Asbury Bible Commentary – 1. Ministries in the church (12:3-8)
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1. Ministries in the church (12:3-8)

1. Ministries in the church (12:3-8)

In the church each member belongs to and needs all the others. Different members have different gifts. Paul writes, “Do not think [phroneō] of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment [sōphroneō), in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (v.3). The verb phroneō (“think”) occurs also in 8:5, “have their minds set on.” It involves thinking, desiring, and acting. To think with sober judgment (sōphroneō) means to recognize our limits and respect them in desiring and acting. Do this with reference to the measure of faith God has given you, which means the gift assigned to you in the domain of faith.

Confine activity within the limits of your gift. If you have the gift of prophesying, prophesy. In prophesying, however, do it in the analogy (analogia; niv proportion) of the faith. The prophet is not free to say whatever he wants. The message should be in harmony with the faith, that objective body of truth, the teachings of the Lord through the apostles (Wesley, Notes, 397). For this reason, the congregation needs to evaluate the message of the one prophesying (1Co 14:29).

If you have the gift of serving, serve; if the gift of teaching, teach. Use your gift to bring the maximum help to others, and do not go beyond your gift.