Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 12:10

"and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues:" — 1 Corinthians 12:10 (ASV)

To another the working of miracles. Commentators have felt some perplexity in distinguishing this from what is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9 of the gift of healing. It is evident that the apostle there refers to the power of working miracles in healing inveterate and violent diseases. The expression here used, “working of miracles,” (energhmata dunamewn,) refers probably to the more extraordinary and unusual kinds of miracles; to those which were regarded as in advance of the power of healing diseases.

It is possible that it may denote what the Savior had reference to in Mark 16:18, where He said, they should take up serpents, and if they drank any deadly thing it should not hurt them; and possibly also to the power of raising up the dead. That this power was possessed by the apostles is well known, and it is possible that it was possessed by others also of the early Christians.

It is clear from all this that there was a difference even among those who had the power of working miracles, and that this power was conferred in a more eminent degree on some than on others. Indeed, the extraordinary endowments conferred on the apostles and the early Christians seem to have been regulated, to a remarkable degree, in accordance with the rule by which ordinary endowments are conferred upon men.

Though all men have understanding, memory, imagination, bodily strength, etc., yet one has these in a more eminent degree than others; and one is characterized for the possession of one of those qualities more than for another. Yet all are bestowed by the same God. So it was in regard to the extraordinary endowments conferred on the early Christians. (Compare to 1 Corinthians 14, especially 1 Corinthians 14:32).

To another prophecy. See the notes on Romans 12:6.

To another discerning of spirits. (Compare to 1 John 4:1). This must refer to some power of searching into the secrets of the heart, of knowing what a man's purposes, views, and feelings were. It may relate either to the power of determining by what spirit a man spoke who pretended to be inspired—whether he was truly inspired or whether he was an impostor—or it may refer to the power of seeing whether a man was sincere or not in his Christian profession.

That the apostles had this power is apparent from the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–10) and from the case of Elymas (Acts 13:9–11). It is evident that where the gift of prophecy and inspiration was possessed, and where it would confer such advantages on those who possessed it, there would be many pretenders to it. It would also be of vast importance to the infant church, in order to prevent imposition, that there should be a power in the church of detecting the imposture.

To another divers kinds of tongues. This refers to the power of speaking various languages (see Acts 2:4, 7-11).

This passage also seems to imply that the extraordinary endowments of the Holy Spirit were not conferred on all alike.

To another the interpretation of tongues. This is the power of interpreting foreign languages, or of interpreting the language which might be used by the “prophets” in their communications. (See the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:27).

This was evidently a faculty different from the power of speaking a foreign language, and yet it might be equally useful. It would appear possible that some might have had the power of speaking foreign languages who were not themselves aware of the meaning, and that interpreters were necessary in order to express the sense to the hearers.

Or it may have been that in a mixed assembly, or in an assembly made up of those who spoke different languages, a part might have understood what was uttered, and it was necessary that an interpreter should explain it to the other portion. (See the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:28).