ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 12 v1 - 3

OVERVIEW:

Spiritual gifts owe nothing to human effort (CHRYSOSTOM). They are visible signs that the grace of the Holy Spirit is at work in the faithful (THEODORET OF CYR). Christ cannot be proclaimed without the Holy Spirit (BASIL, AMBROSE, CHRYSOSTOM). The Holy Spirit proclaims his lordship (THEODORET OF CYR) in a way that the demons cannot, even if they say these words (ORIGEN, SEVERIAN OF GABALA). Having formerly been worshipers of idols and led about by demons, so now, as worshipers of God, the faithful walk in a way that is pleasing to God. Wherever any truth is spoken, it is spoken by the Holy Spirit (AMBROSIASTER). Pagan spirit possession in soothsaying is entirely different from prophecy (CHRYSOSTOM, SEVERIAN).

12:1 | Concerning Spiritual Gifts

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT ALONE. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul calls the gifts spiritual because they are the work of the Spirit alone, owing nothing to human initiative. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 29.2.

VISIBLE SIGNS OF GRACE. THEODORET OF CYR: In former times those who accepted the divine preaching and who were baptized for their salvation were given visible signs of the grace of the Holy Spirit at work in them. Some spoke in tongues which they did not know and which nobody had taught them, while others performed miracles or prophesied. The Corinthians also did these things, but they did not use the gifts as they should have done. They were more interested in showing off than in using them for the edification of the church. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 240.

12:2 | Led Astray to Idols

THEIR FORMER LIFE. AMBROSIASTER: Now that he is about to give them spiritual teaching, Paul recalls their former way of life. His intention is that, just as they have been worshipers of idols in the shape of statues and used to be led about by the will of demons, so now, as worshipers of God, they may walk according to the model of the law, so as to be pleasing to God. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

POSSESSED BY AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT. CHRYSOSTOM: What Paul means is that if anyone in a pagan temple was at any time possessed by an unclean spirit and began to divine, he was led away by that spirit like a man in chains and had no idea what he was saying. For it is peculiar to the soothsayer to be beside himself, to be under compulsion, to be pushed, to be dragged, to be greeted as a madman. But the prophet is not like this, because he has a sober mind and composed temper and knows exactly what he is saying. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 29.2.

CHRISTIAN PROPHECY VERSUS PAGAN SOOTHSAYING. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: Paul shows that there is a very big difference between Christian prophecy and pagan soothsaying. Pagans do not address the unclean spirit but are possessed by it and say things which they do not understand. The soothsayer’s soul is darkened, and he does not know what he is saying, whereas the prophet’s soul is enlightened and reveals what the prophet has learned and understood. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

12:3 | Speaking by the Spirit

THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT. ORIGEN: There are so many different kinds of spirit that without the gift of discernment, who can know which is which? COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 4.47.2-3.

RIGHTLY PRAISING GOD. BASIL: If two yardsticks are compared with each other, their straightness is in agreement. But if a distorted piece of wood is compared with a ruler, the crooked one will be at variance with the straight. Since, therefore, the praise of God is righteous, there is need of a righteous heart, in order that the praise may be fitting and adapted to it. “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except in the Holy Spirit.” So how can one offer due praise if one does not have the right spirit in one’s heart? HOMILY 15.1 ON PSALM 32.

EXCEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMBROSE: If we cannot name the Lord Jesus without the Spirit, surely we cannot proclaim him without the Spirit. THE HOLY SPIRIT 1.11.124.

THE SPEAKER OF TRUTH. AMBROSIASTER: Any truth spoken by anyone is spoken by the Holy Spirit. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT? CHRYSOSTOM: If no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit, what can we say about those who do name his name but do not have the Spirit? Here we have to understand that Paul was not talking about catechumens who had not yet been baptized but about believers and unbelievers. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 29.3.

WHETHER LEGION CONFESSED JESUS AS LORD. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: When the demoniac Legion acknowledged Jesus as Lord, he did not do so in a believing sense, but he merely confessed his knowledge of the lordship and rule of Christ over all things. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THE SPIRIT PROCLAIMS HIS LORDSHIP. THEODORET OF CYR: There is no disharmony between the teaching of the only begotten Son and that of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospels, Christ the Lord taught us how great the Holy Spirit is, and the Spirit has proclaimed his lordship. No one who is truly moved by the Spirit can say that Christ is not divine. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 242.