Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 12:18
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
18. But now hath God set ] Literally, But now (that is, as the case stands) God placed, i.e. at creation.
as it hath pleased him ] Literally, as He willed. See last note. St Paul would have us draw the inference that our own peculiar disposition and talents are appointed us by God, that we may perform the special work in the world for which we were designed. We are not therefore to repine because we do not possess the qualifications which we see possessed by others, but to endeavour to make the best possible use of the gifts we have.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Hath God set the members … – God has formed the body, with its various members, as he saw would best conduce to the harmony and usefulness of all.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The infinitely wise God, who hath made the body of man, and ordered all the members of the body for several uses and offices, either for the upholding or accommodating the life of man, hath likewise appointed the order in the body in which every member shall stand; that the head should be uppermost for the better guidance of the whole body; the feet lowermost to tread upon the earth, and to bear the weight of the whole body: and none must repine at the wisdom of God, which hath not only created mans body, (consisting of a variety of members), but also appointed every member its place, and there setteth it, that it cannot shift its station or office.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. nowas the case really is.
every oneeachseverally.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But now hath God set the members,…. The members of a natural body, as they are all made and fashioned by God in the form they be, so they are each of them set by him in the place they are:
everyone of them in the body as it hath pleased him; according to his sovereign will, without consulting any; and each stands in the best situation and position they could be put, and for the greatest service and usefulness to the whole: so God, and not man, hath set every member in the mystical body, the church, in such a place and part of it, as he himself thought fit; some in a higher, others in a lower station, but all for the good of the body; and therefore each member ought to be content with his place, gift, and usefulness, be they what they will; since it is the wise counsel and sovereign pleasure of God, who works all things after the counsel of his own will, that so it should be.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
But now ( ). But as things are, in contrast to that absurdity.
Hath God set ( ). Second aorist middle indicative. God did it and of himself.
Even as it pleased him ( ). Why challenge God’s will? Cf. Ro 9:20.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Set [] . See on Joh 14:16, where the same word is used by Christ of appointing His followers.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But now hath God set the members.” (nun de ho theos etheto ta mela) The (Gk. nun) means “now and hereafter progressively, without cessation” -“God (has) set the members.” Paul returned to consideration of God’s specific fixation or placing members, by divine means of salvation, baptism, and fellowship into each church body.
2) “Everyone of them in the body.” (hekaston auton en to somati) “Each one of them in the body.” The salvation, baptism, and place of fellowship of each member of each church body is, by Paul, attributed to the work of Almighty God.
3) “As it hath pleased him.” (kathos ethelesen) “Just as he wished or willed. – He who complains, finds fault with his membership gift in the church, finds fault with God. Such is sacrilege! Paul simply affirms that as each member of a human body has a sense and duty to the whole body, as fixed by the wisdom of the Creator, so does each member of the church body with his spiritual gift, given to him by the high wisdom of God.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
18. But now God hath placed. Here we have another argument, taken from the appointment of God. “It has pleased God, that the body should consist of various members, and that the members should be endowed with various offices and gifts. That member, therefore, which will not rest satisfied with its own station, will wage war with God after the manner of the giants. (756) Let us, therefore, be subject to the arrangement which God has appointed, that we may not, to no purpose, resist his will.” (757)
(756) “ Comme les poetes ont dit anciennement des geans;” — “As the poets have told of the giants in ancient times.” The fabled war of the giants with the gods is referred to in Homer’s Odyssey, 7, 59, 206; 10, 120. — Ed.
(757) “ De peur de perdre temps, and nous gaster en resistant a la volonte;” — “Lest we should lose time, and do hurt to ourselves by resisting his will.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
18. Now hath God This variety in unity is established by God. Men are variously endowed to perform different parts in the social organization; and when any part refuses its allotment, it first deranges the system and then destroys itself.
Pleased him For it is wonderful to observe how the whole system of nature is an organism in which the unity exists, lives, works, and prospers, by the harmonious working of the individuals.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But now has God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.’
And each member is set in the body by God as they are needed, and in accordance with His good pleasure, so that we can be sure that what the body requires will be provided. Every one individually is chosen and given their place in the body. So each is important to God, and each, if responsive, in his proper place.
‘According to His good pleasure.’ Compare ‘to one is given’ (1Co 12:8), ‘severally as He will’ (1Co 12:11). The emphasis is on the fact that all is done according to God’s will.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Co 12:18 . ] but so, i.e. but in this way, as the case really stands, has God given to the members their place ( ), etc.
] is in apposition to , and defines it more precisely.
] To this simple will of God each member has to submit itself. The thought in , 1Co 12:11 , is different.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Ver. 18. God hath set, &c. ] And he, as only wise, doth all in number, weight, and measure. Shall we not rest in what he hath done as best “What can the man do that cometh after the king?” Ecc 2:12 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
18. ] , but as the case really stands: see Hartung, Partikellehre, ii. 25.
, generally, , severally.
. answers to , 1Co 12:11 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
1Co 12:18 . “But now (argumentative , ‘as things are’: see 1Co 5:11 ) God has appointed the members, each single one of them, in the body as He willed.” It is God’s will that has ranged the physical organs and by analogy the members of the Church in their several places and offices ( cf. 1Co 1:1 , 1Co 3:5 ). Dissatisfaction with one’s particular charism, or contempt for that of another, is disloyalty towards Him and distrust of His wisdom. This is Paul’s ultima ratio : , . . .; Rom 9:20 . For in mid [1910] voice, cf. 1Co 12:28 and other parls.; the tense refers the Divine appointment constituting the body to past time generally “has set” rather than “set”. The prefixed singles out the individual for the Divine regard, distributed by ; each limb by itself has its part assigned by God. signifies determining will , as (1Co 12:11 , note) discriminating choice .
[1910] middle voice.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
hath. Omit.
set. Same word us “ordain” in Joh 15:16.
every = each.
as it hath, &c. = as He pleased, or purposed. App-102. Compare 1Co 15:38.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
18.] , but as the case really stands: see Hartung, Partikellehre, ii. 25.
, generally,- , severally.
. answers to , 1Co 12:11.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Co 12:18. , as it hath pleased Him) We ought not to require other and deeper reasons for things, beyond the will of God: it is lawful to philosophize in subjection to that will; we may do so respecting the world in its best ideal, [in a state of optimism] as the apostle does here respecting the human body in its best ideal.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 12:18
1Co 12:18
But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.-God set each in its proper place in the body, to perform a needed office as God saw was good, and if they were all one member, even the most important or honorable, they could not constitute the body.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
hath: 1Co 12:24, 1Co 12:28
as it: 1Co 12:11, 1Co 3:5, 1Co 15:38, Psa 110:3, Psa 135:6, Isa 46:10, Jon 1:14, Luk 10:21, Luk 12:32, Rom 12:3, Eph 1:5, Eph 1:9, Rev 4:11
Reciprocal: Ecc 4:9 – are Mat 6:27 – by 1Co 1:30 – in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
CHRUCH REFORM
But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased Him.
1Co 12:18 (R. V.)
What is meant by Church Reform? This has nothing to do with pressing for a revision of the Reformation settlement; it has nothing to do with any restatement or new statement of doctrine. Its rle is a simple reversion to original type. Its scope is the reforming of the government of the Church of England on old lineslines laid down in apostolic days, adhered to long subsequently, and followed consistently in the best ages, and in the healthiest and purest communities possessing the Christian name.
I. For two centuries our Church has been without the power of self-government.Its members have as members no voice in the administration of its affairs. It is to-day a Church without a constitution. Two hundred years ago it ceased as an autonomous body to exist. In 1702 William III died, and with him died Convocation. Not that Convocation afforded a constitution to the Church of which it was the mouthpiece, but Parliament which accredited Convocation did. For Parliament in those days was itself a Church Assembly. All its members were professedly members of the National Church. Government by Parliament was self-government for the Church. In 1717 Convocation, which for fifteen years had been practically in abeyance, was finally prorogued; and until our own times (1861), no licence from the Crown was granted to it to proceed to business. From the time Parliament ceased to represent the Church of England till the revival of the Ecclesiastical Assemblyi.e. during a period of one hundred and forty-four yearsour Church had no properly constituted means, recognised by the State, even of deliberating on its own affairs. This means of deliberating was granted afresh at the date we have named; but, as we are all aware, it is solely a deliberative assembly, and as such has no governmental power. And, as at present constituted, we are heartily glad that it has none. Convocation in no true sense represents the Church. It does not even represent the clergy. With its revival came a certain inadequate degree of representation.
II. But the imperfect representation of the clergy is nothing to our present purpose.It is the fact of the absence of the laity from this assembly to which we wish to draw attention. True, there is the House of Laymen, formed a few years back. But there is a view to take of this assembly which involves a reproach. What are the laity doing deliberating apart from the clergy? Does this represent any conciliar antagonism between pastors and people? Not at all. Why, then, this separation between the two bodies? It has arisen from the circumstances that the lay members of our Church have not in modern times been sufficiently instructed in their true position and rights, and therefore have not troubled themselves to assert that position and those rights.
III. And what fresh life it would infuse into our parochial organisations if parochial church councils with real power, resident in wisely chosen hands, were at the back of them all; and what frequent troubles would be altogether avoided, if (as would necessarily be the case) patrons would be compelled to put themselves into communication with such bodies when an appointment had to be made, and the clergy would have to do the same, and surely in the vast majority of cases would be thankful to do the same, when any serious changes of ritual were in contemplation. I, for one, trust the strong common sense, the seasoned judgment of the laity of the Church too fully to entertain much fear that the power thus granted would be used otherwise than wisely.
IV. Fellow-members of Christ our Head, we are members of one another.God hath set us, each of us, in the body, that we may contribute to the original life and growth of the body. One member may not say of another, I have no need of thee. Baptized into one spirit, eating the same spiritual meat, we are linked together in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity.
(a) There is a vulgar opinion abroad that the clergy only consult the laity when they want their financial support, while it is often overlooked that this support is sought not for themselves, but for work in which the people are primarily interested. But the clergy who long for the administrative co-operation of the lay-members of our Church say in effect, We seek not yours, but you. We want your comradeship in the Churchs undying feud with sin and evil of every kind; we want your living voices awakened after two centuries of silence in the counsels of the Church; we want to understand you, and your strong practical ways of looking at life and lifes problems, better than we ever can, as long as the lack of a Church constitution deprives us of half the benefits of corporate cohesion.
(b) And perhaps we want to be understood a little better by you (I speak now of the laity at large), understood better, and thus to secure that mutual confidence which is the tonic of associated labour; we want to have our faulty clerical methods corrected, not by the critic who criticises just because he has no power to correct, but by the partner in counsel who has the power, and therefore uses it with the wisdom and humility which a sense of responsibility is calculated to promote.
V. If our Church is to do her great work in the future efficiently, this question calls for speedy but most careful consideration. Questions of detail bristle around it, but the fundamental inquiry is the first issue. Shall the voice of the Society once more be heard?
Bishop Alfred Pearson.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
1Co 12:18-21. This paragraph is similar to the preceding one.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Co 12:18. But nowas the case standshath God set the members . . . even as it hath pleased himeach in his own place, each with his own function, and all of the Lords sovereign arrangement for His own wise ends.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
As if the apostle had said, Whereas our wise Creator, who made the body of man, has appointed all the members of that body for divers uses and offices, and also appointed the order in which every member shall stand; that the head shall be uppermost to guide the body, the foot lowermost to bear the body.
In like manner our gracious Redeemer has appointed to the several members of his church distinct offices in his church. And as the principal members of the body, the eye and hand, do need the less principal; so the rulers, pastors, and wisest members of the church, do need the less principal; so the rulers, pastors, and wisest members of the church, do need even those weak and inferior Christians whom the world makes small account of. The eye, that is, the man of great understanding, cannot say to the hand, the person employed in lesser services, I have no need of you; nor again the head, that is, the person placed in the highest dignity in the church, cannot say to the feet, the person employed in the lowest offices of the church, I have no need of you. Therefore the superior members of the church must not pride it over the inferior, no the most knowing Christians despise the less knowing as unuseful and unprofitable; but as fellow-members, jointly endeavour the mutual benefit and advantage of one another.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
The Need For Different Members
God put different members in the body to perform specific functions. If all were the same part, even the most important, they would not have made up a body. Different members are needed to make a body. McGarvey suggests the higher the animal was in God’s creative order the more members it had with varying functions. No body would be complete if it lacked even one member. Every member depends on the others ( 1Co 12:18-21 ).
Paul went on to observe that the more essential members of the body (heart, lung, etc.) are also those members requiring the most protection and care. Also, parts that lacked physical beauty are covered with apparel, thus making them more pleasant to look upon. Some parts have no need to be adorned but add beauty to the body. Yet, those parts depend for their existence upon the less beautiful parts ( 1Co 12:22-24 ).
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Vv. 18-20. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. 19. But if they were all one member, where were the body? 20. But now are there many members and one body.
The reality (, now) contrasting (, but) with the condemned supposition.
A fine paronomasia, no doubt intentional, in and . The high dignity of each member appears from the thought that it is God Himself who has placed it in the body, and placed it where it is best (the foot at the lower extremity of the body, the ear concealed at the side of the head, and not in view like the hand or the eye). Divine understanding has presided over this whole arrangement; inorganic matter nowhere invades this privileged domain of the human body.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
But now [(as things actually are)] hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Paul again stressed God’s sovereignty in placing each member in the body as He has chosen in this verse. We need to discover how God has gifted us and to become as effective as possible where He has placed us. We should concentrate on using the abilities we have received rather than longing to be different or insisting on doing things that God has not gifted us to do (cf. 1Co 7:26-27).
"Whenever we begin to think about our own importance in the Christian Church, the possibility of really Christian work is gone." [Note: Barclay, The Letters . . ., p. 127.]