Day 12 - What's Wrong With the Good Ol' Internet Machine?

Today's reading finishes off 1 Corinthians.  I have a lot of notes on this reading too, so let's jump in!

Parts of the Whole
Chapter 12 of 1 Cor talks about the body of Christ.  How we are all made unique, but that uniqueness is crafted by God.  What I like about this chapter is that it reaffirms Gods love for us no matter how imperfect we are.  It's just another reason why we should love Him back even more.  Verse 18 reads:

"But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."

This chapter not only address Gods love for us as we are, but it also touches on the love that we should have for each other in our own uniqueness.  Verses 24 -25 read:

"...But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other."

This chapter is a reminder that:

1. I'm not perfect.
2. Others are not perfect.
3. That God made is this way.
4. That God intended us to work as whole (one body) to bring Him glory.

Love is...
Can I really journal about today's reading without including this?  This was read by my dad as he did our wedding ceremony, and with good cause.  This should be part of my daily mantra as I wake up and go to bed.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Cor 13:4-7

A Contradiction?
"²²Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"" 1 Cor 14:22-25

I'm confused here.  IF Tongues are a sign for the unbelievers (verse 22), then why would it make an unbeliever tell the church that they are "out of your mind" when they hear it (verse 23)?  Conversely, if prophecy is not for unbelievers (verse 22), then why would it make an unbeliever "fall down and worship God" (verse 25)?

It seems that verse 22 is backwards.  Am I reading this wrong?  I wasn't able to find a resource on-line that could help me with this one.

The Trinity Hierarchy
"When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." 1 Cor 15:28

What does this mean?  Is Christ not subject to God right now?  What about the Holy Spirit?  I looked on-line for a little help with this one, but couldn't find anything.  Boy! The good ol' Internet machine must be broken today!!

The Second and Last
I had heard this term before, but never really looked into the meaning of it.  But reading it in 1 Cor 15:45 gave me pause. So I underlined it and did a little research on-line.  I found this summary:

"It is the first epistle to the Corinthians alone, and in the same passage, which gives us the two important terms, so closely related as they are to one another, of “Second Man” and “Last Adam” (15:45, 47). The one looks backward; the other forward. The “Second Man” implies that before Him we have only the firstman, repeated and multiplied, in his descendants; now a new type has appeared; and that this, which is the full and final thought of man, may become the true heir of the inheritance, the “Second Man” is the “Last Adam.” He is the “last” not “second,” because plainly there is no other to succeed Him."

http://www.biblecentre.org/topics/fwg_crowned_christ_7_last_adam.htm

Persevere
A reminder:

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Cor 15:58

Personal Touch
At the end of this letter Paul writes his own greeting.  After reading through the entire letter in two sittings, this personal touch at the end really shows Paul's love for these people.

Wrapping it up now!