SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:11
Si alguno habla, hable conforme a las palabras de Dios; si alguno ministra, ministre conforme a la virtud que Dios suministra; para que en todas las cosas sea Dios glorificado por Jess el Cristo, al cual es gloria e imperio para siempre jams. Amn.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 4:11
Verse 11. If any man speak] In order to explain or enforce God's word, and edify his neighbour, let him do it as those did to whom the living oracles were committed: they spoke as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost. Those, therefore, at Pontus, &c., who undertook to teach others, should speak by the same influence; or, if not under this immediate influence, should speak as or according to the oracles already delivered, grounding all their exhortations and doctrines on some portion of that revelation already given. This command is sent to every man upon earth in holy orders, in pretended holy orders, or pretending to holy orders. Their teaching should be what the oracles of God, the Holy Scriptures, teach and authenticate.
Of the ability which God giveth] Perhaps the ministering here may refer to the care of the poor, and the ability is the quantum of means which God may have placed in their hands; and they are to minister this as coming immediately from God, and lead the minds of the poor to consider him as their benefactor, that he in all things may be glorified through Christ Jesus.
This is implied in the essence of any charitable act: the actor is not the author, God is the author; and the poor man should be taught to consider him as his immediate benefactor. Those who give any thing as from themselves, rob God; for to him the praise for all good, and the dominion over all men and things, belong for ever and ever.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God , etc.] This is an application of the above general rule to a particular case, the public ministry of the word, for that is here meant: if any man speak; not in any manner, or on any subject; not in a private way, or about things natural and civil; but in public, and concerning divine things: let him speak: this is rightly supplied in our translation; and in which it is supported and confirmed by the Syriac and Arabic versions, who both supply the same way: as the oracles of God; by which are meant the writings of the Old Testament, the sacred Scriptures; (see Romans 3:2) so called, because they come from God, are breathed and spoken by him, and contain his mind and will, and are authoritative and infallible; and according to these he is to speak who speaks in public on divine subjects, both as to the matter and manner of his speech: the matter of it must be agreeably to the divinely inspired word of God, must be fetched out of it, and confirmed by it; and he is to speak every thing that is in it, and keep back nothing, but declare the whole counsel of God, and only what is in it, without mixing his own chaff, or the doctrines of men with it; and it should be spoken in a manner agreeably to it, not as the word of man, but as the word of God; and not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but in the words of the Holy Ghost; and with all boldness, for so the Gospel ought to be spoken; and with all certainty and assurance, constantly affirming the things of it, for nothing is more sure than they are; and with all openness, plainness, and freedom, making truth manifest, laying it plain and open before men, as it ought to be; and that with all reverence and godly fear, which becomes both speaker and hearer. The apostle next proceeds to mention another case, to which the above rule is applicable; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth ; that is, if any man minister in temporal things to the supply of the poor; if a private man, and in a private way, let him do it in proportion to his ability, as God has prospered him in the world; or if an officer of the church, a deacon; and which seems to be the sense, for so the word used signifies, diakonei , if any man perform the office, or act the part of a deacon, let him do it according to what God, in his providence, has put into his hands; that is, of the church's stock, which he should minister with simplicity and cheerfulness. A like division of church offices into public preaching of the word, and ministering to the wants of the poor, is here made, as in ( Romans 12:6-8). The end of all this is, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ ; or by all means, as the Arabic version renders it; by all ways and methods proper; for the glory of God should be the principal view in every action of life: hence the Syriac version adds to the phrase, in all things, for the sake of explanation, which ye do; by sobriety, by prayer, by watching unto it; by exercising fervent charity, and using hospitality one to another; by ministering the gift as it is received; by the public ministration of the word; and by supplying the wants of the poor, whether in a personal or in a church way: or in all gifts, whether private or public, temporal or spiritual; since they all come from God, and men are accountable to him for them; and therefore should be used so as to glorify him by them, and give him the glory of them; and not glory in them, as if not received from him: or in all the members of the church, whether officers, as pastors and deacons, or private Christians; all should so behave in their respective stations, as God may have glory: through Jesus Christ: through whom all grace is communicated, by whom all gifts are bestowed, and by virtue of grace and strength received from him every good work is performed to the glory of God: to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever ; meaning either to God the Father, from whom every good gift comes; who is the God of all grace, of whom, and through whom, and to whom, are all things; and therefore the praise and glory of all belongs to him; and who has the dominion over all creatures and things, and has the disposal of all in nature, providence, and grace: or to Jesus Christ, out of whose fulness manifold grace, grace for grace, is received; and who having ascended on high, has received gifts for men, and gives them to them, and so is worthy of all praise; and who, as God, has the kingdom of nature and providence equally with the Father, and, as Mediator, the kingdom of grace, the government of the church; and whose dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth; and of whose kingdom there will be no end. Amen ; so let it be, so shall it be.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-11 - The destruction of the Jewish church and nation, foretold by ou Saviour, was very near. And the speedy approach of death and judgmen concerns all, to which these words naturally lead our minds. Ou approaching end, is a powerful argument to make us sober in all worldl matters, and earnest in religion. There are so many things amiss it all, that unless love covers, excuses, and forgives in others, the mistakes and faults for which every one needs the forbearance of others, Satan will prevail to stir up divisions and discords. But we are not to suppose that charity will cover or make amends for the sin of those who exercise it, so as to induce God to forgive them. The nature of a Christian's work, which is high work and hard work, the goodness of the Master, and the excellence of the reward, all requir that our endeavours should be serious and earnest. And in all the duties and services of life, we should aim at the glory of God as ou chief end. He is a miserable, unsettled wretch, who cleaves to himself and forgets God; is only perplexed about his credit, and gain, and bas ends, which are often broken, and which, when he attains, both he an they must shortly perish together. But he who has given up himself an his all to God, may say confidently that the Lord is his portion; an nothing but glory through Christ Jesus, is solid and lasting; tha abideth for ever.
Greek Textus Receptus
ει 1487 τις 5100 λαλει 2980 5719 ως 5613 λογια 3051 θεου 2316 ει 1487 τις 5100 διακονει 1247 5719 ως 5613 εξ 1537 ισχυος 2479 ης 3739 χορηγει 5524 5719 ο 3588 θεος 2316 ινα 2443 εν 1722 πασιν 3956 δοξαζηται 1392 5747 ο 3588 θεος 2316 δια 1223 ιησου 2424 χριστου 5547 ω 3739 εστιν 2076 5748 η 3588 δοξα 1391 και 2532 το 3588 κρατος 2904 εις 1519 τους 3588 αιωνας 165 των 3588 αιωνων 165 αμην 281
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. Oracles (logia). In classical Greek, of the oracular responses of heathen deities. Here, divine utterances or revelations. Compare Acts vii. 38; Rom. iii. 2; Heb. v. 12.
Giveth (corhgei). Only here and 2 Cor. ix. 10. Peter uses the compound ejpicorhgew, furnish, in 2 Pet. i. 5; which see.
