1 Corinthians 12:28

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. The call of other disciples to a less responsible post is recorded in St Luke 10:1. Cf. also Ephesians 4:11.

secondarily prophets Secondarily, i.e. in the second rank in the Church. It may however be translated secondly. Prophets were those who by special gifts of inspiration(see ch. 1 Corinthians 14:1, and note) enlightened the Church on the mysteries of the faith.

thirdly teachers Those who with more ordinary gifts, by the exercise of the reason and judgment, expounded the oracles of God. St Chrysostom remarks that they taught with less authority than the prophets, because what they said was more their own, and less directly from God.

miracles Literally, powers, or faculties (virtutes, Vulgate). See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 1:18. Here it no doubt includes miracles. See ch. 1 Corinthians 4:19-20; 1 Corinthians 5:4 and notes.

helps Helpyngis, Wiclif; helpers, Tyndale. The best commentators are agreed in explaining this to mean the assistance of various kinds which Christians are able to render to each other, such as succouring the needy, tending the sick, teaching the ignorant, and the like. See Acts 20:35, where the verb from which this word is derived is rendered support(i.e. -the weak"). Stanley, however, would regard it as supplying the omission of words which occur in the similar list in 1 Corinthians 12:9, and refer it to the help given to him who speaks with tongues by interpretation. See 1 Corinthians 12:30.

governments Governailis, Wiclif; governors, Tyndale; gubernationes, Vulgate. This would naturally mean the powers which fit a man for the higher positions in the Church. But Stanley (1) for the reason above assigned, as well as (2) from its position and (3) from the fact that it is employed in the Septuagint (Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 20:18; Proverbs 24:6), as the rendering of a Hebrew word signifying wise foresight, would refer it to the discerning of spirits. But the Hebrew word is derived from a word signifying a rope, and the proper signification of the word, as of the word here used, is the steersman's art, the art of guiding aright the vessel of Church or State.

diversities of tongues See note on 1 Corinthians 12:10. "Seest thou where he hath set this gift, and how he everywhere assigns it the last rank?" St Chrysostom.