CHAPTER 1. Their Oneness in Christ and the Resultant Blessings of the Church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:1). Paul asserts his authority as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, and reminds the Corinthians of their blessings in Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Paul, called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth.' Paul speaks like this in almost all the introductions to his Epistles, with a view to emphasising the divine authority with which he writes. Firstly he stat... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Sanctified in Christ Jesus, called sanctified ones (saints) with all those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place, theirs and ours.' ‘Sanctified in Christ Jesus.' The tense of the verse is perfect passive signifying something done in the past the benefit of which continues int... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.' ‘Grace' and ‘peace' were the two terms used in greetings in Paul's world, the former by Gentiles the latter by Jews. But Paul, while taking them over, imbues them with new meaning. It is noteworthy that with him ‘grace' always... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ I thank God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you came behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Who will also confirm you to the end, unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.' Note here the promise that they will experience this because they will be ‘confirmed' to the end (bebaioo). T... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment For it has been signified to me about you, my brothers, by those of Chloe, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOLLY OF THE DISUNITY BEING REVEALED IN THE CHURCH BECAUSE OF A CRAVING FOR ONE MAN'S WISDOM OVER ANOTHER'S (1:10-17). In their world around them they see men taken up with the glory of wisdom of differing kinds, glorying in one preacher or another, divided, arguing, even abusive, but all unite... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST CRUCIFIED FOR US AND THE NEW BIRTH THROUGH THE SPIRIT ARE THE TWO CENTRAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIANITY (1:10-4:21). Paul begins this section by revealing his concern that the Corinthians are in danger of splitting up into different parties around the teaching of certain leading teachers (1 Cor... [ Continue Reading ]
“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptised into the name of Paul?” Paul now attacks their divisions at their root. There is only one Jesus Christ, and to Him, and to Him alone, should all look. It is not a question of either/or. The messenger is nothing. Christ is pre-emin... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I thank God that (or with some good MSS ‘I give thanks that') I baptised none of you, except Crispus and Gaius, lest any man should say that you were baptised into my name. And I baptised also the household of Stephanas. Apart from these I do not know whether I baptised any other. For Christ did no... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CENTRALITY AND SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD OF THE CROSS, OF THE WORD OF CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED, IN WHICH GOD'S TRUE WISDOM IS REVEALED TO MEN IN POWER (1:18-2:8) ‘For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.' ‘Th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the prudent I will reject”.' Paul now turns to Scripture to prove his point. The verse is cited from Isaiah 29:14 (LXX). There the professed people of God had turned away from God and His word and rejected the words of... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know God, it was God's pleasure, through the foolishness of what was preached, to save those who bel... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE THUS RATHER TO LOOK TO GOD'S WISDOM (1:22-25). ‘Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumblingblock, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.' This verse connects with what is to come (1 Corinthians 1:27), while also connecting with what has gone before. What men call foolish proved to be the revealed power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18), because... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM CONSIDER WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THEM (1:26-31). ‘For look at your calling, brothers, how that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame those who are wise, and G... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who has become to us wisdom from God, even righteousness, sanctification and redemption. That according as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord”.' Having stressed their lowliness Paul now points out their glorious state ‘in Christ'. In Him th... [ Continue Reading ]