1 Now concerning spirituall giftes, brethren, I would not haue you ignorant.
2 Yee know that yee were Gentiles, caryed away vnto these dumbe idoles, euen as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I giue you to vnderstand, that no man speaking by the spirit of God, calleth Iesus accursed: and that no man can say that Iesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost.
4 Nowe there are diuersities of gifts, but the same spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diuersities of operations, but it is the same God, which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the spirit, is giuen to euery man to profit withall.
8 For to one is giuen by the spirit, the word of wisedome, to another the word of knowledge, by the same spirit.
9 To another faith, by the same spirit: to another the gifts of healing, by the same spirit:
10 To another the working of miracles, to another prophecie, to another discerning of spirits, to another diuers kindes of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfe same spirit, diuiding to euery man seuerally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the membrs of that one body, being many, are one bodie: so also is Christ.
13 For by one spirit are we all baptized into one bodie, whether wee bee Iewes or Gentiles, whether wee bee bond or free: and haue beene all made to drinke 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 eare 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, euery 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.
21 And the eye cannot say vnto the hand, I haue no need of thee: nor againe, the head to the feete, I haue no neede of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the bodie, which seeme to bee more feeble, are necessary.
23 And those members of the bodie, which wee thinke to bee lesse honourable, vpon these we bestow more abundant honour, and our vncomely parts haue more abundant comelinesse.
24 For our comely parts haue no need: but God hath tempered the bodie together, hauing giuen more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schisme in the body: but that the members should haue the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honoured, all the members reioyce with it.
27 Now yee are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpes in gouernmēts, diuersities of tongues.
29 Are all Apostles? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Haue all the gifts of healing? doe all speake with tongues? doe all interpret?
31 But couet earnestly the best gifts: And yet shew I vnto you a more excellent way.
The variety of use of spiritual gifts are shown. (1-11) In the human body every member has its place and use. (12-26) This is applied to the church of Christ. (27-30) And there is something more excellent than spiritual gifts. (31)1-11 Spiritual gifts were extraordinary powers bestowed in the first ages, to convince unbelievers, and to spread the gospel. Gifts and graces greatly differ. Both were freely given of God. But where grace is given, it is for the salvation of those who have it. Gifts are for the advantage and salvation of others; and there may be great gifts where there is no grace. The extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit were chiefly exercised in the public assemblies, where the Corinthians seem to have made displays of them, wanting in the spirit of piety, and of Christian love. While heathens, they had not been influenced by the Spirit of Christ. No man can call Christ Lord, with believing dependence upon him, unless that faith is wrought by the Holy Ghost. No man could believe with his heart, or prove by a miracle, that Jesus was Christ, unless by the Holy Ghost. There are various gifts, and various offices to perform, but all proceed from one God, one Lord, one Spirit; that is, from the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the origin of all spiritual blessings. No man has them merely for himself. The more he profits others, the more will they turn to his own account. The gifts mentioned appear to mean exact understanding, and uttering the doctrines of the Christian religion; the knowledge of mysteries, and skill to give advice and counsel. Also the gift of healing the sick, the working of miracles, and to explain Scripture by a peculiar gift of the Spirit, and ability to speak and interpret languages. If we have any knowledge of the truth, or any power to make it known, we must give all the glory of God. The greater the gifts are, the more the possessor is exposed to temptations, and the larger is the measure of grace needed to keep him humble and spiritual; and he will meet with more painful experiences and humbling dispensations. We have little cause to glory in any gifts bestowed on us, or to despise those who have them not.
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, #Tit 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 member has its form, place, and use. The meanest makes a part of the body. There must be a distinction of members in the body. So Christ's members have different powers and different places. We should do the duties of our own place, and not murmur, or quarrel with others. All the members of the body are useful and necessary to each other. Nor is there a member of the body of Christ, but may and ought to be useful to fellow-members. As in the natural body of man, the members should be closely united by the strongest bonds of love; the good of the whole should be the object of all. All Christians are dependent one upon another; each is to expect and receive help from the rest. Let us then have more of the spirit of union in our religion.
27-31 Contempt, hatred, envy, and strife, are very unnatural in Christians. It is like the members of the same body being without concern for one another, or quarrelling with each other. The proud, contentious spirit that prevailed, as to spiritual gifts, was thus condemned. The offices and gifts, or favours, dispensed by the Holy Spirit, are noticed. Chief ministers; persons enabled to interpret Scripture; those who laboured in word and doctrine; those who had power to heal diseases; such as helped the sick and weak; such as disposed of the money given in charity by the church, and managed the affairs of the church; and such as could speak divers languages. What holds the last and lowest rank in this list, is the power to speak languages; how vain, if a man does so merely to amuse or to exalt himself! See the distribution of these gifts, not to every one alike, ver. #29,30|. This were to make the church all one, as if the body were all ear, or all eye. The Spirit distributes to every one as he will. We must be content though we are lower and less than others. We must not despise others, if we have greater gifts. How blessed the Christian church, if all the members did their duty! Instead of coveting the highest stations, or the most splendid gifts, let us leave the appointment of his instruments to God, and those in whom he works by his providence. Remember, those will not be approved hereafter who seek the chief places, but those who are most faithful to the trust placed in them, and most diligent in their Master's work.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.