Such was their strength of faith that the gifts of the Spirit were bestowed upon them as abundantly as upon any other church. This connection of faith with the divine bless- ing is often presented in Scripture. Our Lord said to the father who sought his aid in behalf of his demoniac child, " If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believ- eth," Mark 9, 23. And on another occasion, "According to thy faith be it unto thee," Matt. 9, 29. In his own country, it is said, he did not many mighty works " because of their unbelief," Matt. 13, 58. The Holy Ghost, therefore, confers on men his gifts in proportion to their faith. The word (xapLa-fxa) gift, is used both for the ordinary and extraordina- ry gifts of the Spirit ; most frequently for the latter. Here it includes both classes. The Corinthians had not only the in- ward gifts of repentance, faith and knowledge, but also those of miracles, of healing, of speaking with tongues, of prophecy, in rich abundance. No church was superior to them in these respects. The extraordinary gifts, however, seem to be princi- pally intended. Paul's commendation has reference to their wisdom, knowledge and miraculous gifts, rather than to their spiritual graces. Much as he found to censure in their state and conduct, he freely acknowledged their flourishing con- dition in many points of view.
Waiting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wait- ing {aTTiKh^xoixivovi) patie7itly expecting, comp. 1 Pet. 3, 20, or expecting with desire, i. e. longing for. Comp. Rom. 8, 19. 20. 23. The object of this patient and earnest expectation of be- lievers is the coming {aTroKoXvxj/Lv) i. e. the revelatioti of our Lord Jesus Christ. The second advent of Christ, so clearly predicted by himself and by his apostles, connected as it is with the promise of the resurrection of his people and the consummation of his kingdom, was the object of longing ex- pectation to all the early Christians. So great is the glory connected with that event that Paul, in Rom. 8, 18-23, not only represents all present afflictions as trifling in comparison, but describes the whole creation as looking forward to it with earnest expectation. Comp. Phil. 3, 20. Tit. 2, 13. So gene- ral was this expectation that Christians were characterized as those " who love his appearing," 2 Tim. 4, 8, and as those " who wait for him," Heb. 9, 28. Why is it that this longing for the coming of Christ is awakened in the hearts of his peo- ple ? The apostle answers this question by saying that the " first fruits of the Spirit " enjoyed by believers in this life