1 Corinthians 12:14

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Corinthians 12:14

(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. 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 12:14

12:14 {9} For the body is not one member, but many.(9) He amplifies that which followed of the similitude, as if he should say, "The unity of the body is not prevented by this diversity of members, and furthermore it could not be a body if it did not consist of many members, and those being different." 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 12:12-26

(12) 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. (13) 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. (14) For the body is not one member, but many. (15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear shall say, Because I... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

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, Titus 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 Christ at the Lord's supper, we are strengthened, not by drinking the wine, but by drinking into one Spirit. Each... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12:1-99

1Co 12 THE CORINTHIANS CAME together in assembly not only to partake of the Lord’s supper but also for the exercise of spiritual gifts, especially that of prophecy. In those days there were found prophets who were enabled by the Holy Spirit to give inspired utterances in the assembly. In this way God gave authoritative instruction and guidance while as yet the New Testament scriptures were in the making, and so not freely in the hands of believers as they are today. There was however a great... read more

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