New Testament Commentary - 1 Corinthians 12

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 12 Holy Ghost reveals Jesus is the Christ—Spiritual gifts are present among the saints—Apostles prophets, and miracles found in the true Church.
The First Gift or Talent Given of the Holy Ghost Is the Testimony of Christ The Gifts of the Spirit, of the Holy Ghost given to man, are to be likened unto the parable of talents. And the first and singular talent given each man who comes unto Christ is the testimony of Christ by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. This may be likened unto the one and singular talent given. Upon that testimony one is to built, coveting and obtaining other such gifts and talents of the Holy Ghost as they are given him. And to be a profitable servant, one cannot hide their testimony of Christ, for to do so is to then lose all else. For one is to be valiant in their testimony of Christ. And when one is valiant in one's testimony, then the Lord is able to given more and greater talents or gifts of the spirit unto that man. Therefore, we ought to be valiant in the bearing of our testimony. Do not just sit in the audience of the congregation on Fast Sunday, get up and bear that testimony and then live that testimony, thus enlarging one's self in the gospel and the kingdom. The not bearing of and being valiant in one's testimony is like burying it up, not using that which the Lord has given you by the manifestation of the Holy Ghost.
1 NOW concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, ^acarried away unto these dumb ^bidols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can ^asay that Jesus is the ^bLord, but by the ^cHoly Ghost^a.	3^a no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost The manifestation of Jesus Christ unto a person is in and by the power of the Holy Ghost. That is the Spirit of revelation, the Spirit of Testimony. And when one comes to know and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Lord of Heaven and Earth. The Anointed Son of God unto the administration by the direction of the Father of the afares of this Second Estate, Yea, even God among us in this capacity and representation in behalf and in the stead of the Father of all things; and that he is our Lord and Savior and there is none other given under heaven whereby men may be saved: Then one has been give a great gift, even the gift of the first and great talent of the Gospel, a Testimony of Christ. And one ought to then bear that testimony that it might grow and develop and in the process of time be the mean of coveting and seeking after further light and understanding and gifts by that same power, the power of the Holy Ghost. When man bears witness of Jesus Christ that he is our Lord and God, our Redeemer and our Savoir, then one speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost. For the Holy Ghost is he who so bears witness of the Father and the Son and the revealer of all truth and light, by which men may come to be saved as the follow in that light upon that straight and narrow path go God.	1^a TG Missionary Work ^b TG Gospel 2^a Romans 1:16 ^b GR hold fast to, retain
4 Now there are diversities of ^agifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.		1^a TG Missionary Work ^b TG Gospel 2^a Romans 1:16 ^b GR hold fast to, retain
7 But the manifestation of the ^aSpirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is ^agiven by the ^bSpirit the ^cword of ^dwisdom; to another the word of ^eknowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another ^afaith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of ^bhealing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of ^amiracles; to another ^bprophecy; to another ^cdiscerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of ^dtongues:		1^a TG Missionary Work ^b TG Gospel 2^a Romans 1:16 ^b GR hold fast to, retain
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 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 ^abody, whether we be Jews or ^bGentiles, whether we be ^cbond 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 am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body^a.	20^a many members, yet but one body Here Paul speaks of becoming one in the body of Christ, or to become unified in the faith. And it is by the work and the power of the Holy Ghost within man by which such unity is obtained. It is that power of coming unto God in the Holy Spirit by which man communes with God and is able to come unto God and even become one with God, even as the Father and the Son are one, we may also become one in unity of that same Spirit of God.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the ^ahead to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be ^amore feeble, are necessary: 23 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.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same ^acare one for another. 26 And whether one member ^asuffer, all the members ^bsuffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of ^aChrist, and ^bmembers in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first ^aapostles, secondarily ^bprophets, thirdly ^cteachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, ^dgovernments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of ^amiracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
A More Excellent Way Living under the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit in coming unto Christ in all things is that more excellent 'way'. It is the path which leads unto eternal life. Baptism of water is but the gate, the path but begins there. And it is the bestowal and constant companionship of the Holy Ghost which will lead a man in the way, in that strait path which leads to the mansion of God. And it is that 'More Excellent Way', which is the Way of God, which Paul will speak of next. It is one thing to physically perform the things of God. But it is another to walk in the light of the Love of God. Paul will further enhance one's understanding that God Is Love, and it is this Love which men are to attain to, called Charity. And Charity is the final Key which unlocks the door of that mansion of God. And while it is the walking in the path by the spirit which will get us there to that door, it is the proper internalization of the Spirit of God, which is the Love of God, which is Charity, which will see a man through the door and into that Kingdom of God. Without that Love of God, with that Charity and Love of one's fellow man, all are but empty works, the performance of works but not for the right reasons. And that reason is that which is necessary to join with God in his work and his glory, which is to serve mankind in bring to pass the immortallity and eternal life of man. That is a selfless work and labor, one done out of the love of mankind, it is down out of the Love of God. Remember that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. In this God is Love and there must be come to be also, full of love and charity for all mankind.
31 But ^acovet earnestly the best ^bgifts: and yet shew I unto you a more ^cexcellent way.