1 Corinthians 12:28 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
1 Corinthians 12:28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
(ordinal) second (in time · adjective — accusative singular neuter
prophets
προφήτας,prophētas
G4396
a foreteller ("prophet") · noun — accusative plural masculine
thirdly
τρίτονtriton
G5154
third · adjective — accusative singular neuter
teachers
διδασκάλους,didaskalous
G1320
an instructor (genitive case or specially) · noun — accusative plural masculine
that
ἔπειταepeita
G1899
thereafter · adverb
miracles
δυνάμεις,dunameis
G1411
force (literally or figuratively) · noun — accusative plural feminine
then
εἶταeîta
G1534
a particle of succession (in time or logical enumeratio…
gifts
χαρίσματαcharismata
G5486
a (divine) gratuity · noun — accusative plural neuter
healings
ἰαμάτων,iamatōn
G2386
a cure (the effect) · noun — genitive plural neuter
helps
ἀντιλήμψεις,antilēmpseis
G484
relief · noun — accusative plural feminine
governments
κυβερνήσεις,kubernēseis
G2941
pilotage · noun — accusative plural feminine
diversities
γένηgenē
G1085
"kin" (abstract or concrete · noun — accusative plural neuter
tongues
γλωσσῶν.glōssōn
G1100
the tongue · noun — genitive plural feminine
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of fai…
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Hebrews 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12:27–end
I. Here the apostle sums up the argument, and applies this similitude to the church of Christ, concerning which observe,
1. The relation wherein Christians stand to Christ and one another. The church, or whole collective body of Christians, in all ages, is his body. Every Christian is a member of his body, and every other Christian stands related to him as a fellow-member (Co1 12:27): Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular, or particular members. Each is a member of the body, not the whole body; each stands related to the body as a part of it, and all have a common relation to one another, dependence upon one another, and should have a mutual care and concern. Thus are the…
set . . . in the church--as He has "set the members . . . in the body" (Co1 12:18).
first apostles--above even the prophets. Not merely the Twelve, but others are so called, for example, Barnabas, &c. (Rom 16:7).
teachers--who taught, for the most part, truths already revealed; whereas the prophets made new revelations and spoke all their prophesyings under the Spirit's influence. As the teachers had the "word of knowledge," so the prophets "the word of wisdom" (Co1 12:8). Under "teachers" are included "evangelists and pastors."
miracles--literally, "powers" (Co1 12:10): ranked below "teachers," as the function of teaching is more edifying, though less dazzling than working miracles.…
God hath set some in the Church - As God has made evident distinctions among the members of the human body, so that some occupy a more eminent place than others, so has he in the Church. And to prove this, the apostle numerates the principal offices, and in the order in which they should stand.
First, apostles - Αποστολους, from απο from, and στελλο, I send; to send from one person to another, and from one place to another. Persons immediately designated by Christ, and sent by him to preach the Gospel to all mankind.
Secondarily, prophets - Προφητας, from προ, before, and φημι, I speak; a person who, under Divine inspiration, predicts future events; but the word is often applied to these who…
The Church Fathers
For all the other prophets preached the advent of the paternal Light, and desired to be worthy of seeing Him whom they preached; but John did both announce [the advent] beforehand, in a like manner as did the others, and actually saw Him when He came, and pointed Him out, and persuaded many to believe on Him, so that he did himself hold the place of both prophet and apostle. For this is to be more than a prophet, because, "first apostles, secondarily prophets;" but all things from one and the same God Himself.
Paul has placed the apostles at the head of the church. They may be identified with bishops, as Peter said of Judas: "Let another take his bishopric." There are two types of prophets, those who predict the future and those who interpret the Scriptures. The apostles are also prophets, because the top rank has all the others subordinated to it. Even a wicked man like Caiaphas uttered prophecies on the strength of his rank, not for any virtue he might have possessed. Teachers are those who instructed boys in the synagogue, a practice which has come down to us as well.
Paul then, teaching us where one may find such, says, "God hath placed in the Church, first, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers." Where, therefore, the gifts of the Lord have been placed, there it behoves us to learn the truth, [namely,] from those who possess that succession of the Church which is from the apostles, and among whom exists that which is sound and blameless in conduct, as well as that which is unadulterated and incorrupt in speech. For these also preserve this faith of ours in one God who created all things; and they increase that love [which we have] for the Son of God, who accomplished such marvellous dispensations for our sake: and they expound the Scriptures to us without danger, neither blaspheming God, nor dishonouring the patriarchs, nor despising the prophets.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Dictionary and topics
Governments — (1 Cor. 12:28), the powers which fit a man for a place of influence in the church; “the steersman’s art; the art of guiding aright the vessel of church or state.”
Helps — (1 Cor. 12:28) may refer to help (i.e., by interpretation) given to him who speaks with tongues, or more probably simply help which Christians can render to one another, such as caring for the poor…
How The Prophetic Gift Was Received — —We learn from Holy Scripture that it was by the agency of the Spirit of God that the prophets received the divine communication; but the means by which the divine Spirit communicated with the human…
Prophet — (Heb. nabi, from a root meaning “to bubble forth, as from a fountain,” hence “to utter”, comp. Ps. 45:1). This Hebrew word is the first and the most generally used for a prophet. In the time of…
Tongues, Gift of — Granted on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), in fulfilment of a promise Christ had made to his disciples (Mark 16:17). What this gift actually was has been a subject of much discussion. Some have…
Apostles, The · Called by: God — Called by: God
Miraculous Gifts Of The Holy Spirit · Enumerated — Enumerated
Tongue · Gift of — Gift of
Tongues (The Gift) · The miraculous gift granted to — The miraculous gift granted to
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
And God hath set some in the church,.... As before the apostle gives an account of the various different gifts of the Spirit, qualifying men for service in the church of Christ, here he enumerates the several offices and officers:
first apostles; as were the twelve disciples, and Paul the apostle; men that were immediately sent by Christ himself, and had their commission and doctrine directly from him; and a power of working miracles, to confirm the truth of their mission and ministry; they were sent into all the world to preach the Gospel, to plant churches everywhere, and to ordain officers in them; they were not confined to any particular church, but had power and authority in all the ch…
1 Corinthians 12:28-31
28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
28. Et altos quidera posuit Deus in Ecclesia, primurn apostolos, deinde Prophetas, tertio Doctores, postea Potestates, deinde dona sanationum, opitulationes, gubernationes, genera linguarum.
29. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
29. Numquid omnes Apostoli? numquid omnes Prophetae? numquid omnes Doctores? numquid omnes Potestates?
30. Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
30. Numquid omnes dona h…
Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:28-31
Paul lists some of the different individual roles given to people in the church (see also the list in 12:8-10; cp. Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11).
12:28 Apostles are specially commissioned emissaries of Christ in the world (see also Eph 4:11). • Prophets speak a word from God (see 12:10 and corresponding study note; Eph 4:11; cp. Acts 13:1-2). • Teachers instruct others in the faith (Rom 12:7; Eph 4:11; cp. Acts 13:1). • those who speak in unknown languages: See study note on 12:10.
