Now concerning spiritual gifts
Though the word "gifts" is not in the original text, it is
rightly supplied by our translators, as it is in the Arabic
version: for the apostle does not mean spiritual graces, nor
spiritual words, or doctrines, nor spiritual meats and drinks,
nor spiritual men, each of which are mentioned before in this
epistle; though the latter is thought by some to be here
intended, and that the apostle's view is to show the difference
between those that are spiritual, and those that are not; but as
spiritual gifts are the subject of the apostle's discourse
throughout this chapter, and the two following, they seem very
manifestly to be designed here. The apostle having gone through
various heads of discourse, which he either of himself, or at the
request of others, wrote upon, proceeds to a new subject, that of
spiritual gifts, which he seems to have been desired to give his
thoughts upon, and advice about; since there were some in this
church who were discouraged, because they had not the gifts which
some had; and others that had them were elated and puffed up with
them, and treated those below them with neglect and contempt; and
with a view to both these the apostle writes as follows,
brethren, I would not have you ignorant;
neither of the author of these gifts, who is the Spirit of God,
who dispenses them according to his sovereign will and pleasure,
and not according to the deserts of men, and are not acquired by
the industry, or through the merit of any, but are his free grace
gifts; nor of the nature of them, for there are differences and
diversities of them, some have one, and some another, but no man
all; nor of the design and use of them, which is the edification
of the whole body; and every gift, though ever so mean, is of
service; and therefore as, on the one hand, none ought to be
discouraged, so, on the other hand, none should be lifted up with
pride, or give way to a boasting spirit.