fects. Whatever the Father does, he does through the Spirit. The Holy Ghost not only produces these gifts in the minds of men, but he distributes them severally (l^ta) to every man as he will^ i. e. not according to the merits or wishes of men, but according to his own will. This passage clearly proves that the Holy Spirit is a person. Will is here attributed to him, which is one of the distinctive attributes of a person. Both the divinity and personality of the Holy Ghost are therefore involved in the nature of the work here ascribed to him.
12. Por as the body is one, and hath many mem- bers, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body : so also (is) Christ.
For introduces an illustration of the truth taught in the preceding verses. Every organism, or organic whole, sup- poses diversity and unity. That is, different parts united so as to constitute one whole. The apostle had taught that in the unity of the church there is a diversity of gifts. This is illustrated by a reference to the human body. It is one, yet it consists of many members. And this diversity is essential to unity ; for unless the body consisted of many members, it would not be a (o-to/xa) hody^ i. e. an organic whole. So also is Christ, i. e. the body of Christ, or the Church. As the body consists of many members and is yet one ; so it is with the church, it is one and yet consists of many members, each having its own gift and office. See Rom. 12, 4. 5. Eph. 1, 23, and 4, 4. 16.
13. Eor by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether (we be) Jews or Gentiles, whether (we be) bond or free ; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
This is the proof of what immediately precedes. The church is one, for by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. The word is not in the present tense, but in the aorist. ' We were, by the baptism of the Spirit, constituted one body.' This is commonly, and even by the modern commentators, understood of the sacrament of baptism ; and the apostle is made to say that by the Holy Ghost received in baptism we were made one body. But the Bible clearly distinguishes be-