How do the gifts work to knit us together as a functioning entity?
Verses 27-28 give us insight into this mystery: Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. In the first part of this chapter, Paul described gifts of the Holy Spirit which the Holy Spirit gives to individuals. Now these verses explain that God gives us individuals with these gifts to minister within the church. Let’s discuss these briefly. Apostles The term “apostles” is usually reserved for the disciples personally chosen by our Lord during His earthly ministry (the original 12, less Judas) plus Paul/Saul of Tarsus. In Scripture, we have no record of disciples being ordained as apostles. The Greek word apostellos, translated “apostle,” means “one sent forth.” It implies a sender, a message and a specific mission to accomplish. In addition to the 12 men mentioned above, other individuals
