This chapter commences a new subject, the discussion of which continues to the close of the 1 Corinthians 14. The general subject is that of spiritual endowments, or the right mode of exercising their spiritual gifts, and the degree of honor which was due to those who had been distinguished by God b... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CONCERNING - it is now time that I should speak of spiritual endowments. He had no doubt been consulted in regard to them, and probably various questions had been proposed, which he now proceeded to answer. SPIRITUAL GIFTS - The word “gifts” is not in the original. The Greek refers to “spiritual... [ Continue Reading ]
YE KNOW ... - This verse is regarded by many as a parenthesis. But it is not necessary to suppose that it is so, or that it does not cohere with that which follows. The design seems to be to remind them of their former miserable condition as idolaters, in order to make them more sensible of their ad... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE I GIVE YOU TO UNDERSTAND - I make known to you. The force of this expression is, “I give you this rule to distinguish,” or by which you may know what influences and operations are from God. The design of the passage is, to give them some simple general guide by which they could at once rec... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS - There are different endowments conferred on Christians. For the meaning of the word “gifts,” see the note at Romans 1:11; compare Romans 5:15; Romans 6:23; Romans 11:29; Rom 12:6; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 7:7. BUT THE SAME SPIRIT - Produced by the same Sp... [ Continue Reading ]
OF ADMINISTRATIONS - Margin, “Ministries.” The word properly denotes “ministries;” so that there are different ranks and grades in the ministries which Christ has appointed, to wit, those specified in 1Co 12:9-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28. BUT THE SAME LORD - This refers evidently to the Lord Jesus, by w... [ Continue Reading ]
OF OPERATIONS - Of works; to wit, of miracles, such as God produces in the church, in the establishment and defense of his religion. There are different operations on the mind and heart; and different powers given to man, or different qualifications in building up and defending his cause. Or it may... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT - The word “manifestation” (φανέρωτις fanerōtis) means properly that which makes manifest, conspicuous, or plain; that which illustrates, or makes any thing seen or known. Thus, conduct manifests the state of the heart; and the actions are a manifestation, or “s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR TO ONE IS GIVEN - In order to show what endowments he refers to, the apostle here particularizes the various gifts which the Holy Spirit imparts in the church. BY THE SPIRIT - By the Holy Spirit; by his agency on the mind and heart. THE WORD OF WISDOM - One he has endowed with wisdom, or has ma... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ANOTHER FAITH - Another shall he distinguished for simple confidence in God; and his endowment is also given by the same Spirit. Many of the most useful people in the church are distinguished mainly for their simple confidence in the promises of God; and often accomplish more by prayer and by the... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ANOTHER THE WORKING OF MIRACLES - Commentators have felt some perplexity in distinguishing this from what is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9, of the gift of healing. it is evident that the apostle there refers to the power of working miracles in healing inveterate and violent diseases. The expres... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ALL THESE - All these various endowments. WORKETH - Produces. All these are to be traced to him. THAT ONE AND THE SELF-SAME SPIRIT - The Holy Spirit, Acts 2. They were all, though so different in themselves, to be traced to the Holy Spirit, just as all the natural endowments of people - their... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS THE BODY IS ONE - The general sentiment which the apostle had been illustrating and enforcing was, that all the endowments which were possessed in the church were the work of the same Holy Spirit, and that they ought to be appropriately cherished and prized, as being all useful and valuable i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY ONE SPIRIT - That is, by the agency or operation of the same Spirit, the Holy Spirit, we have been united into one body. The idea here is the same as that presented above 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:11, by which all the endowments of Christians are traced to the same Spirit. Paul her... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE BODY ... - The body is made up of many members, which have various offices. So it is in the church. We are to expect the same variety there; and we are not to presume either that all will be alike, or that any member that God has placed there will be useless.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE FOOT SHALL SAY ... - The same figure and illustration which Paul here uses occurs also in pagan writers. It occurs in the apologue which was used by Menenius Agrippa, as related by Livy (lib. 2: cap. 32), in which he attempted to repress a rebellion which had been excited against the nobles a... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE WHOLE BODY ... - The idea in this verse is, that all the parts of the body are useful in their proper place, and that it would be as absurd to require or expect that all the members of the church should have the same endowments, as it would be to attempt to make the body “all eye.” If all wer... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH GOD SET THE MEMBERS ... - God has formed the body, with its various members, as he saw would best conduce to the harmony and usefulness of all.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF ALL WERE ONE MEMBER - If there were nothing but an eye, an ear, or a limb, there would be no body The idea which this seems intended to illustrate is, that if there was not variety of talent and endowment in the church, the church could not itself exist. If, for example, there were nothing bu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE EYE CANNOT SAY UNTO THE HAND ... - The hand in its place is as needful as the eye; and the feet as the head. Nay, the eye and the head could not perform their appropriate functions, or would be in a great measure useless but for the aid of the hands and feet. Each is useful in its proper pla... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SEEM TO BE MORE FEEBLE - Weaker than the rest; which seem less able to bear fatigue and to encounter difficulties; which are more easily injured, and which become more easily affected with disease. It is possible that Paul may here refer to the brain, the lungs, the heart, etc., as more feeble... [ Continue Reading ]
WE BESTOW MORE ABUNDANT HONOUR - Margin, “Put on.” The words rendered “abundant honor” here, refer to clothing. We bestow upon them more attention and honor then we do on the face that is deemed comely, and that is not covered and adorned as the other parts of the body are. MORE ABUNDANT COMELINESS... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OUR COMELY PARTS - The face, etc. “Have no need.” No need of clothing or ornament. BUT GOD HATH TEMPERED THE BODY TOGETHER - Literally, “mingled” or mixed; that is, has made to coalesce, or strictly and closely joined. He has formed a strict union; he has made one part dependent on another, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM - Margin, “Division;” see note on 1 Corinthians 11:18. The sense here is, that the body might be united, and be one harmonious whole; that there should be no separate interests; and that all the parts should be equally necessary, and truly dependent on each other; and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHETHER ONE MEMBER SUFFER - One member, or part of the body. ALL THE MEMBERS SUFFER WITH IT - This, we all know, is the case with the body. A pain in the foot, the hand, or the head excites deep solicitude. The interest is not confined to the part affected; but we feel that we ourselves are affe... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW YE - Ye Christians of Corinth, as a part of the whole church that has been redeemed. ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST - The allusion to the human body is here kept up. As all the members of the human body compose one body, having a common head, so it is with all the members and parts of the Christian chur... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GOD HATH SET - That is, has appointed, constituted, ordained. He has established these various orders or ranks in the church. The apostle, having illustrated the main idea that God had conferred various endowments on the members of the church, proceeds here to specify particularly what he meant,... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE ALL APOSTLES? ... - These questions imply, with strong emphasis, that it could not be, and ought not to be, that there should be perfect equality of endowment. It was not a matter of fact that all were equal, or that all were qualified for the offices which others sustained. Whether the arrangem... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT COVET EARNESTLY - Greek “Be zealous for” Ζηλοῦτε Zēloute. This word, however, may be either in the indicative mood (ye do covet earnestly), or in the imperative, as in our translation. Doddridge contends that it should be rendered in the indicative mood, for he says it seems to be a contradict... [ Continue Reading ]