1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:1

This is my body. Is this literal? “I am the true vine” (John 15:1) and “These [women] are the two covenants” (Galatians 4:24) are kindred expressions. The idea is: “This represents my body”. The eating of the bread is not to literally eat the Lord’s flesh, but is done in remembrance. It is a token that reminds of his body.

1 Corinthians 16:2

This do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me. The memorial design of the Lord’s supper is reiterated. It is not a “sacrifice of the mass”, but a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 16:3

Ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. The observance points to two great facts–the Lord’s death, and to his second coming; one past, the other future. The observance is to continue “till he come”.

1 Corinthians 16:4

Whosoever shall eat . . . and drink . . . unworthily. In a light, disorderly way, or with an unholy frame of mind. Shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Profane the body and blood by profanely eating the sacred tokens of these.

1 Corinthians 16:5

Let a man examine himself, etc. To see whether he can eat in loving remembrance of the death of Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:6

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily. With light, worldly thoughts, as though eating common food. That this is a sin is shown in 1 Corinthians 11:27. Here it is added, he eateth and drinketh judgment to himself; that is, subjects himself to condemnation. Not discerning the Lord’s body. Not distinguishing it, keeping in mind that these are memorials.

1 Corinthians 16:7

For this cause, many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Some have held that this means that the improper observance of the supper has made many weak and sickly Christians, and some had even died spiritually. Others hold that physical judgments had been sent, and some sickened and others died. The last view is most generally held.

1 Corinthians 16:8

If we would judge ourselves. If we would sit in judgment on our spiritual condition, and correct ourselves, we should not be judged. We would avert God’s judgments.

1 Corinthians 16:9

We are chastened of the Lord. Judgments are used to chasten and to bring to repentance and reformation. Compare Hebrews 12:5-8.

1 Corinthians 16:10

When ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. Let all wait, and let all eat and partake of the Lord’s supper together.

1 Corinthians 16:11

If any man is hungry, let him eat at home. This feast is not in order to satisfy the cravings of the appetite.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Spiritual Gifts SUMMARY OF I CORINTHIANS 12: The Test of the Spirit of Christ. The Variety of Spiritual Gifts. All Given by the Same Spirit. The Human Body Has Many Members, with Different Offices. So It Is of the Church, the Body of Christ. But All Parts of One Body. The Various Offices and Gifts. Spiritual [gifts]. The supernatural gifts bestowed in the early church by the Spirit. These were especially needful, before the church had the New Testament as a guide, and in the inauguration of Christianity.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols. Idolaters worshiping idols. These false gods had oracles, and priests professed to speak under the influence of the spirit of the god. The oracle of Delphos, not far distant from Corinth, was especially celebrated.

1 Corinthians 16:15

No man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed. How should they test those professing to speak by the divine Spirit? If a heathen priest professed to speak by the spirit and called Jesus accursed, he had not the Spirit of God. In times of persecution Christians were asked to say “Jesus Anathema”. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. If one speaking by the spirit pronounced Jesus the Lord, he had the Holy Spirit. This confession from the heart is always moved by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 16:16

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. The especial gifts of the Spirit imparted to fit members of various duties, are now discussed. These are various in their manifestations, but all proceed from the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 16:17

Differences of administrations; of ministries or offices, but all are in the service of “the same Lord”.

1 Corinthians 16:18

Diversities of operations. The inward workings of the Spirit are not always the same, but it is God, one God, “the same God”, who causes them all. The object of this section is to show that one divine source accounts for spiritual gifts diverse in their manifestations.

1 Corinthians 16:19

But the manifestation of the Spirit. However varied these manifestations, all are given to every man to profit withal. For the profit of the whole body. No gift of the Spirit is for the benefit of the recipient. This is now shown.

1 Corinthians 16:20

To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom. The ability to reveal divine truth, such as possessed by the apostles. To another the world of knowledge. The aptitude to teach unerringly what has been revealed to the apostles and prophets.

1 Corinthians 16:21

To another faith by the same Spirit. Not that faith which “comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17), but that faith which carried miraculous power. See 1 Corinthians 13:2 Matthew 17:20.

1 Corinthians 16:22

To another prophecy. The prophet was one who, under divine impulse, spoke words given by the Holy Spirit. To another discerning of spirits. The power of reading hearts and determining whether men spoke by the divine spirit, or some other impulse. To another [divers] kinds of languages. He who spoke with tongues, spoke languages that he had never learned (Acts 2:6-8). Sometimes their utterances were not understood by the audience. Hence another gift was the interpretation of languages, the ability to explain the meaning of those who spoke with tongues.

1 Corinthians 16:23

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit. There are named in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 nine gifts, all supernatural, imparted by the same Spirit, which distributes them according to his own will.

1 Corinthians 16:24

The body is one, and hath many members. The unity of these diverse gifts, all given by the same Spirit, is illustrated by the human body, which has many members and organs with different offices, but all parts of one body. No member could claim that it was not of the body because it is not the eye, the ear, or some other organ. Each is a part, each necessary, each set where God pleased, and all taken together make up the body. So also [is] Christ. The spiritual body of Christ, the church.