1 Corinthians 12-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:3

Wherefore I give you to understand ,.... Or "I make known unto you"; what I am about to say are certain truths, and to be depended on, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed ; or "anathema", as did the unconverted Gentiles, who knew nothing of Jesus but by report; which report they had from the Jews, his enemies; and by that report he appeared to them to be a very wicked and detestable person, who was put to death by the means of his own countrymen, was hanged... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:4

Now there are diversities of gifts ,.... Of spiritual ones, as in 1 Corinthians 12:1 which spring from the free grace, and good will and pleasure of God, and are not owing to the merits of men; and therefore such who have the largest share of them should not boast of them as acquired by themselves, or be puffed up on account of them; and those who have the smallest measure should be content and thankful; for though the gifts are different, some have greater, and others lesser, none have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:5

And there are differences of administrations ,.... Or ministries; offices in the church, ministered in by different persons, as apostles, prophets, pastors, or teachers and deacons; who were employed in planting and forming of churches, ordaining elders, preaching the word, administering ordinances, and taking care of the poor; for which different gifts were bestowed on them, they not all having the same office. But the same Lord ; meaning either Jesus Christ, whom the believer, by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:6

And there are diversities of operations , There are some that are ordinary, as the good work of grace, and the several parts of it, the work of faith, the labour of love, and patience of hope, which the Spirit of God begins, carries on, and finishes in all the elect of God, and members of Christ; and there are others which are extraordinary, and are here meant, and hereafter specified. But it is the same God which worketh all in all . Interpreters in general understand by God here, God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:7

But the manifestation of the Spirit ,.... Not that which the Spirit manifests, as the grace and love of God, an interest in Christ, the doctrines of the Gospel, and the things of another world; for he is a spirit of revelation, more or less, in the knowledge of these things; but that which manifests that a man has the Spirit of God; or rather the gifts of the Spirit, as the fruits and graces of the Spirit, the least measure of which, as being able to say that Jesus is Lord, shows that a man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:8

For to one is given by the Spirit ,.... Now follows a distinct and particular enumeration of the operations of the Spirit, though not all of them, yet as many as the apostle thought necessary; and which are called the manifestation of him, and which most clearly show him to be the author of them to different persons; the word of wisdom : by which is meant "the manifold wisdom of God"; the wonderful scheme of salvation through the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Christ, in which God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:9

To another faith by the same Spirit ,.... Not the grace of faith, which is common to all believers, though given by the same Spirit: but rather the doctrine of faith, and ability to preach it, and boldness and intrepidity of spirit to assert and defend it in the face of all opposition; all which are from the Spirit of God, and are more or less given to pastors and teachers, the third office in the church. Though generally this is understood of a faith of working miracles, as in 1... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:10

To another the working of miracles ,.... Or "powers": mighty deeds, wonderful works, such as are apparently above, and out of the reach of nature, and beyond the compass of human power and skill; such as raising the dead, causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, the lame to walk, and the like; of which, see some instances in Acts 3:6 . Though others understand by these the extraordinary powers the apostles had of punishing offenders; of which the striking Ananias and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:11

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit ,.... Though these gifts, ministrations, and operations, are so different in themselves, and are bestowed upon different persons, yet they are all wrought by one and the same Spirit of God, who is the true Jehovah, and properly God, as these his works declare; for who, but the most high God, could ever communicate such gifts to men? Dividing to every man severally as he will ; giving one man this gift, and another that; imparting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:12

For as the body is one ,.... That is, an human body; for of this the apostle speaks, and takes a simile, and forms a comparison from, showing the union among saints, and their mutual participation of the various gifts of the Spirit; for an human body is but one body, and not more. And hath many members ; as eyes, ears, hands, feet, &c.; And all the members of that one body being many are one body ; as numerous as they may be, they all belong to, and make up but one body;... read more

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