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T H E
N E W . T E S T A M E N T
COPYRIGHT BY W ILLIAM EVANS
FIRST CORINTHIANS Continued
T N our previous studies o f Paul’s first Epistle to the Corinthians we have taken up the Introduction (i.1 -9 ); Party Fac tions (i.lO-iv.21) ; Social Purity—Failure to Exercise Discipline in Moral Affairs (chaps, v and >vi) ; Marital Problems (chap, vii) ; Christian Liberty (viii.l-x i.l) ; Church Decorum—Abuses in Connection with Public Worship (xi.2-34). W e now proceed to the sixth main division o f the book: VI. SPIRITUAL GIFTS— THEIR USE AND ABUSE (Chapters xii-xiv.) W e must not be surprised to find the need o f instruction in the early church regarding matters pertaining to the Holy Spirit, especially when we recall how that, according to the prophecy o f Joel (ii.28) and the teachings o f Christ Himself (John xiv. 16), the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the people o f God in so remark able a way. Never before had the power, influence, and gifts o f the Spirit been scattered so promiscuously upon all the faithful o f God irrespective o f sex, class, position, or age. Heretofore the special manifestations' o f the Spirit had, in a sense, been reserved for what we might term the aristocracy o f the Old Testament, such as Gideon, Samson, David, Isaiah, and Daniel. Now Joel’s prophecy—“And It shall coma to pass afterward, that I will
pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (Joel ii.28)— had been fulfilled. It was rather natural, therefore, that cer tain instruction regarding the use and abuse o f such spiritual gifts became neces sary. Counterfeiters o f the good there have always been; so imposters professing to have spiritual gifts and powers were existent in the Corinthian church. Satan is an imitator and counterfeiter, arid so he is busy at work among the believers at Corinth. Then again, envy, jealousy, pride, display, and censoriousness would naturally follow in the wake o f such spiritual mani festation. There is always too the danger o f putting the emphasis in the wrong place; so the Corinthian Christians were in danger o f over-emphasizing those showy gifts which appealed to the senses and 'emotions and manifested themselves in ecstatic display. There was grave danger o f confounding “genuine inspiration” with “ fanatical excitement.” Doubtless those who possessed the less pretentious gifts were discouraged and despised, while others were proud and arrogant. Coming out o f the midst o f heathen surroundings and practices, the Corinthian Christians were in great need o f instruction along the lines o f Christian sanity, soberness, and equi librium.
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