1 Corinthians 12:28

Context

Chapters 12–14 of 1 Corinthians, which Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, deal with spiritual gifts, the spiritual abilities and roles that God freely bestows. The Corinthian church is understood to have placed excessive value on conspicuous gifts such as speaking in tongues. In the preceding passage (12:12–27), Paul compares the church to one body with many members, and in this verse he lists the roles that God has "set" in the church. In verses 29–30 he asks questions such as "Are all apostles?" to show that not everyone possesses the same gift, and in verse 31 and chapter 13 he presents love as "a more excellent way" than coveting "the best gifts."

The list mixes terms that denote persons (offices), such as apostles, prophets, and teachers, with terms that denote activities (gifts), such as miracles, healings, and tongues. Moreover, only the first three items are given an explicit order: "first," "secondarily," and "thirdly."

Interpretations

• Reading the order as foundational: Many commentators read the order less as a ranking of value than as an indication that the ministry of the Word was placed first in building up the church. Some also see the placement of tongues at the end of the list as an intentional correction of the Corinthian church's overemphasis on tongues.
• The cessationist reading: Some within the Reformed tradition, appealing to Ephesians 2:20, regard apostles and prophets as once-for-all offices that laid the foundation of the church, and hold that sign gifts such as healing and tongues also ceased after the apostolic age.
• The continuationist reading: Adherents of Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement hold that the gifts in this list are still given to the church today, emphasizing that divine healing and tongues are among the gifts that God has "set" in the church.
• Reading in connection with Presbyterian church order: John Calvin is known to have connected "governments" with the elders who govern the church. Presbyterians sometimes cite this verse as one of the grounds for their system of church offices, and some explanations also associate "helps" with the ministries of mercy and service.

Debates and Issues

Whether the gifts continue today is a central issue in the cessationism and continuationism debate, and views differ even within the same denomination. There is also a movement that appeals to this verse and Ephesians 4:11 to argue that the offices of apostle and prophet must be restored in the present day. This movement is known as the New Apostolic Reformation, and a number of denominations in Korea have warned against it. Those who caution against it hold that the apostolic office, as a witness to the resurrection, was unrepeatable, while its supporters counter that the function of ministry that builds up the church continues. Others have pointed out that reading the order as a hierarchy of offices and thereby disparaging certain gifts does not fit the preceding context concerning the body and its members.

Related Passages

• 1 Corinthians 12:4–11
• 1 Corinthians 12:31
• 1 Corinthians 14:1–5
• Ephesians 2:20
• 1 Peter 4:10–11