Now (1) concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you (a) ignorant. (1) Now he enters into the third part of this treatise touching the right use of spiritual gifts, in which he gives the Corinthians plainly to understand that they abused them. For they that excelled bragged ambitiou... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) Ye know that ye were (b) Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. (2) He reproves the same by comparing their former state with that in which they were at this time, being endued with those excellent gifts. (b) As touching God's service and the covenant, mere stranger... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus (c) accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (3) The conclusion: know you therefore that you cannot so much as move your lips to honour Christ at all, except by... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the (d) same Spirit. (4) In the second place, he lays another foundation, that is, that these gifts are different, as the functions also are different and their offices different, but that one self same Spirit, Lord, and God is the giver of all these gift... [ Continue Reading ]
And there are diversities of (e) operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. (e) So Paul calls that inward power which comes from the Holy Spirit, and makes men fit for wonderful things.... [ Continue Reading ]
But the manifestation of the Spirit is (f) given to every man to (g) profit withal. (f) The Holy Spirit opens and shows himself freely in the giving of these gifts. (g) To the use and benefit of the church.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of (h) wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; (5) He declares this manifold diversity, and reckons up the principal gifts, beating that into their heads which he said before, that is, that all these things proceeded from one and t... [ Continue Reading ]
To another the (i) working of miracles; to another (k) prophecy; to another (l) discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (i) By "working" he means those great workings of God's mighty power, which pass and excel among his miracles, as th... [ Continue Reading ]
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally (6) as he will. (6) He adds moreover somewhat else, that is, that although these gifts are unequal, yet they are most wisely divided, because the will of the Spirit of God is the rule of this distribution.... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: (8) so also [is] (m) Christ. (7) He sets forth his former saying by a similitude taken from the body: this, he says, is manifestly seen in the body, whose members are different, but ye... [ Continue Reading ]
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into (n) one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to (o) drink into one Spirit. (n) To become one body with Christ. (o) By one quickening drink of the Lord's blood, we are made partakers of his Spirit alo... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) For the body is not one member, but many. (9) He amplifies that which followed of the similitude, as if he should say, "The unity of the body is not prevented by this diversity of members, and furthermore it could not be a body if it did not consist of many members, and those being different.... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (10) Now he builds his doctrine upon the foundations which he has laid: and first of all he continues in his purposed similitude, and afterward he goes to the matter plainly and simply. And... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the smelling? (11) Again speaking to them, he shows them that if that should come to pass which they desire, that is, that all should be equal one to another, there would follow a destruction o... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. (12) Now on the other hand, he speaks to those who were endued with more excellent gifts, exhorting them not to despise the inferiors as unprofitable, and as though they served... [ Continue Reading ]
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be (p) more feeble, are necessary: (p) Of the smallest and vilest offices, and therefore mentioned last among the rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
And those [members] of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant (q) honour; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness. (q) We more carefully cover them.... [ Continue Reading ]
That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same (r) care one for another. (r) Should bestow their operations and offices to the profit and preservation of the whole body.... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (13) Now he applies this same doctrine to the Corinthians without any allegory, warning them that as there are different functions and different gifts, it is their duty no... [ Continue Reading ]
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in (s) particular. (s) For all churches, wherever they are dispersed through the whole world, are different members of one body.... [ Continue Reading ]
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, (t) helps, (u) governments, diversities of tongues. (t) The offices of deacons. (u) He sets forth the order of elders, who were the maintainers of the church's... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (14) He teaches those who are ambitious and envious, a certain holy ambition and envy. That is, if they give themselves to the best gifts, and such as are most profitable to the church, and so if they contend to... [ Continue Reading ]