How Shall They Preach Unless They Are Sent?

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Not all of these are powers, are they? Not all of these graces possess medicinal powers, do they? Do each of these graces speak with the languages? Does each grace have powers to interpret the languages? So strive to achieve the most excellent of the graces. But even beyond those graces, there is still a more superior way that I must disclose to you all." 1Cor.12:29-31 (mast)

It does seem strange for Paul to command us to continue to pursue a grace that would have ceased with the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ in their death, which we already established as the “first” of these graces to the churches. So what is meant here - by the command to strive for the most excellent of the graces, which - as we would first think, would be the office of an Apostle?

First, we know Paul is not referring to the office of an Apostle because that grace wasn’t given through a striving after a particular set of graces (Acts 2:1-13, 41-47; 1Cor.15:3-11). That office was given directly and rather miraculously from the Lord himself to twelve particular individual persons (Acts 9:1-22; 2Cor11:13; Rev.2:2; Matt.10:2; Acts 1:20-26). Therefore, the grace of an apostle given honorable mention here is the most base meaning of the term, which means sent one (Jn.9:7; Acts 14:14). But it does not clarify by whom or even by what group (Mk.9:36-41; Gal.1:1, 19). Therefore, we should not presume that it refers to the foundational office that pertains to the receiving of revelation and the establishment of the written words of God (1Pet.4:11). “Anyone” means anyone, according to Peter. Therefore, it applies to anyone sent to proclaim God’s written words orally.

Paul calls upon us to strive to be sent out to plant churches under the authority of the work of missions through the local churches under the degrees of powers in their distinctions (Isa.6:1-13). Only in this sense is a “missionary” considered to be an apostle alongside the prophets and teachers of the sending congregational authority (Acts.14:14). And only in this sense is an apostle over the prophets and teachers whom he would appoint in that church plant (Tit.1:5-16). Therefore, even this grace continues today in a most excellent way of love and self-sacrifice through the striving after a greater crown of glory in the love of Christ (Rom.2:1-16; 2Cor.4:13-5:11 with emphasis on 4:13, 15, 17; 5:7, 11).

But before we meditate on this command any further, consider the statements of negation that Paul poses as questions about the reality of these graces. Even the most excellent of the graces depend on the less visible parts of the singular and independent power of the gift of the Holy Spirit in the body of these memberships/groups.

Therefore, these questions raise a statement that the memberships will not all possess the most excellent grace or even those graces of a lesser degree. A membership can still function in effectiveness under the operation of the grace of a teacher apart from the grace of a preacher/prophet. And certainly, there are not always assemblies enabled to send missionaries with the degree of “powers” entrusted to them (1Tim.6:20-21; 2Tim.1:13-15). Therefore, all of these graces, down to their parts, will vary in their effectiveness, but they are all given to the whole body of Christ in each part for that effectiveness (Rom.9:6-7).

(v.29) “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Not all of these are powers, are they? (mast)

(v.30) “Not all of these graces possess medicinal powers, do they? Do each of these graces speak with the languages? Does each grace have powers to interpret the languages? (mast)

Now again, Paul poses these rhetorical questions to reiterate the fact that the most excellent graces are these speaking positions while the “powers” display themselves in the feminine form to underline those offices. Therefore, the feminine form is a marker of emphasis to the importance of those parts in support of those more excellent positions. The powers uphold those offices for the love of the truth (1Tim.3:15; 2Thess.2:9-14 with emphasis on vs.10, 13-14). Therefore those offices are worthless in effectiveness apart from “love” working in the powers to subject themselves to the truth (Phil.2:12-13; Gal.5:6). Also, notice in verse 29 that the questions are composed as passive descriptions of the practice of that grace for the proclamation of the Word among the assembly compared to verse 30, that marks those functions with active verbs for emphasis on their neutered practicality in support of the assembled functionality of the whole membership to the body to speak and listen to the Word of God.

(v.31) “So strive to achieve the most excellent of the graces. But even beyond those graces, there is still a more superior way that I must disclose to you all. (mast)

Now, to strive for the most excellent of the graces is vain if one does not pursue to exercise those graces with love (1Tim.1:3-11; 3:1). Some will fall away with a love for the world and the things of the world, being ensnared by the pleasures of the flesh, the pride of life, and of the devil’s powers. Love will exercise these graces with humility under a love for the truth through the realization of the Father’s love for the world through the glory of Christ’s cross. This is how the Father pursues those children appointed to eternal life, for they will be drawn to the image and glory of the only Son, the Beloved Son.