however, is necessarily included in the former ; and the word is defined by
Hesychius, measure, canon, or rule. The choice between the two niean- ings of the word must depend on the sense given to the word faith, and on the context. Faith may here mean inward confidence or belief; or it may mean the gift received, i. e. that which is confided', or, finally, that which is believed, i. e. truths divinely revealed. If faith here means, as it does in so many other places, the object of faith, or the truths to be believed (see Gal. 1 : 23. 3 : 23, 25. 6 : 10. Eph. 4 : 5. 1 Thess. 3 : 5, &c. &c.), then according to the analog?/ signifies agreeably io the rule or standard, and the apostle's direction to the prophets is, that in all their communications they are to conform to the rule of faith, and not contra- dict those doctrines which had been delivered by men whose inspiration had been established by indubitable evidence. In favour of this view of the passage is the frequent use of the word faith in the sense thus as- signed to it. 2. The fact that similar directions respecting those who consider themselves prophets, or inspired persons, occur in other pas- sages. 1 Cor. 14: 37. iJohn 4 : 1, 6. 3. This interpretation is also perfectly suitable to the context. Paul, after giving the general direc- tion contained in the preceding verses, as to the light in which the gifts of the Spirit were to be viewed, and the manner in which they were to be used, in this and the following verses, gives special directions with respect to particular gifts. Those who thought themselves prophets should be careful to speak nothing but truth, to conform to the standard ; those who ministered should devote themselves to their appropriate duties, &c. If the first sense of the word faith mentioned above be adopted, then the meaning of the passage is, ' Let him prophesy accord- ing to his internal convictions ; that is, he must not exceed in his com- munications what he honestly believes to have been divinely communi- cated, or allow himself to be carried away by enthusiasm to deliver, as from God, what is really nothing but his own thoughts.'
(7) Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering ; or he that teacheth, on teaching. The terms minister and ministry {^deacon and deaconship) are used in the New Testament both in a general and a restricted sense. In the former they are employed in reference to all classes of ecclesiasti- cal officers, even the apostles; see 1 Cor. 3 : 5. 2 Cor. 6: 4. Eph. 3 : 7. 6:21. Col. 1:7, 23. 1 Tim. 4 : 6. See also Acts 1 : 17, 25. 20:24. Rom. 11 : 13. 1 Cor. 12 : 5. 2 Cor. 4 : 1, &c. &c. In the latter they are used in reference to a particular class of officers, to whom were commit- ted the management of the external affairs of the church, the care of the poor, attention to the sick, &c. ; see Acts 6 : 1 — 3. Phil. 1:1.1 Tim. 3 : 8 — 13, &c. It is doubtful in which of these senses the latter of the above mentioned words is here used by the apostle; most probably in the restricted sense. The apostle exhorts different classes of officers to attend to their own pecviliar vocation, and to exercise their own gifts, without intruding into the sphere of others, or envying their superioi