Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 12:6
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
6. operations ] . Worchyngis, Wiclif. Calvin renders facultas, but explains this to mean effectus. The Apostle here is speaking of active power ( ), not latent as in 1Co 1:18 (where see note). The influences to which he now refers are actually at work, and producing results, in obedience to an impulse received from Him. Cf. Rom 7:5 and St Mat 14:2.
all in all ] i.e. “every one of them in every person on whom they are bestowed.” So ch. 1Co 15:28; Eph 1:23; Col 3:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Of operations – Of works; to wit, of miracles, such as God produces in the church, in the establishment and defense of his religion. There are different operations on the mind and heart; and different powers given to man, or different qualifications in building up and defending his cause. Or it may be, possibly, that Paul here refers to the works of God mainly for mere illustration, and by the word operations means the works which God has performed in creation and providence. His works are various. They are not all alike, though they come from the same hand. The sun, the moon, the stars, the earth are different; the trees of the forest, the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, the inhabitants of the deep are different; the flowers, and shrubs, and herbs are different from each other; yet. however much they may vary, they are formed by the same hand. are the productions of the same God, are to be regarded as proofs of the same wisdom and power. The same thing should be expected in his church; and we should anticipate that the endowments of its members would be various.
But it is the same God – The same Father; all these operations are produced by the same God. They should not, therefore, be undervalued or despised; nor should anyone be unduly elated, or pride himself on what has been conferred by God alone.
All in all – All these operations are to be traced to him. His agency is everywhere. It is as really seen in the insects wing as in the limbs of the mammoth; as really in the humblest violet as in the loftiest oak of the forest. All, therefore, should regard themselves as under his direction, and should submit to his arrangements. If people regard their endowments as the gift of God, they will be thankful for them, and they will not be disposed to despise or undervalue others who have been placed in a more humble condition and rank in the church.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. Diversities of operations] . Miraculous influences exerted on others; such as the expulsion of demons, inflicting extraordinary punishments, as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, Elymas the sorcerer, c., the healing of different diseases, raising the dead, &c.: all these proceeded from God the Father, as the fountain of all goodness and power, and the immediate dispenser of every good and perfect gift.
In the three preceding verses we find more than an indirect reference to the doctrine of the sacred Trinity.
GIFTS are attributed to the Holy Spirit, 1Co 12:4.
ADMINISTRATIONS to the Lord Jesus, 1Co 12:5.
OPERATIONS to God the Father, 1Co 12:6.
He who may think this fanciful must account for the very evident distinctions here in some more satisfactory way.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Operations and administrations both differ from gifts, as acts from habits. Habits and powers, by which men performed holy offices in the church, or wrought miracles, are called gifts. The acts or exercise of these powers are called administrations and operations. These latter differ one from another, as the former signify standing and continuing acts in the church; operations, energnmata, rather signify miraculous effects, such as healing the sick without the application of ordinary means, speaking with divers tongues, &c. The apostle tells them, that as there was a diversity of gifts, or powers, and a diversity of acts in the constant service of the church, by which men exercised those gifts or powers they had in the performance of them; so there were diversities of operations, by which men used those extraordinary gifts or powers, which God gave some in the first plantation of the church, for the sake of such as believed not. But it was
the same God that wrought them all, and in all, though all did not do, or could not do, the same things.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. operations(Compare 1Co12:10).
same God . . . workethbyHis Spirit working (1Co 12:11).
all in allall of them(the “gifts”) in all the persons (who possess them).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And there are diversities of operations, There are some that are ordinary, as the good work of grace, and the several parts of it, the work of faith, the labour of love, and patience of hope, which the Spirit of God begins, carries on, and finishes in all the elect of God, and members of Christ; and there are others which are extraordinary, and are here meant, and hereafter specified.
But it is the same God which worketh all in all. Interpreters in general understand by God here, God the Father; as by the Lord in the preceding verse, the Lord Jesus Christ, as distinct from the Spirit in 1Co 12:4 and apprehend that this furnishes out a considerable proof of a trinity of persons in the Godhead, which I will not deny; but I rather think that the Holy Ghost is designed in each verse, by Spirit, Lord, and God; since the various gifts, administrations, and operations, are particularly and peculiarly ascribed to him in the following verses; and the distribution of them is said to be the effect of his sovereign will; and so we have a most illustrious testimony of his proper deity and personality; who is the only true “Jehovah” with the Father and Son, to which the word “Lord” in the New Testament generally answers, and who is the omnipotent God, “which worketh all in all”; all the works of nature throughout the universe, and all the, works of grace in the hearts of all his people, and all the extraordinary operations effected by any of them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Of workings (). Late word, here only in N.T., the effect of a thing wrought (from , to operate, perform, energize). Paul uses also the late kindred word (Col 1:29; Col 2:12) for efficiency.
Who worketh all things in all ( ). Paul is not afraid to say that God is the Energy and the Energizer of the Universe. “I say that the magnet floats in space by the will of God” (Dr. W. R. Whitney, a world figure in science). This is his philosophic and scientific theory of the Cosmos. No one has shown Paul’s philosophy and science to be wrong. Here he is speaking only of spiritual gifts and results as a whole, but he applies this principle to the universe ( ) in Col 1:16 (of Christ) and in Ro 11:36 (of God). Note the Trinity in these verses: the same Spirit (verse 4), the same Lord (Jesus) in verse 5, the same God (the Father) in verse 6.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Operations [] . Rev., workings. Outward manifestations and results of spiritual gifts. The kindred word ejnergeia energy is used only by Paul : and only of superhuman good or evil. Compare Eph 1:19; Eph 3:7; Col 2:12. See on Mr 6:14.
Worketh [] . Etymologically akin to operations. See on Mr 6:14; Jas 5:16.
All [ ] . Or them all. The article shows that they are regarded collectively.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And there are diversities of operation.” (kai diaireseis energematon eisin) “And differences of operations or functions there are or (exist).” The premise is laid that there existed a broad or wide variety of spiritual gifts to fit the needs of every member of the church, 1Co 1:29; 1Co 1:31.
2) “But it is the same God.” (ho de autos theos) “But the same God (exists).” There are not many gods, each performing a different function, alleged in heathen religions. Our God is one true God who has dispensed gifts to men, through the Holy Spirit, for His own glory, to the edifying of the congregation.
3) “That worketh all in all.” (ho energon ta panta en pasin) “The one (God) energizing, empowering, or working all things in all.” No credit or occasion was to be taken by anyone having a charismatic gift, to glory in it. None was to glory above another, Gal 6:14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
6. One God that worketh. Where we use the word powers the Greek term is ἐνεργήματα , a term which contains an allusion to the verb worketh, as in Latin effectus (an effect) corresponds with the verb effectus (to effect.) Paul’s meaning is, that although believers may be endowed with different powers, they all take their rise from one and the same power on the part of God. Hence the expression employed here — worketh all things in all — does not refer to the general providence of God, but to the liberality that he exercises towards us, in bestowing upon every one some gift. The sum is this — that there is nothing in mankind that is good or praiseworthy but what comes from God alone. Hence it is out of place here to agitate the question — in what manner God acts in Satan and in reprobates.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
6. Operations Better, in-workings. Divine operations within the soul, whereby the exercises referred to were wrought. The apostle having thus enforced the unity of origin, now (1Co 12:7-10) analyzes the variety of gifts, in order still more emphatically (1Co 12:11-13) to trace them all to one Source.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Co 12:6. Of operations. What these were, we learn from 1Co 12:8-11. They are very properly called , in-workings, because they were above all human power. Men of themselves could do none of them at all; but it was God, as the Apostle tells us here, who, in these extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, did all that was done: it was the effect of his immediate operation, as St. Paul assures us in that parallel place, Php 2:13 in which chapter, 1Co 12:3; 1Co 12:14 we find that the Philippians stood a little in need of the same advice which St. Paul presses here at large upon the Corinthians.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Ver. 6. Diversities of operations ] The Holy Ghost may use one of less grace to do more good than one of more; though he delights to honour those of most sincerity with most success, as1Co 15:101Co 15:10 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
operations = workings. Greek. energema. Only here and 1Co 12:10.
worketh. Greek. energeo. See Rom 7:5.
all in all. i.e. all the gifts in all the members. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6.
in. App-104. Note the Figure of speech Symploke in these three verses: each beginning with “diversities”, and ending the sentence with “the same”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Co 12:6. , of operations) 1Co 12:10.- [108] , but it is the same God) by the working of His Spirit, 1Co 12:11.- , all things) The working of God is seen somewhat more extensively than the offices of Christ, and the gifts of the Spirit.- , in all) Masculine; comp. to every man, in the following verses.
[108] The word should rather be rejected, as well by the margin of bot. editions as by the Germ. Ver.-E. B.
Rec. Text reads with later Syr., Orig., and B, which puts after . But ACD()Gfg Vulg. Iren. Hilar. omit .-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 12:6
1Co 12:6
And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all.-It is the same God, who having exalted the Lord Jesus, and put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Eph 1:22-23), and having sent the Holy Spirit, works all these things.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
worketh: 1Co 12:11, 1Co 3:7, Job 33:29, Joh 5:17, Eph 1:19-22, Col 1:29, Phi 2:13, Heb 13:21
all: 1Co 15:28, Eph 1:23, Col 3:11
Reciprocal: Num 4:28 – General 1Sa 3:4 – called Samuel 2Co 5:18 – all Eph 4:6 – God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Vv. 6. A third kind of varied manifestations: manifold operations due to the exercise both of those gifts and those offices. The term , operations, denotes the powers realized in acts; the real effects Divinely produced either in the world of body or of mind, as often as the gift or the office comes into action. Thus, in a believer, the Holy Spirit has developed the gift of preaching. Recognising this gift, the Church has committed to him the preacher’s office, with a view to the service of Christ; its , operation, will be the good discourse delivered by him, and the edification thereby effected in the hearts of his hearers. Another has the gift of healing; this gift cannot, from its nature, take the form of a regular office; but it will be displayed in healing operations; restored health will be its in each case.
These varied effects have also their principle of unity. It is God who, after producing the gifts by the Spirit, and establishing the offices for the service of the Lord, Himself produces every good result of the gifts and offices; comp. 1Co 3:6-7.
, all things: according to the context, the gifts of every kind, and the offices of every kind, as well as the endlessly varied beneficent effects which result from both. , in all; in those who work and in those on whom the effect is produced.
Paul here returns to the , but, to pass to the second proposition. He wishes thereby strongly to contrast the supreme principle of unity, which embraces in it the two preceding, the Spirit and the Lord, with the boundless variety of gifts, ministries, and operations distributed among the members of the Church.
After this general survey of the Divine unity which controls the three great forms of activity and their manifold varieties, the apostle comes to the one which it is most important for him to regulate in the given circumstances, viz. gifts. And before showing how rich in number they are, he reminds them of the common principle which produces them, and points to the common end which unites them, the common advantage (1Co 12:7). Then he states them in all their variety, each time repeating the one principle from which they proceed (1Co 12:8-12).
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. [Though the gifts were the immediate impartation of the Spirit, yet it was a mistake to think that the Spirit acted as an independent deity in this giving. Hence Paul begins by showing that all the Godhead participated in the bestowal, and that each sustained his own relation to these miraculous manifestations. In relation to the Spirit, they were, as we have seen, gifts; in relation to Jesus, they were means whereby he ministered to the church (Eph 4:11-12; Rom 12:6-7; 1Pe 4:10-11), and to the world through the church (Mar 16:20); in relation to the Father, they were workings, or manifestations of power, whereby he sanctioned the church and kingdom of Jesus as proceeding from himself, approved by him, and part of his universal field of operation– Joh 8:28-29; Joh 14:10-11]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
6. There are diversities of operations, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. Here we see the beautiful and harmonious co-operation of the blessed heavenly Trinity. God works in us a vast diversity of operations, enlightening, transforming, renewing, upbuilding, sanctifying and glorifying, the Son sitting on the throne of the heart, dispensing the different ministries, and the indwelling Holy Ghost furnishing the potent and diversified gifts requisite to the different ministries and the variant operation performed by the same.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 6
Operations; works. We are not, probably, to attempt to draw any nice distinctions of meaning between these several clauses. The general idea is, that the Christian church ought not to be rent by unholy divisions; for though, in the details of the functions which it exercises, there is much diversity, still there is but one Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Spirit, on which all centre and depend.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
12:6 And there are diversities of {e} operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
(e) So Paul calls that inward power which comes from the Holy Spirit, and makes men fit for wonderful things.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Furthermore there are different effects or workings (Gr. energemata; manifestations of the Spirit’s power at work) that the one God who is responsible for all of them bestows. Just as Spirit, Lord, and God are distinct yet closely related in 1Co 12:4-6, so are gifts, ministries, and effects. We should probably not view these words as representing entirely separate ideas but as facets of God’s work in and through the believer. It is God who is responsible for our abilities, our opportunities for service, and the individual ways in which we minister, including the results.