--- title: "1 Corinthians 12 - Study King James Bible with cokes commentary on the holy bible" description: "Read 1 Corinthians 12 with cokes commentary on the holy bible commentary. 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye" image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/cokes-commentary-on-the-holy-bible/1-corinthians/12" --- [ Read](/kjv/1-corinthians/12)[ Commentary](/study/1-corinthians/12)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/1-corinthians/12) Audio 1 Now concerning spiritual *gifts*, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 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. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 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: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 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. 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. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 29 *Are* all apostles? *are* all prophets? *are* all teachers? *are* all workers of miracles? 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. [1 Corinthians 11](/study/1-corinthians/11) [1 Corinthians 13](/study/1-corinthians/13) ## Commentary To verse 1 ***[1 Corinthians 12:1](/kjv/1-corinthians/12/1)*****.—** The Corinthians seem to have inquired of St. Paul, what order of precedency and preference men were to have with respect to their spiritual gifts; nay, if we may guess by his answer, the question they seem more particularly to have proposed was, whether those who had the gift of tongues ought not to take place, and speak first, and be first heardin their meetings? Concerning this there appears to have been some strife, maligning, and disorder among them, as may be collected from [1 Corinthians 12:21-25](/kjv/1-corinthians/12/21-25); 1Co 13:4-5 [1 Corinthians 14:40](/kjv/1-corinthians/14/40). To this St. Paul answers in 1 Corinthians 12-14. *First,*that they had been all heathen idolaters, and so, being deniers of Christ, were in that state none of them spiritual; but that now, being Christians, and owning Jesus to be the Lord, in an experimental sense, (which could not be done without the Spirit of God) they were all πνευματικοι, *spiritual,*and so there was no reason for one to undervalue another; as if he were not spiritual as well as himself, [1 Corinthians 12:1-3](/kjv/1-corinthians/12/1-3). *Secondly,*that though there be a diversity of gifts, yet they are all by the same Spirit; from the same Lord, and the same God; working them all in every one according to his good pleasure: so that in this respect also there is no difference or precedency; no occasion for any one's being puffed up, or affecting priority, upon account of his gifts, [1 Corinthians 12:4-11](/kjv/1-corinthians/12/4-11). *Thirdly,*That the diversity of gifts is forthe use and benefit of the church, which is Christ's body, wherein the members, as in the natural body, of *meaner*functions, are as much parts, and as necessary in their use to the good of the whole, and therefore to be honoured as much as any other. The union they have as members in the same body, should make them all equally share in each other's good and evil; should give them a mutual esteem and concern one for another; and should leave no room for contests or divisions among them about their gifts, or the honour and place due to them on that account, [1 Corinthians 12:12-31](/kjv/1-corinthians/12/12-31). *Fourthly,*That though gifts have their excellence and use, and those who have them may be zealous in the use of them, yet the true and sure way for a man to excel and be preferred above others, is, by enlarginghimselfinChristianlove,andexcellinginthat,withoutwhichaChristian,with all his spiritual gifts, is nothing, ch. 13. *Fifthly,*In the comparison of spiritual gifts, he gives those the precedency which *edify*most, and in particular prefers *prophesying*to *tongues.*See ch. 14. ***Concerning spiritual gifts.*****—** Mr. Locke would render this, *as to spiritual men,*or men assisted and actuated by the Spirit; and we are warranted, he says, in this version, by a like use of the word in several places of St. Paul's epistles; as ch. 1Co 2:15 and 1Co 14:37 of this epistle, and [Galatians 6:1](/kjv/galatians/6/1). And the context obliges us so to understand it; for if we will have it mean *gifts,*and not persons, the sense and coherence of the first three verses will be very hard to make out. Besides, there is evidence enough, in several parts of it, that the subject of St. Paul's discourse here is, πνευματικοι, "persons endowed with spiritual gifts," contending for precedency, in consideration of their gifts; (see [1 Corinthians 12:13](/kjv/1-corinthians/12/13).) and to what else does he say, ch. [1 Corinthians 14:5](/kjv/1-corinthians/14/5). *Greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues?*Others, however, suppose, that if the second and third verses are read in a parenthesis, the connection of the first with the fourth verse will prove that the addition of *gifts*is very proper. The church of Corinth was foolishly elated by spiritual pride, which St. Paul endeavoured to mortify and humble; and, in applying his remedy, he begins with reckoning up those various graces, the credit of which they had abused by their indulgence of this unhappy temper. 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