Secondarily
The Key Verse
In 1 Corinthians 12:28, Paul declares: "And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" (KJV). The word "secondarily" translates the Greek deuteron, meaning "second" or "in the second place." Modern translations typically render this as "second" or "secondly" rather than "secondarily," though the meaning is the same.
The Order of Ministry
Paul's use of numerical ordering, first, second, third, indicates that the gifts and offices are not randomly listed but arranged according to a divinely established priority. Apostles hold the primary position, prophets second, and teachers third. After these three, Paul lists additional gifts without numerical ranking: miracles, healing, helping, administration, and tongues. The deliberate ordering suggests that some ministries have foundational importance for the church's life and health.
Why Prophets Are Second
Prophets hold the second position because they serve as conduits of God's revelation, declaring His word to the community. In the early church, before the New Testament was completed, prophets played an essential role in communicating God's will. Ephesians 2:20 describes the church as "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." The apostles and prophets together formed the foundational layer of the church, with apostles having primacy because they were direct witnesses of Christ's resurrection and the authorized bearers of His teaching.
The Purpose of the Ranking
Paul's ranking of gifts serves a pastoral purpose in the context of 1 Corinthians. The Corinthian church was overvaluing spectacular gifts, especially speaking in tongues, while undervaluing other ministries. By placing tongues last in the list and apostles and prophets first, Paul corrects this distortion. The gifts that build up the community through clear communication of God's truth rank higher than those that primarily edify the individual. The ordering teaches that the most important spiritual gifts are those that most directly serve the teaching and shepherding of God's people.
God's Sovereign Appointment
A crucial detail in 1 Corinthians 12:28 is that "God has set" these roles in the church. The gifts and their ordering are not human inventions or community preferences but divine appointments. This echoes Paul's earlier statement that the Spirit distributes gifts "to each one individually as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11). The church does not create its own structure; it receives the structure God provides and operates within it.
Unity in Diversity
The broader context of 1 Corinthians 12 uses the body metaphor to teach that every member and every gift is necessary. The ranking does not imply that lower-ranked gifts are unimportant, any more than the foot is unimportant because it is not the hand (1 Corinthians 12:15). Paul argues that the less honored members deserve greater respect (1 Corinthians 12:22-25). The ordering of gifts serves the health of the whole body, not the elevation of some members above others.
Biblical Context
The word 'secondarily' appears in 1 Corinthians 12:28 within Paul's discussion of spiritual gifts and their ordering in the church. The passage is part of the extended treatment of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14, where Paul addresses the Corinthian church's misunderstanding and misuse of charismatic gifts. The list parallels Ephesians 4:11, which mentions apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers.
Theological Significance
The ordering of gifts with prophets 'secondarily' establishes that the church's structure is divinely ordained, not humanly organized. The ranking prioritizes gifts of communication and teaching over gifts of power and spectacle. This corrects the tendency to value what is dramatic over what is edifying. The passage teaches that every gift has its place in God's design, but foundational teaching ministries are primary.
Historical Background
In the early church, before the New Testament canon was established, prophets served an essential role in communicating God's ongoing direction to local congregations. The apostles held supreme authority as eyewitnesses of Christ's resurrection and authorized interpreters of His teaching. As the New Testament was written and circulated, the foundational roles of apostles and prophets gave way to the permanent ministries of teachers, pastors, and evangelists. The Corinthian church's fascination with tongues reflected broader cultural values in Corinth, where rhetorical display and ecstatic experiences were highly prized.