1 Corinthians 12

The rest; other things which might need correction, Paul would regulate when he should visit them. Ye were led; by Satan and those under his influence. These words seem to contain the reason why the Corinthians should receive instruction respecting spiritual gifts. They have just come out of the darkness and ignorance of idolatry. I give you to understand; he begins by stating a general rule whereby to test the genuineness of all alleged spiritual gifts. They all unite in putting supreme honor upon Christ. Compare 1Jo 4:1-3.

Calleth Jesus accursed; as an imposter.

Can say that Jesus is the Lord; that is, say it in sincerity, with a true apprehension of the meaning of such a confession; in other words, acknowledge and receive him as the Messiah. Compare Mt 11:25-27; Mt 16:16,17. Diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; throughout the whole of this chapter the apostle labors to show, first, the unity of these gifts, as all having the same Spirit for their author, and all conspiring for the same common end, the glory of God in the edification of the church; secondly, their variety, as having different outward forms, and designed to accomplish different specific objects. Differences of administrations; or offices, which God has established, verses 1Co 12:28-30. Diversities of operations; such as produce in different cases different effects. The manifestation of the Spirit; in the gifts which he bestowed.

To profit withal; for the benefit of men. All Christian gifts and graces come from the Holy Spirit. He bestows different measures of grace and means of influence upon different individuals, but always for the wisest reasons. 8-10. Diversities of gifts and offices, spoken of in verses 1Co 12:4,5.

The word of wisdom--the word of knowledge; the exact distinction between those two gifts has been a matter of doubt. Probably "wisdom" refers rather to the practical, and "knowledge" to the doctrinal in Christianity. According to this view "the word of wisdom" would be peculiar skill in explaining to men the way of life, exhibiting the motives to induce them to walk in it, and guiding their conduct in difficult situations: "the word of knowledge," on the other hand, would be that which comes from a deep insight into the doctrines of the gospel, including an understanding of the prophecies, types, and spiritual meaning of the Scriptures, and their true application and fulfilment.

Faith; in a special sense. We are probably to understand an extraordinary measure of confidence in God, such as raises its possessor above the fear of man, and inspires him with the firm hope of success in the midst of dangers, difficulties, and hinderances.

Gifts of healing; power to cure diseases.

The working of miracles; in a general sense, miracles not confined to the healing of diseases.

Prophecy; the inspired utterance of God's will in respect to the way of salvation, including also, as an occasional part of it, the foretelling of future events. See note to verse 1Co 12:28.

Discerning of spirits; whether men who professed to exercise spiritual gifts, were guided by the Holy Ghost or by a false spirit. Compare 1Jo 4:1.

Divers kinds of tongues; power to speak various languages.

Interpretation of tongues; power to translate, or tell the meaning of one language in the words of another. Dividing to every man; bestowing different gifts and in different measures upon different persons, as the Holy Spirit sees best. In bestowing miraculous powers upon the apostles and first teachers of Christianity, in calling them to their office, assigning them their fields of labor, fitting them for their work, and giving them success, the Holy Ghost has shown himself to be God; and with the Father and the Son, entitled to divine honors. So also is Christ; the head of his spiritual body the church. All its members, like the different members of the human body, are united to one head, and should be, by mutual sympathy and affection, united to one another. By one Spirit; the Holy Ghost.

To drink into one Spirit; or, to drink of one Spirit. By his operation on our hearts, we become united in spirit to Christ the head and to one another as members of his spiritual body the church. As God assigns to Christians their talents and opportunities, their condition and measure of influence, as will best promote his glory and the good of his kingdom, there is not more reason for strife among them as to which shall be the greatest, than among the members of the human body. The perfection and highest usefulness of each consists not in his possessing the talents, exerting the influence, or doing the duties of another, but in rightly discharging his own. 22-26.

Are necessary; the strongest and most prominent members of the body are not in all cases the most essential to human life, but often those which are more feeble and concealed. Those parts which need it, we cover and adorn; and we never think of neglecting, much less of despising any part because it is feeble, or needs special care. God has so ordered, that if one member, even the most feeble or uncomely, suffer, all suffer with it; and if one rejoice, or is in health and vigor, all experience the benefit. No schism; no division or contest with one another. They have one common interest, and the welfare of each is for the good of all. So it should be with the different members of the church of Christ. Ye are the body of Christ; ye, the whole body of believers, constitute the one spiritual body of Christ.

Members in particular; each individual is a member of Christ's body, having his particular office assigned to him by the one common Head. As all have a common interest, and are parts of one great whole, all should have a common sympathy; and by fidelity to Christ in the discharge of appropriate duties, labor for the general good. 28-30. These were different offices which God established in the churches at first; referred to in verse 1Co 12:5.

Apostles; men who had seen Christ after his resurrection, and were commissioned by him to testify to this fact, to reveal his will, work miracles in attestation of his truth, preach the gospel, gather churches, and do what was needful for the establishment of Christianity.

Prophets; those who had the gift of prophecy. The apostle here assigns them a rank next to the apostles, and elsewhere he puts prophecy first among spiritual gifts. Chap 1Co 14:1, etc. Like the prophets of the Old Testament, they spoke under the immediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Ac 2:17: like them, they unfolded to men the counsels of God, especially as contained in the way of salvation through Christ, Ac 13:1,2; 15:32; and like them they also at times foretold future events, Ac 11:28; 21:11.

Teachers; of the gospel. The term probably includes those who had "the word of wisdom" and "the word of knowledge," verse 1Co 12:8.

Helps; persons appointed to assist in visiting the sick, instructing the ignorant, and relieving the needy.

Governments; persons who directed the external order of the church. Covet; earnestly desire. They had coveted what was most esteemed by men; but Paul would have them desire what was most esteemed by God, and without which, whatever else they might have, they would be destitute and wretched. What this was he proceeded to show.

A more excellent way; a way preeminently excellent; namely, the way of love, which he proceeds in the next chapter to point out.

1 Corinthians 13

Charity; love to God and to men.

Sounding brass; empty and worthless. As love to God and to men is the best gift which God bestows, all should most earnestly desire and cherish it in themselves and in others. Gift of prophecy; see note to chap 1Co 12:28.

Understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; have the power of unfolding all the deep counsels of God as contained in his word, and of declaring by inspiration what has been hitherto concealed from the world.

All faith; the faith of miracles. Men often eagerly pursue and glory in what will be to them of no permanent benefit. Nothing which they do or possess, without love to God and to men, will save them from perdition. Suffereth long; with patience, under injuries.

Is kind; not to friends only, but to foes.

Envieth not; is not uneasy at the prosperity of others.

Vaunteth not; does not boast of its own excellence. Seeketh not her own; as the chief end; is not selfish, but benevolent.

Thinketh no evil; is not disposed to impute to others evil designs. Rejoiceth not in iniquity; as is done by the selfish, whenever iniquity in themselves or others can be made subservient to their own personal interests, or the destruction of their enemies.

Rejoiceth in the truth; in the reception and propagation of it, whoever may be the instruments, and whatever the effects on us. Beareth all things; inflicted by others, so far as is consistent with duty, without being disposed to publish their misconduct or to punish it.

Believeth--hopeth all things; is disposed to put the best construction upon men's conduct, and hope the best concerning them.

Endureth all things; which it may be called to suffer in the path of duty. Love is so active in its nature and marked in its effects, that none need or ought to be in doubt whether they possess it. Never faileth; it will continue to eternity; while the gifts of foretelling future events, or of miraculously speaking with tongues, or by inspiration understanding and communicating divine truth, will soon pass away as no longer necessary. We know in part; that is, in our present state.

We prophesy in part; we are not capable of either receiving or communicating truth by prophecy, except in a partial and imperfect way. That which is perfect; the perfect knowledge of heaven.

That which is in part; our present imperfect knowledge, with our present imperfect means of gaining it through prophecies, tongues, etc. A child--a man; as the conceptions and speech of a lisping infant differ from those of an educated and full-grown man, so do our highest attainments in this life differ from what they will be in the life to come.

Childish things; the imperfect conceptions and reasonings of a child. Supply, So in heaven we shall put away our imperfect conceptions of God's truth, and our imperfect helps for gaining it. Now; in our present earthly state.

We see through a glass, darkly; our knowledge of God and divine truth is indirect and obscure, like that of a man who looks not directly on the object itself, but only on a dim image of it, such as was reflected from the imperfect mirrors of the ancients.

But then; in heavenly state.

Face to face; that is, immediately, and clearly, as one looks on the face of another. Compare Nu 12:8; and Ex 33:11; De 34:10.

Shall I know; God and divine truth.

Even as also I am known; more literally, even as also I have been known; that is, known by God in the present state; where our knowledge of him, though real and saving, is yet so faint and imperfect, that it may be better said that we are known of God, than that we know him. Ga 4:9. The apostle plainly has in mind not the extent of our knowledge in the heavenly state, but rather its manner, as direct and clear. Abideth; according to some, will outlive all miraculous gifts; according to others, will abide for ever: faith in the sense of confidence in God and Christ; and hope, as the joyous looking forward to an eternity of ever increasing blessedness.

The greatest of these is charity; not only in itself, but because it is the root and ground of the other two. Things which are only temporary should never awaken our deepest interest or be our chief concern. Nothing should do this that will not last for ever.

1 Corinthians 14

It is plain from the present chapter that the Corinthians measured the worth of the several spiritual gifts not so much from their power to edify the church, as from their adaptedness to strike the beholders with wonder. For this reason they were ready to put the gift of speaking in tongues above that of prophecy. This erroneous judgment the apostle now proceeds to correct. Speaketh not unto men; conveys to them no instruction or edification.

But unto God; who understands his spirit, and with whom he thus has communion.

Speaketh mysteries; the mysteries of the gospel; its deep truths which have heretofore been hidden, or but dimly revealed. Endowments are valuable in proportion as they are useful, and it should be the object of all, in the exercise of their talents, to do good. Greater is he that prophesieth; because his office is more useful to the church, verse 1Co 14:3.

Except he interpret; from this and verse 1Co 14:13 it is manifest that the two gifts of speaking with tongues and of interpreting them chap 1Co 12:10, might or might not be possessed by the same person. When a man had the gift of speaking with tongues without the power to interpret them, some think that he was unable to understand his own utterances. But the meaning seems rather to be, that though he spoke intelligibly to himself, he had not the gift of interpreting intelligibly to others. See further on verse 1Co 14:14. By revelation; so as to make to you a revelation.

By knowledge; so as to communicate to you knowledge.

By doctrine; teachings in the ordinary way, as distinguished from the utterances of prophecy. Unless he declared to them truths which they could understand and apply to practice, he would do them no good. A distinction; the meaning of which shall be understood by the hearers. An uncertain sound; the meaning of which is not understood. Easy to be understood; better, as the margin, significant, that is, to the hearers.

Speak into the air; your words shall be thrown away. All the services in public worship should be in language understood by the worshippers. None of them is without signification; they all have meaning, and were designed to be understood; each language should therefore be used with those only who understand it. A barbarian unto me; a foreigner, whose language is not understood. Are zealous; earnestly desire.

Excel to the edifying of the church; abound in these gifts in such a way as to edify the church. Pray that he may interpret; either, that God will add to him the gift of interpretation; or, as the context seems rather to require, pray in such a way that he may interpret; namely, by adding interpretation to his prayer. My spirit prayeth; goeth forth to God in holy and fervent desires, and is thus edified, verse 1Co 14:4.

My understanding is unfruitful; according to one view, it bears no fruit to myself, since it is not enlightened by what I utter; according to another and preferable view, it bears no fruit to others, since it communicates nothing to them in an intelligible way. With the understanding; with the right use of it, in words which the hearers understand. The object of a wise and good minister is not to display himself, but to impart instruction, and thus be useful to those who hear him. Of course, he will not conduct any part of the public service in a language which his hearers do not understand. Bless with the spirit; praise God in language which others do not understand. Not children; not carried away with sound and show, but men who look not to show, but to the edification of their brethren. To be carried away or greatly influenced by sound, external display, or any thing pertaining to manner merely, without enlightening the mind or purifying the heart, is childish, unworthy the character of men, especially of professed Christians. It is written; Isa 28:11,12.

Other tongues; foreign languages. In this passage Jehovah threatens the men who treated with scorn the messages of their own prophets, who spoke to them in their own language, that he will speak to them by the lips of foreigners; namely, by giving them up to their dominion. The point on which the apostle insists is, that here foreign tongues are made a sign to unbelievers. All speak with tongues; in foreign languages only.

Ye are mad; appear deranged to him who does not understand you. All prophesy; in language intelligible to those who hear.

He is convinced; convicted of sin, and condemns his former course of life. Falling down on his face; as penitents were wont to do in confessing their sins and imploring mercy.

In you; among you, in your assembly. The truths of the gospel plainly and kindly declared, are often so attended by the influences of the Holy Ghost, that persons who come to a place of public worship out of curiosity, or to ridicule the preacher and scoff at religion, are convicted of sin, led to condemn themselves, and join with those whom they came to oppose in sincerely worshipping God. Come together; in public assemblies for instruction and worship.

Every one; one had a psalm to sing; another a doctrine or truth to inculcate; another a discourse to deliver; another an interpretation to give; and all were eager to speak, not considering that the object of each should be to do good, and the exercises should be so conducted as to be suited to this end. By two, or--three; let not more than two or three speak at the same meeting, and these not together, but in succession; and let some one as they proceed give the meaning, that all the hearers may understand it. Let him; who can speak only in an unknown tongue.

Speak to himself; in silent meditation and prayer, but not utter in public what his hearers will not understand. Unless a minister speak in a language which his hearers understand, or some one interpret to them his meaning, it is the will of God that he should not speak at all. Suppose he speaks in Latin, and says, "This is not an unknown tongue, but is perhaps the best known in the world;" if his hearers do not understand it, he sacrifices their good and violates the revealed will of God. The other; in the original, the others: those who hear, let them judge whether what they hear is according to the word of God. Be revealed; by the Holy Ghost to one who is not speaking, as a thing which he ought to declare.

Hold his peace; so that all shall have an opportunity to speak in succession. Ye may all prophesy; each may speak in his turn, and thus all be benefited. Are subject; they were able to control themselves in this matter. Though they were inspired, there was no need of more than one speaking at a time. The Holy Spirit by his influences does not lessen a man's control over himself, but increases it, and leads him to do, not things which are unsuitable, but those which in themselves are right, and in their tendency useful. God is not the author of confusion; the Holy Spirit, by his inspiration, does not lead to it, nor does he approve it. All under his influence can and ought to avoid it.

Of peace; order, harmony, and love, as is manifest in all well-regulated churches. In the churches; in the public religious assemblies. If they will learn any thing; beyond what they can by hearing.

It is a shame; because it is stepping out of their proper place, assuming what does not belong to them, and acting in this respect as if they were men. It is doing what God forbids. What! came the word--unto you only? were you the first to receive or spread the gospel, that you, in the above-mentioned things, act so differently from other churches, as if you were wiser than they? By no means. Other churches have been much longer established, have had greater experience, and are more worthy of imitation. Prophet, or spiritual; under the special guidance of the Holy Ghost, and qualified to judge in such matters.

Let him acknowledge; if he does not, it will show that he does not think right. Spiritually minded persons, who are influenced by the Holy Ghost, and rightly understand truth and duty, will acknowledge that the directions given by Paul about ministers' speaking in a language known to their hearers, about women's keeping silence in the church, and about the avoidance of all tumult and confusion in public worship, are commandments of God which all should obey. Be ignorant; of the fact that the directions which Paul gave were the commandments of God.

Let him be ignorant; it was not best for them to debate the matter further; but leave him to meet the consequences of his conduct. Covet to prophesy; as the best gift.

Forbid not to speak with tongues; as a gift good in its proper place, and when exercised in a proper way.