1 Corinthians 12:6

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:1-11 Spiritual gifts were extraordinary powers bestowed in the first ages, to convince unbelievers, and to spread the gospel. Gifts and graces greatly differ. Both were freely given of God. But where grace is given, it is for the salvation of those who have it. Gifts are for the advantage and salvation of others; and there may be great gifts where there is no grace. The extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit were chiefly exercised in the public assemblies, where the Corinthians seem to have made displays of them, wanting in the spirit of piety, and of Christian love. While heathens, they had not been influenced by the Spirit of Christ. No man can call Christ Lord, with believing dependence upon him, unless that faith is wrought by the Holy Ghost. No man could believe with his heart, or prove by a miracle, that Jesus was Christ, unless by the Holy Ghost. There are various gifts, and various offices to perform, but all proceed from one God, one Lord, one Spirit; that is, from the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the origin of all spiritual blessings. No man has them merely for himself. The more he profits others, the more will they turn to his own account. The gifts mentioned appear to mean exact understanding, and uttering the doctrines of the Christian religion; the knowledge of mysteries, and skill to give advice and counsel. Also the gift of healing the sick, the working of miracles, and to explain Scripture by a peculiar gift of the Spirit, and ability to speak and interpret languages. If we have any knowledge of the truth, or any power to make it known, we must give all the glory of God. The greater the gifts are, the more the possessor is exposed to temptations, and the larger is the measure of grace needed to keep him humble and spiritual; and he will meet with more painful experiences and humbling dispensations. We have little cause to glory in any gifts bestowed on us, or to despise those who have them not.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 insect's 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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. operations—(Compare 1Co 12:10).

same God … worketh—by His Spirit working (1Co 12:11).

all in all—all of them (the "gifts") in all the persons (who possess them).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

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.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire 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 1 Corinthians 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.

Geneva Study Bible

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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. operations] ἐνεργήματα. Worchyngis, Wiclif. Calvin renders facultas, but explains this to mean effectus. The Apostle here is speaking of active power (ἐνέργεια), not latent as in 1 Corinthians 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. Romans 7:5 and St Matthew 14:2.

all in all] i.e. “every one of them in every person on whom they are bestowed.” So ch. 1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 3:11.

Bengel's Gnomen

1 Corinthians 12:6. Ἐνεργημάτων, of operations) 1 Corinthians 12:10.—ὁ δὲ αὐτός [108] ἐστι Θεὸς, but it is the same God) by the working of His Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:11.—τὰ πάντα, all things) The working of God is seen somewhat more extensively than the offices of Christ, and the gifts of the Spirit.—ἐν πᾶσιν, in all) Masculine; comp. to every man, in the following verses.

[108] The word ἐστὶ should rather be rejected, as well by the margin of bot’. editions as by the Germ. Ver.—E. B.

Rec. Text reads ἐστι θεὸς with later Syr., Orig., and B, which puts ἐστι after ἐνεργῶν. But ACD(Λ)Gfg Vulg. Iren. Hilar. omit ἐστι.—ED.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Operations. Manifestations of Divine power. The same God which worketh all in all. God is the Source of all gifts in all men. He is the Sun of the whole universe, and always in the meridian; and from him, as the Father of lights, flows every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). It will be seen that this is one of the many passages which teach with perfect clearness the doctrine of the Trinity in unity. All in all (for this expression, see ch. 15:28; Ephesians 1:23). There are very similar passages descriptive of the diversity in unity of God's dispensations, in Ephesians 4:4-6, 11, 12; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10, 11. 1 Corinthians 12:6

Vincent's Word Studies

Operations (ἐνεργήματα)

Rev., workings. Outward manifestations and results of spiritual gifts. The kindred word ἐνέργεια energy is used only by Paul: and only of superhuman good or evil. Compare Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 2:12. See on Mark 6:14.

Worketh (ἐνεργῶν)

Etymologically akin to operations. See on Mark 6:14; see on James 5:16.

All (τὰ πάντα)

Or them all. The article shows that they are regarded collectively.