Big Idea: God empowers his people by his Spirit for the common good of his community, not as a personal favor to the individual. When individuals use their God-granted power for personal gain, they act like pagans attempting to manipulate their idol god.

Understanding the Text

Moving to the next question posed by the Corinthians (see 7:1, 25; 8:1), Paul continues his discussion on worship and ecclesiology. Distinguishing the Christian assembly from the pagan proves exceedingly significant not only for the various expressions of socioeconomic relations (chap. 11) but for speech patterns and the experiences of the Spirit’s gifting and empowerment as well. Christ’s call to communal responsibility includes a clear awareness of how God’s communal character impacts his Spirit’s endowments. Jus…