Bethesda Chapel 2001
SG Bible Study #3 & #4(Notes for SG and BS leaders)

SG BS#3: A Loving Family and Community of Believers
SG BS#4: A Serving and Witnessing Community of Believers

1. These two bible studies are related to love in the family, within the church community and for non-Christian friends, and are part of Bethesda Chapel’s plans for 2001.
2. There are directly related to Section B of the Personal Goals 2001.
3. They partly address the themes in February and March 2001.
4. Try to understand the points in A, B, C. Then think about the conclusion at the end of the notes.

A pre-requisite to be able to love as Jesus loves is one’s consistent and complete surrender to the LORD (Rom 12:1,2). This attitude should have been taken up in SG BS#1 and 2 and is reiterated in Section A under Personal Goals 2001.

As Jesus has said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).

The purpose of quiet contemplation before the study begins is to allow oneself to yield to the leading of the Spirit of Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit. Confession of known sins, willingness to learn and listen to others are some things one can do. Reading the given scriptural texts quietly also helps in contemplation.

Supporting references: Eph 5:21-6:4; Rom 12:14-21; 1 Pet 2:12

This is actually a difficult passage. Before you plunge straight into it, let us look at the immediate context and related contexts in the light of 1 Cor 12, 14.

Summary of Rom 12:3-8 within Romans

v.3 to each one God has already "allotted a measure of faith" (NAS) (no definite article before faith) – comes from a renewed mind (Rom 12:2 cf 8:1-30)
v.6 "gifts" are all sorts of general gifts of God (Rom 5:15,16; 6:23; 11:29) – key word "grace" v. 3. Should be translated as "concrete expressions of grace" at work in the life of believers for the sake of others (Fee, 607).
v. 6 "prophecy" –
a)  people-directed speech, as prayer in God-directed speech (cf 1 Cor 11:4-5).
b)  "in proportion to the faith" (v. 6 with definite article; slightly different expression compared with v. 3)

Proportion not in terms of quantity or degree of faith but to the portion or allotment or distinctiveness. "The faith" links to v. 3 "faith" –
Connecting "measure of faith" (v3), and prophecy "in proportion to the faith" (v6), we have: "prophesying according to the "faith" (v. 3) that has been apportioned to those with the prophetic gift.

Vv 7-8 becomes easier – see the unusual qualifiers
The one who serves         by serving
The one who teaches         by teaching
The one who encourages         by encouraging
i.e. Each of these gifts is exercised according to the "measure (portion) of faith" distinctively distributed to each one.

B. Context in Romans

1. Bear in mind where Rom 12:3-8 stands in the epistle. It comes immediately after Rom 12:1-2, which begins after Paul’s doxology that concludes the teachings in the preceding eleven chapters. Hence, Rom 12:1-2 should be linked to the pre-requisite – a full surrender to God as a living sacrifice and a willingness to grapple with God’s word and be transformed by its renewing power and prove God’s will through one’s experience.
2. Though Rom 12:3-8 talks about the use of God’s gift, a few key observations are needed to set things in proper perspective:
1. The key word is "grace" (charis, v 3) from which charisma and charismata comes.
2. In v. 6 we have "gifts" (charismata), with examples of "charismatic gifts’ like prophecy and teaching.
3. But in vv 7,8, we find "normal" ones like service, exhortation, contributing, giving aid, doing acts of mercy.
4. Then from vv 9 to 21, we have Christian conduct in personal relationships, and Christian conduct in relation to the governing authorities.
5. Then an emphasis on love again in Rom 13:8-10.

1. Key words in Rom 12:3-8 are "grace" and "gifts"

- The driving word is "grace" (charis) rather than "gifts" (charisma - singular; charismata – plural).
- "Charis" brings forth "charismata". That is the "grace" of God brings forth many "concrete expressions of grace," thus includes "gracious bestowments."

2. In nearly half of its use, "charisma" lacks any reference to the Spirit, it simply designates a variety of ways God’s grace is evidence in the midst of the lives of his people. It includes such diverse ‘gifts" as eternal life (Rom 6:23; cf 5:15, 16) the many privileges granted to Israel (Rom 11:29; referring to 9:4-5), celibacy and marriage (1 Cor 7:7) and deliverance from a deadly peril (2 Cor 1:10).
3. However, "charismata" ("gifts" in plural) also refer to special manifestations or activities of the Spirit, indicating "gracious gifts" of the Spirit. The basic relation is to "grace," while at the same time pointing to the "gifting" that comes from the Spirit (see 1 Cor 1:4-7; 1 Cor 12; Rom 1:11).
4. Special usage of "charismata".
1. The "charismata of healings" in 1 Cor 12:9, 28, 30 does not refer to some "gift" that enables people to heal others, but to the various concrete expressions of the Spirit’s power bringing physical healing to members of the community.
2. But 1 Cor 12:4, "charismata" does refer to "spiritual gifts" or "manifestations of the Spirit" (v 7), hence the "manifestations" listed in 1 Cor 12:8-10 are to be understood as "charismata," gracious bestowments of the Spirit in the gathered community for the sake of building up the people of God.
3. 1 Cor 12:31. A more difficult use is that of the higher "charismata" in the imperative in 1 Cor 12:31.

i) it does not refer to the office of the apostles, prophets, teachers, other people, ministries and the Spirit manifestations that God has placed in the church (v 28)
ii) it does refer to the argument on intelligibility and order in Chapter 14, after setting in context the importance of love (1 Cor 13)!
iii) Resuming in 1 Cor 14:1, interestingly Paul replaces the word "charismata" with "ta pneumatika" (the things of the Spirit). This sets it back in context to 1 Cor 12:1 which begins with ‘now concerning "the things of the Spirit." Relating to 1 Cor 12:4-11, "ta pneumatika" has to do with Spirit manifestations in the community gathered for worship.
iv) It is doubtful if people, like the apostles, teachers, and other such ministries as helpful deeds and acts of guidance can be grouped under "charismata."

Summary: In this specific instance "charismata" is limited to Spirit manifestation in the community or "ta pneumatika" – Spirit manifestations in the community gathered for worship.

5. Rom 12:6-8. A more difficult use is Rom 12:6 where Paul speaks of "having charismata that differ."
1. Here it is distinctly linked to "charis" (grace v. 3). It is the concrete expression of grace.
2. There is no mention of the Spirit, which is also true of Romans chapters12 to 14. That the Spirit is behind is assumed from Rom 8 (cf Gal 5-6, Spirit-empowered behaviour).
3. Prophecy as the "charisma" - a Spirit gifting par excellence is mentioned first.
4. But not everything that Paul calls "charismata" in Rom 12:6b-8 is to be understood as special gifts of the Spirit.
5. The list in Rom 12:6b-8 is so heterogeneous and covers a broad range of behaviour, the emphasis lies on the "grace of God" here being worked out in concrete ways, rather than on the empowering of the Spirit for such behaviour or on "Spirit gifting."
6. Thus the list covers two parts:
1. "Charismata" as in 1 Cor 12 – including prophecy, teaching, exhorting/encouraging.
2. Various forms of serving others within the believing community.
   (these are the fruit of love resulting from proper ethical behaviour, and finds concrete expression in their midst.)

1. When "charismata" is specifically related to the activity of the Spirit, it seems to indicate some concrete ways in which the Spirit manifests himself in the believing community, granting them gracious bestowments to meet their various needs and thus build up an eschatological people of God.
2. Whereas "charismata" in a much broader term is probably incorrectly translated "spiritual gifts" or "gifts of the Spirit." It should be "concrete expressions of grace" i.e. one of the many "gracious bestowments" that issue from the "grace" of God.

Gordon Fee. God’s Empowering Presence. The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul. Hendrickson Pub. 1994