1 Corinthians 12:1-11

§ 39. THE VARIOUS CHARISMS OF THE ONE SPIRIT. In treating of the questions of Church order discussed in this Div. of the Ep., the Ap. penetrates from the outward and visible to that which is innermost and divinest in the Christian Society: (1) the question of the woman's veil, a matter of social decorum; (2) the observance of the Lord's Supper, a matter of Church communion; and now (3) the operation of the Spirit of God in the Church, wherein lies the very mystery of its life. The words διαιρέσεις in 1 Corinthians 12:4 and πάντα ταῦτα in 1 Corinthians 12:11 give the clue to Paul's intent in this §. Many Cor [1812] took a low and half superstitious view of the Holy Spirit's influence, seeing in such charisms as the “tongues” phenomena analogous to, though far surpassing, pagan manifestations (1 Corinthians 12:2) the proper evidence of His working, while they underrated endowments of a less striking but more vital and serviceable nature (1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Corinthians 14:12). For the moment, Paul's object is twofold: first, to lay down a general criterion of the presence of Christ's Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3), and then to show the wide manifoldness of His working in the community of believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

[1812] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.