Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
The verse recalls that the believers at Corinth had formerly been Gentiles carried away to idols that cannot speak, and that they had been led away from that idolatry to serve and worship the true God. Those once carried away by deception and false worship need humility and sound guidance in the church. Any claim to spiritual gifts must be judged by its fruits and by whether it builds up the church, rather than being accepted on its own as proof of a genuine gift of God's Spirit.
As part of the teaching of the twelfth and thirteenth chapters, the verse is to be studied and applied for the continual humbling of self and for taking self critically in hand. That work begins with self-examination, and the very first step is denying self and taking up one's own cross of self-denial and self-humiliation and self-sacrifice instead of laying the cross on someone else to carry. As part of the teaching of those chapters, the verse sets forth simple organization and church order appointed for the unity and perfection of the church, and it corrects the misunderstanding that one person is responsible to control and rule fellow workers.
The verse shows that one holding office should stand as a leader, adviser, counselor, and helper in carrying the burdens of the work and as a leader in offering thanksgiving to God. He is not appointed to order and command the Lord's laborers, because the Lord is over His heritage and will lead His people. Those carrying responsibilities must treat those who labor with them with the same consideration they would wish to receive, since all are brethren and position gives no kingly authority, and learning the meekness of Christ makes the worker like Christ. As part of the teaching of those chapters, the verse should carry greater weight in times of trial and testing, when seeking to be enclosed with God so that the wicked one has no power.
The verse recalls that the believers at Corinth had formerly been Gentiles carried away to idols that cannot speak, and that they had been led away from that idolatry to serve and worship the true God. Those once carried away by deception and false worship need humility and sound guidance in the church. Any claim to spiritual gifts must be judged by its fruits and by whether it builds up the church, rather than being accepted on its own as proof of a genuine gift of God's Spirit.
As part of the teaching of the twelfth and thirteenth chapters, the verse is to be studied and applied for the continual humbling of self and for taking self critically in hand. That work begins with self-examination, and the very first step is denying self and taking up one's own cross of self-denial and self-humiliation and self-sacrifice instead of laying the cross on someone else to carry. As part of the teaching of those chapters, the verse sets forth simple organization and church order appointed for the unity and perfection of the church, and it corrects the misunderstanding that one person is responsible to control and rule fellow workers.
The verse shows that one holding office should stand as a leader, adviser, counselor, and helper in carrying the burdens of the work and as a leader in offering thanksgiving to God. He is not appointed to order and command the Lord's laborers, because the Lord is over His heritage and will lead His people. Those carrying responsibilities must treat those who labor with them with the same consideration they would wish to receive, since all are brethren and position gives no kingly authority, and learning the meekness of Christ makes the worker like Christ. As part of the teaching of those chapters, the verse should carry greater weight in times of trial and testing, when seeking to be enclosed with God so that the wicked one has no power.