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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 1 Corinthians 12:28 - 12:28
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
God hath set some (hous men etheto ho theos). See 1Co 12:18 for etheto ho theos. Note middle voice (for his own use). Paul begins as if he means to say hous men apostolous, hous de prophētas (some apostles, some prophets), but he changes the construction and has no hous de, but instead prōton, deuteron, epeita (first, second, then, etc.).
In the church (en tēi ekklēsiāi). The general sense of ekklēsia as in Mat 16:18 and later in Col 1:18, Col 1:24; Eph 5:23, Eph 5:32; Heb 12:23. See list also in Eph 4:11. See note on Mat 10:2 for apostolous, the official title given the twelve by Jesus, and claimed by Paul though not one of the twelve.
Prophets (prophētas). For-speakers for God and Christ. See the list of prophets and teachers in Act 13:1 with Barnabas first and Saul last. Prophets are needed today if men will let God’s Spirit use them, men moved to utter the deep things of God.
Teachers (didaskalous). Old word from didaskō, to teach. Used to the Baptist (Luk 3:12), to Jesus (Joh 3:10; Joh 13:13), and of Paul by himself along with apostolos (1Ti 2:7). It is a calamity when the preacher is no longer a teacher, but only an exhorter. See note on Eph 4:11.
Then miracles (epeita dunameis). Here a change is made from the concrete to the abstract. See the reverse in Rom 12:7. See these words (dunameis, iamētōn, glōssōn) in 1Co 12:9, 1Co 12:10 with glōssōn, last again. But these two new terms (helps, governments).
Helps (antilēmpseis). Old word, from antilambanomai, to lay hold of. In lxx, common in papyri, here only in N.T. Probably refers to the work of the deacons, help rendered to the poor and the sick.
Governments (kubernēseis). Old word from kubernaō (cf. Kubernētēs in Act 27:11) like Latin gubernare, our govern. So a governing. Probably Paul has in mind bishops (episcopoi) or elders (presbuteroi), the outstanding leaders (hoi proistamenoi in 1Th 5:12; Rom 12:8; hoi hēgoumenoi in Act 15:22; Heb 13:7, Heb 13:17, Heb 13:24). Curiously enough, these two offices (pastors and deacons) which are not named specifically are the two that survive today. See note on Phi 1:1 for both officers.