Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:25

25. [ἓν] after δοξάζεται, rec. with CDEFG Vetus Lat. Vulg. Peshito Origen. Text אAB.

25. σχίσμα, i.e. discordance of aims and interests. See notes on 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 11:18. God had specially provided against this by giving to those who occupy the less honourable and ornamental positions in society the compensation of being the most indispensable portions of it. The ‘comely parts’—the wealthy, the refined, the cultivated, the intellectual—obtain honour and respect by the very nature of their gifts. God has signified His Will that due honour and respect should be paid to those to whom it is not instinctively felt to be owing, by so ordering society that we cannot do without them. But our class distinctions and jealousies, our conflicts between capital and labour, shew how little Christians have realized this obvious truth.

ἀλλὰ τὸ αὐτὸ ὑπὲρ�. All wars, insurrections, conflicts between class and class, arise from forgetfulness of the fact that the interests of all mankind are identical. Nor can this forgetfulness be charged upon one nation or one class of society. ‘The spirit and the law of the Life of Christ is to be that of every member of the Church, and the law of the Life of Christ is that of sympathy. How little, during the eighteen hundred years, have the hearts of men been got to beat together! Nor can we say that this is the fault of the capitalists and the masters only. It is the fault of the servants and dependents also.’ Robertson.

μεριμνῶσιν. See note on 1 Corinthians 7:32. Here, again, the A.V. ‘have the same care’ has ceased to express the meaning of the translators. The Apostle’s expression is stronger, ‘have the same anxiety.’ The troubles of one member should be the troubles of all.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:25

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