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John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

(e) Spiritual Gifts(i) Their Nature and Relations1-3. The test of the Spirit’s presence is the confession of Jesus as the Lord. It would seem that some members of the Church, carried away by their excitement when speaking in the congregation under the power of the Spirit, as they said, had called Jesus accursed, as if they had been unbelievers. No such utterance, says the Apostle, can proceed from any one who speaks by the Spirit.2. Gentiles] and so ignorant of all spiritual gifts, and... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:1-40

(e) Spiritual GiftsIn the early Church various powers, faculties, and graces were bestowed on individual Christians by the Holy Spirit. Some of these were distinctly miraculous, such as prophecy, tongues, power to work miracles; others were less extraordinary gifts, such as teaching or wisdom; or special graces of Christian character, such as love. The Apostle does not distinguish between these classes; all alike come from the same Source, and are to be exercised for the good of all. The... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Corinthians 12:31

(31) But covet oarnestly,—Better, But earnestly seek the better gifts. All this argument is not meant to check ardour and to damp enthusiasm. The Spirit divideth to every man as He wills, but He wills to give to each the best gift that each desires and is capable of receiving. The receptivity which comes with earnest and practical desire is in the case of each individual the determining cause as to what gift the Spirit will give. The last sentence, “And yet show I unto you a more excellent... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

1 Corinthians 12:4 In the Iliad (bk. XIII. 726 f.), Polydamas says to Hektor: 'Hektor, ill is it for thy counsellors to persuade thee. Since God has dowered thee with warlike deeds, thou art fain to excel others in council as well. Yet by no means shalt thou be able to take all upon thyself. For to one God grants warlike deeds, to another the dance, to another the lute and song, and in the heart of another, farseeing Zeus hath set a goodly understanding to the profiting of many men.' 1... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Chapter 18CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTSThis Epistle is well fitted to disabuse our minds of the idea that the primitive Church was in all respects superior to the Church of our own day. We turn page after page, and find little but contention, jealousies, errors, immorality, fantastic ideas, immodesty, irreverence, profanity. At this point in the Epistle we do come upon a state of things which differentiates the primitive Church from our own; but here too the superior advantages of those early... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

2. The Body and the Members of the Body CHAPTER 12 1. Concerning spiritual manifestations and diversities of gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11 .) 2. The Body and its members. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31 .) In this interesting, important chapter, spiritual manifestations are first mentioned. The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in the church. And first the distinctive mark of the Spirit is stated. As heathen they had been under the... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:31

12:31 {14} But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.(14) He teaches those who are ambitious and envious, a certain holy ambition and envy. That is, if they give themselves to the best gifts, and such as are most profitable to the church, and so if they contend to excel one another in love, which far surpasses all other gifts. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

The Lord's supper has been first considered, being the most important of all gatherings, because it is for the united expression of the affections of the saints toward Him. Now ministry toward the saints is in view in chapter 12. For this the Lord manifested Himself by the Spirit's work in saints. And we must not be ignorant as regards spiritual manifestations, for evil spirits are adept at simulating the work of the Spirit of God. The Corinthians had themselves known this in their former... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

SPIRITUAL GIFTS The theme of this lesson is closely related to the preceding, for the church disorders included not only unbecoming conduct of the women in the public assembly, and an unworthy observance of the Lord’s supper, but an unholy emulation in the matter of spiritual gifts. After a brief introduction (1 Corinthians 12:1-3 ), the apostle discusses the origin of these gifts as not natural to the believer, but the special bestowment of God. God the Father is the worker of them, God the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

(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... read more

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