Chapter # 12 Paragraph # 3 Study # 3
December 1, 2019
Humble, Texas
(028)
1769 Translation
7 Or ministry, [
let us wait] on [
our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [
let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
1901 ASV Translation
7 or ministry, [
let us give ourselves] to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;
8 or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, [
let him do it] with
liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
- I. Paul's List of "Grace-Gifts" And His Instructions.
- A. The "prophecy" gift is the first listed and the "standard" for our grasp of the "way" the rest are also to be exercised.
- 1. In general, 12:6 lays down two "according to the standard of" (kata plus the accusative case) phrases.
- a. First is "the standard of" grace in respect to the imparted, and thus possessed, "gifts" that vary according to the need of the "Body".
- b. Second is "the standard of" the particular "measure of faith" (introducing an entire gamut of differing skills and effectiveness according to the variety of "potency" of "gifts", "faith", and "time" allowed on the earth).
- 2. Then, specifically, "prophecy" sets the pattern for the rest of the gifts, as to "the standards of the divine provisions for function".
- 3. But "prophecy" also lays down the basic foundation for all of the exercise of gifts because it is the gift that imparts the divine instruction/revelation.
- B. After "prophecy" comes a "list" of six more "gifts".
- 1. In this list, the first three are "qualified" by "en" plus a definite article, plus a noun that is directly related to the "gift" (diakonia with diakonia; didasko with didasko; and parakaleo with paraklesis); and the last three are "qualified" by "en" without a definite article, but followed by a noun not directly related to the "gift" (metadidomi with haplotes; proistemi with spoude; and eleeo with hilarotes).
- a. The first three seem to be instructions regarding the function of the gift "in respect to the realm" that the gift dominates, and the last three seem to be instructions regarding the characterization of a particular aspect of the way (an issue added to the prior "standards" given in A1 above) the gift is to be exercised.
- b. This sets up a "set of seven" ("prophecy" through "showing mercy") that is subdivided with "one" ("prophecy"), and two sets of three ("ministry, teaching, summoning" and "giving, ruling, showing mercy").
- 2. The "six".