1 Corinthians 12:15,16

1 Corinthians 12:15-16 represent with lively fancy the foot and ear in turn organs of activity and intelligence as disclaiming their part in the body, because they have not the powers of the hand and eye : an image of jealous or discouraged Cor [1884] Christians, emulous of the shining gifts of their fellows. In each case it is the lowlier but kindred organ that desponds, pars de parte quam simillima loquens (Bg [1885]): cf. 1 Corinthians 12:21. οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ σώματος, “I am not of the body” not a mere partitive expression; it signifies dependence (pendens ab: cf. Galatians 3:10; Titus 1:10, etc.; Wr [1886], p. 461), hence derived status or character. Paul contradicts, in identical terms, the self-disparagement of the two chagrined members: οὐ παρὰ τοῦτο κ. τ. λ. must be read as a statement “it is not therefore not of the body” (R.V., Bg [1887], Mr [1888], Hn [1889], Hf [1890], Ed [1891], El [1892], Bt [1893], Sm [1894]); not a question (A.V., Cv [1895], Bz [1896], Est., D.W [1897], Al [1898], Gd [1899]), which would require μὴ instead of οὐ “is it for this reason not of the body?” For παρὰ with acc [1900] of reason (along of this), see parls.: “in accordance with this,” viz., the disclaimer just made (so Mr [1901], Hn [1902], Hf [1903], Ev [1904], El [1905], Er [1906] deplorans sortem suam). The foot or ear does not sever itself from the body by distinguishing itself from hand or eye; its pettish argument (ἐὰν εἴπῃ κ. τ. λ.) leaves it where it was. Gd [1907], Ed [1908], and others, less aptly refer τοῦτο not to the saying of the foot, etc., but to the fact that it is not hand, etc. For double οὐ, cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:9.

[1884] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[1885] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[1886] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[1887] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[1888] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[1889] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[1890] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[1891] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[1892] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[1893] J. A. Beet's St. Paul's Epp. to the Corinthians (1882).

[1894] P. Schmiedel, in Handcommentar zum N.T. (1893).

[1895] Calvin's In Nov. Testamentum Commentarii.

[1896] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[1897].W. De Wette's Handbuch z. N. T.

[1898] Alford's Greek Testament.

[1899] F. Godet's Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng. Trans.).

[1900] accusative case.

[1901] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[1902] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[1903] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[1904] T. S. Evans in Speaker's Commentary.

[1905] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[1906] Erasmus' In N.T. Annotationes.

[1907] F. Godet's Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng. Trans.).

[1908] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2