1.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 12:2,1 Corinthians 12:3. The connection of these verses with each other is not very clear. The meaning would seem to be,--"You know that you were carried away by vain illusions when you were under the influence of the pretended inspiration of the pagan priests and oracles. You can be assured now that none but those who acknowledge Christ, can really speak by the Spirit of God."

2.

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3.

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Verse 4
The same Spirit; it is from the same Holy Spirit that they come.

5.

And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

Verse 5
Administrations; arrangements and measures of service and worship.

6.

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Verse 6
Operations; works. We are not, probably, to attempt to draw any nice distinctions of meaning between these several clauses. The general idea is, that the Christian church ought not to be rent by unholy divisions; for though, in the details of the functions which it exercises, there is much diversity, still there is but one Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Spirit, on which all centre and depend.

7.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Verse 7
To profit withal; for his benefit, and for that of his brethren.

8.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

Verse 8
The word of wisdom; a wise and prudent mind or character.

9.

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10.

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Verse 10
The working of miracles; that is, miraculous power in general; one form of such power having been specified before.--Discerning of spirits. This expression seems to refer to a power of discerning the designs and motives of men, which the apostles sometimes exercised. (Acts 5:1-10,Acts 13:9-11.)--Tongues; languages.

11.

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Verse 11
All these worketh, &c. The meaning is, that one and the self-same Spirit worketh all these; that is, it produces them.

12.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Verse 12
Members; limbs and organs.--Christ; the body of Christ; that is, the church.

13.

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Verse 13
Baptized; initiated,--baptism being the ceremony of initiation.

14.

For the body is not one member, but many.

15.

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16.

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17.

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18.

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19.

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20.

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21.

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.

22.

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

Verse 22
More feeble; more delicate.--Are necessary. The words much more, at the commencement of the verse, are to be connected with the word necessary. The more delicate vital organs are more necessary than the others.

23.

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

Verse 23
We bestow more abundant honor, by the clothing with which we adorn and cover them.

24.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25.

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Verse 25
No schism; no division.

26.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Verse 27
In particular; individually.

28.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Verse 28
Prophets; preachers.--Helps; offices of assistance and coöperation.--Governments; offices of direction.

29.

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

Verse 29
Are all, &c.; can all be.

30.

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31.

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Verse 31
And yet show I unto you, &c.; I will show unto you; that is, I will proceed to point out what is better than these gifts, viz., the grace of charity, as explained in the following chapter.