King James Version
1 Corinthians 12
31 verses with commentary
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Now concerning spiritual gifts</strong> (<em>peri de tōn pneumatikōn</em>, περὶ δὲ τῶν πνευματικῶν)—Paul shifts to address the Corinthians' question about <em>pneumatika</em>, literally "spiritual things" or "things of the Spirit." The neuter plural can refer either to spiritual gifts themselves or to spiritually-gifted people, though context favors gifts. <strong>I would not have you igno...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
XII.
(1) **Now concerning spiritual gifts.**—Again the sequence of the topics treated of is probably decided by the subjects contained in the letter from Corinth (see 1Corinthians 7:1; 1Corinthians 8:1), and the Apostle replies to inquiries regarding the comparative value and importance of certain spiritual gifts. In this early age the Church was full of the divine energy of spiritual youth. From ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**20. bought with a price--**Therefore Christ's blood is strictly a ransom paid to God's justice by the love of God in Christ for our redemption (Mt 20:28; Ac 20:28; Ga 3:13; He 9:12; 1Pe 1:18, 19; 2Pe 2:1; Re 5:9). While He thus took off our obligation to punishment, He laid upon us a new obligation to obedience (1Co 7:22, 23). If we accept Him as our Prophet to reveal God to us, and our Priest t...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Chapter Outline
Believers are to dedicate themselves to God.(1-2)
To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations.(3-8)
Exhortations to various duties.(9-16)
And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence.(17-21)
**Verses 1-2**
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues...
Read full commentary →Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols</strong>—Paul reminds them of their pre-conversion spiritual experience: <em>apagomenoi</em> ("carried away") suggests passive compulsion, being swept along by demonic forces masquerading as gods. <strong>Dumb idols</strong> (<em>eidōla ta aphōna</em>, εἴδωλα τὰ ἄφωνα) contrasts sharply with the Spirit who speaks—idols are voiceless, lif...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **Ye** **know that ye were Gentiles.**—Better (according to the weight of MSS. evidence), *Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were,* &c. In this and the following verse the Apostle reminds his readers that so far from regarding the marvellous manifestations of the Spirit, such as speaking with tongues and prophesying, as the most wonderful miracles, the greatest miracle of all was their con...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Chapter Outline
Believers are to dedicate themselves to God.(1-2)
To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations.(3-8)
Exhortations to various duties.(9-16)
And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence.(17-21)
**Verses 1-2**
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues...
Read full commentary →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. accursed: or, anathema
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>No man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed</strong>—The ultimate test of Spirit-inspired speech: does it confess or curse Jesus? <em>Anathema Iēsous</em> (ἀνάθεμα Ἰησοῦς, "cursed be Jesus") may reflect Jewish synagogue curses against Christians (cf. Acts 26:11) or pagan oaths required during persecution. No genuinely Spirit-inspired utterance—whether prophecy, tongues, or ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Wherefore I give you to understand.**—Better, *Wherefore I make known unto you.* Because such was your condition, and there still seems to linger in your minds some of the ignorance which belonged to such a state, I make known unto you the one great test of your possession of the Holy Spirit. If any man say “Jesus is anathema,” that is a proof that he has not that Spirit. If any man say “Jes...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 7
1Co 7:1-40. Reply to Their Inquiries as to Marriage; the General Principle in Other Things Is, Abide in Your Station, for the Time Is Short.
1. The Corinthians in their letter had probably asked questions which tended to disparage marriage, and had implied that it was better to break it off when contracted with an unbeliever.
**good--**that is, "expedient," because of "the present ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-8**
Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we d...
Read full commentary →Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit</strong>—Paul begins a threefold repetition (verses 4-6) emphasizing <em>unity in diversity</em>. <em>Diaireseis charismaton</em> (διαιρέσεις χαρισμάτων) means "distributions of grace-gifts"—<em>charisma</em> derives from <em>charis</em> (grace), underscoring that gifts are unmerited, freely given. The Corinthians ranked gifts hierarc...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4-6) **NOW** **there are diversities of gifts.**—Although conversion is identical in every case, yet afterwards there are spiritual gifts which vary according to individual capacity and character, but they all come from the one Spirit. There are varieties of ministration in which those spiritual gifts are employed, *and* (not “but” in the Greek) the same Lord is served by these varied ministries;...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
2. Here the general rule is given
**to avoid fornication--**More literally, "on account of fornications," to which as being very prevalent at Corinth, and not even counted sins among the heathen, unmarried persons might be tempted. The plural, "fornications," marks irregular lusts, as contrasted with the unity of the marriage relation [Bengel].
**let every man have--**a positive command to all...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-8**
Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we d...
Read full commentary →And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. administrations: or, ministries
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord</strong>—<em>Diakoniai</em> (διακονίαι, "ministries" or "services") emphasizes that gifts exist for servant-functions, not self-display. The term relates to <em>diakonos</em> (deacon/servant), stressing humble service over honor-seeking. While gifts differ (<em>diaireseis</em>, distributions), they share one Master: <strong>th...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
3-4. The duty of cohabitation on the part of the married.
**due benevolence--**The oldest manuscripts read simply, "her due"; that is, the conjugal cohabitation due by the marriage contract (compare 1Co 7:4).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-8**
Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we d...
Read full commentary →And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all</strong>—<em>Energēmatōn</em> (ἐνεργημάτων, "workings" or "operations") stresses the <em>effects</em> or <em>results</em> of gifts. The root <em>energeō</em> means "to work effectively, to produce results." God the Father is the ultimate energizer of all spiritual activity—<strong>which worketh all in ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
3-4. The duty of cohabitation on the part of the married.
**due benevolence--**The oldest manuscripts read simply, "her due"; that is, the conjugal cohabitation due by the marriage contract (compare 1Co 7:4).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-8**
Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we d...
Read full commentary →But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man</strong>—<em>Phanerōsis tou Pneumatos</em> (φανέρωσις τοῦ Πνεύματος, "manifestation of the Spirit") means the Spirit's invisible presence becomes visible/tangible through gifts. Every believer (<strong>to every man</strong>, <em>hekastō</em>) receives some manifestation—no Christian is gift-less. This democratizes spiritual ministry...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **But the manifestation of the Spirit.**—These gifts which flow from one source are intended to flow towards one object, viz., the benefit of the whole Church. If it were only for a man’s own benefit it would cease to be a “manifestation”—it would be sufficient for the person to possess the spirit consciously to himself. But the object of light is to give light to others. The object of the spi...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**5. Defraud ... not--**namely, of the conjugal duty "due" (1Co 7:3; compare the Septuagint, Ex 21:10).
**except it be--**"unless perchance" [Alford].
**give yourselves to--**literally, "be at leisure for"; be free from interruptions for; namely, on some special "season," as the Greek for "time" means (compare Ex 19:15; Joe 2:16; Zec 7:3).
**fasting and prayer--**The oldest manuscripts omit ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-8**
Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we d...
Read full commentary →For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom</strong>—<em>Logos sophias</em> (λόγος σοφίας, "word of wisdom") likely refers to Spirit-given ability to apply divine truth to complex situations, offering wise counsel and practical insight. This differs from natural intelligence—it's supernatural wisdom for navigating life's challenges according to God's perspective. <strong>To anothe...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **For to one is given by the Spirit.**—1Corinthians 12:8-10 illustrate the former statements as to varieties of endowments for the object of the manifestation of the Spirit, still, however, emphasising the unity of their origin, viz., the Holy Spirit. The following division (Meyer’s) of the gifts which are here mentioned is, perhaps, the best approach to a classification which can be made. In ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**6. by permission ... not of commandment--**not by God's permission to me to say it: but, "by way of permission to you, not as a commandment." "This" refers to the directions, 1Co 7:2-5.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-8**
Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we d...
Read full commentary →To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>To another faith by the same Spirit</strong>—This is not saving faith (common to all believers, Ephesians 2:8) but supernatural trust that moves mountains (Matthew 17:20), confidence for extraordinary acts of obedience, miraculous provision, or answered prayer. This gift enables believers to trust God for what seems humanly impossible, acting with certainty based on divine promises. George...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **Faith.**—This cannot mean the faith which is necessary to salvation, for that belongs to all Christians; but such faith as is mentioned in Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6, the results of such a faith being here enlarged, and not embracing miracles alone, but prophecy and the discerning of spirits. In the Greek “the word of wisdom” is said to be given *by* the Spirit; “the word of knowledge “*accord...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**7. even as I--**having tile gift of continence (Mt 19:11, 12). This wish does not hold good absolutely, else the extension of mankind and of the Church would cease; but relatively to "the present distress" (1Co 7:26).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 9-16**
The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This de...
Read full commentary →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:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>To another the working of miracles</strong>—<em>Energēmata dynameōn</em> (ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων, "workings of powers") encompasses supernatural deeds beyond healing: exorcisms, nature miracles, judgments (Acts 5:1-11, 13:11), raisings from death. <em>Dynamis</em> (power) describes God's mighty acts, used throughout Scripture for creation, exodus, resurrection. <strong>To another prophecy</st...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **Prophecy.**—Not in its modern and limited sense of foretelling the future, but forthtelling truth generally.
**Discerning of spirits**—*i.e.,* the power to distinguish between the workings of the Holy Spirit and of evil and misleading spirits (see 1Timothy 4:1; 1John 4:1). On the gifts of tongues and interpretations of tongues, see 1 Corinthians 14.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**8. to the unmarried--**in general, of both sexes (1Co 7:10, 11).
**and widows--**in particular.
**even as I--**unmarried (1Co 9:5).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 9-16**
The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This de...
Read full commentary →But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit</strong>—<em>Panta de tauta energei to hen kai to auto Pneuma</em> (πάντα δὲ ταῦτα ἐνεργεῖ τὸ ἓν καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ Πνεῦμα)—Paul concludes the gift-list with emphatic reiteration: <strong>one</strong> (<em>hen</em>) and <strong>the selfsame</strong> (<em>to auto</em>) Spirit operates all gifts. No room exists for gift-boasting or gift-envy—al...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **But all these.**—Again, in striking contrast to the great varieties of gifts, the common source of them all is emphatically repeated. The Corinthians estimated these gifts variously, according to their variety in operation. The Apostle estimates their common value as proceeding from the One Spirit, distributed according to His will. Those who valued men more or less according to the kind of...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9. if they cannot contain--**that is, "have not continency."
**burn--**with the secret flame of lust, which lays waste the whole inner man. (Compare Augustine [Holy Virginity]). The dew of God's grace is needed to stifle the flame, which otherwise would thrust men at last into hell-fire.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 9-16**
The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This de...
Read full commentary →One Body with Many Members
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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For as the body is one, and hath many members</strong>—Paul shifts to his famous body-metaphor (<em>sōma</em>, σῶμα), used extensively through verse 27. Ancient rhetoric commonly employed body-imagery for social unity; Paul baptizes this into Christian ecclesiology. <strong>All the members of that one body, being many, are one body</strong>—the paradox of <em>unity-in-diversity</em>: many ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**10. not I, but the Lord--**(Compare 1Co 7:12, 25, 40). In ordinary cases he writes on inspired apostolic authority (1Co 14:37); but here on the direct authority of the Lord Himself (Mr 10:11, 12). In both cases alike the things written are inspired by the Spirit of God "but not all for all time, nor all on the primary truths of the faith" [Alford].
**Let not the wife depart--**literally, "be s...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →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. Gentiles: Gr. Greeks
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body</strong>—<em>En heni Pneumati hēmeis pantes eis hen sōma ebaptisthēmen</em> (ἐν ἑνὶ Πνεύματι ἡμεῖς πάντες εἰς ἓν σῶμα ἐβαπτίσθημεν)—Spirit-baptism is the basis of church unity. The <em>en</em> ("by/in") is instrumental: the Spirit is the agent/sphere of this baptism. The aorist passive <em>ebaptisthēmen</em> points to the definitive event...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(13) **For.**—Here follows an illustrative proof of the former statement. The human body is composed of many members, and so also is the spiritual body of Christ, which is His Church.
**To drink into one Spirit.**—Better (in accordance with the best MSS.), *to drink one Spirit.* The act of baptism was not only a watering of the convert with the washing of regeneration, but a partaking of one Spiri...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**11. But and if she depart--**or "be separated." If the sin of separation has been committed, that of a new marriage is not to be added (Mt 5:32).
**be reconciled--**by appeasing her husband's displeasure, and recovering his good will.
**let not ... husband put away ... wife--**In Mt 5:32 the only exception allowed is, "saving for the cause of fornication."
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →For the body is not one member, but many.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For the body is not one member, but many</strong>—Paul states the obvious to expose the absurd: a body composed of only one kind of member (all eyes or all hands) would be monstrous, non-functional. The simplicity masks profound truth: diversity is not a problem to solve but a design feature to celebrate. The Corinthians' elevation of certain gifts (especially tongues) as superior implied ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **For the body is not one member, but many.**—Here follows a series of suggestions as to the different parts of the body claiming independence of the body itself, which the nature of the case shows to be absurd.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**12. to the rest--**the other classes (besides "the married," 1Co 7:10, where both husband and wife are believers) about whom the Corinthians had inquired, namely, those involved in mixed marriages with unbelievers.
**not the Lord--**by any direct command spoken by Him.
**she be pleased--**Greek, "consents": implying his wish in the first instance, with which hers concurs.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?</strong>—Paul personifies body-parts to dramatize gift-envy. The foot's complaint—"I'm not a hand, therefore I don't belong"—exposes faulty logic: difference doesn't equal deficiency. The rhetorical question expects an obvious "No!"—the foot's self-assessment doesn't alter its membershi...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(15) **Is it therefore not of the body?**—Better, *It is not on that account not of the body;* and so omit the note of interrogation in the subsequent passages of these verses also. The illustration is almost the same as that contained in Livy, ii. 32, the fable of the revolt of the limbs against the belly. Pope, in his *Essay on Man* (9), employs the same idea thus:—
“What if the foot, ordain’d t...
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**13. the woman--**a believer.
**let her not leave him--**"her husband," instead of "him," is the reading of the oldest manuscripts The Greek for "leave" is the same as in 1Co 7:12, "put away"; translate, "Let her not put away [that is, part with] her husband." The wife had the power of effecting a divorce by Greek and Roman law.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →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?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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?</strong>—Paul repeats the argument with different body-parts (ear/eye instead of foot/hand) to reinforce the point through variation. The ear's function—hearing—differs entirely from the eye's function—seeing. Neither is superior; both are necessary. A deaf person lacks what the heari...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**14. sanctified--**Those inseparably connected with the people of God are hallowed thereby, so that the latter may retain the connection without impairing their own sanctity (compare 1Ti 4:5); nay, rather imparting to the former externally some degree of their own hallowed character, and so preparing the way for the unbeliever becoming at last sanctified inwardly by faith.
**by ... by--**rather...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?</strong>—Paul pushes the absurdity to comic extremes: imagine a body composed entirely of one gigantic eyeball—it could see but not hear, smell, taste, or touch. Such a creature would be grotesquely deformed, severely handicapped. The rhetorical question (<em>pou</em>, "where?") empha...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(17) **If the whole body were an eye.**—Here is shown how absurd it would be for the body to be merely one member, and in 1Corinthians 12:19 is shown the converse absurdity of the members losing their individuality. There is a corporate body composed of divers members. That is the difference between a dead machine and a living organism.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**15. if ... depart--**that is, wishes for separation. Translate, "separateth himself": offended with her Christianity, and refusing to live with her unless she renounce it.
**brother or a sister is not under bondage--**is not bound to renounce the faith for the sake of retaining her unbelieving husband [Hammond]. So De 13:6; Mt 10:35-37; Lu 14:26. The believer does not lie under the same obliga...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him</strong>—<em>Etheto</em> (ἔθετο, aorist of <em>tithēmi</em>, "to place, appoint, establish") emphasizes God's deliberate, purposeful arrangement. <strong>Every one of them</strong> (<em>hen hekaston autōn</em>)—no member's placement is accidental or arbitrary. <strong>As it hath pleased him</strong> (<em...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
16. What knowest thou but that by staying with thy unbelieving partner thou mayest save him or her? Enforcing the precept to stay with the unbelieving consort (1Co 7:12-14). So Ruth the Moabitess became a convert to her husband's faith: and Joseph and Moses probably gained over their wives. So conversely the unbelieving husband may be won by the believing wife (1Pe 3:1) [Calvin]. Or else (1Co 7:15...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →And if they were all one member, where were the body?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And if they were all one member, where were the body?</strong>—Paul's climactic rhetorical question: if uniformity prevailed, the body itself would cease to exist. A body requires multiplicity—many members with diverse functions. <em>En melos</em> ("one member") is a contradiction in terms; <em>melos</em> (member) implies belonging to something larger. A solitary organ isn't a body but a f...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**17. But--**Greek, "If not." "Only." Caution that believers should not make this direction (1Co 7:16; as Alford explains it) a ground for separating "of themselves" (1Co 7:12-14). Or, But if there be no hope of gaining over the unbeliever, still let the general principle be maintained, "As the Lord hath allotted to each, as God hath called each, so let him walk" (so the Greek in the oldest readin...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →But now are they many members, yet but one body.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But now are they many members, yet but one body</strong>—<em>Nyn de polla men melē, hen de sōma</em> (νῦν δὲ πολλὰ μὲν μέλη, ἓν δὲ σῶμα)—the balanced Greek construction emphasizes the paradox: <em>many</em> members (πολλά, <em>polla</em>), <em>one</em> body (ἕν, <em>hen</em>). The <em>men...de</em> construction creates antithesis: plurality and unity coexist without contradiction. This is ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(20) **But now are they.**—From the *reductio ad absurdum* of the previous verses the Apostle turns to the fact as it is, and proceeds (in 1Corinthians 12:21) to state that there is a mutual interdependence in the members of the body. The eye is dependent on the hand, the head upon the feet. Here, no doubt, the illustration is drawn out in this particular direction to rebuke those who being themse...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18. not become uncircumcised--**by surgical operation (1 Maccabees 1:15; Josephus [Antiquities, 12.5.1]). Some Christians in excess of anti-Jewish feeling might be tempted to this.
**let him not be circumcised--**as the Judaizing Christians would have him (Ac 15:1, 5, 24; Ga 5:2).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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</strong>—Now Paul addresses gift-pride, the flip side of gift-envy. Having shown the foot/ear cannot say "I don't belong" (vv.15-16), he now shows the eye/head cannot say "I don't need you." <em>Ou dynastai</em> ("cannot") is stronger than "should not"—it's impossible, not me...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**19. Circumcision ... nothing, but ... keeping of ... commandments of God--**namely, is all in all. In Ga 5:6 this "keeping of the commandments of God" is defined to be "faith which worketh by love"; and in Ga 6:15, "a new creature." Circumcision was a commandment of God: but not for ever, as "love."
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary</strong>—<em>Polla mallon ta dokounta melē tou sōmatos asthenestera hyparchein anankaia estin</em>—Paul inverts worldly evaluation: <strong>which seem</strong> (<em>ta dokounta</em>) to be weaker are actually <strong>necessary</strong> (<em>anankaia</em>, indispensable, essential). <em>Asthenestera</em> (...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(22) **Which seem to be more feeble.**—The general argument of this and the following verse (without attempting to identify the particular parts of the body referred to) is that the weakest parts of the body are as necessary to the body as the strongest; and those parts which are considered less seemly are more abundantly cared for by being carefully covered with clothes, as distinguished from the...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**20. the same calling--**that is, the condition from which he is called a Jew, a Greek, a slave, or a freeman.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →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. bestow: or, put on
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour</strong>—<em>Dokoumen atimotera einai</em> ("we think to be less honorable")—Paul references unpresentable body parts (genitals, digestive organs) that receive extra covering/clothing despite being "dishonorable" in public view. <strong>We bestow more abundant honour</strong> (<em...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**21. care not for it--**Let it not be a trouble to thee that thou art a servant or slave.
**use it rather--**Continue rather in thy state as a servant (1Co 7:20; Ga 3:28; 1Ti 6:2). The Greek, "But if even thou mayest be made free, use it," and the context (1Co 7:20, 22) favors this view [Chrysostom, Bengel, and Alford]. This advice (if this translation be right) is not absolute, as the spirit o...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together</strong>—<em>Ta gar euschēmona hēmōn ou chreian echei</em> ("our presentable parts have no need")—hands, face, eyes need no extra covering or honor; they're naturally presentable. God's design compensates: prominent members need less care; hidden members need more. <strong>God hath tempered the body together</strong...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(24) **For our comely parts have no need.**—These words (better, *and our comely parts have no need*) conclude the former verse. The words, “But God hath tempered,” commence a new sentence, in which the natural practice of covering parts of the body is stated to be in harmony with God’s evident intention.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**22. the Lord's freeman--**(Phm 16)--rather, "freedman." Though a slave externally, spiritually made free by the Lord: from sin, Joh 8:36; from the law, Ro 8:2; from "circumcision," 1Co 7:19; Ga 5:1.
**Christ's servant--**(1Co 9:21). Love makes Christ's service perfect freedom (Mt 11:29, 30; Ga 5:13; 1Pe 2:16).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. schism: or, division
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>That there should be no schism in the body</strong>—<em>Hina mē ē schisma en tō sōmati</em> (ἵνα μὴ ᾖ σχίσμα ἐν τῷ σώματι)—<em>schisma</em> (σχίσμα, "division, tear, split") is Paul's diagnosis of Corinth's core problem (cf. 1:10, "no divisions among you"). God's compensatory honor-system (vv.22-24) serves one purpose: <strong>that there should be no schism</strong>. Elevating weaker membe...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(25) **That there should be no schism.**—The existence of differences of gifts in the Church had been used by the Corinthians to cause schisms, exalting some gifts and depreciating others, when this very variety in the Church ought, as was the intention of variety in the human body, to create a mutual dependence, which would promote unity.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**23. be not ye--**Greek, "become not ye." Paul here changes from "thou" (1Co 7:21) to "ye." Ye all are "bought" with the blood of Christ, whatever be your earthly state (1Co 6:20). "Become not servants to men," either externally, or spiritually; the former sense applying to the free alone: the latter to Christian freemen and slaves alike, that they should not be servile adherents to their party l...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it</strong>—<em>Paschei hen melos, sympaschei panta ta melē</em> (πάσχει ἓν μέλος, συμπάσχει πάντα τὰ μέλη)—the prefix <em>sym</em> ("with, together") creates <em>sympaschō</em>, "suffer together, co-suffer." When the toe is stubbed, the entire body feels pain; when the stomach aches, the whole person is miserable. This is not mere...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(26) **And whether one member suffer.**—This verse completes the statement of the perfect unity of the members in one body and with one another. They are not only physically joined together, but they are so united as to feel together.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**24. abide with God--**being chiefly careful of the footing on which he stands towards God rather than that towards men. This clause, "with God," limits the similar precept in 1Co 7:20. A man may cease to "abide in the calling wherein he was called," and yet not violate the precept here. If a man's calling be not favorable to his "abiding with God" (retaining holy fellowship with Him), he may use...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-26**
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Chri...
Read full commentary →Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular</strong>—<em>Hymeis de este sōma Christou kai melē ek merous</em> (ὑμεῖς δὲ ἐστε σῶμα Χριστοῦ καὶ μέλη ἐκ μέρους)—Paul applies the metaphor directly: <strong>you are</strong> (<em>este</em>, emphatic present indicative) Christ's body. Not "like a body" but actually, truly, ontologically <em>the body of Christ</em>. <strong>And member...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(27) **Now.**—We have here in general terms the application of the foregoing illustration, the detailed application of which follows in 1Corinthians 12:28. The Apostles were those selected by our Lord Himself, or afterwards elected by them to join that body. (On prophets and teachers, see 1Corinthians 12:10.) The teachers were probably a junior order of instructors. (See Acts 13:1; Ephesians 4:11....
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**25. no commandment of the Lord: yet ... my judgment--**I have no express revelation from the Lord commanding it, but I give my judgment (opinion); namely, under the ordinary inspiration which accompanied the apostles in all their canonical writings (compare 1Co 7:40; 1Co 14:37; 1Th 4:15). The Lord inspires me in this case to give you only a recommendation, which you are free to adopt or reject--...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Chapter Outline
Believers are to dedicate themselves to God.(1-2)
To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations.(3-8)
Exhortations to various duties.(9-16)
And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence.(17-21)
**Verses 1-2**
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues...
Read full commentary →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. diversities: or, kinds
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers</strong>—<em>Etheto</em> ("has placed, appointed")—God sovereignly establishes roles in the church, listed with numerical order (<em>prōton, deuteron, triton</em>—first, second, third). <em>Apostoloi</em> (ἀπόστολοι, "sent ones") are Christ's commissioned representatives with foundational authority ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**26. I suppose--**"I consider."
**this--**namely, "for a man so to be," that is, in the same state in which he is (1Co 7:27).
**for--**by reason of.
**the present distress--**the distresses to which believers were then beginning to be subjected, making the married state less desirable than the single; and which would prevail throughout the world before the destruction of Jerusalem, accordin...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Chapter Outline
Believers are to dedicate themselves to God.(1-2)
To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations.(3-8)
Exhortations to various duties.(9-16)
And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence.(17-21)
**Verses 1-2**
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues...
Read full commentary →Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? workers: or, powers?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?</strong>—<em>Mē pantes apostoloi; mē pantes prophētai; mē pantes didaskaloi; mē pantes dynameis;</em>—the Greek particle <em>mē</em> (μή) expects a negative answer: "Not all are apostles, are they?" Paul's rhetorical questions (continuing v.30) hammer home gift-diversity. Not every believer is an apostle; no...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
27. Illustrating the meaning of "so to be," 1Co 7:26. Neither the married (those "bound to a wife") nor the unmarried (those "loosed from a wife") are to "seek" a change of state (compare 1Co 7:20, 24).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Chapter Outline
Believers are to dedicate themselves to God.(1-2)
To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations.(3-8)
Exhortations to various duties.(9-16)
And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence.(17-21)
**Verses 1-2**
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues...
Read full commentary →Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?</strong>—<em>Mē pantes charismata echoysin iamatōn; mē pantes glōssais laloysin; mē pantes diermēneyoysin;</em>—Paul continues rhetorical questions expecting "No!" Not all have healing gifts; not all speak in tongues; not all interpret. The Greek construction (<em>mē</em> + question) makes the negative answer empha...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**28. trouble in the flesh--**Those who marry, he says, shall incur "trouble in the flesh" (that is, in their outward state, by reason of the present distress), not sin, which is the trouble of the spirit.
**but I spare you--**The emphasis in the Greek is on "I." My motive in advising you so is, to "spare you" such trouble in the flesh. So Alford after Calvin, Bengel, and others. Estius from Aug...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Chapter Outline
Believers are to dedicate themselves to God.(1-2)
To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations.(3-8)
Exhortations to various duties.(9-16)
And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence.(17-21)
**Verses 1-2**
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues...
Read full commentary →But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But covet earnestly the best gifts</strong>—<em>Zēloute de ta charismata ta meizona</em> (ζηλοῦτε δὲ τὰ χαρίσματα τὰ μείζονα)—<em>zēloute</em> can be translated "earnestly desire" or "zealously seek." <em>Meizona</em> ("greater") suggests a hierarchy, though context clarifies: "greater" means more beneficial to the body's edification, not intrinsically superior. Prophecy is "greater" than ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(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 caus...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**29. this I say--**A summing up of the whole, wherein he draws the practical inference from what precedes (1Co 15:50).
**the time--**the season (so the Greek) of this present dispensation up to the coming of the Lord (Ro 13:11). He uses the Greek expression which the Lord used in Lu 21:8; Mr 13:33.
**short--**literally, "contracted."
**it remaineth--**The oldest manuscripts read, "The time ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Chapter Outline
Believers are to dedicate themselves to God.(1-2)
To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations.(3-8)
Exhortations to various duties.(9-16)
And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence.(17-21)
**Verses 1-2**
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues...
Read full commentary →