Afterthought
Puritan Board Senior
In 1 Cor. 12, the church is referred to as the "body of Christ." Which church is it? I note, first, that in Jus Divinum, this passage was used to show that baptism belonged to the general visible church, rather than to particular churches. I'll quote the place, because its wording is better than my summary of it could be: "y the Ordinance of Baptism, we are all admitted into one body, the general visible Church (1 Cor. 12:12), and some were baptized into the general body, that thereby were not admitted into any particular Church, as the Eunuch, Acts 8." (On page 68 here). So it appears the "one body" is interpreted to be the general visible Church, such that one could be in the "one body" without being in a particular Church.
Nevertheless, I find that the various duties in 1 Cor. 12 seem to only be possible within a particular Church; hence, it seems that the being in Christ's body requires participation in a particular Church of some kind. I also note, that this passage is also appealed to as an example of the invisible Church; so being in Christ's body is something invisible (Shaw's Exposition: "The Scripture teaches us that there is a Church which is the spouse of Christ, and whose glory is internal (Ps. xiv. 13); which is the mystical body of Christ, conjoined with him by spiritual bonds (Eph. i. 23); and the individual members of which are joined together in one body by one Spirit—1 Cor. xii. 13. But these things cannot be discerned by the senses, and we must, therefore, believe that there is a catholic or universal invisible Church, composed of true believers.").
Anyone wish to help me by sorting this out?
As a follow up question, if this passage is seen as referring to the general visible Church, what is the contents of the "one faith" referred to in the similar passage of Ephesians? Is it simply the basics of Christianity, or is it all of the truth of Christianity? And confessionally, what is the "true religion" referred to in WCF 25 "Of the Church"? Is it also simply the basics of Christianity (I don't see how it could be the Reformed religion, since that would then seem to exclude much from the general visible Church)?
And finally, if the sacraments belong to the general visible Church, does that mean one need not be a member of a particular Church to take part of the Lord's Supper (e.g., say one was baptized but never joined a particular Church, or moved to a new area, having preiviously been baptized in and leaving a particular Church that did not take membership seriously)? Why, why not?
Nevertheless, I find that the various duties in 1 Cor. 12 seem to only be possible within a particular Church; hence, it seems that the being in Christ's body requires participation in a particular Church of some kind. I also note, that this passage is also appealed to as an example of the invisible Church; so being in Christ's body is something invisible (Shaw's Exposition: "The Scripture teaches us that there is a Church which is the spouse of Christ, and whose glory is internal (Ps. xiv. 13); which is the mystical body of Christ, conjoined with him by spiritual bonds (Eph. i. 23); and the individual members of which are joined together in one body by one Spirit—1 Cor. xii. 13. But these things cannot be discerned by the senses, and we must, therefore, believe that there is a catholic or universal invisible Church, composed of true believers.").
Anyone wish to help me by sorting this out?
As a follow up question, if this passage is seen as referring to the general visible Church, what is the contents of the "one faith" referred to in the similar passage of Ephesians? Is it simply the basics of Christianity, or is it all of the truth of Christianity? And confessionally, what is the "true religion" referred to in WCF 25 "Of the Church"? Is it also simply the basics of Christianity (I don't see how it could be the Reformed religion, since that would then seem to exclude much from the general visible Church)?
And finally, if the sacraments belong to the general visible Church, does that mean one need not be a member of a particular Church to take part of the Lord's Supper (e.g., say one was baptized but never joined a particular Church, or moved to a new area, having preiviously been baptized in and leaving a particular Church that did not take membership seriously)? Why, why not?