A Perfect Body of Christ
Paul was not presenting a perfectly formed Body of Christ, but an imperfect body speaking as an apostle of the Early Reign Church. Paul had limited authority in the body except where recognized within the early reign church of Christ where his doctrines could be perfected.
The Body of Christ will only be perfected at the end of the Second Resurrection. Paul said he as an apostle didn’t reign or rule but that he did administer Jesus' teachings.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God 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 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Paul is writing to the Corinthian church telling them they are part of the Body as a communal convergence of believers world wide. Paul continues on to write that God put in the church “some” which is an unspecified, comparative number of necessary administrative positions.
The first three positions were numbered 1, 2, and 3; then the gifts were numbered according to their perceived importance. It appears that there is no specific order, as if they are written in random order.
On a scale of importance, gifts from governments would rank lower. Then the gifts of help and just above the gift of diversity of tongues. This puts governments second to last in importance taking away a bit of importance within the authority of the ministry.
It appears that these gifts are not always in demand in the church as Paul acknowledges that they are not given wholesale. Whether we desire an abundance of gifts or any gifts at all is determined by the necessity of our needs.
1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
This is a simple answer - a critical need determines the specific gift, and the spirit in which that gift should be requested is charity.
Paul was telling the Corinthian church to pray for a specific gift for a specific need. The need compels the gift. If the church needs an Apostle, pray that one comes to the church or God chooses a saint to be an Apostle. If the church needs a gift of healing, then they should look for someone who has a gift to heal or appeal for the gift of healing. It is extremely crucial that the saints understand that God may or may not answer their call for immediate satisfaction, opting instead to answer in a more beneficial long-term manner through charity.
1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
"Do you possess all the gifts of healing?" asks the scripture above. Which raises the question: Are there many different types of healing gifts or are there many different people that need a healing gift from God?
Ask this question; what purpose would an Apostle be if they could not be in every church? What need of the saints could an Apostle fill if that Apostle was in the state of Washington and the need was in New York?
Paul is teaching that there are many needs that can be met by asking God for help or, in other words, asking God for help in many different forms. Saints are not made for positions as rulers, but they are created as helpers. Saints must first be made into what is needed for the Lord's work, then if needed, transformed into what is needed.
In each case, propagation is caused by the saints' need to receive gifts. The distribution of gifts is determined by God's will.
Conclusion
The five fold ministry is not a biblical term, neither is it a requirement for perfection nor the non-biblical restoration of the latter reign church.
The positions of the ministry are tools for the teaching of perfection, which are currently available in our dispensation. The latter reign church represents the continuing work to complete the Bride of Christ.
The words of Jesus are the judgment of the saints, not the ministry. It is the words of Jesus Christ that convert the saints and bring saints into the Bride of Christ not the positions of government.
God has provided a five-fold ministry, but they are for every church and in every church. God needs hands and feet to do his work, and each church has the potential to meet the needs of that church.
Saints of God and sinners of the world are subject to time and chance, which are then circumvented by God's deterministic counsel to fulfill his plan of Grace.
We are at God’s mercy, and through his word he has provided each one of us with a way to circumvent time and chance in Christ Jesus. If we learn the Word of God assisted by the gifts of God and the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ, we can receive the gift of eternal life.
Written by Charles E. Cohenour
