1 Corinthians 12:11

but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.

'but all these' -i.e. all these gifts.

'worketh the one and the same Spirit' -note the emphasis on unity. 'So they're not given to set people apart from one another. No clubs were to be formed for prophets or tongue-speakers.' (McGuiggan p. 171)

'dividing to each one severally' -'distributing to each individual' (Ber)

'even as he will' -'just as He wills.' (Hebrews 2:4) It was the Spirit Who decided who received which gift.

Points to Note:

1. The Spirit "wills", indicating that the Spirit is not an impersonal force.

2. 'And they were given as the Spirit willed so there was to be no jealousy and there was to be no arrogance as though someone's super-piety just demanded that he get the gift of his choice.' (McGuiggan p. 171) 'Even as he wills' should remove all complaint on our part and thus all envy, on the one hand, and all boasting, on the other.' (Lenski p. 512)

3. Each gift was important, noble and spiritual

THE BODY AND ITS MEMBERS:

'The exercise of the various gifts of the Spirit by members of the church "for the common good" is now compared to the functioning of the various parts of the body for the health of the whole.' (F.F. Bruce pp. 119-120)

This is. "unity in diversity", and yet not in doctrine (1 Corinthians 12:3), but in function or area of service. Paul's point is that 'diversity' in the body is vital for the health of the body, and that diversity of function or area of service among the members is. greater argument for unity than for division. In fact, the gifts were designed to secure unity, to increase interdependence, to draw people closer together, rather than cause division.

'To illustrate this important truth, Paul employs the familiar figure or parable of the human body. It had been used frequently by Greek writers in reference to the state, or the "body politic."' (Erdman p. 126)