Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 12:2

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

He gives a sign of a soothsayer for distinguishing a prophet, and says: whoever prophesies through idols, under the inspiration of an unclean spirit, is as if led by someone, dragged along bound by the spirit, knowing nothing of what he utters, but being in a state of frenzy and demonic possession. But a prophet is not like that; he speaks everything with a sound mind. This is the first distinction between a demon-possessed diviner and a God-inspired prophet.

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Secondly, when he says, You know that when you were heathen, he follows out his intention: first, he shows the need for spiritual graces; secondly, he presents the distribution of graces (v. 4). Now the need for a thing is best known from its absence. Hence, in regard to the first he does two things: first, he manifests the loss they suffered, before they received grace; secondly, he concludes to the need for grace (v. 3). …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗