The Gifts of the Spirit
(1Co 12:6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
(1Co 12:7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
(1Co 12:8) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom
word of wisdom; that is, say some, a knowledge of the mysteries of the gospel, and ability to explain them, an exact understanding of the design, nature, and doctrines, of the Christian religion. Others say an uttering of grave sentences, like Solomon’s proverbs. Some confine this word of wisdom to the revelations made to and by the apostles.
to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
that is, say some, the knowledge of mysteries (1Co_2:13): wrapped up in the prophecies, types, and histories of the Old Testament: say others, a skill and readiness to give advice and counsel in perplexed cases. Some say it is the
(1Co 12:9) To another faith by the same Spirit;
To another faith, by the same Spirit; that is, the faith of miracles, or a faith in the divine power and promise, whereby they were enabled to trust God in any emergency, and go on in the way of their duty, and own and profess the truths of Christ, whatever was the difficulty or danger.
to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the gift of healing, by the same Spirit; that is, healing the sick, either by laying on of hands, or anointing with oil, or with a bare word.
(1Co 12:10) To another the working of miracles;
the efficacies of powers, energēmata dunameōn, such as raising the dead, restoring the blind to sight, giving speech to the dumb, hearing to the deaf, and the use of limbs to the lame, walking on water,
to another prophecy;
To another prophecy, that is, ability to foretel future events, which is the more usual sense of prophecy; or to explain scripture by a peculiar gift of the Spirit.
to another discerning of spirits;
power to distinguish between true and false prophets, or to discern the real and internal qualifications of any person for an office, or to discover the inward workings of the mind by the Holy Ghost, as Peter did those of Ananias, Act_5:3. -
to another divers kinds of tongues;
or ability to speak languages by inspiration. -
to another the interpretation of tongues:
or ability to render foreign languages readily and properly into their own. With such variety of spiritual gifts were the first ministers and churches blessed.
(1Co 12:11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
(1Co 12:12) 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.
