Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 12].
\baptiz•\ and so a reference to a definite past event with each
of them of different races, nations, classes, when each of them
put on the outward badge of service to Christ, the symbol of the
inward changes already wrought in them by the Holy Spirit (Ga
3:27; Ro 6:2ff.). {And were all made to drink of one Spirit}
(\kai pantes hen pneuma epotisth•men\). First aorist passive
indicative of \potiz•\, old verb, to give to drink. The
accusative \hen pneuma\ is retained in the passive as often with
verbs that in the active take two accusatives. The reference is
to a definite act in the past, probably to the inward experience
of the Holy Spirit symbolized by the act of baptism.
12:14 {Is not one member} (\ouk estin hen melos\). The point
sounds like a truism, but it is the key to the whole problem of
church life both local and general. Vincent refers to the fable
of the body and the members by Menenius Agrippa (Livy, II, 32),
but it was an old parable. Socrates pointed out how absurd it
would be if feet and hands should work against one another when
God made them to cooperate (Xen., _Mem_. II. iii. 18). Seneca
alludes to it as does Marcus Aurelius and Marcus Antoninus.
12:15 {If the foot shall say} (\ean eip•i ho pous\). Condition of
third class (\ean\ and second aorist subjunctive \eip•i\). In
case the foot say. {I am not of the body} (\ouk eimi ek tou
s•matos\). I am independent of the body, not dependent on the
body. {It is not therefore not of the body} (\ou para touto ouk
estin ek tou s•matos\). Thinking or saying so does not change the
fact. \Para touto\ here means "alongside of this" (cf. IV Macc.
10:19) and so "because of," a rare use (Robertson, _Grammar_, p.
616). The two negatives (\ou--ouk\) do not here destroy one
another. Each retains its full force.
12:16 Points explained precisely as in verse 15.
12:17 {If the whole body were an eye} (\ei holon to s•ma
ophthalmos\). The eye is the most wonderful organ and supremely
useful (Nu 10:31), the very light of the body (Lu 11:34). And
yet how grotesque it would be if there were nothing else but a
great round rolling eye! A big "I" surely! {The smelling} (\h•
osphr•sis\). Old word from \osphrainomai\, to smell. Here alone
in N.T.
12:18 {But now} (\nun de\). But as things are, in contrast to
that absurdity. {Hath God set} (\ho theos etheto\). Second aorist
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/1CO12.RWP.html (5 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:11:51 a.m.]