working of miracles—As "healings" are miracles, those here meant must refer to miracles of special and extraordinary POWER (so the Greek for "miracles" means); for example, healings might be effected by human skill in course of time; but the raising of the dead, the infliction of death by a word, the innocuous use of poisons, etc., are miracles of special power. Compare Mark 6:5; Acts 19:11.
prophecy—Here, probably, not in the wider sense of public teaching by the Spirit (I Corinthians 11:4-5; I Corinthians 14:1-5, 1Co. 14:22-39); but, as its position between "miracles" and a "discerning of spirits" implies, the inspired disclosure of the future (Acts 11:27-28; Acts 21:11; I Timothy 1:18), [HENDERSON]. It depends on "faith" (I Corinthians 12:9; Romans 12:6). The prophets ranked next to the apostles (I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 3:5; Ephesians 4:11). As prophecy is part of the whole scheme of redemption, an inspired insight into the obscurer parts of the existing Scriptures, was the necessary preparation for the miraculous foresight of the future.
discerning of spirits—discerning between the operation of God's Spirit, and the evil spirit, or unaided human spirit (I Corinthians 14:29; compare I Timothy 4:1; I John 4:1).
kinds of tongues—the power of speaking various languages: also a spiritual language unknown to man, uttered in ecstasy (I Corinthians 14:2-12). This is marked as a distinct genus in the Greek, "To another and a different class."
interpretation of tongues— (I Corinthians 14:13, I Corinthians 14:26-27).
Three classes of gifts are distinguished by a distinct Greek word for "another" (a distinct class), marking the three several genera: allo marks the species, hetero the genera (compare Greek, I Corinthians 15:39-41). I. Gifts of intellect, namely, (1) wisdom; (2) knowledge. II. Gifts dependent on a special faith, namely, that of miracles (Matthew 17:20): (1) healings; (2) workings of miracles; (3) prophecy of future events; (4) discerning of spirits, or the divinely given faculty of distinguishing between those really inspired, and those who pretended to inspiration. III. Gifts referring to the tongues: (1) diverse kinds of tongues; (2) interpretation of tongues. The catalogue in I Corinthians 12:28 is not meant strictly to harmonize with the one here, though there are some particulars in which they correspond. The three genera are summarily referred to by single instances of each in I Corinthians 13:8. The first genus refers more to believers; the second, to unbelievers.
by . . . by . . . by—The first in Greek is, "By means of," or "through the operation of"; the second is, "according to" the disposing of (compare I Corinthians 12:11); the third is, "in," that is, under the influence of (so the Greek, Matthew 22:43; Luke 2:27).
word of wisdom—the ready utterance of (for imparting to others, Ephesians 6:19) wisdom, namely, new revelations of the divine wisdom in redemption, as contrasted with human philosophy (I Corinthians 1:24; I Corinthians 2:6-7; Ephesians 1:8; Ephesians 3:10; Colossians 2:3).
word of knowledge—ready utterance supernaturally imparted of truths ALREADY REVEALED (in this it is distinguished from "the word of wisdom," which related to NEW revelations). Compare I Corinthians 14:6, where "revelation" (answering to "wisdom" here) is distinguished from "knowledge" [HENDERSON]. Wisdom or revelation belonged to the "prophets"; knowledge, to the "teachers." Wisdom penetrates deeper than knowledge. Knowledge relates to things that are to be done. Wisdom, to things eternal: hence, wisdom is not, like knowledge, said to "pass away" (I Corinthians 13:8), [BENGEL].
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