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1 Corinthians 12:1. I do not want to leave you, brothers, in ignorance about spiritual gifts. That is, about the gifts of the Spirit. Here's the thing. Those who believed and were baptized at the beginning all received the Spirit. Since He was invisible, external proof of His power was given; and those who received Him either spoke in different languages, or prophesied, or performed miracles. The Corinthians were in turmoil because of these gifts: those who received more were exalted, those who received less were jealous of them. Moreover, there were some prophets and false prophets, and it was difficult to distinguish them from the inspired prophets. So, all this is being corrected, and first of all the work of the prophets. 1 Corinthians 12:2. You know that when you were pagans, you went to silent idols - as if they were leading you. He gives the sign of a prophet to distinguish a prophet, and says: whoever speaks in idols, under the inspiration of an unclean spirit, is, as if led by someone, bound by the spirit, not knowing anything of what he utters, but being in a state of frenzy and madness. But the prophet is not like that; he pronounces everything with a sound mind. This is the first difference between a raving soothsayer and an inspired prophet. 1 Corinthians 12:3. Therefore I tell you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will pronounce anathema against Jesus, and no one can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit. And this says, let it be a sign of a prophet for you: he “anathematizes,” that is, blasphemes and slanderes Jesus; on the contrary, it is a sign of a prophet: he pronounces the name of the Lord with praise. What about the announced ones? What do they, not yet having the Spirit, call Jesus? But now we are not talking about them, but about believers and non-believers. What about demons? didn't they call Jesus by the name of the Lord (Mark 5:7)? But they called under blows and against their will, but never voluntarily and without defeat. 1 Corinthians 12:4. There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. Having shown the difference between a prophet and a false prophet, he also speaks about gifts in order to correct those who, because of them, reached division. And first he heals the one who received a lesser gift, and therefore grieves. Why are you offended by the fact that you did not receive as much as the other? This is not something owed, but a mercy and a gift. Therefore, be grateful that God, who owes you nothing, has given you something. Moreover, the same God gave it to you and to him. For an angel did not give it to you, but God gave it to him, but the same Spirit gave it to you both. 1 Corinthians 12:5. And the services are different, but the Lord is the same. He also mentioned the Son as the giver of blessings. He spoke about services in order to more comfort the mourner. For, hearing the word “gift” and receiving less, he could grieve that he was deprived of the gift. But, hearing about “service”, not so; for it indicates labor and sweat. Why do you grieve when He commanded others to work more, but spared you? 1 Corinthians 12:6. And the actions are different, but God is one and the same, producing everything in everyone. Here I also mentioned the Father, who works in all believers. And here is the perfect Trinity for you. Giving, and action, and service are one and the same, although they differ in names: for they are equally given by the Spirit, and the Son, and the Father. Notice also that I mentioned the Spirit first, and the Father at the end: this is for the sake of those who are too picky about order. 1 Corinthians 12:7. But everyone is given the manifestation of the Spirit for their benefit. So that no one says: “What then? if it is one and the same Lord, and one and the same Spirit, and one and the same God, but have I received less?” - warning this, he says: it was useful for you. He calls miracles “manifestations of the Spirit.” For from them it was clear that the Spirit dwells in those who are baptized. Why are you mourning? Whether you have more or less talent, it is clear that you have the Spirit; What should you care about? 1 Corinthians 12:8. To one is given by the Spirit (δια του πνεύματος) the word of wisdom. What John the Theologian had, so did Paul himself. Notice also that the preposition δια (through) is used here about the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:8. To another a word of knowledge, by the same Spirit. Which many of the believers had, who themselves had knowledge, but could not teach others. For wisdom (σοφία) teaches, being a certain clarity (σαφεία), since it also reveals the hidden. Everywhere he mentions the same Spirit, to comfort (as is said many times) the one who has received less. 1 Corinthians 12:9. To another faith, by the same Spirit. Faith is not dogmatic, but miraculous, which even moves mountains (Matthew 17:20). 1 Corinthians 12:9. To others gifts of healings, by the same Spirit. The gift of healing every disease and every disease. 1 Corinthians 12:10. Other miracles. Such a one could punish the disobedient, as, for example, Paul struck Elymas with blindness (Acts 13:11), and Peter struck Ananias with death (Acts 5:3–5). The one who received the gifts of healing could not do this. 1 Corinthians 12:10. To another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits. That is, the ability to know who is spiritual and who is unspiritual, who is a prophet and who is a deceiver. 1 Corinthians 12:10. To another there are different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. The Corinthians had the gift of tongues in abundance; This is why they extolled themselves more, since he was the first given to the apostles and therefore was considered more important than the others. But that's not true. For the gift of teaching is more important, and the interpretation of tongues is more important, than the gift of simply speaking in tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:11. Yet all these things are done by one and the same Spirit, distributing to each one individually, as He pleases. Again he offers the same consolation, that is, that everything is produced by the same Spirit. He especially stops the mouth of those who are not satisfied with their lot; for he says: as He pleases, so He does. Who are you that you are not happy? Note this saying against those who rebelled against the Spirit. For He does not act as He is commanded, but as He pleases. Therefore He is the Lord and God. And he acts like the Father, who produces all things in all (above, 1 Cor. 12:6). 1 Corinthians 12:12. For just as the body is one, but has many members, and all the members of one body, although there are many, constitute one body, so is Christ. And the example of the body consoles the one who grieves about a lesser talent, proving to him that he is not deprived. For just as the body is both one and many, because it has members, so the members are many and one, therefore all together they form one body. Where is the difference? where is more? Where is the smaller one? for all is one. “So,” he says, “and Christ,” that is, the Church of Christ. Since Christ is the head of the Church, he named the Church after the head. For just as the body and head are one person, so, knowing that the Church and Christ, as body and head, are one, he put the name of Christ in place of the Church. So, he says that in the Church, although it is composed of different members, we all make up something single. 1 Corinthians 12:13. For we were all baptized into one body by one Spirit, Jew or Greek, slave or free. Now he shows how the Church is like the example of one body, and says: we all, and I, Paul, were baptized into one body by the same Spirit, that is, to be one body. For we were not baptized with another Spirit—you, and I—with another, but with the same one. Therefore, I have nothing more in comparison with you. For we were baptized into one body, that is, that we might be one body of Jews and Greeks, slaves and free. If the Spirit has united those who were so distant, especially after we have become one, we should not grieve, although there is some difference between us. 1 Corinthians 12:13. And all are filled with one Spirit. He seems to be talking about a spiritual meal, about bread and wine; for with the words: The Spirit who gave us drink pointed to both: to the Blood and to the Flesh. However, closer to the truth, he speaks here about the coming of the Spirit to us, which took place during baptism, before communion of the Holy Mysteries. He said “watered”, borrowing the image from trees watered by the same source. So, one Spirit gave us drink and water, and made us one body. 1 Corinthians 12:14. The body is not made of one member, but of many. Don’t be surprised, he says, that with such a multitude we are one body; for even in the human body, with many members, one body can be found. 1 Corinthians 12:15–16. If the leg says: I do not belong to the body because I am not a hand, then does it really not belong to the body? And if the ear says: I do not belong to the body, because I am not an eye, then is it really because it does not belong to the body? He represents the members of the body as speaking and murmuring because they are lowered than the other members, in order to prove the folly of the murmuring of the members and to expose those who in the Church grumble because there are some greater than them. He exposes the two outermost members, the leg and the ear, and imagines the leg speaking not with the eye, but with the hand, which is slightly superior to it. The ear is represented as speaking to the eye: for we usually always envy not those who are very superior to us, but those who are a little higher than us. So, he says, if the leg says that I am not part of the body, because I do not occupy a middle place like the hand, but am lower than everyone else, is it really therefore, that is, because it is not a hand, that it does not belong to the body? For whether or not it is a member of the body depends not on the place, but on whether it is connected or not connected to the body. Likewise, if the ear says: “since I am not an eye, I completely refuse to be a part and member of the body,” it will still remain in the place assigned to it at the beginning and will fulfill its purpose. So you, who, in your opinion, received a lesser gift, do not complain. For you are a member of the Church of Christ, although you have received a lower place. But when you yourself separate from the Church and break your union with it, then you will no longer be a member. So, if you want to be a member of the Church, maintain unity with it... 1 Corinthians 12:17. If the whole body is eyes, then where is the hearing? If everything is hearing, then where is the sense of smell? Since he mentioned the eye and the leg, the ear and the hand, and made them talk about promotion and humiliation, and through this it was again natural for the Corinthians to come to sorrow, and not to consolation, now he shows that it is useful and necessary for the talents to be different. For if the whole body were one member, where would the other members be? Aren't you ashamed to reject so many members and elevate only yourself? 1 Corinthians 12:18. But God arranged the members, each one within the body, as He pleased. With great power he stops their lips when he says that God has willed and assigned each member in particular its proper place (for this means “placed”). Neither the foot that occupies the lowest place should grieve, for it was God’s will, and it is beneficial for it to be placed at the bottom. Neither the head that is above should be exalted; for this is from God, and not her doing. So in the Church, God placed one low, which is good for him, and placed another high; the former should be pleased, and the latter should not be proud. 1 Corinthians 12:19–20. And if everyone had one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. Note wisdom: it stops their mouths with the very thing that, it would seem, gave rise to cowardice, that is, by the fact that the talents are different and unequal. For if there were not different members, there would not be one body; and if there were no single body, there would be no equality. Now everyone has equality, precisely because everyone is united into one body. From the fact that there are different members, a single body is formed; and because the body is one, equal honor belongs to all of them, by the very fact that they serve the fullness of the one body. For he says: there are many members, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:21. The eye cannot tell the hand: I don’t need you; or also head to feet: I don’t need you. Having tamed those who have lesser gifts, he now turns his speech to those who have greater gifts and exalt themselves over those who do not have them. For, he says, just as the eye cannot say to the other members: “I do not need you,” (for with the lack of one member the whole body is imperfect), so those who have received greater gifts cannot exalt themselves over those who have received lesser gifts. For the former need the latter; since they alone cannot build the Church. Well said: “cannot”; for he may wish for a lot, but in reality it will not be so. 1 Corinthians 12:22–24. On the contrary, the members of the body that seem weakest are much more necessary, and those that seem to us to be less noble in the body, we take more care of; and our unseemly ones are more plausibly covered. Now he proves that those revered by the lesser members are both useful and necessary; because they seem smaller and are not in reality. What kind of members are these, seemingly the weakest and most dishonest, and yet necessary? Some say that these are reproductive members, which are considered dishonest and unseemly but are so necessary that without them there is no life. We give them more honor; for another may be naked with his whole body, but will not allow them to be left naked. Others call the eyes the weakest but necessary members; for they, being small and much weaker than other members, are very necessary. The most dishonest and most unseemly members are the legs. We take greater care of the eyes because they are weak; we look after and care for our feet, although they occupy a low place and seem dishonorable. Another may understand three orders in these words: some members are weak and necessary, for example, the eyes; others are dishonest, such as legs; others are unbecoming, for example, the reproductive organs. 1 Corinthians 12:24. But our good-looking people have no need for this. Lest anyone say: what is the reason for taking care of the unseemly and dishonest members, and leaving the good ones neglected? We, he says, do not despise them, but they, being good-looking by nature, do not need anything from us. 1 Corinthians 12:24. But God proportioned the body. If he did not mix and made one, for what is mixed becomes one, then in one where is the greater and the lesser? 1 Corinthians 12:24–25. Instilling greater care for the less perfect, so that there is no division in the body. He did not say: unseemly, or: dishonest, but: “less perfect.” For by nature no member is ugly or dishonest. He gave greater honor to the less perfect, he says. So, do not grieve, for you are honored more than others. This is the reason: so that there is no division in the body. For if some members were cared for by us, and others were left without our care, they would be divided among themselves, not being able to maintain the union, and after their separation, the other members would become disordered, due to division in the body. Likewise, you, who have been awarded greater gifts, do not become proud of those who have received less, so that when they are separated from you, you too will not suffer harm. 1 Corinthians 12:25. And all members cared equally about each other. It is not enough, he says, for the members not to be divided, but there must be great love and harmony between them; and everyone must take care and concern for the little things and take care not just, but “equally,” that is, so that the little ones enjoy the same care as the important ones. So, when a thorn hits and pierces the heel of the foot, the whole body feels and cares: the head bends, the back bends, the belly and thighs tighten, the eyes look with great care, the hands take out the thorn. The same thing happens with other members. 1 Corinthians 12:26. Therefore, if one member suffers, all members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all members rejoice with it. Close unity makes disaster and prosperity common. So, as we said, when there is a splinter in the heel, everything suffers. On the contrary, when the head is crowned, then the other members receive glory and joy, the eyes become brighter, and the whole body seems beautiful. 1 Corinthians 12:27. And you are the body of Christ, and individually members. Lest they say: “How does the example of the body and members relate to us?”, he says: “You are also the body of Christ and members.” If there should be no strife in the human body, then how much less in the body of Christ? Since it was not they alone who constituted the fullness of the body of Christ, but the believers who exist throughout the entire universe, he added: “and individually the members.” Although they did not make up the entire body, they were nevertheless members, and “separately” at that. For in relation to your church you are the body of Christ, as the whole Church; and in relation to the Catholic Church, existing throughout the whole world, the body of which consists of universal churches and has Christ as its head, you are members, since you are part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:28. And God appointed others in the Church, firstly, apostles, and secondly, prophets. God asked: how do you resist God? He puts the apostles in first place, because they are the distributors of all good things; on the second - not the Old Testament prophets (for they prophesied about the coming of Christ before John: Matt. 11:13), but those who prophesied in the New Testament after the coming of Christ, such as the daughters of Philip, Agabus and many others. For this grace of the Spirit was abundant in every Church. He puts the count “first, second” in order to, putting the gift of tongues at the end, to humble those who were extolled by it: 1 Corinthians 12:28. Thirdly, teachers. The prophet proclaims everything from the Spirit, and the teacher from himself: therefore he is the third. 1 Corinthians 12:28. Further, he gave miraculous powers to others, and also gifts of healing. The powers healed the sick and punished opponents, but the gifts of healing only healed: therefore, he places the former above the latter. And before both of these, a teacher was rightly appointed, who teaches by deed and word. 1 Corinthians 12:28. Assistance, management. That is, helping the weak and managing or disposing of brotherly property. Although this depends on our efforts, he calls the gifts of God, urging us to be grateful and look to Him, and not to be arrogant. 1 Corinthians 12:28. Different languages. He placed this gift last in order to humble those who were proud of it. 1 Corinthians 12:29–30. Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are everyone miracle workers? Does everyone have gifts of healing? Does everyone speak in tongues? Are everyone interpreters? When the greater and lesser talents were listed in order, it was natural for them to feel sad. Therefore, those who had lesser gifts are again consoled. Why, he says, should you grieve that you may not have the gift of prophecy? Imagine that you have what the prophet does not have, and what this one has, that one does not have. It is decent and much more useful for you to distribute gifts in such a way that everyone needs his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 12:31. Be zealous for great gifts (τα κρείττονα). He secretly hinted that it was their own fault that they received lesser gifts. For the word “be jealous” requires effort on their part, and a greater desire for the spiritual. In Greek it does not say: “greater” (τα μείζονα), but “best” (τα κρείττονα), that is, the most useful. 1 Corinthians 12:31. And I will show you an even more excellent way. If you are decisively zealous about gifts, then along with these paths (the word also indicates this), I will show you one “most excellent” path, that is, excellent, which leads to all gifts. Love understands. You might be interested in: