”).
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: 1 Corinthians 12:8. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • "Your Love in Every Tongue," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, a new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies Listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance with the following themes:
  • Unity of Spirit/Purpose, Community
  • Grace
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 Corinthians

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• Easter 4 May 8
• Easter 5 May 15
• Easter 6 May 22
• Ascension May 26
• Easter 7 May 29
• Pentecost June 5
  

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