1.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
concerning . App-104 .
spiritual . Greek. pneumatikos. It is the adjective of pneuma ( App-101 ), and is applied to things in the Divine sphere, as well as to those in Satan's realm (Ephesians 6:12 ). It is put in contrast with that which is natural, as in 1 Corinthians 3:1 ; 1 Corinthians 15:44 . in 1 Corinthians 10:3 , 1 Corinthians 10:4 "supernatural" would express the meaning. It occurs twenty-six times and is always translated "spiritual", and is the only word so rendered, except in 1 Corinthians 14:12 , which see. Supply things instead of gifts.
I would, &c . See Romans 1:13 . This is the fifth occurance of this expression.
2.
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
know . App-132 .
Gentiles . Greek. ethnos.
carried = led. Greek. apago. First occurance: Matthew 7:13 .
unto . App-104 .
these . Omit.
dumb . Greek. aphonos. See Acts 8:32 . Compare Psalms 115:5 .Isaiah 46:7 . Jeremiah 10:5 .
even as ye were = as ye chanced to be. The popularity of different gods waxed and waned. Compare Deuteronomy 32:17 . 2 Chronicles 28:23 .
led . First occurance: Matthew 10:18 (brought).
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.
give you to understand = make known to you. Greek. gnorizo.
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
speaking . App-121 .
by = in. App-104 .
Spirit of God . Greek. pneuma Theou. The new nature. App-101 .
God . App-98 .
calleth, &c . = saith "accursed Jesus". This was probably a form of renunciation.
Jesus . App-98 .
accursed . Greek. anathema. See Acts 23:14 .
that Jesus is the Lord . The texts read simply "Lord Jesus".
Lord . App-98 .
but = if not. Greek. ei me.
Holy Ghost. App-101 . This means acknowledging Him as Lord and Master (Romans 10:9 ), not mere lip-service.
4.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
diversities . Greek. diairesis. Only here and verses: 1 Corinthians 12:5-6 . Compare hairesis, 1 Corinthians 11:19 .
gifts . App-184 .
Spirit . App-101 . In these verses: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 we have the Spirit, the Son, and the Father working.
5.
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
differences . Same as "diversities", 1 Corinthians 12:4 .
administrations = services. App-190 .
6.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
operations = workings. Greek. energema. Only here and 1 Corinthians 12:10 .
worketh . Greek. energeo. See Romans 7:5 .
all in all . i.e. all the gifts in all the members. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 .
in . App-104 . Note the Figure of speech Symploke in these three verses: each beginning with "diversities", and ending the sentence with "the same".
7.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
manifestation . Greek. phanerosis. Only here and 2 Corinthians 4:2 . Compare App-106 . .
every man = each one.
to profit withal = for (Greek. pros. App-104 .) profiting, i.e. for the profit of others.
8.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
by = through. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 12:1 .
word . App-121 .
another . App-124 .
knowledge . App-132 .
by = according to. App-104 .
9.
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
another . App-124 .
faith . App-150 . Compare Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:22 .Ephesians 2:8 .
healing . Greek. iama. Only here and verses: 1 Corinthians 12:28 , 1 Corinthians 12:30 . Compare Luke 6:17 .
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:
working . See 1 Corinthians 12:6 .
miracles . App-172 and App-176 :1.
discerning . Greek. diakrisis. See Romans 14:1 .Hebrews 5:14 . Compare App-122 .
spirits . App-101 .
kinds . Greek. gen o s , as in 1 Corinthians 14:10 .
interpretation . Greek. hermeneia. Only here and 1 Corinthians 14:26 .
11.
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
selfsame = same.
dividing = distributing. Greek. diaireo. Only here and Luke 15:12 . Compare the noun diairesis, verses: 4-6.
severally = in His own way.
will . App-102 .
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.
that one . The texts read "the".
so also, &c . = so is Christ also.
Christ = the Christ. App-98 .
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.
are = were.
baptized . App-115 . It is the Lord who baptizes in pneuma hagion. See John 1:33 . Note that "by" is "in" (Greek. en) and "Spirit" has no art.
into . App-104 .
Gentiles = Greeks.
bond = slaves. App-190 .
have been = were.
into . Greek. eis , as above, but the texts omit, probably because of the difficulty of the expression; but eis may be rendered "at", as in Acts 8:40 ; Acts 18:22 ; Acts 20:14-16 , &c., the gifts of the Spirit being regarded as a fountain. Compare John 4:14 .
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?
If . App-118 .
the = a.
of . App-104 .
therefore = on account of (Greek. para . App-104 .) this.
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?
If . App-118 .
smelling . Greek. osphresis. Only here.
18.
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
hath. Omit.
set . Same word us "ordain" in John 15:16 .
every = each.
as it hath, &c . = as He pleased, or purposed. App-102 . Compare 1 Corinthians 15:38 .
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.
cannot = is not (Greek. ou) able to.
unto = to.
no . App-105 .
22.
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
Nay = But.
to be . i.e. naturally. Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48 .
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.
less honourable . Greek. atimos. See 1 Corinthians 4:10 .
bestow . Literally put around. Greek. peritiheim. See first occurance: Matthew 21:33 .
uncomely . Greek. aschemon. Only here.
comeliness . Greek. euschemosune. Only here.
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:
comely . Greek. euschemon. See Acts 13:50 .
hath . Omit.
tempered . . . together = mingled together, or compounded. Greek. sunkerannumi. Only here and Hebrews 4:2 .
lacked = came short. Greek. hustereo. See Romans 3:23 .
25.
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
That = In order that. Greek. hina .
schism . Greek. schisma. See 1 Corinthians 1:10 .
should have the same care = should care (Greek. merimnao. See 1 Corinthians 7:32 ) the same.
one for another = on behalf of (Greek. huper. App-104 .) one another.
26.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
whether = if at least. Greek. eite. Compare App-118 .
suffer with it = suffer together. Greek. sumpascho. Only here and Romans 8:17 .
or . Greek. eite , as above.
honoured = glorified. See 1 Corinthians 6:20 . with it = together.
27.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
the body . There is no art. because soma is the predicate. Compare 1 Corinthians 3:16 .
in particular . Greek. ek ( App-104 .) merous. The meaning is "Each in his part", as Revised Version m.
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.
church . App-186 .
apostles . . . prophets . App-189 .
teachers . Greek. didaskalos. App-98 . 1 Corinthians 12:4 .
miracles = powers. Greek. dunamis, as in 1 Corinthians 12:10 . Here it means "workers of miracles".
helps . Greek. antilepsis. Only here in NT., but found in the Septuagint, Psalms 83:8 ; &c, and in the Papyri.
governments . Greek. kubernesis. Only here in N.T., but found in the Septuagint. The word means "guidance". Compare Acts 27:11 .
diversities = (different) kinds. Greek. genos . Not the same word as in verses: 1 Corinthians 12:12 , 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 .
29.
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Are . All these seven questions are introduced by me ( App-105 ).
workers of . There is no word for "workers". Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 .
30.
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
interpret . Greek. diermeneuo. See Acts 9:36 .
31.
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
covet earnestly . Greek. zeloo. See Acts 7:9 .
best . The texts read "greater".
more excellent . Literally according to (Greek. kata . App-104 .) excellence. See Romans 7:13 .