Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

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 (12:27): Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular, or particular members. Each is a member of the body,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

12:12-31 Just as the body is one, although it has many members, and just as all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by the one Spirit we have all been baptized in such a way as to become one body, whether we be Jews or Greeks, whether we be slaves or free men; and we have all been watered by the one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, "Because I am not the hand I am not of the body," it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:30

Have all the gifts of healing ?.... No; when these gifts were in being, all had them not. When anointing with oil, in order to heal the sick, was in use, it was only performed by the elders of the church, not by the common members of it, who were to be sent for by the sick on this occasion: do all speak with tongues ? no; it was not true in fact, as they well knew; though this was greatly coveted after, as a following chapter of this epistle shows; do all interpret ? that is, unknown... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

The Christly assembly. "Now concerning spiritual gifts," etc. All throughout this chapter refers to the Christly assembly. I use this word in preference to the word "Church," for what are now called Churches are not always assemblages of genuine Christians. Overlooking the more minute parts of this remarkable chapter, and taking a broad glance at the whole, there are three important subjects very suggestive and capable of amplification, which are discoverable. These are that every member... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Spiritual gifts. A transition occurs here to a class of topics most important and interesting, since they involve the character and glory of the new dispensation. It was the special economy of the Holy Ghost which St. Paul was now to consider. All along we have had an insight into mistakes and disorders, into disputes and wranglings and, at times, into shameful vices. A quarter of a century had little more than passed since Christ ascended to the throne of the Father as the God Man of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:28-30

The order of offices in the Christian Church. "Apostles" are set in the first place or rank, because they were called to their office by the Lord Jesus Christ himself; they had immediate personal knowledge of his life and character and teachings; and they were the actual founders and practical rulers and referees of the Church. Next come the "prophets," who were not persons merely endowed with the power of foretelling future events, but persons to whom direct revelations and communications... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:29-30

Are all apostles? ... - These questions imply, with strong emphasis, that it could not be, and ought not to be, that there should be perfect equality of endowment. It was not a matter of fact that all were equal, or that all were qualified for the offices which others sustained. Whether the arrangement was approved of or not, it was a simple matter of fact that some were qualified to perform offices which others were not; that some were endowed with the abilities requisite to the apostolic... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 12:28-31

1 Corinthians 12:28-31. And God hath set in the church first apostles Who planted the gospel in the heathen nations, being honoured with an office of the highest distinction, and furnished with endowments peculiar to themselves; secondly, prophets Who either foretold things to come, or spake by extraordinary inspiration for the edification of the church; thirdly, teachers Of an inferior class. Under prophets and teachers, are comprised evangelists and pastors. After that,... read more

Group of Brands