Although we can't know for certain the events surrounding Paul's writing of 1 Corinthians, it may have happened something like this... (the photos are from Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head's recent holiday - making the most of the heat wave).
Narrator: It is the year 55 AD. We arrive, somewhere in
Paul [kneeling, praying]: ... How could they be so stupid? How many times do I have to tell them? God you know how hard I’ve tried with these Christians in
(Mr. Potato Head enjoying a diet coke on the beach)
[Paul gets up and paces the room, clearly agitated and looks at his watch.]
Just look at the time! Where is Sosthenes? You just can’t get the staff these days. We must get that letter in the post by the end of the week, and there is still so much to say. Now where was I…?
[Takes a scroll off the table, and unrolls it and begins to read…]
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed… Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good … wisdom … knowledge … faith … healing … miracles … prophecy … discernment … tongues … interpretation … All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Excellent – that seems pretty straight forward and clear – not much that can be misunderstood there. Now, what’s next?
Where is Sosthenes? I’d hoped we could brain storm – I need to find an illustration that emphasises that everyone in the church is important, and that every single one of us has a vital, but different role to play.
[Suddenly there is a commotion at the door, as Sosthenes bursts in, out of breath.]
Sosthenes: Sorry, sorry, sorry – I know I said I’d be here at 7 Paul, but you should have seen the traffic on the ring road. Overturned chariot apparently.
But I did leave a little later than normal, because my nephew is staying and he was showing me a great new toy…
P [cutting in - firmly]: Can we get down to work Sosthenes – I pay you to write, and we need to get this letter done by the end of the week. I talk – you write. Right?
S: But what will they come up with next! I mean Mr. Potato Head. It’s just brilliant.
P: [Getting slightly more irate]. Sosthenes! Will you shut up, get the flip chart out, sit down and get ready to brain storm – please.
[Sosthenes gets the flip chart out, sits down, unrolls a scroll and gets out a pen]
[Paul positions himself by the flip chart]
P: Right that’s better: [pause – deep breath] now I need some kind of illustration to show how within the church everyone is important and has a vital but different role to play.
S: Before we start hadn’t we’d better…[cut off by Paul who completes the sentence…]
P: Pray – I’ve already done that – whilst waiting for you…
S: No, I was going to suggest: hadn’t we better take a look at Mr. Potato Head – I brought him along, but I had to promise my nephew I’d bring him back before tea time. If you don’t see him now, you may not get another chance.
[As talking Sosthenes takes out a bag and reveals Mr. Potato Head].
[Paul sits opposite Sosthenes and leans across the table]
P: Sosthenes – read my lips – I’M … NOT … INTERESTED … IN … MR. … POTATO … HEAD.
S: But look – you can fix his arms here, or here, and if you get more than one set you can fix more than 2 arms, and then eyes where you like – it’s just brilliant. My nephew plays with this for hours.
P [with head in hands]: Sosthenes – do I look the slightest bit interested in Mr. Potato Head. What a stupid idea. What’s the point of having 4 arms – where are the legs going to go, and without legs how’s he going to stand up…And if he’s all eyes how’s he going to hear – he needs his arms in the right place, his legs in the right place, his eyes in the right place, his ears in the right place…
[Suddenly Paul jumps to his feet]
P: Sosthenes – you’re a genius – give him to me and get writing…
[Paul takes Mr. Potato Head and paces the room and starts to dictate…]
(Mrs. Potato Head enjoying the sun - safely)
P: You know that Mr. Potato Head is made up of many parts: arms, legs, eyes, ears, nose, moustache…and yet he is still one body. Now imagine what would happen if an eye decided it wanted to be an ear – how would Mr. Potato Head see where he was going? Or if Mr. Potato Head was covered in eyes how would he hear anything or smell anything? Mr. Potato Head needs every part to be in the right place doing what it does best – eyes seeing, ears hearing, nose smelling…
Right Sosthenes – read that back to me – let’s see how it flows…
Narrator: And so with some further editing Paul and Sosthenes finished their letter to the Corinthians. Unfortunately Mr. Potato Head lost out in the redacting process.
