Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 12].
Christ and the cult of Caesar in the application of the term
\Kurios\, 'lord.' The new texts have here furnished quite
astonishing revelations" (Deissmann, _Light from the Ancient
East_, p. 349). Inscriptions, ostraca, papyri apply the term to
Roman emperors, particularly to Nero when Paul wrote this very
letter (_ib._, p. 353f.): "One with 'Nero Kurios' quite in the
manner of a formula (without article, like the 'Kurios Jesus' in
1Co 12:3." "The battle-cries of the spirits of error and of
truth contending at Corinth"(Findlay). One is reminded of the
demand made by Polycarp that he say \Kurios Caesar\ and how each
time he replied \Kurios I•sous\. He paid the penalty for his
loyalty with his life. Lighthearted men today can say "Lord
Jesus" in a flippant or even in an irreverent way, but no Jew or
Gentile then said it who did not mean it.
12:4 {Diversities} (\diaireseis\). Old word for distinctions,
differences, distributions, from \diaire•\, to distribute, as
\diairoun\ (dividing, distributing) in verse 11. Only here in
the N.T. {Of gifts} (\charismat•n\). Late word and chiefly in
Paul (cf. Ro 12:6) in N.T. (except 1Pe 4:19), but some
examples in papyri. It means a favour (from \charizomai\)
bestowed or received without any merit as in Ro 1:11.
12:5 {Of ministrations} (\diakoni•n\). This old word is from
\diakonos\ and has a general meaning of service as here (Ro
11:13) and a special ministration like that of Martha (Lu
10:40) and the collection (1Co 16:15; 2Co 8:4).
12:6 {Of workings} (\energ•mat•n\). Late word, here only in N.T.,
the effect of a thing wrought (from \energe•\, to operate,
perform, energize). Paul uses also the late kindred word
\energeia\ (Col 1:29; 2:12) for efficiency. {Who worketh all
things in all} (\ho energ•n ta panta en pasin\). Paul is not
afraid to say that God is the Energy and the Energizer of the
Universe. "I say that the magnet floats in space by the will of
God" (Dr. W. R. Whitney, a world figure in science). This is his
philosophic and scientific theory of the Cosmos. No one has shown
Paul's philosophy and science to be wrong. Here he is speaking
only of spiritual gifts and results as a whole, but he applies
this principle to the universe (\ta panta\) in Col 1:16 (of
Christ) and in Ro 11:36 (of God). Note the Trinity in these
verses: the same Spirit (verse 4), the same Lord (Jesus) in
verse 5, the same God (the Father) in verse 6.
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