Spiritual gifts. The charismata, or special endowments of supernatural energy, such as prophecy and speaking with tongues. "Before this consciousness of a higher power than their own, the ordinary and natural faculties of the human mind seemed to retire, to make way for loftier aspirations, more im... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye were carried away [α π α γ ο μ ε ν ο ι]. Blindly hurried. Rev., led. Dumb idols. Compare Psalms 115:5; Psalms 115:7. And Milton : "The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving." " Hymn on the Nativity " The contrast is implied with the living vo... [ Continue Reading ]
Calleth Jesus accursed [λ ε γ ε ι α ν α θ ε μ α ι η σ ο υ ς]. Lit., saith Anathema Jesus. Rev., preserving the formula, saith Jesus is Anathema. Compare Acts 18:6, and see on offerings, Luke 21:5. Paul uses only the form ajnaqema, and always in the sense of accursed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Diversities [δ ι α ι ρ ε σ ε ι ς]. Only here in the New Testament. It may also be rendered distributions. There is no objection to combining both meanings, a distribution of gifts implying a diversity. Ver. 11, however, seems to favor distributions. Gifts [χ α ρ ι σ μ α τ ω ν]. See on Romans 1:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
Operations [ε ν ε ρ γ η μ α τ α]. Rev., workings. Outward manifestations and results of spiritual gifts. The kindred word ejnergeia energy is used only by Paul : and only of superhuman good or evil. Compare Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 2:12. See on Mark 6:14. Worketh [ε ν ε ρ γ ω ν]. E... [ Continue Reading ]
Faith. Not saving faith in general, which is the common endowment of all Christians, but wonder - working faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Prophecy. Not mere foretelling of the future. Quite probably very little of this element is contemplated; but utterance under immediate divine inspiration : delivering inspired exhortations, instructions, or warnings. See on prophet, Luke 7:26. The fact of direct inspiration distinguished prophecy f... [ Continue Reading ]
Made to drink [ε π ο τ ι σ θ η μ ε ν]. The verb means originally to give to drink, from which comes the sense of to water or irrigate. The former is invariably the sense in the gospels and Revelation; the latter in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, and by some here. The reference is to the reception of the Spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
The body. The student will naturally recall the fable of the body and the members uttered by Menenius Agrippa, and related by Livy, 2, 32; but the illustration seems to have been a favorite one, and occurs in Seneca, Marcus Antoninus, and others. 122... [ Continue Reading ]
Set [ε θ ε τ ο]. See on John 14:16, where the same word is used by Christ of appointing His followers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Seem to be [δ ο κ ο υ ν τ α - υ π α ρ χ ε ι ν]. The allusion is probably to those which seem to be weaker in their original structure, naturally. This may be indicated by the use of uJparcein to be (see on James 2:15); compare einai to be, in ver. 23. Others explain of those which on occasion seem t... [ Continue Reading ]
We bestow [π ε ρ ι τ ι θ ε μ ε ν]. Elsewhere in the New Testament the word is used, without exception, of encircling with something; either putting on clothing, as Matthew 27:28; or surrounding with a fence, as Matthew 21:33; or of the sponge placed round the reed, as Mark 14:36; John 19:29. So evid... [ Continue Reading ]
Tempered together [σ υ ν ε κ ρ α σ ε ν]. Only here and Hebrews 4:2. Lit., mixed together. Here the idea of mutual adjustment is added to that of mingling. Compare Plato on God's creating the soul and body. "He made her out of the following elements, and on this manner. Of the unchangeable and indivi... [ Continue Reading ]
Suffer with it. Compare Plutarch of Solon's Laws : "If any one was beaten or maimed or suffered any violence, any man that would and was able might prosecute the wrongdoer; intending by this to accustom the citizens, like members of the same body, to resent and be sensible of one another's injuries... [ Continue Reading ]
In particular [ε κ μ ε ρ ο υ ς]. Rev., better, severally. Each according to his own place and function. See on part, Romans 11:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath set [ε θ ε τ ο]. See on ver. 18. The middle voice implies for His own use. Miracles. Note the change from endowed persons to abstract gifts, and compare the reverse order, Romans 12:6-8. Helps [α ν τ ι λ η μ ψ ε ι ς]. Rendered to the poor and sick as by the deacons. See on hath holpen, Luke 1... [ Continue Reading ]
The best [τ α κ ρ ε ι τ τ ο ν α]. The correct reading is ta meizona the greater. So Rev. Yet [ε τ ι]. Some construe with more excellent, rendering yet more excellent. So Rev. Others render moreover, and give the succeeding words a superlative force : "and moreover a most excellent way," etc. See on... [ Continue Reading ]