Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
God hath set some (ouv men eqeto o qeov). See verse 1 Corinthians 12:18 for eqeto o qeov. Note middle voice (for his own use). Paul begins as if he means to say ouv men apostolous, ouv de profhtav (some apostles, some prophets), but he changes the construction and has no ouv de, but instead prwton, deuteron, epeita (first, second, then, etc.).
In the church (en th ekklhsiai). The general sense of ekklhsia as in Matthew 16:18 and later in Colossians 1:18, Colossians 1:24; Ephesians 5:23, Ephesians 5:32; Hebrews 12:23. See list also in Ephesians 4:11. See on Matthew 10:2 for apostolouv, the official title given the twelve by Jesus, and claimed by Paul though not one of the twelve.
Prophets (profhtav). For-speakers for God and Christ. See the list of prophets and teachers in Acts 13:1 with Barnabas first and Saul last. Prophets are needed today if men will let God's Spirit use them, men moved to utter the deep things of God.
Teachers (didaskalouv). Old word from didaskw, to teach. Used to the Baptist (Luke 3:12), to Jesus (John 3:10; John 13:13), and of Paul by himself along with apostolov (1 Timothy 2:7). It is a calamity when the preacher is no longer a teacher, but only an exhorter. See Ephesians 4:11.
Then miracles (epeita dunameiv). Here a change is made from the concrete to the abstract. See the reverse in Romans 12:7. See these words (dunameis, iamhtwn, glwsswn) in verses 1 Corinthians 12:9-10 with glwsswn, last again. But these two new terms (helps, governments).
Helps (antilhmyeiv). Old word, from antilambanomai, to lay hold of. In LXX, common in papyri, here only in N.T. Probably refers to the work of the deacons, help rendered to the poor and the sick.
Governments (kubernhseiv). Old word from kubernaw (cf. Kubernhthv in Acts 27:11) like Latin gubernare, our govern. So a governing. Probably Paul has in mind bishops (episcopoi) or elders (presbuteroi), the outstanding leaders (oi proistamenoi in 1 Thessalonians 5:12; Romans 12:8; oi hgoumenoi in Acts 15:22; Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17, Hebrews 13:24). Curiously enough, these two offices (pastors and deacons) which are not named specifically are the two that survive today. See Philippians 1:1 for both officers.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Mark 16:17
Acts 2:4
Acts 14:23
Acts 20:35
1 Corinthians 12:30
Galatians 6:6
Ephesians 4:11
1 Timothy 1:12
James 3:1
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