Fathers

1 Corinthians 12

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Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires. For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now they are many members, but one body. The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 12:3

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

This then is the first difference between a soothsayer and a prophet; but a second and a different one is that which he next states, saying, "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:" and then another: "and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but in the Holy Ghost." "When thou seest," saith he, "any one not uttering His name, or anathematizing Him, he is a soothsayer. …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 29 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

And he says this: let this be for you a sign of a false prophet: he "anathematizes," that is, blasphemes and speaks evil of Jesus; conversely, a sign of a true prophet: he utters the name of the Lord with praise. But what about the catechumens? How do they, not yet having the Spirit, name Jesus? But the discussion now is not about them, but about believers and unbelievers. And what about the demons? Did they not call Jesus by the name of the Lord (Mark 5:7)? …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

If we cannot name the Lord Jesus without the Spirit, surely we cannot proclaim him without the Spirit.

On the Holy Spirit 1.11.124 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, Therefore, he concludes to two effects of grace: the first is that it makes one abstain from sin; the second is that it makes one do good works (v. 3b). First, therefore, he says: From the fact that when you were without grace, you ran after sin rapidly, I want you to understand that if you had possessed grace, this would not have happened to you, for no one speaking by the Spirit of God says "Jesus be cursed," i.e., blasphemes Jesus: "Every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God" (1 Jn 4:3). …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗