Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 12

Verse 1

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.

Verse 2

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).

Verse 3

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.

Verse 4

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.

Verse 5

differences . Same as "diversities", 1 Corinthians 12:4 .

administrations = services. App-190 .

Verse 6

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".

Verse 7

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.

Verse 8

by = through. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 12:1 .

word . App-121 .

another . App-124 .

knowledge . App-132 .

by = according to. App-104 .

Verse 9

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 .

Verse 10

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 .

Verse 11

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 .

Verse 12

that one . The texts read "the".

so also, &c . = so is Christ also.

Christ = the Christ. App-98 .

Verse 13

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 .

Verse 15

If . App-118 .

the = a.

of . App-104 .

therefore = on account of (Greek. para . App-104 .) this.

Verse 17

If . App-118 .

smelling . Greek. osphresis. Only here.

Verse 18

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 .

Verse 21

cannot = is not (Greek. ou) able to.

unto = to.

no . App-105 .

Verse 22

Nay = But.

to be . i.e. naturally. Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48 .

Verse 23

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.

Verse 24

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 .

Verse 25

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.

Verse 26

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.

Verse 27

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.

Verse 28

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 .

Verse 29

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 .

Verse 30

interpret . Greek. diermeneuo. See Acts 9:36 .

Verse 31

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 .