1 Peter 4:10 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Ver. 10. Even so minister] Clouds when full, pour down, and the spouts run, and the eaves shed, and the presses overflow, and the aromatical trees sweat out their precious and sovereign oils; and every learned scribe brings out his rich treasure, &c. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal,"1 Corinthians 12:7. There are some that make it their chief work proficere potius quam prodesse, to inform themselves, rather than to instruct others; to know, than to teach. Synesius inveighs against a sort of such in his times, as, having a treasure of rare abilities in them, would as soon part with their hearts as with their conceptions, the canker of whose great skill shall be a swift witness against them. Cardan speaketh of one that had a receipt that would suddenly and certainly dissolve the stone in the bladder; and concludes of him that he was undoubtedly damned, because he never revealed it before he died, to any one. a Let men be ready to communicate the good they have, as the moon doth her borrowed light, as the stars are still in motion for the good of others; as the heart receiving spirits from the liver, ministereth them to the brain, and the brain to the other parts of the body.

a Non dubito quin iste sit apud inferos.

1 Peter 4:10

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.