1 Corinthians 12:10

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 translated discernin ch. 1 Corinthians 11:29, where see note. Here it signifies the faculty of forming a correct judgment on the utterances of spirits. Cf. 1 John 4:1. The word only occurs here and in Romans 14:1 and Hebrews 5:14. In the former place, it is rendered by an adjective, -doubtful"; literally, discerning of disputations; in the latter by a verb.

divers kinds of tongues These were either (1) outpourings of prayer and praise in a language unknown to the speaker or (2) (as Dean Alford in loc.) in a language not ordinarily intelligible to any man. The gift of tongues may possibly have included both (see notes on ch. 14). But it is impossible with Acts 2:9-11 before us, and bearing in mind the fact adduced by Bishop Wordsworth in his commentary on that passage, that we never hear of any one of the Apostles sitting down to learn a foreign language, whereas with all other missionaries this is generally the first thing of which we are told to exclude the idea of foreignlanguages here. "Qui multis gentibus annunciaturus erat, multarum linguarum acceperat gratiam." Jerome.

to another the interpretation of tongues See ch. 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 14:13; 1 Corinthians 14:26-27.