LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Each One of You
In 1 Corinthians the expression "each one" abounds, and this refers to personal responsibilities and privileges. It does not refer to the situation of the whole church as a body, but to that of the individual believer. The Corinthians had taken a strange, very reprehensible path. In that situation, the apostle considers that the responsibilities were to be assumed by each individual member.
They had taken sides with the different apostles, generating divisions within the church. Therefore, the first "each one" refers to this: "Each one of you says: I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ" (1:12). Each one has chosen a favorite apostle, and this has caused division. So, Paul calls them to attention. They should not lean toward one worker or another, but see that the body of Christ is not divided.
Chapter 3 is where the expression "each one" is most abundant, and there is also "some one", which means something similar. This chapter is, of all the chapters of the Bible, the one that speaks most clearly about the judgments of believers and the future rewards or punishments they will receive for their works. Each believer will have to give an account of what has to do with himself, not with respect to others.
In chapter 7 this expression appears three more times, now referring to personal responsibility concerning marriage (v. 17), circumcision (v. 20), and slavery (v. 24). Everyone, responsibly, must decide what is best concerning these matters which, in his time, were difficult to resolve, especially the last two.
Later in chapter 11 this expression appears twice, this time referring to the Lord's Supper (vs. 21, 28). They were committing abuses at the Supper; therefore, they need to order their hearts in this matter, to test themselves before doing so. Because of this sin, he tells them, "there are many sick and infirm among you, and many sleep".
Now in chapter 12 the expression "each one" appears four other times, this time referring to the personal privileges of the believer. These privileges are of two types: their condition of being members of the body of Christ, and their location in it (vs. 27, 18), on the one hand, and of having received from the Holy Spirit "the manifestation of the Spirit to profit" (vs. 7, 11), on the other.
In chapter 14 are the personal privileges (and responsibilities) in the church meetings. Each believer has something to contribute to the meeting, be it psalm, doctrine, language, revelation or interpretation (v. 26). Finally, in chapter 15, this expression appears once, referring to the resurrection. Just as Christ was resurrected, "each one" will also be resurrected (v. 23).
It is interesting to note that, this epistle being a masterly exposition of the church as a body, this personal emphasis of responsibilities and privileges is so strongly present. This clearly suggests that the reality of the body of Christ -of which we are each a particular member- does not exempt us from our personal reality as particular believers. And this reality clearly contemplates inescapable responsibilities, and wonderful privileges.