Tag: Christ

  • Spiritualities – ‘I would not have you ignorant’

    Spiritualities – ‘I would not have you ignorant’

    Spiritualities – πνευματικός

    Spiritual:

    always connotes the ideas of invisibility and of power. ..it is in fact an after-Pentecost word.

    the activities Godward of regenerate men are ‘spiritual sacrifices,’ 1Pe 2:5; their appointed activities in the churches are also called ‘spiritual gifts,’ lit., ‘spiritualities,’ 1Cr 12:1; 14:1;

    Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Adjective Strong’s Number: g4152 Greek: pneumatikos

    Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

    First Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 12:1 King James Version

    I want to begin HERE by proceeding with the Apostle’s letter to the church in Corinth because SPIRITUAL GIFTS seem not only mysterious, but frequently misused in preaching and therefore confusing to Christians growing in our faith.

    So in addition to working our way through 1 Corinthians 12 we will also examine and hopefully clarify the context of these spiritualities of which the Apostle writes throughout his epistle.


    The Corinthian connection of Spiritualities

    Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

    You know that when you were pagans, to mute idols you were led, as being carried away.

    Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking in the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed,”

    and no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” if not in the Holy Spirit.


    Ignorant?

    21st century Common Era christians don't use such offensive self-evaluation of ANYONE in our church, do we? Yet the Apostle Paul did in asking church members to examine themselves.

    ἀγνοέω – agnoeō – verb

    • to be ignorant, not to know
    • not to understand, unknown
    • to err or sin through mistake, to be wrong
    We may eventually acknowledge what we formerly did not know or did not understand. But how we avoid confession of current err and continuing sin.

    Yet the Apostle consistently corrects the Corinthian church in these things pointing to Christ in a Spiritual sense:

    For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was Christ.

    1 Corinthians 10:1-4 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

    In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul outlines the SIN and ERR of IDOLATRY

    Soon the Apostle warns the Corinthians that God may not recognize some worshippers gathering for their communions:

    But if anyone remains G50 ignorant G50 about this, he is ignored G50 by God.

    1 Corinthians 14:38 LSB

    Spiritual Gifts

    Let’s clear this up FIRST through basic and ROOT definitions of this important adjective.

    REMINDER that an adjective describes a person (you, me, a fellow saint).

    pneumatikos

    relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as the part of man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ

    • opposed to ἡ ψυχή: hence, τό πνευματικόν, that which possesses the nature of the rational soul, opposed to τό ψυχικόν,

    The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.

    1 Corinthians 15:46

    • The Apostle Paul uses pneumatikos 15 times in his first letter to the Corinthians.

    Root Word (Etymology)
    From πνεῦμα (G4151)

    pneuma – spirit

    neuter noun From πνέω (G4154)

    The KJV translates Strong’s G4151 in the following manner: Spirit (111x), Holy Ghost (89x), Spirit (of God) (13x), [more]

    “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit G4151 does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

    Gospel of Luke 24:39 LSB

    What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost G4151 which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

    1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV

    Paul uses the Greek πνεῦμα (pneuma) 41 times in 33 verses in 1 Corinthians, pointing to the spirit in the body and also referring to the Holy Ghost.

    Now there are diversities G1243

    1 Cor 12:4a KJV

    And there are differences G1243

    1 Cor 12:5a KJV

    And there are diversities G1243

    1 Cor 6a KJV

    What distinctions?

    1. gifts
    2. administrations
    3. operations

    1 Cor 12: 4b,5b,6b KJV

    OR perhaps less formally:
    • spiritual gifts
    • ministries or service
    • effects or workings

    And the Paul’s connection of these three outlined?

    1. but the same Spirit [G4151] pneuma
    2. but the same Lord. [G2962] kyrios
      • Root Word (Etymology)
      • masculine noun
      • From kuros (supremacy)
    3. but the same God [G2316] theos is working all things in everyone.

    No matter which English translation or version of Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians you prefer note the frequency of applying this

    Higher Authority over the Church.:

    πνευματικός

    pneumatikos – pnyoo-mat-ik-os’

    • relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ
    • belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God
    • belonging to the Divine Spirit
      • of God the Holy Spirit
      • one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God
    • pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing

    πνεῦμα – pneuma – Spirit

    occurs 40 times in 32 verses in ‘1Co’ in the MGNT Greek.

    1 Corinthians 12:7- 11 BSB

    Now to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit, for the common profiting.

    For truly, to one is given a word of wisdom by the Spirit, and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, and to a different one faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another working of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another distinguishing of spirits, and to a different one various kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.

    Now one and the same the Spirit works all these things, apportioning individually to each as He wills.

    1 Corinthians 12:11 BSB Spirit,
    Πνεῦμα (Pneuma)
    Noun – Nominative Neuter Singular
    Strong’s 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

    spiritualities (or spiritual gifts)

    The Apostle assures that these spiritualities (or spiritual gifts) are just that: GIFTS of the Holy Spirit of God.

    Therefore the Lord chooses which saint may receive what gift,


    θεός – theos – God

    occurs 106 times in 86 verses in ‘1Co’ in the TR Greek.

    And where in the Apostle's first letter to the Corinthians did Paul first point to the Highest Authority of God?

    Paulcalled to be an apostle of Jesus  Christ through the will of God, G2316 …

    1 Corinthians 1:1a

    From his call by Jesus Christ after the Lord's resurrection and consequent authority 'through the will of God' the Apostle Paul will proceed to instruct Christ's body (the Church, as he will illustrate) in the humility and nature of the gifts of their spiritualities. 

    And God G2316 hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

    1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV

    MORE on that NEXT time... 

    κύριος – kyrios – Lord, lord and master

    From kuros (supremacy)

    occurs 69 times in 59 verses in ‘1Co’ in the TR Greek.

    he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord

    Lexicon :: Strong’s G2962 – kyrios

    And when does Paul first mention the Lord and at the same time extend the line of His authority and mission to Corinth?  

    To the church of God in Corinth,

    to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy,

    together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

    Salutation of the Apostle Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians 1:2 BSB

    Throughout his letter Paul reveals the unseen unfolding mysteries of Christ through the Spirit of the Triune God.

    The Corinthian saints are no more like the communities in which they live who have spiritualities of their own.

    different spiritualities ?

    Were the communities and spiritualities of Corinth so different from our own 21st century C.E. gatherings and communions which include all with great diversity, yet with considerable ignorance of the Spirit?

    And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

    1 Corinthians 12:5 KJV


    NEXT: Members in Christ's body 

    Talk of JESUS .com

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  • Your Communions in Church and in Christ

    Your Communions in Church and in Christ

    Communions, gatherings, worship services, church services — call them whatever you like. But the Apostle Paul provides some pointed correction for the church as we continue in 1 Corinthians 11.

    Communion – Sharing in the Lord’s Supper

    What’s the Apostle Paul saying to the Church?

    It’s an Exhortation

    Pretty strait-forward

    Paul addresses these communions (as the idolatrous feasts of Corinth he has already addressed) presenting a clear choice for godly saints of the Church at Corinth.

    v.17 In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. – BSB


    for the Church

    Would you like to hear Paul's introduction in another way? 

    1 Corinthians 11:18

    • For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. – NKJV
    • In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. – NIV
    • For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. – HNV

    This is simply Paul’s FIRST POINT following the Apostle’s exhortation about sanctified living AND following his FIRST POINT about ROLES in Christian Worship within this section of his Epistle ordering Christ’s instructions for worship.

    The Apostle Paul specifically points to times when we assemble [or come together] συνέρχομαι – synerchomai as a CHURCH ἐκκλησίᾳ – ekklēsia.

    Many of you know this Greek word for church. 

    LOOK at its definition
    (nothing specifically yet about communion here. But read on.)

    The Apostle then continues in his outline for Christian gatherings.

    Sharing in the Lord’s Supper ( 11:17⁠–⁠34 )

    church supper

    An exhortation for social and festive meals in the church community

    Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.

    21 For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.

    22 Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?

    What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this?

    No, I will not!


    The Apostle’s transition into this section had been:

    Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.1 Cor 11:1 KJV


    Paul's focus:

    Our communions other than Holy Communion

    For there must be also heresies among you,

    that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

    1 Corinthians 11:19 KJV

    * In the first major schism of the Church in the A.D. 11th century the Roman Church divided from the Orthodox Church. See the Timeline in the link above.

    Common Era christians dare not mention such things as HERESY, lest we offend some unbeliever in our gathering or sharing in breaking bread with us at an occasional community evangelism feast. 

    We prefer a gentler approach of translations of αἵρεσις - hairesis like: factions or divisions or differences.

    11:20 συνερχομένων οὖν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ οὐκ ἔστιν κυριακὸν δεῖπνον φαγεῖν

    When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

    First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:20 KJV

    Does the Apostle then instruct the Church NOT to share in Holy Communion?

    NO, certainly not.

    Only not to participate in such a community meal alongside unbelievers (EVEN ‘at church’ ), including those who are not in Christ in this Holy Sacrifice of Communion as worship.


    The Lord’s Supper

    You may want to READ some of the Gospel including these Holy Scriptures, but I urge you for now to remain focused on the Apostle’s INSTRUCTION specifically to saints of the Church at Corinth (in ~ A.D. 55).

    Gospel cross-references to the Lord’s Supper

    King James Version


    a HOLY Communion in Christ celebrated by the Body of Christ

    Holy Communion the Bread and Cup of salvation in Christ  for the body of Christ the Church

    For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you..

    1 Corinthians 11:23a KJV

    Paul here reiterates from the Gospel accounts that which the Apostle had already instructed in person.


    .. That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

    And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:

    this is my body, which is broken for you:

    this do in remembrance of me.

    After the same manner also he took the cup,

    when he had supped, saying,

    This cup is the new testament in my blood:

    this do ye, as oft as ye drink it,

    in remembrance of me.

    First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:23-25 King James Version

    An Apostolic Application

    Once again, Paul has already WRITTEN:

    • NOT to eat Food Sacrificed to Idols AND taught lessons of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt concerning their idolatry.

    For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

    1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV

    The Apostle had reminded the saints of Corinth earlier in his letter of both his authority and humility in Christ confirming:

    • I have applied these things to myself [THEREFORE] learn from us not to go beyond what is written.
    • Paul’s instruction consequently will require the saints of Corinth:

    Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

    1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV


    27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. – BSB

    Commentary – Study Bible [below]

    • The term “unworthy manner” suggests a lack of reverence or self-examination
    • The “bread” and “cup” symbolize the body and blood of Christ, and partaking in them requires a heart of humility and repentance.
    • To be “guilty of sinning” implies a serious offense, akin to profaning something holy.

    For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

    First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:29 King James Version

    If we would judge ourselves
    The Apostle offers a few additional reasons to examine ourselves before these communions with the world and the Holy Communion of the saints of our local church. 
    • That is why many among you are weak and sick,
    • and a number of you have fallen asleep.
    • Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.
    • But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

    In conclusion, Paul reiterates about their divisions over their communions.

    ἐκδέχομαι – ekdechomai 

    33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat,

    tarry one for another.

    translates the King James

    1. to receive, accept
    2. to look for, expect, wait for, await: ἀλλήλους ἐκδέχεσθε wait for one another, namely, until each shall have received his food, 1 Corinthians 11:33, cf.

    PAUL closes this section of his letter about divisions stating that he has more to say about other issues later in person.

    “.. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.


    Judge for yourself

    English translation: pictures Table Man Wine Mug Food Food Religion Text added to photo What's wrong with you Communions?

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  • Sanctification – saints washed in Christ’s Holiness

    Sanctification occurs only 5-10 times in the New Testament, while “sanctify” occurs 70 times in 65 verses in the KJV throughout the Bible.

    Doesn’t sanctification require someone or something to be ‘sanctified?’

    What is sanctification?

    How is it different since Christ Jesus?


    Sanctification in the Old Testament

    congregation of the Hebrews at Mount Horeb

    Moses on Sinai

    Exodus 19 NKJV excerpt

    And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain..

    ‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,

    … ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

    Exodus 19:3-6 except NKJV

    So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.

    קָדַשׁ qâdash,

    to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally):—appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self),

    https://davidfowlerpreacher.com/2014/06/08/pictures-of-the-holy-spirit/
    Exodus 21:5-7

    “Also let the priests who come near to Yahweh set H6942 themselves apart H6942 as H6942 holy H6942, lest Yahweh break out against them.”

    And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [testified to] warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain, and set H6942 it apart H6942 as H6942 holy H6942.’”

    Exodus 19:22-23 LSB – noting H6942 meaning Sanctify or Hallow

    שְׁמֹות (Exodus) 19 :: Masoretic Text

    19:23 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יְהוָה לֹא־יוּכַל הָעָם לַעֲלֹת אֶל־הַר סִינָי כִּי־אַתָּה הַעֵדֹתָה בָּנוּ לֵאמֹר הַגְבֵּל אֶת־הָהָר וְקִדַּשְׁתּוֹ׃

    Does this washing for holiness before God bring any sanctifying fear over you before facing the LORD your Maker?


    An Old Testament Word

    You may recognize the same word in a couple of important places in the Bible.

    Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified H6942 it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created in making it.

    Genesis 2:3 LSB

    זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ׃

    “Remember the sabbath day, to keep H6942 it holy H6942.

    Exodus 20:8 WLC, LSB

    Pray then like this:
    Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

    Matthew 6:9 RSV

    Sanctification then prepares unholy sinners to face the Most Holy.


    Sanctification in the New Testament

    verb - From ἅγιος (G40) adjective (most holy thing, a saint) 
    - From hagos adjective (an awful thing) [cf ἁγνός (G53) adjective, properly, clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect:—chaste, clean, pure.
    • to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
    • to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
    • to purify
      • to cleanse externally
      • to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
      • to purify internally by renewing of the soul

    The Apostle Paul, in referring to a long list of sins of the Corinthians writes:

    And such were some of you; but you were washed,

    but you were sanctified G37,

    but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

    1 Corinthians 6:11 LSB


    a most holy thing, a saint ?


    Are YOU a HOLY Saint of JESUS Christ, therefore sanctified to Him in your mortal AND eternal life?


    Sanctified saints

    “For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

    Gospel of John 17:20 LSB


    In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

    For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

    Hebrews 2:10-11 BSB


    Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

    John 17:17 CSB – Jesus’ prayer for disciples


    Sanctification of children learning to walk in Christ

    To the saints in Galatia:

    Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

    But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

    Paul’s letter (epistle) to the Galatians 4:8-9 ESV


    To the saint sitting with you in church:

    In conclusion, the best way to examine some of the jargon of Scripture like anointed, consecrated, sanctified, justified and holiness is in prayerful time in the Bible itself.

    How better to explain sanctification (or any ‘Christian’ jargon) to a new child of the faith with whom you worship than with Biblical text?


    READ any of the links provided in the Scriptures above. 

    OR For more on the topic of Sanctification you may search it here on TalkofJESUS.com OR simply read the earlier post below with my closing thought.

    Sanctification – a refining of our holiness in Christ

    For this is the will of God, your sanctification.. For God did not call us to impurity,

    but in sanctification. 

    Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man

    but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

    1 Thessalonians 4:3a, (3b-6 short list of our impurity) 7-8 LSB

    ~A.D. 51 – Paul writes to encourage the Thessalonian Church

    A look back from 2025 CE to an earlier look at Sanctification

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