1Paul teacheth that none can own Christ but by the Holy Ghost; 4whose gifts are diverse, 7and dealt out to different persons to profit withal. 12As many members make up one natural body, so Christians in general form one mystical body: 14and as every member is equally a part of the natural body, and hath a necessary function allotted it; 27so is it with Christ's body, the church; to the individual members of which God hath assigned different gifts and offices for the general good.
1NOW concerning 1spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you 2ignorant.
1 He understands thereby not so much the inward spiritual gifts of faith and regeneration, but the outward and miraculous gifts which at that time were given to some by the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands, and are here called gifts, verse 4, operations, verse 6, and are rehearsed in verses 8, 9, 10.
2 Namely, from where they come, to what end they are given, and how they must be used.
2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, 3carried away unto these 4dumb idols, 5even as ye were led.
3 Namely, as brute beasts permitting yourselves to be led away by all manner of lies and deceit. See 2 Tim. 2:26.
4 Namely, to serve them, and to inquire of them concerning things to come, which have neither life, not understanding, nor speech. See Psalm 115:4, 5, 6, 7; Hab. 2:18.
5 Namely, by the idolatrous priests, soothsayers, and other instruments of the devil, the one to one idol, the other to another.
3Wherefore I give you to understand, thata no man speaking 6by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus 7accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is 8the Lord,b but 9by the Holy Ghost.
a Mark 9:39.
6 Gr. in.
7 Gr. anathema, of this word see Acts 23:12; Rom. 9:3; Gal. 1:8, 9. This the pagans and enemies did of the christian religion. See Plinius ad Trajanus, lib. 10, Epist. 97.
8 That is, acknowledge and confess that He is the true Son of God, the promised Messiah, and Savior of the world.
b John 13:13; 1 Cor. 8:6.
9 Gr. in.
4Nowc there are 10diversities 11of gifts, but the 12same Spirit.
c Rom. 12:6; 1 Peter 4:10.
10 Or, there is diversity. That is, the gifts are of many sorts, one more excellent than the other, and also diversely imparted to this man and not to that (one), and that in different measure. See verse 8, etc.
11 Namely, of prophesying, speaking with foreign languages, and the like, which are hereafter rehearsed.
12 Namely, Who works and distributes all these gifts, and therefore he, who has received the most excellent, ought not to be proud thereof, or to despise him who has less, seeing truly He was able to give to him such excellent gifts as to the other.
5And there are differences 13of administrations, but the 14same Lord.
13 That is, ecclesiastical ministries, which are rehearsed, verse 28.
14 Namely, Jesus Christ, Who has instituted them, and Who calls one to this ministry, and another to another, even as it pleases Him. See Eph. 4:11.
6And there are diversities 15of operations, but it is the 16same God which worketh all in all.
15 That is, of the miraculous gifts of healing and other miracles. See verses 9, 10.
16 Namely, the Father, by His Son and Holy Spirit, to Whom the operations of these gifts are ascribed also, verse 11; John 5:19, 21.
7But 17the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man 18to profit withal.
17 Or, demonstration, that is, the gift whereby is shown and made known that the Spirit has wrought this in him.
18 Namely, for the edification of the congregation, and for the common service of all. And therefore they must also not be used for any other end, not for pride or for despising of others.
8For to one is given by the Spirit 19the word of wisdom; to another 20the word of knowledge 21by the same Spirit;
19 That is, the gift of understanding excellently well the Divine things, and to be able to apply and make use of the same prudently for the salvation and service of men.
20 That is, the gifts of being a very expert in the Holy Scripture, and of thoroughly understanding the right sense of the same; which gift some have indeed, albeit that they do not have thereby the ability, either to impart this knowledge to others, or to apply it well to its use.
21 Or, according to the same Spirit.
9To another 22faith 23by the same Spirit; to another the gifts 24of healing 25by the same Spirit;
22 Namely, of doing miracles, which is a special confidence, that God will herein give us that which we shall ask of Him in the name of Christ, beyond the course of nature. See Mat. 17:20; Acts 14:8; 1 Cor. 13:2.
23 Gr. in the same Spirit.
24 Namely, not by ordinary means of medicines, but with a word, by touching, or otherwise by miracles, as Peter, Acts 3:6, and Paul, Acts 28:8. See also Acts 14:3; 19:11, 12; James 5:14, 15.
25 Gr. in.
10To another 26the working of miracles; to another 27prophecy; to another 28discerning of spirits; to another divers 29kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation 30of tongues:
26 Hereby is understood the gift to work miracles, not only for the help and service of men, but also for the punishment of hypocrites or enemies of Christ and of His doctrine. See Acts 5:5 in Peter, and Acts 13:11 in Paul.
27 That is, certainly to foretell things to come, which gift had Agabus, Acts 11:27, 28; 21:10; the four daughters of Philip, Acts 21:9, or also to expound the writings of the prophets for edification, exhortation and consolation, 1 Cor. 14:3. See Rom. 12:7. But here it seems to be taken for the first sort of prophesying.
28 That is, the gift to discern true and false teachers, and to give the congregation warning of the false ones. See 1 John 4:1.
29 Gr. kinds of tongues. Or, of many kinds of languages, namely, which they have not learned, but which they are able to speak by a special miracle and Divine instruction and inspiration. See Mark 16:17, and Acts 2:4.
30 Or, of languages, that is, who were able to interpret plainly in a known language what was spoken or written in an unknown language, and explain it to others who do not understand the unknown language.
11But all these workethd that 31one and the selfsame Spirit, dividinge to every man severallyf32as he will.
d Rom. 12:3, 6; Eph. 4:7.
31 See verse 4.
e 1 Cor. 7:7; 2 Cor. 10:13.
f separately, individually.
32 Namely, the Holy Spirit, Who, being bound to no man nor moved by any man’s ability, gives these gifts according to His own free will and good pleasure.
1233Forg as the body is 34one, and hath 35many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: 36so also is Christ.
33 This similitude the apostle also uses in Rom. 12:4, 5; Eph. 4:4, 12, 16, and is very suitable to exhort the members of one spiritual body unto peace and unity.
g Rom. 12:4, 5; Eph. 4:16.
34 That is, not divided into many bodies, so is also the universal christian church but one spiritual body, Cant. 6:9; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 2:14; 4:4, 5, which unity none must break by strife or schism.
35 Namely, having several gifts, dignity, and administration.
36 Namely, has but one body, whereof He is the Head, and which has many and various members. Or, even so also Christ; that is, the body of Christ, namely, the congregation, which is so called from its Head.
13For by 37one Spirit are 38we all baptized 39into one body, 40whetherhwe be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made 41to drink 42into one Spirit.
37 Gr. in one Spirit, that is, by the Spirit of regeneration, Who is but one and consequently also admonishes and obliges us unto unity.
38 Namely, believers, who belong to this body of Christ as members.
39 Namely, the congregation of Christ, into which we are engrafted by baptism, which is the washing of regeneration, Eph. 5:26; Titus 3:5, and obliges us to unity also.
40 That is, of what descent, state or condition so ever we are.
h Gal. 3:28.
41 That is, the Lord’s Supper also, in which we all drink one drink out of one cup, admonishes and obliges us, that, avoiding all divisions, we seek after unity, to be one spiritual body and of one mind. The like reason the apostle uses, 1 Cor. 10:17, that as in the Lord’s Supper we are all partakers of one bread, so we are also admonished thereby that we, many, are one body.
42 Or, by one Spirit.
14For the body is not 43one member, but many.
43 Namely, alone, or consists not of one member only, but of many and several members, so also the body of the congregation consists of many members, who have different gifts and administrations, of which some govern, others are governed; some teach, others are taught; some speak in the congregation and others listen.
15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not 44of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
44 Gr. not out of the body. The apostle here compares the foot and the ear to those who have lesser gifts or administrations in the congregation, and the hand and eye to those who have greater and more excellent gifts, and thereby admonishes the first that they must not grudge the others their great gifts and administrations, but be content with their state and condition, Deut. 28:13.
16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1745If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
45 The apostle hereby shows how needful it is that this diversity of gifts and administrations should be in the congregation for the welfare of the same.
18But now hath God set the members every one of them 46in the body, 47as it hath pleased him.
46 Each namely in its place, and each for its special use and service for the entire body; so does He also concerning the members of the congregation, which He bestows to each for his particular service, and imparts to everyone his gifts for this purpose.
47 See before verse 11.
1948And if they were all one member, 49where were the body?
48 That is, had the members of the congregation all one kind of administration and gifts.
49 That is, how could the congregation exist and be edified, for one member cannot do it alone.
20But now are they 50many members, 51yet but one body.
50 Namely, having different callings, gifts and operations.
51 Namely, to whose profit and edification, each must bestow and contribute what he has.
21And 52the eye cannot say unto 53the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
52 That is, they who have the most excellent callings, gifts or administrations, as also by the head is understood the principal men and governors of the congregation.
53 That is, to those who indeed have also excellent gifts or administrations, but not so excellent as the eye. See Deut. 28:13.
22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, 54are necessary:
54 Namely, for the sustentation and service of the entire body; for, the eye cannot get or lay hold on anything without the hand, and the head cannot walk without the feet.
23And those members of the body, which 55we think to be less honourable, upon these we 56bestow more abundant honour; and our 57uncomelyiparts have 58more abundant comeliness.
55 No members, created by God in the body, are dishonorable in themselves, but that some are so accounted that happens according to the opinion of men, according to the use they have in the body.
56 Gr. we put about the same more abundant honor. Namely, by covering them, and naming them in modest terms.
57 Namely, which are misshapen, crooked or too short, or have any other defect, or, which for honor’s sake must be covered.
i unbecoming, not presentable.
58 Seeing men seek to cover these defects, or to beautify them with some ornament of apparel, so ought men also to do the inconsiderable members of the congregation, whom men therefore must not despise, but much rather honor them, and cover their defects.
24For our comely parts 59have no need: but God hath 60tempered the body together, 61having given more abundant honour 62to that part which lacked:
59 Namely, to be more adorned, being comely enough of themselves.
60 Gr. mingled or tempered together.
61 That is, teaching and commending us by natural modesty to honor such members.
62 That is, to such a member as has need of this honor; which therefore must admonish us that we also ought to do the same to the inconsiderable members of the congregation.
25That there should be 63no schism in the body; but that the members should have 64the same care one for another.
63 Or, discord. Namely, which would necessarily arise if one member would not serve another as it ought; and the same would necessarily tend to the destruction of the entire body. So also in the congregation.
64 Or, equal.
26And whether one member suffer, 65all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
65 That is, really show that the same concerns them also, and contribute all things to deliver the suffering member from its suffering. So must the members of the congregation do also, Heb. 13:3.
27Nowj66ye are the body of Christ, and members 67in particular.
j Rom. 12:5; Eph. 1:23; 4:12; 5:23; Col. 1:24.
66 The apostle now applies the foregoing similitude to the congregation, which is the spiritual body of Christ, whereof each believer in particular is a member, who for this cause ought so to carry himself towards his fellow members, as is shown in the comparison that the outward members of one body do towards one another.
67 Gr. of a part, that is, each believer is a particular member and part of the same body, which consists of all the parts and members joined together; therefore each part must be respected and esteemed in its own order, and contribute all to the service and benefit of the whole.
28And God hath set some 68in the church, 69firstk apostles, 70secondarilyl prophets, thirdly 71teachers, after that 72miracles, then 73gifts of healings, 74helps, 75governments, 76diversities of tongues.
68 Namely, to exercise certain ministries in the same. Of which ministries he now treats further, for the exposition of verse 5.
69 Of the word apostles, see Luke 6:13. To these the first and the most important place is ascribed amongst the ministers of the congregation of the New Testament, because they were called by Christ Himself without means of men, Gal. 1:1, could not err in teaching, were sent to preach throughout the entire world, and were furnished with a special power to work miracles, and to punish the disobedient.
k Eph. 4:11.
70 See verse 10, and Rom. 12:7; Eph. 4:11.
l Eph. 2:20.
71 That is, who are ordinarily called to interpret the Scripture for the edification of the congregation, and to maintain and defend the doctrine of the same against false teachers. Eph. 4:11.
72 That is, they who are endued with the gift to confirm the doctrine by miracles, and to punish miraculously the obstinate (ones) with power.
73 Who have such a gift to cure by miracle incurable and all other diseases. See verse 9.
74 That is, who take care of and help the poor and the sick.
75 That is, they who are appointed to keep the congregation in good order, and to guide them, which are the elders, Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 5:17.
76 Gr. kinds of tongues. See verse 10.
2977Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
77 That is, seeing than the ministers of the congregation have not all administrations of one kind, nor of equal dignity, therefore, they, who have the highest, ought not to despise them who have a lower; neither ought these to grudge the other this and so contend one amongst another, but to bestow their service each in his place for edification and peace.
30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all 78interpret?
78 Or, translate. Namely, foreign languages. See verse 10.
31But covet earnestly 79the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you 80a more excellent way.
79 Gr. the better, that is, although the gifts are diverse, the one more excellent than the other, and that each one being content with his own, how insignificant it may be, they must look to employ the same for the greatest profit and edification of the congregation, yet nevertheless it is commendable also that men by convenient means seek after this, that they may get the best and most excellent gift.
80 Gr. a way according to excellence, namely, which he sets forth in the following chapter, which is, leaving all contention, pride and despising, that we order all our actions out of, and according to charity.