1 Corinthians 12

Chap. XII. Ver. 1—31. The variety of spiritual gifts, and their design.—One great cause of the commotions and divisions in the church of Corinth, certainly was the improper display of spiritual gifts among its members, and their undue attachment to the most showy and popular talents, instead of those which were the most useful to the church. It appears, also, that there were false pretensions to these gifts in some instances, which fact induces the apostle to insert a caveat against their being misled by ambitious and vain-glorious men. 1. They might be certain that no man, though he were a Hebrew of the Hebrews, or even the high priest himself, could speak by the Spirit of God, who reviled our Saviour for his crucifixion, as it is well known the unbelieving Jews did.

If even they should work miracles and cast out devils, they could no more act under the influence of God’s Spirit, than could the prophets of idolatry spoken of by Moses. ((Deuteronomy 13:1-5).) On the other hand, he that should call Jesus Lord, and should seek to promote his honour and service, might fairly be considered as speaking under the influences of the Holy Spirit. We are aware that learned and good men have attempted to distinguish and explain the various operations of the Divine Spirit, and to appropriate them to the different classes of Christian ministers; but however ingenious may be the conjecture, (see note on ver. 28,) we doubt if it can be depended on: for various gifts, we apprehend, were conferred on the same persons, and perhaps all of them on the apostles.

The apostle Paul then illustrates the use of these various gifts to the body of Christ mystical, or the Christian church, the members of which he compares to the different members of the human body, all of which contribute, by their different functions, to the service and perfection of the whole; so that no Christian ought to be despised for the meanness, nor idolized for the splendour, of his gifts. All the officers of the church, and all its members, are useful and honourable in their respective places. The Corinthians, however, encouraged an ambition for the best or most splendid gifts; but the apostle holds out to them a far better way in true Christian charity, or in love to God and man.

Notes on the verses

Ver. 20. This is not to eat, &c.—Marzin, ‘Ye cannot eat” the Lord’s Supper—i.e. not in this way. Macknight, ‘Your coming together into one place is not,” &c.; i.e. it is not merely meeting at the same place, unless you are united in the same devotional views. Ver. 21. Is drunken.—Doddridge, ‘‘Drinks to excess.” Ver. 22. And shame them that have not—That is, says Doddridge, ‘‘that have not provisions and accommodations of their own;"—i.e. the poor. Ver. 26. Eat this bread.—Anti-papistical writers here observe, that this else substantiated [sacrament] bears the name of bread after consecration; consequently was not tran- Ver. 27. Shall be guilty—(That is, ‘‘Shall be guilty with respect to the body and blood of Christ,”

in not making any distinction between the bread and wine which represent them, and that used on ordinary occasions. |—Bagster. Ver. 29. Damnation.—Macknight, ‘‘punishment;’’ but all commentators agree in reprobating what the former calls “an unhappy mistake’’ in our version. See our note on (Romans 14:23). Ver. 30. Many sleep.—Commentators generally apply this to the sleep of death; and it is true, that the death of believers is called a sleep, (ch. xv. 21;) but this is called a chastening of the Lord, that such might not be condemned, (verse 32,) which implies a recovery from their sleep. We therefore incline to understand the phrase as implying a religious torpor. See (Matthew 25:5). yhes. v.

14. ea XII. Ver. 2. These dumb idols.—The images with which, in that idolatrous city, they were every where surrounded.—Even as ye were led—By the popular superstition, and by the artifices of their priests. Ver. 3. Accursed.—Gr Anathema. Moses says, “He that is hanged, is accursed of God,” ((Deuteronomy 21:23),) which applies equally to those that were crucified, so that ‘‘he hanged Christ” is applied to our Lord Jesus Christ by the infidel Jews, as a title of reproach, to the present. Ver. 4. Gifts.—[Gracious endowments by the extraordinary influence of the Holy Spirit.]—Bagster. Ver. 6. The same God.—Comparing this verse with the two [preceding] we have an argument for the proper divinity of the Holy Spirit, here called God and Lord.