1Cor 12:28 | Burkitt | STEP | Our apostle having in the beginning of the chapter reckoned up the divers gifts which God had variously bestowed upon the church, here in the close of the chapter he reckons up the particular officers that he thought fit to place in his church. 1. Apostles; persons sent forth immediately by Christ, to lay the foundation of Christian churches, and upon whom the care of all the churches lay. 2. Prophets; or persons immediately inspired with the knowledge of future things. 3. Teachers; such as labour in the word and doctrine, either as itinerary preachers, going from place to place, or as settled, fixed ministers in the church, expounding the scriptures to the people. 4. Miracles; that is, some persons endued with an extraordinary power to work miracles, for convincing infidels, and comfirming believers. 5. Gifts of healing; such persons as had a power conferred upon them to heal diseases, without the help of physic, in an extraordinary way. 6. Helps; deacons which took care of the poor, and assisted the church in the distribution of her charity; and also assisted in holy things, particularly in baptizing, and administering the Lord's supper. 7. Governments; the rulers of the church and spiritual guides. 8. Diversities of tongues; that is, persons enabled to speak divers languages, in order to the farther spreading of the gospel without the help of study. Behold here the wisdom of God in this various distribution of gifts and offices in his church: all which, as they are designed by him, so ought they to be managed by her, for the general good of the whole, without either pride or haughtiness on the one hand, or envy and emulation on the other.

‏ 1 Corinthians 12:28

Our apostle having in the beginning of the chapter reckoned up the divers gifts which God had variously bestowed upon the church, here in the close of the chapter he reckons up the particular officers that he thought fit to place in his church.

1. Apostles; persons sent forth immediately by Christ, to lay the foundation of Christian churches, and upon whom the care of all the churches lay.

2. Prophets; or persons immediately inspired with the knowledge of future things.

3. Teachers; such as labour in the word and doctrine, either as itinerary preachers, going from place to place, or as settled, fixed ministers in the church, expounding the scriptures to the people.

4. Miracles; that is, some persons endued with an extraordinary power to work miracles, for convincing infidels, and comfirming believers.

5. Gifts of healing; such persons as had a power conferred upon them to heal diseases, without the help of physic, in an extraordinary way.

6. Helps; deacons which took care of the poor, and assisted the church in the distribution of her charity; and also assisted in holy things, particularly in baptizing, and administering the Lord's supper.

7. Governments; the rulers of the church and spiritual guides.

8. Diversities of tongues; that is, persons enabled to speak divers languages, in order to the farther spreading of the gospel without the help of study.

Behold here the wisdom of God in this various distribution of gifts and offices in his church: all which, as they are designed by him, so ought they to be managed by her, for the general good of the whole, without either pride or haughtiness on the one hand, or envy and emulation on the other.