Chapter Twelve
1 Cor. 12:1. I do not wish to leave you, brethren, in ignorance concerning spiritual gifts.
That is, about the gifts of the Spirit. The matter is as follows. Those who believed and were baptized in the beginning all received the Spirit. Since He was invisible, an outward proof of His power was given; and those who received Him either spoke in various tongues, or prophesied, or worked miracles. Among the Corinthians, these gifts caused disturbances: those who received more were puffed up, and those who received less envied them. Moreover, there were certain soothsayers and false prophets, and it was difficult to distinguish them from the divinely inspired prophets. So then, all of this is being corrected, and first of all the matter of the soothsayers.
1 Cor. 12:2. You know that when you were pagans, you went to mute idols – just as you were led.
He gives a sign of a soothsayer for distinguishing a prophet, and says: whoever prophesies through idols, under the inspiration of an unclean spirit, is as if led by someone, dragged along bound by the spirit, knowing nothing of what he utters, but being in a state of frenzy and demonic possession. But a prophet is not like that; he speaks everything with a sound mind. This is the first distinction between a demon-possessed diviner and a God-inspired prophet.
1 Cor. 12:3. 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.
And he says this: let this be for you a sign of a false prophet: he "anathematizes," that is, blasphemes and speaks evil of Jesus; conversely, a sign of a true prophet: he utters the name of the Lord with praise. But what about the catechumens? How do they, not yet having the Spirit, name Jesus? But the discussion now is not about them, but about believers and unbelievers. And what about the demons? Did they not call Jesus by the name of the Lord (Mark 5:7)? But they called upon Him under blows and against their will, and voluntarily and without being struck — never.
1 Cor. 12:4. The gifts are various, but the Spirit is one and the same.
Having shown the difference between a prophet and a false prophet, he speaks also about the gifts, in order to correct those who were reaching the point of division because of them. And first he heals the one who received the lesser gift and therefore grieves. Why are you offended that you did not receive as much as another? This is not something owed, but a grace and a gift. Therefore be grateful that God, who owes you nothing, gave you something. Moreover, to both you and him the same God gave. For it was not an angel who gave to you and God to him, but to both of you the one and the same Spirit gave.
1 Cor. 12:5. And there are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
He also mentioned the Son as the bestower of blessings. He spoke of ministries in order to further console the one who grieves. For having heard the word "gift" and having received less, he could grieve that he was shortchanged in the giving. But hearing about "ministry," not so; for it indicates labor and toil. Why then do you grieve, when He commanded others to labor more, but spared you?
1 Cor. 12:6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God who works all in all.
Here He mentioned also the Father, Who produces operations in all believers. And behold for you the perfect Trinity. Now the gift, and the operation, and the ministry are one and the same thing, although they differ in names: for they are equally given by the Spirit, and by the Son, and by the Father. Notice also that he mentioned the Spirit first, and the Father last: this is for the sake of those who are too particular about order.
1 Cor. 12:7. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common benefit.
Lest anyone should say: "So what? Even if there is one and the same Lord, and one and the same Spirit, and one and the same God, yet I received less?" – anticipating this, he says: this was beneficial for you. He calls the miracles a "manifestation of the Spirit." For from them it was clear that the Spirit dwelt in those who were baptized. Why then do you grieve? Whether your gift is greater or lesser, it is evident that you have the Spirit; what then is there for you to be concerned about?
1 Cor. 12:8. To one is given by the Spirit (δια του πνεύματος) the word of wisdom.
What John the Theologian had, so also Paul himself. Note also that concerning the Spirit the preposition δια (through) is used here.
1 Cor. 12:8. To another the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit.
Which many of the believers had, themselves possessing knowledge, but unable to teach others. For wisdom (σοφία) teaches, being a certain clarity (σαφεία), since it reveals even what is hidden. Everywhere he mentions one and the same Spirit, in order to console (as has been said many times) the one who received less.
1 Cor. 12:9. To another faith, by the same Spirit.
Faith not in dogmas, but wonder-working faith, which even moves mountains (Matt. 17:20).
1 Cor. 12:9. To another the gifts of healings, by the same Spirit.
The gift of healing every disease and every infirmity.
1 Cor. 12:10. To another the working of miracles.
One who had such [gifts] could also punish the disobedient, as, for example, Paul struck Elymas with blindness (Acts 13:11), and Peter struck Ananias with death (Acts 5:3–5). One who had received the gifts of healings could not do this.