Nashville, Tennessee, United States - Upper Room Daily Reflections -
daily words of wisdom and faith “Breathing and Prayer” for Thursday, 5 June 2014
Today’s Reflection:
AT VARIOUS TIMES throughout the day, I take a few moments to focus on my breathing and think of breathing not only air but God’s spirit (spirit and breath are the same word in Hebrew), envisioning it flowing to all parts of my body. I also envision my hurts, my sins, or any toxicity I may have absorbed during the day flowing to the shining center that is God. I ask God to cleanse, heal, and renew these energies, and to send them forth again as transformed empowerment.
Sometimes I place my open palms over my heart while I envision this inner cycle of cleansing and healing. Such an inner recentering can be done frequently throughout the day, if only for a few minutes each time. I try to remember first to take a few slow, deep breaths without pushing or gasping, then let the breath become gentle and natural.(Flora Slosson Wuellner, Forgiveness, the Passionate Journey)
From page 104 of Forgiveness, the Passionate Journey: Nine Steps of Forgiving Through Jesus’ Beatitudes by Flora Slosson Wuellner. Copyright © 2001 by Flora Slosson Wuellner. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Try the prayer exercise described above.
Today’s Scripture:
No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.(1 Corinthians 12:3b, NRSV)
This Week: pray for those who are afraid.
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Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week
intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers, call
1-800-251-2468.
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Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember:
Saint Justin, Feastday: June 1
All the voices around Justin clamored that they had the truth he sought
so desperately. He had listened to them all since he first came to Rome to get
his education. They each shouted that they held the one and only answer but he
felt no closer to the truth than when he had started his studies. He had left
the Stoic master behind but the Stoics valued discipline as truth and thought
discussion of God unnecessary. He had rejected the Peripatetic who seemed more
interested in money than discussion. The Pythagorean had rejected him because
he didn't know enough music and geometry -- the things that would lead him to
truth. He had found some joy with the Platonists because the contemplation of
ideas gave wings to his mind, but they had promised wisdom would let him see
God and so, where was God?
There was one place that Justin always escaped to in order to get away
from these shouting, confusing voices and search out the quiet inner voice that
led him to truth. This place was a lonely spot, a path that seemed made for him
alone in a field by the sea. So sure was he of the isolation of his retreat
that he was shocked one day to find an old man following him.
The old man was not searching for truth but for some of his family.
Nonetheless they began a discussion in which Justin identified himself as a
philologian, a lover of reason. The old man challenged him -- why was he not a
lover of truth, a lover of deeds. Justin told him that reason led to truth, and
philosophy led to happiness. This was certainly an interesting thing for Justin
to say since he had not found the truth in the study of reason or happiness in
his quest among the philosophers! Perhaps the old man sensed this for he asked
for Justin's definition of philosophy and of happiness.
In the long discussion that followed, Justin spoke eloquently to the old
man's searching questions but even Justin had to admit that philosophers may
talk about God but had never seen him, may discuss the soul but didn't really
know it. But if the philosophers whom Justin admired and followed couldn't,
then nobody could, right?
The old man told him about the ancient prophets, the Hebrew prophets, who
had talked not of ideas but of what they had seen and heard, what they knew and
experienced. And this was God. The old man ended the conversation by telling
Justin to pray that the gates of light be opened to him.
Inflamed by this conversation, Justin sought out the Scriptures and came
to love them. Christ words "possess a terrible power in themselves, and
are sufficient to inspire those who turn aside from the path of rectitude with
awe; while the sweetest rest is afforded those who make a diligent practice of
them."
Why hadn't Justin known about Christianity before with as much as he had
studied? He had heard about it, the way other pagans of second century Rome
had, by the rumors and accusations that surrounded the persecution of
Christians. The fearlessness of their actions made him doubt the gossip, but he
had nothing else to go by. Christians at that time kept their beliefs secret.
They were so afraid that outsiders would trample on their sacred faith and
descrate their mysteries that they wouldn't tell anyone about their beliefs --
even to counteract outright lies. To be honest, there was good reason for their
fears -- many actors for example performed obscene parodies of Christian ritual
for pagan audiences, for example.
But Justin believed differently. He had been one of those outsiders --
not someone looking for trouble, but someone earnestly searching for the truth.
The truth had been hidden from him by this fear of theirs. And he believed
there were many others like him. He exhorted them that Christians had an
obligation to speak of their faith, to witness to others about their faith and
their mysteries.
So Justin took his newfound faith to the people. This layman became the
first great apologist for Christianity and opened the gates of light for so
many others. He explained baptism and Eucharist. He explained to the pagans why
they didn't worship idols and why that didn't make them atheists. He explained
to the Jews how Christians could worship the same God but not follow Jewish
laws. He explained to the Greeks and the philosophers how philosophy did not
take into account the dignity of humankind. He wrote long arguments known as
apologies and traveled to other lands in order to debate publicly. His long
education in philosophy and rhetoric gave him the skills he needed to match his
oponents and the Holy Spirit gave him the rest.
It is not surprising that Justin was arrested during the persecution
under Marcus Aurelius. Along with four others (Chariton, Charites, Paeon, and
Liberianus) he was brought before the Roman prefect, Rusticus, to be accused
under the law that required sacrificing to idols. When Rusticus demanded that
they "Obey the gods at once, and submit to the kings," Justin
responded, "To obey the commandments of our Saviour Jesus Christ is worthy
neither of blame nor of condemnation."
When Rusticus asked what doctrines he believed, Justin told him that he
had learned all the doctrines available during his quest but finally submitted
to the true doctrines of the Christians, even though they didn't please others.
(An understatement when he was under danger of death!)
When Rusticus asked where the Christians gathered, Justin gave a response
that gives us insight into Christian community and worship of the time:
"Where each one chooses and can: for do you fancy that we all meet in the
very same place? Not so; because the God of the Christians is not circumscribed
by place; but being invisible, fills heaven and earth, and everywhere is
worshipped and glorified by the faithful."
When Rusticus asked each of them if they were a Christian, they all
responded the same way: "Yes, I am a Christian." When Rusticus tried
to put responsibility for this on Justin, they responded that God had made them
Christians.
Just before Rusticus sentenced them he asked Justin, "If you are
killed do you suppose you will go to heaven?" Justin said, "I do not
suppose it, but I know and am fully persuaded of it."
Justin and his fellow martyrs were beheaded in the year 165 and went to
be with the Truth Justin had longed for all his life. He is often known as
Justin Martyr and his works are still available.
In His Footsteps:
To download some of Justin's works and the complete story of his
martyrdom see the writings of the Early Church Fathers
Today speak to at least one person about an aspect of the Catholic faith.
If you don't feel comfortable discussing Catholic doctrine, read some of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church or other competent resource.
Prayer:
Saint Justin Martyr, pray that in our search for the Truth, God will open
the gates of light for us the way God did for you and give us the wisdom no
human being can give. Amen.
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Lectionary Scriptures:
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
John 20:19-23
Acts 2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one
accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the
rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each
of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with
other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5 Now there were
dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When
this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because
everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and
marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes,
Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10
Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from
Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking
in our languages the mighty works of God!” 12 They were all amazed, and were
perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Others, mocking,
said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke
out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be
known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these aren’t drunken, as you
suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.[a] 16 But this is what
has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit
on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see
visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and
they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath;
blood, and fire, and billows of
smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious
day of the Lord comes.
21 It will be that whoever will
call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[b]
Footnotes:
a. Acts 2:15 about 9:00 AM
b. Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
Psalm 104: 24 Yahweh, how many are your works!
In wisdom have you made them
all.
The earth is full of your
riches.
25 There is the sea, great and wide,
in which are innumerable living
things,
both small and large animals.
26 There the ships go,
and leviathan, whom you formed
to play there.
27 These all wait for you,
that you may give them their
food in due season.
28 You give to them; they gather.
You open your hand; they are
satisfied with good.
29 You hide your face: they are troubled;
you take away their breath:
they die, and return to the dust.
30 You send out your Spirit and they are created.
You renew the face of the
ground.
31 Let Yahweh’s glory endure forever.
Let Yahweh rejoice in his
works.
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles.
He touches the mountains, and
they smoke.
33 I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live.
I will sing praise to my God
while I have any being.
34 Let your meditation be sweet to him.
I will rejoice in Yahweh.
35 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth.
Let the wicked be no more.
Bless Yahweh, my soul.
Praise Yah!
1 Corinthians 12: 3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by
God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by
the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6 There are
various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 7 But
to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 8
For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the
word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith, by the
same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; 10 and to
another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another
discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another
the interpretation of languages. 11 But the one and the same Spirit produces
all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of
the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we
were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free;
and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
John 20: 19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of
the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled,
for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them,
“Peace be to you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The
disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said
to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send
you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive
the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them.
If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
or
John 7: 37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and
cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who
believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of
living water.” 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in
him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus
wasn’t yet glorified.
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John Wesley’s Notes-commentary for:
Acts 2:1-21
Verse 2
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven — So will the Son of man come
to judgment.
And it filled all the house — That is, all that part of the temple where
they were sitting.
Verse 3
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it
sat upon each of them.
And there appeared distinct tongues, as of fire — That is, small flames
of fire. This is all which the phrase, tongues of fire, means in the language
of the seventy. Yet it might intimate God's touching their tongues as it were
(together with their hearts) with Divine fire: his giving them such words as
were active and penetrating, even as flaming fire.
Verse 4
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And they began to speak with other tongues — The miracle was not in the
ears of the hearers, (as some have unaccountably supposed,) but in the mouth of
the speakers. And this family praising God together, with the tongues of all
the world, was an earnest that the whole world should in due time praise God in
their various tongues.
As the Spirit gave them utterance — Moses, the type of the law, was of a
slow tongue; but the Gospel speaks with a fiery and flaming one.
Verse 5
[5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every
nation under heaven.
And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews — Gathered from all parts by
the peculiar providence of God.
Verse 6
[6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and
were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
The multitude came together, and were confounded — The motions of their
minds were swift and various.
Verse 9
[9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia,
and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Judea — The dialect of which greatly differed from that of Galilee.
Asia — The country strictly so called.
Verse 10
[10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about
Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Roman sojourners — Born at Rome, but now living at Jerusalem. These seem
to have come to Jerusalem after those who are above mentioned. All of them were
partly Jews by birth, and partly proselytes.
Verse 11
[11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the
wonderful works of God.
Cretans — One island seems to be mentioned for all.
The wonderful works of God — Probably those which related to the
miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, together with the
effusion of his Spirit, as a fulfilment of his promises, and the glorious
dispensations of Gospel grace.
Verse 12
[12] And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another,
What meaneth this?
They were all amazed — All the devout men.
Verse 13
[13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But others mocking — The world begins with mocking, thence proceeds to
cavilling, Acts 4:7; to threats, 4:17; to imprisoning, Acts 5:18; blows, 5:40;
to slaughter, Acts 7:58. These mockers appear to have been some of the natives
of Judea, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, (who understood only the dialect of the
country,) by the apostle's immediately directing his discourse to them in the
next verse.
They are full of sweet wine — So the Greek word properly signifies. There
was no new wine so early in the year as pentecost. Thus natural men are wont to
ascribe supernatural things to mere natural causes; and many times as
impudently and unskilfully as in the present case.
Verse 14
[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and
said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this
known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Then Peter standing up — All the gestures, all the words of Peter, show
the utmost sobriety; lifted up his voice - With cheerfulness and boldness; and
said to them - This discourse has three parts; each of which, Acts 2:14,22,29,
begins with the same appellation, men: only to the last part he prefixes with
more familiarity the additional word brethren.
Men of Judea — That is, ye that are born in Judea. St. Peter spoke in
Hebrew, which they all understood.
Verse 15
[15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third
hour of the day.
It is but the third hour of the day — That is, nine in the morning. And
on the solemn festivals the Jews rarely ate or drank any thing till noon.
Verse 16
[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet — But there is
another and better way of accounting for this. Joel 2:28
Verse 17
[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour
out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream
dreams:
The times of the Messiah are frequently called the last days, the Gospel
being the last dispensation of Divine grace.
I will pour out of my Spirit — Not on the day of pentecost only, upon all
flesh - On persons of every age, sex, and rank.
And your young men shall see visions — In young men the outward sense,
are most vigorous, and the bodily strength is entire, whereby they are best
qualified to sustain the shock which usually attends the visions of God. In old
men the internal senses are most vigorous, suited to divine dreams. Not that
the old are wholly excluded from the former, nor the young from the latter.
Verse 18
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those
days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And upon my servants — On those who are literally in a state of
servitude.
Verse 19
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth
beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
And I will show prodigies in heaven above, and signs on earth beneath —
Great revelations of grace are usually attended with great judgments on those
who reject it.
In heaven — Treated of, Acts 2:20.
On earth — Described in this verse. Such signs were those mentioned, Acts
2:22, before the passion of Christ; which are so mentioned as to include also
those at the very time of the passion and resurrection, at the destruction of
Jerusalem, and at the end of the world. Terrible indeed were those prodigies in
particular which preceded the destruction of Jerusalem: such as the flaming
sword hanging over the city, and the fiery comet pointing down upon it for a
year; the light that shone upon the temple and the altar in the night, as if it
had been noon-day; the opening of the great and heavy gate of the temple
without hands; the voice heard from the most holy place, Let us depart hence;
the admonition of Jesus the son of Ananus, crying for seven years together, Wo,
wo, wo; the vision of contending armies in the air, and of entrenchments thrown
up against a city there represented; the terrible thunders and lightnings, and
dreadful earthquakes, which every one considered as portending some great evil:
all which, through the singular providence of God, are particularly recorded by
Josephus.
Blood — War and slaughter.
Fire — Burnings of houses and towns, involving all in clouds of smoke.
Verse 20
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
The moon shall be turned into blood — A bloody colour: before the day of
the Lord - Eminently the last day; though not excluding any other day or
season, wherein the Lord shall manifest his glory, in taking vengeance of his
adversaries.
Verse 21
[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be saved.
But — whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord - This expression
implies the whole of religion, and particularly prayer uttered in faith; shall
be saved - From all those plagues; from sin and hell.
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Verse 25
[25] So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping
innumerable, both small and great beasts.
Creeping — This word is common to all creatures that move without feet.
Verse 26
[26] There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to
play therein.
Leviathan — The whale.
Therein — Who being of such a vast strength and absolute dominion in the
sea, tumbles in it with great security, and sports himself with other
creatures.
Verse 20
[20] Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the
forest do creep forth.
Darkness — Which succeeds the light by virtue of thy decree.
Verse 29
[29] Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their
breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Hidest — Withdrawest the care of thy providence.
Verse 30
[30] Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest
the face of the earth.
Spirit — That quickening power of God, by which he produces life in the
creatures from time to time. For he speaks not here of the first creation, but
of the continued production of living creatures.
Created — Other living creatures are produced; the word created being
taken in its largest sense for the production of things by second causes.
Renewest — And thus by thy wise and wonderful providence thou preservest
the succession of living creatures.
Verse 31
[31] The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice
in his works.
Rejoice — Thus God advances the glory of his wisdom and power and
goodness, in upholding the works of his hands from generation to generation,
and he takes pleasure in the preservation of his works, as also in his
reflection upon these works of his providence.
Verse 32
[32] He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills,
and they smoke.
He looketh — This is a farther illustration of God's powerful providence:
as when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive, so on the
contrary, one angry look or touch of his upon the hills or earth, makes them
tremble and smoke, as Sinai did when God appeared in it.
Verse 35
[35] Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be
no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
Praise ye the Lord — Heb. Hallelujah. This is the first time that this
word occurs. And it comes in here on occasion of the destruction of the wicked.
And the last time it occurs, Revelation 19:1; 3,4,6, it is on a like occasion,
the destruction of Babylon.
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Verse 3
[3] Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the
Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the
Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Therefore — Since the heathen idols cannot speak themselves, much less
give spiritual gifts to others, these must necessarily be among Christians
only.
As no one speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed — That is,
as none who does this, (which all the Jews and heathens did,) speaketh by the
Spirit of God - Is actuated by that Spirit, so as to speak with tongues, heal
diseases, or cast out devils.
So no one can say, Jesus is the Lord — None can receive him as such; for,
in the scripture language, to say, or to believe, implies an experimental
assurance.
But by the Holy Ghost — The sum is, None have the Holy Spirit but
Christians: all Christians have this Spirit.
Verse 4
[4] Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit — Divers streams, but
all from one fountain. This verse speaks of the Holy Ghost, the next of Christ,
the sixth of God the Father. The apostle treats of the Spirit, 1 Corinthians
12:7, etc.; of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12, etc.; of God, 1 Corinthians 12:28,
etc.
Verse 5
[5] And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
Administrations — Offices. But the same Lord appoints them all.
Verse 6
[6] And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which
worketh all in all.
Operations — Effects produced. This word is of a larger extent than
either of the former. But it is the same God who worketh all these effects in
all the persons concerned.
Verse 7
[7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal.
The manifestation — The gift whereby the Spirit manifests itself.
Is given to each — For the profit of the whole body.
Verse 8
[8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
The word of wisdom — A power of understanding and explaining the manifold
wisdom of God in the grand scheme of gospel salvation.
The word of knowledge — Perhaps an extraordinary ability to understand
and explain the Old Testament types and prophecies.
Verse 9
[9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit;
Faith may here mean an extraordinary trust in God under the most
difficult or dangerous circumstances. The gift of healing need not be wholly
confined to the healing diseases with a word or a touch. It may exert itself
also, though in a lower degree, where natural remedies are applied; and it may
often be this, not superior skill, which makes some physicians more successful
than others. And thus it may be with regard to other gifts likewise. As, after
the golden shields were lost, the king of Judah put brazen in their place, so,
after the pure gifts were lost, the power of God exerts itself in a more covert
manner, under human studies and helps; and that the more plentifully, according
as there is the more room given for it.
Verse 10
[10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues:
The working of other miracles. Prophecy — Foretelling things to come.
The discerning — Whether men be of an upright spirit or no; whether they
have natural or supernatural gifts for offices in the church; and whether they
who profess to speak by inspiration speak from a divine, a natural, or a
diabolical spirit.
Verse 11
[11] But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to
every man severally as he will.
As he willeth — The Greek word does not so much imply arbitrary pleasure,
as a determination founded on wise counsel.
Verse 12
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members
of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
So is Christ — That is, the body of Christ, the church.
Verse 13
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be
Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit.
For by that one Spirit, which we received in baptism, we are all united
in one body.
Whether Jews or gentiles — Who are at the greatest distance from each
other by nature.
Whether slaves or freemen — Who are at the greatest distance by law and
custom.
We have all drank of one Spirit — In that cup, received by faith, we all
imbibed one Spirit, who first inspired, and still preserves, the life of God in
our souls.
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