manner the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is said further, There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. The effectual working in the use of all the appointed means of grace, proceeds from the Divine power and blessing. Vain is the exercise of any gifts, however great, of spiritual gifts, however important; useless are the ministrations of the appointed ministers of the gospel, however eminent they may be, unless God give the increase. So then neither is he that planteth, any thing; neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.11 He worketh all in all, that to Him alone all the glory may be ascribed. be ascribed. We see here the Three Persons of the ever blessed Trinity, spoken of as exercising Divine power, or as the one living and true God. The Holy Spirit bestows diversities of spiritual gifts. The Lord Jesus Christ orders the administrations of His church. God the Father effectually worketh all in all for the promotion of His own glory. Divine power is thus ascribed to each separately, to all collectively. The apostle, having made this statement, proceeds to the subject with which he had set out, the spiritual gifts, concerning which he would not have them ignorant. He remarks, The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The spiritual gifts referred to, are vouchsafed 10 Eph. iv. 11,12. 111Cor. iii. 6; ii.7,6,10; i. 30,24. 12 Col. ii. 3. for the benefit of the individual himself who partakes of them, but most especially for the advantage of the whole church of Christ and people of God, that all may be profited by them. These gifts are then enumerated; first, the ordinary operations of the Spirit of God, as the most useful to the church; and then His extraordinary operations as signs to them that believed not, whereby they might be assured of the truth of the doctrine of Christianity, which was attended with such remarkable displays of Divine power. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit. The first spiritual gift is the word of wisdom. This has been supposed to be another expression for the gospel of Christ, which the apostle terms the wisdom of God in a mystery, and says of it, We speak wisdom among them that are perfect; that wisdom which God hath revealed unto us by His Spirit." In reference to which he declares, that Christ Jesus is of God made unto us wisdom;11 and that in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.12 Christ is the wisdom of God." The word of wisdom is that which relates to Him, by the belief of which men are made wise unto salvation. This wisdom was not in other ages made known unto the sons of men, as it was revealed unto the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.13 St. Paul says respecting himself, that by revelation ם manne the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1: is sa further. There are diversities of operations, hu as the same (roa which worketh all in all. The effectua. working in the use of all the appointed means o: grace, proceeds from the Divine nower ant. blessing. Vam is the exercise of any gifts however great of spiritual gifts, however importan: useless art the ministrations of the apontra. ministers o: the gospel, however eminen: they may b. untess God give the increase. Seiner metro & n. tha: planteti, any thing; neither 2.1.4 Milertil. Du. So that giveth the increase.” a. that to Him alone all the I glory may be ascribed. We see here the Three Persons of the over blessed Trinity, spoken of as exercising Divine power, or as the one living and True God. The Holy Spirit bestows diversities of spiritual gifts. The Lord Jesus Christ orders the administrations of His church. God the Father effectually worth all in all for the promotion of His own glory. Divine power is thus ascribed in each separately, to all collectively The apostle, having made thi ceeds to the subject with w the spiritual gifts, amer have them ignorant. P of the Spirit is gi The spiritual for the benefit of the indivi same Spirit; to anot for the gospel of the wisdom of G We speak wisu that wisdom wi His Spirit that Christ Jes and that in Hi d knowled were acrched the ves whe s taught. them be › engaged ed the aid : minds to nd applied power and by the same nd to approur benefit, is taught the rough faith; gift of God.17 to obtain it. pians, Unto to believe on upon them y believed faith here rds menerations fed to con mira 1.29. God made known unto him the mystery of Christ,13 and he prayed for those to whom he declared this word of wisdom, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give unto them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.13 It is by the teaching of the Spirit of God alone that men are enabled to receive Christ as the wisdom of God, and are made wise unto salvation, through believing in His name. It follows, To another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. Knowledge, as distinguished from wisdom, is supposed to relate to an acquaintance with the holy scriptures, which were then confined to the writings of the Old Testament; and with the mind of the Spirit therein revealed. The expression may therefore be considered to imply, that the Spirit of God opened the understanding of those to whom He gave the word of knowledge, to understand the scriptures. This was a matter of such great importance to the first preachers of the gospel, that our Saviour expounded unto His disciples in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself;11 and then opened their understanding also, that they might understand the scriptures,11 and be able to explain them to others. We find the apostles therefore declaring that they said none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come,15 when they preached 13 Eph. iii. 5, 3; i. 17. 14 Luke xxiv. 27, 45. 15 Acts xxvi. 22. |