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Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.
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This is the Epistle selection to be read aloud on the third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C, according to the lectionary for the Episcopal Church. It will follow a tandem of Old Testament and Psalm readings, where Nehemiah will tell of a reading of the Book of Law by Ezra, where we read, “Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great elohim, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.” Psalm 19 then has David singing, “Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me; then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.” All will then accompany a reading from Luke, where Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, where we are told: “And [Jesus] rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”’
The above reading is twenty verses in length. It will most likely be read aloud by some volunteer, one who thinks he or she can win ‘Brownie points’ with God, especially for taking on the task of reading four hundred words [Word Count] publicly. It has been my personal experience to listen to people with nasally, whiny voices, or those who speak so softly a pin dropping disturbs all ability to hear what is said, so anything over a few verses become torture on the ears. While it is doubtful the reader understands anything more than thinking “I hope I don’t mispronounce anything,” it is almost a certainty that no one in the pews will hear anything more than the noise made by adults in a Charley Brown cartoon [“wah, wah, wah”]. This reading is most important to grasp; but no Episcopal priest will ever begin to address the truth contained in these words, if they address this reading at all. Therefore, I will give a full bore breakdown of that which should be known.
The weak of heart should not attempt this discernment.
These twenty verses must be seen as segments of statements, each of which should be pondered slowly and with prayer, in order to grasp what one is being told by Paul – a Saint. I will present each segment written, with a closer-to-the-truth translation into English, than the one above. I have placed all uses of “kai” in bold type, denoting where importance should be found. Additionally, all capitalized words have been highlighted in yellow. The reason for this will be addressed afterwards. Please ponder these segments as I have produced.
12. Exactly as indeed this body one exists ,
kai organs-limbs many possesses ,
all now those members-organs of the body ,
many existing ,
one exists body ;
in this manner kai this Christ .
13. kai indeed within one Spirit ,
ourselves all in one body were baptized ,
whether Jews whether Greeks ,
whether slaves whether free ;
kai all one Spirit we were given to drink .
14. Kai indeed body not exists one member-organ ,
except many .
15. if should say this foot ,
Because not I exist a hand ,
not I exist from out of this body ,
not alongside this ,
not exists from out of the body .
16. kai if should say this ear ,
Saying not I exist an eye ,
not exists from out of this body ,
not alongside of this ,
not exists from out of this body .
17. if all this body an eye
where this hearing ?
if all hearing
where this sense of smell ?
18. At this moment now this God has arranged these members-organs ,
one every one of themselves in this body ,
just as he desired .
19, if now existed those all one member-organ ,
in what place this body ?
20. just at hand now ,
many indeed members-organs ,
one now body .
21. Not is able now this eye to say this hand ,
Necessary of you not I possess .
or further this head these feet ,
Need of you not I possess .
22. except many more ,
those supposed members-organs of the body without strength being in possession ,
necessary to exist ;
23. kai those they seem less honorable to exist of the body ,
these value greater we place around ;
kai those shapeless of ourselves ,
embellishment abundant it possesses ;
24. those now influences of ourselves ,
not necessary possess .
However this god has united this body
this coming up short more abundant having been given value ,
25. so that not should exist dissension in the body ,
except this same for the sake of each other should care for ,
those members-organs .
26. kai if suffers one member-organ ,
suffers together with whole those members-organs ;
if is glorified [one] member-organ ,
rejoice with all those members-organs .
27. Yourselves now exist body of Christ ,
members-organs from share .
28. Kai some indeed have been accustomed this God in this assembly ,
in the beginning messengers [apostles] ,
second prophets ,
third rabbis [teachers] ,
thereafter abilities to perform ,
thereafter freely given of grace of healing ,
those helping ,
those governing ,
offspring of tongues .
29. not all are messengers [apostles] ?
not all are prophets ?
not all are rabbis [teachers] ?
not all having abilities to perform ?
30. not all freely given of grace of healing ?
not all in tongues do speak ?
not all translate to interpret ?
31. be jealous now those gifts those in the widest sense .
Kai now ,
according to a surpassing excellence path ,
to yourselves I point out .
As I have done in the past, as a ‘shortcut’ to discerning such long passages from an Epistle, I have taken only the capitalized words and presented them as a ‘hidden message’ contained within the whole. After having read these selected verses in a slow and methodical manner (not some rush ‘to get it over with!’), the capitalized word are [in Greek]: “Kathaper Christos – Pneumati Ioudaioi Hellēnes – Kai Hoti – Hoti – Nyni Theos – Ou Chreian Chreian – Alla – Hymeis Christou - Kai Theos - Kai”. Here, the dashes reflect verses separating words.
The literal English translation (from above) is then: “Exactly as of Christ – Spirit Jews Greeks – Kai – Because – Saying – At this moment God – Not Necessary Need – However – Yourselves of Christ – Kai God – Kai”. It should not take much to see how Yahweh led the pen of Paul to write a message that the brain of Paul could not have figured out. This is the amazing power of the “divine tongues,” which is listed in the traits of Saints. Notice how there is no mention of “Jesus,” while “of Christ” and “God” is written twice, each. This says, in order to be Jesus reborn and act in his name as a Saint, one must be Anointed by God, being “of Christ” in His name [Yahweh].
Because this reading selection is more than simply twenty verses [that’s a lot!!!], being seventy-nine segments (with each segment a complete sentence or statement to analyze), the test of a true Christian is a willingness [out of deep love!] to discern the truth for oneself [a “self” equals a “soul”]. The lazy pewples that snore while someone actually does the reading aloud [often quite poorly] are unfit to call themselves [ibid on the self-soul ref.] “Christians.” This reading is actually calling them out. Therefore, I will simply address the grand scope of this whole reading [after showing you the capitalized words focus].
In this selection, the “church” is assumed to be the “body” of which Paul wrote. The word “ekklēsia” only appears once in this reading. That word is translated by the NRSV as “church,” but you will note how I translated it to say “assembly” [in verse 28a]. The Greek word translates as “ an assembly, a (religious) congregation,” where “church” takes on the connotation of a Christian religion. The Hebrew word “sunagógé” means, “a bringing together, an assembling, a synagogue.” So, knowing Paul was a Jews and he named “Jews” in this chapter, there is no reason to place some denominational “Christian” value on the word “ekklēsia.” Therefore, the “body” that is “of Christ kai God” is Paul only making reference to those who are truly Christian; and those then included both Jews and Greeks.
To ponder these words of Paul, knowing they are all inspired by Yahweh – the Mind of Christ [not the ‘last name’ of Jesus] – the truth of what Jesus defined a “church” to be [again, “ekklēsia”] is wherever two or more “assemble in my name.” That means two or more souls have been reborn as Jesus. It does not mean people who know how to say the name Jesus. Thus, when Jesus said, “there I exist in the midst of them,” the “exist in the midst” means being one with their souls. This that Paul says confirms that.
This reading is SO IMPORTANT to understand, because it makes clear why the world is going to hell in a handbasket. There are multitudes of ‘do-nothings’ parading around as Christians, when everything they do is a sin. They condemn their souls by lying, when they claim to be “in the name of Christ.” Evil souls have risen to overtake all the institutions that claim to be denominations of Christianity, with all of those leaders playing the role of Pied Piper, leading lost souls to damnation … and they gleefully dance along behind those pipers.
In these twenty verses are fifteen references that translate as “all, whole, complete” : “panta, pantes, and holon.” This is not a “We welcome everyone because Jesus dined with sinners” bull crap. Certainly, every soul is welcomed to marry Yahweh and receive His Spirit, being thereby cleaned of sins, so His Son can resurrect in a non-sinner’s soul. When Jesus is there in one’s midst, it is because the Father has wiped all the sinners who would ‘dine with him’ clean of sins. Only Yahweh can clean, because it is done via baptism of His Spirit. There is no pope, archbishop, presiding bishop, or grand pooh-bah that can baptize a faggot, murderer, or corrupt politician, making them able to receive the soul of Jesus, able to truly call themselves [that self-soul thing again] “Christians.”
Being cleaned of sin so Jesus can be one with one's soul means: NO MORE SINNING! Jesus does not make little visits, forgive all the sins and then leave. Jesus does not leave with a kiss and a, "See you next time" goodbye wish. Jesus is NOT like your grandma or aunt!!! Being married to Yahweh and bearing His Son in one's soul is a FOREVER event, meaning a true CHRISTian does not sit in pews week after week [or on special occasions], never going into ministry [saying, "That's what we pay the priests to do"].
I highly recommend studying this reading; and, when time comes for some hired hand to pander to sinners with this reading selection, stand in the middle of the sermon and demand the truth be known. The sinners wearing robes will make themselves [their souls] known; and, they should be shamed publicly. A public shaming is much better on the soul than is eternal damnation at judgment.
As a very deep reading that no Episcopal priest will ever have time to explain truthfully [within a ten minute limit on public orations], the elders of the Church knew the truth and chose this reading as an after the Epiphany exercise in learning. A sermon is NOTHING if it does not TEACH THE TRUTH to those seeking to know the truth. Christianly is not a club, like membership to a gym, where actual exercise is wholly optional [just keep paying the dues to enjoy that association with fitness]. Being truly Christian is the Epiphany of being reborn as Jesus, Anointed by the Father as His Son – a true Christ complete with the Spirit. This reading says what those after Christmas gifts will be found to do. If one cannot do ALL the things listed, then one is a liar; and, liars do not end up in a good place.