1 Corinthians 15:1,2

“Now I give you to know, brothers” (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3, for γνωρίζω): Paul writes, with a touch of blame, as though informing the Cor [2234] of what the staple of his message had been, that on which their whole Christianity is built (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 6:3) viz., “the good news which,” on the one hand, “I proclaimed to you (for cognate noun and vb [2235], emphasising the benefit of the news, cf. 1 Corinthians 9:18, etc.), which also,” on the other hand, “you received; in which also you stand fast (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 11:2), through which also you are being saved”. 1 Corinthians 15:11 similarly contrasts the correspondent part of proclaimers and receivers in attesting the saving facts (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:23). The three relative clauses describe the inception, continuance, and progressive benefits of the faith of this Church. σώζεσθε affirms a present, continuous salvation (cf. Romans 8:24; Ephesians 2:8); but “salvation,” with Paul, always looks on to the future (see Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:8 ff.). The connection of τίνι λόγῳ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν; is difficult to seize. The two interpretations of the R.V., txt. and marg. (also A.V.), are those commonly adapted: (a) making the τίνι λόγῳ dependent on γνωρίζω, as appositive to τὸ εὐαγγέλιον κ. τ. λ., “I make known the good news … with what word I preached, etc.” (so Bg [2236], Hn [2237], Ed [2238]); (b) prefixing the clause, with an inversion of the normal order, to the hypothetical εἰ κατέχετε, which states the condition of σώζεσθε, “(you are saved), if you hold fast by what word I preached (it) to you” (Bz [2239], Mr [2240], Ev [2241], Gd [2242], Bt [2243], El [2244], Sm [2245], Wr [2246], Bm [2247]). There are convincing objections to both views, advanced by Mr [2248] and El [2249] against (a), and by Ed [2250] and Hn [2251] against (b): beside the harsh inversion it requires, (b) leaves the interrog. τίνι (the instances of τίς for ὃς, with ἔχω, adduced in Bm [2252] 's Grammar are not really parl [2253]), and the substitution of λόγος for εὐαγγέλιον, unexplained. Preferring therefore construction (a,) one feels that at this distance the τίνι λόγῳ clause practically dataches itself from γνωρίζω (Hf [2254]); the Ap. restates τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ὃ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν in the altered shape of a challenge to the memory and faith of his readers an interrogation prompted by the misgiving expressed directly afterwards in εἰ κατέχετε : “In what word (I ask) did I preach (it) to you? (you will remember) if you are holding (it) fast! unless you believed idly!” The λόγος is “the word of the gospel” (Acts 15:7; cf. Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5), “the story of the cross,” etc. (1 Corinthians 1:17), as told by P. quo sermone (Bz [2255]); not qua ratione (Vg [2256]); nor quo pacto (Er [2257], Cv [2258]). Can it be that the Cor [2259] have let this slip? or did they believe it εἰκῇ not frustra, in vain (so Vg [2260], and most others, as in Galatians 3:4), but in the common cl [2261] sense of εἰκῇ, temere (cf. Romans 13:4; Colossians 2:18), heedlessly, at random, without serious apprehension, without realising the facts involved. The self-contradiction of the τινὲς (1 Corinthians 15:12) shows levity of belife. For ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ, see 1 Corinthians 14:5.

[2234] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2235] verb

[2236] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[2237] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[2238] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[2239] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[2240] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[2241] T. S. Evans in Speaker's Commentary.

[2242] F. Godet's Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng. Trans.).

[2243] J. A. Beet's St. Paul's Epp. to the Corinthians (1882).

[2244] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[2245] P. Schmiedel, in Handcommentar zum N.T. (1893).

[2246] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[2247] A. Buttmann's Grammar of the N.T. Greek (Eng. Trans., 1873).

[2248] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[2249] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[2250] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[2251] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[2252] A. Buttmann's Grammar of the N.T. Greek (Eng. Trans., 1873).

[2253] parallel.

[2254] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[2255] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[2256] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[2257] Erasmus' In N.T. Annotationes.

[2258] Calvin's In Nov. Testamentum Commentarii.

[2259] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2260] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[2261] classical.