1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Spiritual Gifts; their origin and character "We have often to remind ourselves that this Epistle was addressed to a Church in a state of faction. One cause of rivalry was the merits of their respective teachers; another was the endowments of various kinds given to the members... [ Continue Reading ]
_concerning spiritual_gifts] Rather (1) spiritual PERSONS, or better (2) spiritual MATTERS, AGENCIES. The word gifts is not in the original. _I would not have you ignorant_ See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 10:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_that ye were Gentiles_ Most modern editors read -that _when_ye were Gentiles" here. The similarity of ὅτε and ὅτι, and the fact that the introduction of the former produces an unfinished construction, may have led to its omission. But if omitted we should be driven to the conclusion that the Corint... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore_ The connection of thought is as follows. When you were heathen you were carried hither and thither by the pretended utterances of your gods, and believed whatever they might tell you. But now you must no longer be the sport of circumstances. There are certain fundamental principles by wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_differences_ The Greek word is the same in 1 Corinthians 12:4. It is used in the Septuagint (1 Chronicles 26:1; 1 Chronicles 8:14; Ezra 6:18) of the divisions or courses of the Priests and Levites. _administrations_ Rather, as margin, MINISTERIES, i.e. services rendered to Christ and His members b... [ Continue Reading ]
_operations_ ἐνεργήματα. _Worchyngis_, Wiclif. Calvin renders _facultas_, but explains this to mean _effectus_. The Apostle here is speaking of _active_power (ἐνέργεια), not latent as in 1 Corinthians 1:18 (where see note). The influences to which he now refers are actually at work, and producing re... [ Continue Reading ]
_to profit withal_ God's object is ever the well-being of man. If man is to become one spirit with God (ch. 1 Corinthians 6:17), his object must be the same. See notes on ch. 1 Corinthians 6:12 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13; 1 Corinthians 10:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the word of wisdom_ Rather, DISCOURSE OF WISDOM, i.e. discourse characterized by and disseminating wisdom. See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 2:7. I have ventured to regard _wisdom_as the direct effect of intuition, _knowledge_as the result of a process. See ch. 1 Corinthians 8:1. This was the view take... [ Continue Reading ]
_faith_ Not the rudimentary principle which was the essential condition of all Christian life, but that higher realization of things Divine which enables a man to remove mountains (St Matthew 17:20; ch. 1 Corinthians 13:2). _the gifts of healing_ As in St Mark 16:18; Acts 3:7-8; Acts 5:15-16; Acts 9... [ Continue Reading ]
_the working of miracles_ Literally, EFFECTS PRODUCED BY THE ACTIVE EXERCISE OF POWERS, as in Acts 5:1-11; Acts 9:40; Acts 13:11; Acts 16:18. _prophecy_ See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 14:1. _discerning of spirits_ Wiclif, _knowynge_. Tyndale, _judgement_. This word is derived from the verb translate... [ Continue Reading ]
_but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit_ This consideration absolutely excludes all boasting, all possibility of setting up one gift as essentially superior to another. It is worthy of remark that what is predicated of God in 1 Corinthians 12:6, is here predicated of His Spirit. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Comparison of the Unity of the Body and the Unity of the Christian Church 12. _For as the body is one, and hath many members_ This simile is a very common one. It is used on several occasions by the Apostle. See Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:16; Ephesians 5:30; Colossians 2:19. It was even familiar to... [ Continue Reading ]
_For by one Spirit_ Literally, IN ONE SPIRIT, i.e. in virtue of His operation. _are we all baptized_ Literally, WERE WE ALL BAPTIZED. All is the work of the Holy Spirit the first arresting of the thoughts and awakening the dormant instincts of the spirit of man, the gradual process whereby convicti... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the body is not one member, but many_ The same leading idea is kept in view the diversity of functions, offices, gifts, but the unity of the body. No more complete or apposite illustration could be given. The body is _one thing_, animated by _one soul_, belonging to _one being_, yet with an inf... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?_ "Observe here the difference between the Christian doctrine of unity and equality, and the world's idea of levelling all to one standard. The intention of God with respect to the body is not that the rude hand should have the delicacy of the e... [ Continue Reading ]
_But now hath God set_ Literally, BUT NOW (that is, _as the case stands_) GOD PLACED, i.e. at creation. _as it hath pleased him_ Literally, AS HE WILLED. See last note. St Paul would have us draw the inference that our own peculiar disposition and talents are appointed us by God, that we may perfor... [ Continue Reading ]
_if they were all one member, where were the body?_ The Christian Church, as St Paul continually teaches, was a _body_; that is, an organism which contained a vast number and variety of parts, each one with its own special function. But if all had the same purpose and work, the body would cease to e... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary_ The more feeble parts of the body, those, that is, which are most delicate, least able to take care of themselves, are by no means the least valuable. The eye or the brain, for instance, are more necessary to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_and those members of the body, which we think to be lets honourable, upon these we bestow_(literally, THESE WE SURROUND WITH) _more abundant honour_ i.e. by our admission that they are necessary to us. "The meanest trades are those with which we can least dispense. A nation may exist without an ast... [ Continue Reading ]
_tempered_ So Wiclif. _Disposed_, Tyndale. _Temperavit_, Vulgate. Literally, MINGLED TOGETHER.... [ Continue Reading ]
_schism_ 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 -c... [ Continue Reading ]
_And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it_ This is a matter of the most ordinary experience in the human body. A pain in any portion, even the most remote from the seats of life, affects the whole. A glance at history will shew us that it is the same with the body politic. Whate... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular_ We here return to the proposition of 1 Corinthians 12:12, rendered more definite and intelligible by what has since been said. The Apostle now says (1) that collectively, Christians are the body of Christ, individually they are His members;... [ Continue Reading ]
_God hath set_ Literally, PLACED, i.e. when He founded the Church. See 1 Corinthians 12:18, of which this is the application. _first apostles_ The Apostles, the founders and rulers of the Church, were first placed in their responsible office. St Matthew 10:1; St Mark 3:13-14; Mark 6:7; St Luke 9:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Are all apostles?_ The common priesthood of every Christian (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9) no more precludes the existence of special offices of authority in the Christian Church than the common priesthood of the Jewish people (Exodus 19:6) precluded the existence of a special order of men appointed to... [ Continue Reading ]
_But covet earnestly_ So Tyndale. _Sue_, Wiclif. _Sectamini_, Calvin. Perhaps, _desire eagerly_. Literally, BE ENVIOUS, or JEALOUS OF. _Aemulamini_, Vulg. Cf. Acts 7:9; Acts 17:5, and ch. 1 Corinthians 13:4. It is translated _zealously affect_in Galatians 4:17-18. It perhaps implies an indirect rebu... [ Continue Reading ]