John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 12:8

"For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit:" — 1 Corinthians 12:8 (ASV)

To one is given He now adds an enumeration, or, in other words, specifies particular kinds—not indeed all of them, but such as are sufficient for his present purpose. “Believers,” he says, “are endowed with different gifts, but let every one acknowledge, that he is indebted for whatever he has to the Spirit of God, for he pours forth his gifts as the sun scatters its rays in every direction.

Regarding the difference between these gifts, knowledge (or understanding) and wisdom are understood in different senses in the Scriptures, but here I take them as lesser and greater, as in Colossians 2:3, where they are also joined together, when Paul says that in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Knowledge, therefore, in my opinion, means acquaintance with sacred things—Wisdom, on the other hand, means its perfection.

Sometimes prudence is placed, so to speak, in the middle position between these two, and in that case, it denotes skill in applying knowledge to some useful purpose. They are, it is true, very nearly allied; but still, you observe a difference when they are put together. Let us then take knowledge as meaning ordinary information, and wisdom, as including revelations that are more secret and sublime.

The term faith is used here to mean a special faith, as we will see later from the context. A special faith is of a kind that does not apprehend Christ wholly—for redemption, righteousness, and sanctification—but only insofar as miracles are performed in his name. Judas had a faith of this kind, and he performed miracles too by means of it. Chrysostom distinguishes it somewhat differently, calling it the faith of miracles, not of doctrines. This, however, does not differ much from the previously mentioned interpretation. Everyone knows what is meant by the gift of healings.

Regarding the workings of powers, or, as some render it, the operations of influences, there is more reason for doubt. I am inclined, however, to think that what is meant is the power exercised against demons, and also against hypocrites. Therefore, when Christ and his apostles by authority restrained demons, or put them to flight, that was ἐνέργημα, (powerful working,) and, similarly, when Paul struck the sorcerer with blindness (Acts 13:11), and when Peter struck Ananias and Sapphira dead on the spot with a single word. The gifts of healing and of miracles, therefore, serve to reveal the goodness of God, but this last, his severity for the destruction of Satan.

By prophecy, I understand the unique and special endowment of revealing the secret will of God, so that a Prophet is a messenger, so to speak, between God and man. My reason for taking this view will be explained more fully later.

The discerning of spirits, was a clarity of perception in forming a judgment about those who professed to be something. (Acts 5:36) I am not speaking of that natural wisdom by which we are guided in judging. It was a special illumination, with which some were endowed by the gift of God. Its use was this: that they might not be deceived by masks or mere pretenses, but might by that spiritual judgment distinguish, as by a particular mark, the true ministers of Christ from the false.

There was a difference between the knowledge of tongues, and the interpretation of them, for those who were endowed with the former were, in many cases, not acquainted with the language of the nation with which they had to deal. The interpreters translated foreign tongues into the native language. They did not acquire these endowments at that time by labor or study, but received them by a wonderful revelation of the Spirit.