In
this chapter the apostle, I. Considers the case of spiritual gifts, which
were very plentifully poured out on the Corinthian church. He considers
their original, that they are from God; their variety and use, that they
were all intended for one and the same general end, the advancement of
Christianity and the church's edification, ver. 1-11. II. He illustrates
this by an allusion to a human body, in which all the members have a mutual
relation and subserviency, and each has its proper place and use, ver.
12-26. III. He tells us that the church is the body of Christ, and the
members are variously gifted for the benefit of the whole body, and each
particular member, ver. 27-30. And them, IV. Closes with an exhortation to
seek somewhat more beneficial than these gifts, ver. 31.
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On Spiritual Gifts.
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A. D. 57.
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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.
The apostle comes now to treat of spiritual gifts, which abounded in the
church of Corinth, but were greatly abused. What these gifts were is at
large told us in the body of the chapter; namely, extraordinary offices and
powers, bestowed on ministers and Christians in the first ages, for
conviction of unbelievers, and propagation of the gospel. Gifts and graces, carismata
and cariV, greatly
differ. Both indeed were freely given of God. But where grace is given it is
for the salvation of those who have it. Gifts are bestowed for the advantage
and salvation of others. And there may be great gifts where there is not a
dram of grace, but persons possessed of them are utterly out of the divine
favour. They are great instances of divine benignity to men, but do not by
themselves prove those who have them to be the objects of divine
complacency. This church was rich in gifts, but there were many things
scandalously out of order in it. Now concerning these spiritual gifts, that
is, the extraordinary powers they had received from the Spirit,
I. The apostle tells them he would not have them ignorant either of their
original or use. They came from God, and were to be used for him. It would
lead them far astray if they were ignorant of one or the other of these.
Note, Right information is of great use as to all religious practice. It is
wretched work which gifted men make who either do not know or do not advert
to the nature and right use of the gifts with which they are endowed.
II. He puts them in the mind of the sad state out of which they had been
recovered: You were Gentiles, carried away to dumb idols, even as you
were led, v. 2. While they were so, they could have no
pretensions to be spiritual men, nor to have spiritual gifts. While they
were under the conduct of the spirit of Gentilism, they could not be
influenced by the Spirit of Christ. If they well understood their former
condition, they could not but know that all true spiritual gifts were from
God. Now concerning this observe, 1. Their former character: they were
Gentiles. Not God's peculiar people, but of the nations whom he had in a
manner abandoned. The Jews were, before, his chosen people, distinguished
from the rest of the world by his favour. To them the knowledge and worship
of the true God were in a manner confined. The rest of the world were
strangers to the covenant of promise, aliens from the commonwealth of
Israel, and in a manner without God, Eph. ii. 12. Such Gentiles were the
body of the Corinthians, before their conversion to Christianity. What a
change was here! Christian Corinthians were once Gentiles. Note, It is of
great use to the Christian, and a proper consideration to stir him up both
to duty and thankfulness, to think what once he was: You were Gentiles.
2. The conduct they were under: Carried away to these dumb idols, even as
you were led. They were hurried upon the grossest idolatry, the worship
even of stocks and stones, through the force of a vain imagination, and the
fraud of their priests practising on their ignorance, for, whatever were the
sentiments of their philosophers, this was the practice of the herd. The
body of the people paid their homage and worship to dumb idols, that had
ears but could not hear, and mouths but could not speak, Ps. cxv. 5, 6.
Miserable abjectness of mind! And those who despised these gross conceptions
of the vulgar yet countenanced them by their practice. O dismal state of
Gentilism! Could the Spirit of God be among such stupid idolators, or they
be influenced by it? How did the prince of this world triumph in the
blindness of mankind! How thick a mist had he cast over their minds!
III. He shows them how they might discern those gifts that were from the
Spirit of God, true spiritual gifts: No man, speaking by the Spirit,
calls Jesus accursed. Thus did both Jews and Gentiles: they blasphemed
him as an impostor, and execrated his name, and deemed it abominable. And
yet many Jews, who were exorcists and magicians, went about, pretending to
work wonders by the Spirit of God (vid. Lightfoot's Horæ in loc.),
and many among the Gentiles pretended to inspiration. Now the apostle tells
them none could act under the influence, nor by the power, of the Spirit of
God, who disowned and blasphemed Christ: for the Spirit of God bore
uncontrollable witness to Christ by prophecy, miracles, his resurrection
from the dead, the success of his doctrine among men, and its effect upon
them; and could never so far contradict itself as to declare him accursed.
And on the other hand no man could say Jesus was the Lord (that is,
live by this faith, and work miracles to prove it), but it must be by the
Holy Ghost. To own this truth before men, and maintain it to the death,
and live under the influence of it, could not be done without the
sanctification of the Holy Ghost. No man can call Christ Lord, with a
believing subjection to him and dependence upon him, unless that faith be
wrought by the Holy Ghost. No man can confess this truth in the day of trial
but by the Holy Ghost animating and encouraging him. Note, We have as
necessary a dependence on the Spirit's operation and influence for our
sanctification and perseverance as on the mediation of Christ for our
reconciliation and acceptance with God: and no man could confirm this truth
with a miracle but by the Holy Ghost. No evil spirit would lend assistance,
if it were in his power, to spread a doctrine and religion so ruinous to the
devil's kingdom. The substance of what the apostle asserts and argues here
is that whatever pretences there were to inspiration or miracles, among
those who were enemies to Christianity, they could not be from the Spirit of
God; but no man could believe this with his heart, nor prove with a miracle
that Jesus was Christ, but by the Holy Ghost: so that the extraordinary
operations and powers among them did all proceed from the Spirit of God. He
adds,
IV. These spiritual gifts, though proceeding from the same Spirit, are yet
various. They have one author and original, but are themselves of various
kinds. A free cause may produce variety of effects; and the same giver may
bestow various gifts, v. 4. There are diversities of gifts,
such as revelations, tongues, prophecy, interpretations of tongues; but
the same Spirit. There are differences of administrations, or different
offices, and officers to discharge them, different ordinances and
institutions (see v. 28-30), but the same Lord, who appointed all, v.
6. There are diversities of operations, or miraculous powers, called energhmata
dunamewn (v. 10), as here energhmata,
but it is the same God that worketh all in all. There are various
gifts, administrations, and operations, but all proceed from one God, one
Lord, one Spirit; that is, from Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the spring and
origin of all spiritual blessings and bequests: all issue from the same
fountain; all have the same author. However different they may be in
themselves, in this they agree; all are from God. And several of the kinds
are here specified, v. 8-10. Several persons had their several gifts,
some one, some another, all from and by the same Spirit. To one was given
the word of wisdom; that is, say some, a knowledge of the mysteries
of the gospel, and ability to explain them, an exact understanding of the
design, nature, and doctrines, of the Christian religion. Others say an
uttering of grave sentences, like Solomon's proverbs. Some confine this word
of wisdom to the revelations made to and by the apostles.--To another the
word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; that is, say some, the knowledge
of mysteries (ch. ii. 13): wrapped up in the prophecies, types, and
histories of the Old Testament: say others, a skill and readiness to give
advice and counsel in perplexed cases.--To another faith, by the same
Spirit; that is, the faith of miracles, or a faith in the divine power
and promise, whereby they were enabled to trust God in any emergency, and go
on in the way of their duty, and own and profess the truths of Christ,
whatever was the difficulty or danger.--To another the gift of healing,
by the same Spirit; that is, healing the sick, either by laying on of
hands, or anointing with oil, or with a bare word.--To another the
working of miracles; the efficacies of powers, energhmata
dunamewn, such as raising the dead, restoring the
blind to sight, giving speech to the dumb, hearing to the deaf, and the use
of limbs to the lame.--To another prophecy, that is, ability to
foretel future events, which is the more usual sense of prophecy; or to
explain scripture by a peculiar gift of the Spirit. See ch. xiv.
24.-- To another the discerning of Spirits, power to distinguish
between true and false prophets, or to discern the real and internal
qualifications of any person for an office, or to discover the inward
workings of the mind by the Holy Ghost, as Peter did those of Ananias, Acts
v. 3.-- To another divers kinds of tongues, or ability to speak
languages by inspiration.--To another the interpretation of tongues,
or ability to render foreign languages readily and properly into their own.
With such variety of spiritual gifts were the first ministers and churches
blessed.
V. The end for which these gifts were bestowed: The manifestation of the
Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, v. 7. The Spirit
was manifested by the exercise of these gifts; his influence and interest
appeared in them. But they were not distributed for the mere honour and
advantage of those who had them, but for the benefit of the church, to edify
the body, and spread and advance the gospel. Note, Whatever gifts God
confers on any man, he confers them that he may do good with them, whether
they be common or spiritual. The outward gifts of his bounty are to be
improved for his glory, and employed in doing good to others. No man has
them merely for himself. They are a trust put into his hands, to profit
withal; and the more he profits others with them, the more abundantly will
they turn to his account in the end, Phil. iv. 17. Spiritual gifts are
bestowed, that men may with them profit the church and promote Christianity.
They are not given for show, but for service; not for pomp and ostentation,
but for edification; not to magnify those that have them, but to edify
others.
VI. The measure and proportion in which they are given: All these worketh
one and the same Spirit, dividing to every man as he will. It is
according to the sovereign pleasure of the donor. What more free than a
gift? And shall not the Spirit of God do what he will with his own? May he
not give to what persons he pleases, and in what proportion he pleases; one
gift to one man, and another to another; to one more, and another fewer, as
he thinks fit? Is he not the best judge how his own purpose shall be served,
and his own donatives bestowed? It is not as men will, nor as they may think
fit, but as the Spirit pleases. Note, The Holy Ghost is a divine person. He
works divine effects and divides divine gifts a he will, by his own power,
and according to his own pleasure, without dependence or control. But though
he distributes these gifts freely and uncontrollably, they are intended by
him, not for private honour and advantage, but for public benefit, for the
edification of the body, the church.
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Union
Recommended.
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A. D. 57.
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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.
The apostle here makes out the truth of what was above asserted, and puts
the gifted men among the Corinthians in mind of their duty, by comparing the
church of Christ to a human body.
I. By telling us that one body may have many members, and that the many
members of the same body make but one body (v. 12): As the body is
one, and hath many members, and all members of that one body, being many,
are one body, so also is Christ; that is, Christ mystical, as divines
commonly speak. Christ and his church making one body, as head and members,
this body is made up of many parts or members, yet but one body; for all the
members are baptized into the same body, and made to drink of the same
Spirit, v. 13. Jews and Gentiles, bond and free, are upon a level
in this: all are baptized into the same body, and made partakers of the same
Spirit. Christians become members of this body by baptism: they are baptized
into one body. The outward rite is of divine institution, significant of the
new birth, called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit. iii. 5.
But it is by the Spirit, by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made
members of Christ's body. It is the Spirit's operation, signified by the
outward administration, that makes us members. And by communion at the other
ordinance we are sustained; but then it is not merely by drinking the wine,
but by drinking into one Spirit. The outward administration is a means
appointed of God for our participation in this great benefit; but it is
baptism by the Spirit, it is internal renovation and drinking into one
Spirit, partaking of his sanctifying influence from time to time, that makes
us true members of Christ's body, and maintains our union with him. Being
animated by one Spirit makes Christians one body. Note, All who have the
spirit of Christ, without difference, are the members of Christ, whether Jew
or Gentile, bond or free; and none but such. And all the members of Christ
make up one body; the members many, but the body one. They are one body,
because they have one principle of life; all are quickened and animated by
the same Spirit.
II. Each member has its particular form, place, and use. 1. The meanest
member makes a part of the body. The foot and ear are less useful, perhaps,
than the hand and eye; but because one is not a hand, and the other an eye,
shall they say, therefore, that they do not belong to the body? v.
15, 16. So every member of the body mystical cannot have the same place and
office; but what then? Shall it hereupon disown relation to the body?
Because it is not fixed in the same station, or favoured with the same gifts
as others, shall it say, "I do not belong to Christ?" No, the
meanest member of his body is as much a member as the noblest, and as truly
regarded by him. All his members are dear to him. 2. There must be a
distinction of members in the body: Were the whole body eye, where were
the hearing? Were the whole ear, where were the smelling? v. 17. If
all were one member, where were the body? v. 19. They are many
members, and for that reason must have distinction among them, and
yet are but one body, v. 20. One member of a body is not a body;
this is made up of many; and among these many there must be a distinction,
difference of situation, shape, use, &c. So it is in the body of Christ;
its members must have different uses, and therefore have different powers,
and be in different places, some having one gift, and others a different
one. Variety in the members of the body contributes to the beauty of it.
What a monster would a body be if it were all ear, or eye, or arm! So it is
for the beauty and good appearance of the church that there should be
diversity of gifts and offices in it. 3. The disposal of members in a
natural body, and their situation, are as God pleases: But now hath God
set the members, every one of them, in the body, as it hath pleased him,
v. 18. We may plainly perceive the divine wisdom in the distribution
of the members; but it was made according to the counsel of his will; he
distinguished and distributed them as he pleased. So is it also in the
members of Christ's body: they are chosen out to such stations, and endued
with such gifts, as God pleases. He who is sovereign Lord of all disposes
his favours and gifts as he will. And who should gainsay his pleasure? What
foundation is here for repining in ourselves, or envying others? We should
be doing the duties of our own place, and not murmuring in ourselves, nor
quarrelling with others, that we are not in theirs. 4. All the members of
the body are, in some respect, useful and necessary to each other: The
eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee; nor the head to the
feet, I have no need of your: nay, those members of the body which
seem to be more feeble (the bowels, &c.) are necessary (v.
21, 22); God has so fitted and tempered them together that they are all
necessary to one another, and to the whole body; there is no part redundant
and unnecessary. Every member serves some good purpose or other: it is
useful to its fellow-members, and necessary to the good state of the whole
body. Nor is there a member of the body of Christ but may and ought to be
useful to his fellow-members, and at some times, and in some cases, is
needful to them. None should despise and envy another, seeing God has made
the distinction between them as he pleased, yet so as to keep them all in
some degree of mutual dependence, and make them valuable to each other, and
concerned for each other, because of their mutual usefulness. Those who
excel in any gift cannot say that they have no need of those who in that
gift are their inferiors, while perhaps, in other gifts, they exceed them.
Nay, the lowest members of all have their use, and the highest cannot do
well without them. The eye has need of the hand, and the head of the feet.
5. Such is the man's concern for his whole body that on the less
honourable members more abundant honour is bestowed, and our uncomely parts
have more abundant comeliness. Those parts which are not fit, like the
rest, to be exposed to view, which are either deformed or shameful, we most
carefully clothe and cover; whereas the comely parts have no such need. The
wisdom of Providence has so contrived and tempered things that the most
abundant regard and honour should be paid to that which most wanted it, v.
24. So should the members of Christ's body behave towards their
fellow-members: instead of despising them, or reproaching them, for their
infirmities, they should endeavour to cover and conceal them, and put the
best face upon them that they can. 6. Divine wisdom has contrived and
ordered things in this manner that the members of the body should not be
schismatics, divided from each other and acting upon separate interests, but
well affected to each other, tenderly concerned for each other, having a
fellow-feeling of each other's griefs and a communion in each other's
pleasures and joys, v. 25, 26. God has tempered the members of the
body natural in the manner mentioned, that there might be no schism in
the body (v. 25), no rupture nor disunion among the members, nor
so much as the least mutual disregard. This should be avoided also in the
spiritual body of Christ. There should be no schism in this body, but the
members should be closely united by the strongest bonds of love. All decays
of this affection are the seeds of schism. Where Christians grow cold
towards each other, they will be careless and unconcerned for each other.
And this mutual disregard is a schism begun. The members of the natural body
are made to have a care and concern for each other, to prevent a schism in
it. So should it be in Christ's body; the members should sympathize with
each other. As in the natural body the pain of the one part afflicts the
whole, the ease and pleasure of one part affects the whole, so should
Christians reckon themselves honoured in the honours of their fellow-christians,
and should suffer in their sufferings. Note, Christian sympathy is a great
branch of Christian duty. We should be so far from slighting our brethren's
sufferings that we should suffer with them, so far from envying their
honours that we should rejoice with them and reckon ourselves honoured in
them.
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On Spiritual Gifts.
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A. D. 57.
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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 show I unto you a more
excellent way.
I. Here the apostle sums up the argument, and applies this similitude to the
church of Christ, concerning which observe,
1. The relation wherein Christians stand to Christ and one another. The
church, or whole collective body of Christians, in all ages, is his body.
Every Christian is a member of his body, and every other Christian stands
related to him as a fellow-member (v. 27): Now you are the body of
Christ, and members in particular, or particular members. Each is a
member of the body, not the whole body; each stands related to the body as a
part of it, and all have a common relation to one another, dependence upon
one another, and should have a mutual care and concern. Thus are the members
of the natural body, thus should the members of the mystical body be,
disposed. Note, Mutual indifference, and much more contempt, and hatred, and
envy, and strife, are very unnatural in Christians. It is like the members
of the same body being destitute of all concern for one another, or
quarrelling with each other. This is the apostle's scope in this argument.
He endeavours in it to suppress the proud, vaunting, and contentious spirit,
that had prevailed among the Corinthians, by reason of their spiritual
gifts.
2. The variety of offices instituted by Christ, and gifts or favours
dispensed by him (v. 28): God hath set some in the church; first,
apostles, the chief ministers entrusted with all the powers necessary to
found a church, and make an entire revelation of God's will. Secondarily,
prophets, or persons enabled by inspiration, as the evangelists did. Thirdly,
teachers, those who labour in word and doctrine, whether with pastoral
charge or without it. After that, miracles, or miracle-workers. The
gifts of healing, or those who had power to heal diseases; helps,
or such as had compassion on the sick and weak, and ministered to them; governments,
or such as had the disposal of the charitable contributions of the church,
and dealt them out to the poor; diversities of tongues, or such as
could speak divers languages. Concerning all these observe, (1.) The
plenteous variety of these gifts and offices. What a multitude are they! A
good God was free in his communications to the primitive church; he was no
niggard of his benefits and favours. No, he provided richly for them. They
had no want, but a store-all that was necessary, and even more; what was
convenient for them too. (2.) Observe the order of these offices and gifts.
They are here placed in their proper ranks. Those of most value have the
first place. Apostles, prophets, and teachers, were all intended to instruct
the people, to inform them well in the things of God, and promote their
spiritual edification: without them, neither evangelical knowledge nor
holiness could have been promoted. But the rest, however fitted to answer
the great intentions of Christianity, had no such immediate regard to
religion, strictly so called. Note, God does, and we should, value things
according to their real worth: and the use of things is the best criterion
of their real worth. Those are most valuable that best answer the highest
purposes. Such were apostolical powers, compared with theirs who had only
the gift of healing and miracles. What holds the last and lowest rank in
this enumeration is diversity of tongues. It is by itself the most useless
and insignificant of all these gifts. Healing diseases, relieving the poor,
helping the sick, have their use: but how vain a thing is it to speak
languages, if a man does it merely to amuse or boast himself! This may
indeed raise the admiration, but cannot promote the edification, of the
hearers, nor do them any good. And yet it is manifest from ch. xiv.
that the Corinthians valued themselves exceedingly on this gift. Note, How
proper a method it is to beat down pride to let persons know the true value
of what they pride themselves in! It is but too common a thing for men to
value themselves most on what is least worth: and it is of great use to
bring them to a sober mind by letting them know how much they are mistaken.
(3.) The various distribution of these gifts, not all to one, nor to every
one alike. All members and officers had not the same rank in the church, nor
the same endowments (v. 29, 30): Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? This were to make the church a monster: all one as if the body
were all ear or all eye. Some are fit for one office and employment, and
some for another; and the Spirit distributes to every one as he will. We
must be content with our own rank and share, if they be lower and less than
those of others. We must not be conceited of ourselves, and despise others,
if we are in the higher rank and have greater gifts. Every member of the
body is to preserve its own rank, and do its own office; and all are to
minister to one another, and promote the good of the body in general,
without envying, or despising, or neglecting, or ill-using, any one
particular member. How blessed a constitution were the Christian church, if
all the members did their duty!
II. He closes this chapter with an advice (as the generality read it) and a
hint. 1. An advice to covet the best gifts, carismata
ta kreittona--dona potiora, præstantiora,
either the most valuable in them selves or the most serviceable to others;
and these are, in truth, most valuable in themselves, though men may be apt
to esteem those most that will raise their fame and esteem highest. Those
are truly best by which God will be most honoured and his church edified.
Such gifts should be most earnestly coveted. Note, We should desire that
most which is best, and most worth. Grace is therefore to be preferred
before gifts; and, of gifts, those are to be preferred which are of greatest
use. But some read this passage, not as an advice, but a charge:
zhloute, You are envious at each other's
gifts. In ch. xiii. 4, the same word is thus translated. You quarrel
and contend about them. This they certainly did. And this behaviour the
apostle here reprehends, and labours to rectify. Only of pride cometh
contention. These contests in the church of Corinth sprang from this
original. It was a quarrel about precedency (as most quarrels among
Christians are, with whatever pretences they are gilded over); and it is no
wonder that a quarrel about precedence should extinguish charity. When all
would stand in the first rank, no wonder if they jostle, or throw down, or
thrust back, their brethren. Gifts may be valued for their use, but they are
mischievous when made the fuel of pride and contention. This therefore the
apostle endeavours to prevent. 2. By giving them the hint of a more
excellent way, namely, of charity, of mutual love and good-will. This was
the only right way to quiet and cement them, and make their gifts turn to
the advantage and edification of the church. This would render them kind to
each other, and concerned for each other, and therefore calm their spirits,
and put an end to their little piques and contests, their disputes about
precedency. Those would appear to be in the foremost rank, according to the
apostle, who had most of true Christian love. Note, True charity is greatly
to be preferred to the most glorious gifts. To have the heart glow with
mutual love is vastly better than to glare with the most pompous titles,
offices, or powers.
