1 Corintios 12:3

Ἰησοῦς twice אABC Vulg. Peshito. Ἰησοῦν rec. with DEG Vetus Lat. F has Ἰησοῦ in the first place and Ἰησοῦν in the second.

3. διὸ γνωρίζω ὑμῖν. Because in your unconverted state you were liable to such delusions, it is my duty to provide you with the means of forming a sound judgment on such matters. The essential principle of all true inspiration is the confession of Jesus as Lord. This inspiration may shew itself in different ways. But the confession of Jesus must underlie all. Cf. an extremely similar passage in 1 Juan 4:1-3.

This caution was very necessary in the infant Church. In spite of the warnings of St Paul and St John, many were entrapped by the extraordinary and incomprehensible ravings of men like Simon Magus, Menander and the Ophites (or Naassenes, worshippers of the serpent), as we learn from the writings of Irenaeus and Hippolytus. Cf. 1 Juan 2:19.

ἐν πνεύματι. In the Spirit; i.e. inspired by Him.

ἀνάθεμα. See note on ch. 1 Corintios 16:22.

κύριος Ἰησοῦς. Jesus is Lord.

ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. Literally, in the Holy Ghost (or Spirit), see above. Not a Single true word can be spoken but by the agency of the Spirit of God. As far as the confession that Jesus is Lord goes, he who makes it is under the influence of the Holy Ghost. It is remarkable that St Paul has in mind in this passage those who deny the Divinity of Christ; St John, in the similar passage just quoted, the sects, which arose afterwards and denied His Humanity.