Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

“But,” while the Spirit prompts in all Christians the simultaneous confession Jesus is Lord, this unity of faith bears multiform fruit in “distributions of grace-gifts, services, workings”. These are not separate classes of πνευματικά, but varied designations of the πνευματικὰ collectively a trinity of blessing associating its possessors in turn with the Spirit, the Lord, and God the fountain of all. What is a χάρισμα (see 1 Corinthians 1:7) in respect of its quality and ground, is a διακονία in view of its usefulness (see 1 Corinthians 12:21-25), and an ἐνέργημα in virtue of the power operative therein. The identity of the first and second of the syns. rests on that of “the Lord” and “the Spirit” (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17 f.), and that of the second and third upon the relation of Christ to the Father (see John 5:17 ff; John 14:8-14). For the Trinitarian structure of the passage, cf. 2 Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 4:4 ff. Κύριος and διακονία are correlative; all Church-ministry is directed by “the Lord” and rendered primarily to Him (1Co 4:1, 1 Corinthians 7:12; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 12:11; Romans 14:4-9; Matthew 25:40, etc.). διακονία embraces every “work of ministration” (Ephesians 4:12): gradually the term narrowed to official and esp. bodily ministrations, to the duties of the διάκονος (Philippians 1:1, etc.); see 1 Corinthians 16:15, and cf. Romans 15:31 with 1 Corinthians 11:13 for the twofold use. ἐνέργημα (effectus, rather than operatio, Vg [1841]) the result of ἐνεργέω; this favourite Pauline vb [1842] signifies an effective, and with ἐν an immanent activity. τὰ πάντα covers the whole sphere in which spiritual charisms operate: cf. Ephesians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 12:2 refers the same πάντα ἐνεργεῖν to “the Spirit,” who is God indwelling; Power, in its largest, ultimate sense, “belongeth unto God” cf. Ephesians 1:11, etc., Philippians 2:13) “the same God, who works … in all” (Romans 3:29 f.), knowing no respect of persons and operative in the doings of every Christian man; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30 a, and note. διαιρέσεις appears to be act [1843], dividings, distributings, rather than pass [1844], differences, varieties; see 1 Corinthians 12:11. The pl [1845] points to the constantly repeated dealings out of the Spirit's store of gifts to the members of Christ's body.

[1841] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[1842] verb

[1843] active voice.

[1844] passive voice.

[1845] plural.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

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