CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE (κλητος αποστολος). Verbal adjective κλητος from καλεω, without εινα, to be. Literally,A CALLED APOSTLE (Romans 1:1), not so-called, but one whose apostleship is due not to himself or to men (Galatians 1:1), but to God,THROUGH THE WILL OF GOD (δια θεληματος του θεου). T... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHURCH OF GOD (τη εκκλησια του θεου). Belonging to God, not to any individual or faction, as this genitive case shows. In 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul wrote "the church of the Thessalonians in God" (εν θεω), but "the churches of God" in 1 Thessalonians 2:14. See same idiom in 1 Corinthians 10:32;... [ Continue Reading ]
Identical language of 2 Thessalonians 1:2 save absence of ημων (our), Paul's usual greeting. See on 1 Thessalonians 1:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
I THANK MY GOD (ευχαριστω τω θεω). Singular as in Romans 1:8; Philippians 1:3; Philemon 1:4, but plural in 1 Thessalonians 1:2; Colossians 1:3. The grounds of Paul's thanksgivings in his Epistles are worthy of study. Even in the church in Corinth he finds something to thank God for, though in II C... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT (οτ). Explicit specification of this grace of God given to the Corinthians. Paul points out in detail the unusual spiritual gifts which were their glory and became their peril (Chapter s 1 Corinthians 1:1).YE WERE ENRICHED IN HIM (επλουτισθητε εν αυτω). First aorist passive indicative of πλ... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS (καθως). In proportion as (1 Thessalonians 1:5) and so inasmuch as (Philippians 1:7; Ephesians 1:4).THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST (το μαρτυριον του Χριστου). Objective genitive, the testimony to or concerning Christ, the witness of Paul's preaching.WAS CONFIRMED IN YOU (εβεβαιωθη εν υμιν).... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT YE COME BEHIND IN NO GIFT (ωστε υμας μη υστερεισθα εν μηδεν χαρισματ). Consecutive clause with ωστε and the infinitive and the double negative. Come behind (υστερεισθα) is to be late (υστερος), old verb seen already in Mark 10:21; Matthew 19:20. It is a wonderful record here recorded. But... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL CONFIRM (βεβαιωσε). Direct reference to the same word in verse 1 Corinthians 1:6. The relative ος (who) points to Christ.UNTO THE END (εως τελους). End of the age till Jesus comes, final preservation of the saints.THAT YE BE UNREPROVEABLE (ανεγκλητους). Alpha privative and εγκαλεω, to ac... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS FAITHFUL (πιστος ο θεος). This is the ground of Paul's confidence as he loves to say (1 Thessalonians 5:24; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 8:36; Philippians 1:16). God will do what he has promised.THROUGH WHOM (δι' ου). God is the agent (δι') of their call as in Romans 11:36 and also the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I BESEECH YOU (παρακαλω δε υμας). Old and common verb, over 100 times in N.T., to call to one's side. Corresponds here to ευχαριστω,I THANK , in verse 1 Corinthians 1:4. Direct appeal after the thanksgiving.THROUGH THE NAME (δια του ονοματος). Genitive, not accusative (cause or reason), a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT HATH BEEN SIGNIFIED UNTO ME (εδηλωθη γαρ μο). First aorist passive indicative of δηλοω and difficult to render into English. Literally, It was signified to me.BY THEM OF CHLOE (υπο των Χλοης). Ablative case of the masculine plural article των, by the (folks) of Chloe (genitive case). The... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THIS I MEAN (λεγω δε τουτο). Explanatory use of λεγω. Each has his party leader. Απολλω is genitive of Απολλως (Acts 18:24), probably abbreviation of Απολλωνιυς as seen in Codex Bezae for Acts 18:24. See on Acts for discussion of this "eloquent Alexandrian" (Ellicott), whose philosophical and... [ Continue Reading ]
IS CHRIST DIVIDED? (μεμεριστα ο Χριστοσ;). Perfect passive indicative, Does Christ stand divided? It is not certain, though probable, that this is interrogative like the following clauses. Hofmann calls the assertory form a "rhetorical impossibility." The absence of μη here merely allows an affir... [ Continue Reading ]
I THANK GOD (ευχαριστω τω θεω). See verse 1 Corinthians 1:4, though uncertain if τω θεω is genuine here.SAVE CRISPUS AND GAIUS (ε μη Κρισπον κα Γαιον). Crispus was the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth before his conversion (Acts 18:8), a Roman cognomen, and Gaius a Roman praenomen, probably th... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST ANY MAN SHOULD SAY (ινα μη τις ειπη). Certainly sub-final ινα again or contemplated result as in 1 Corinthians 7:29; John 9:2. Ellicott thinks that already some in Corinth were laying emphasis on the person of the baptizer whether Peter or some one else. It is to be recalled that Jesus himse... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO THE HOUSEHOLD OF STEPHANAS (κα τον Στεφανα οικον). Mentioned as an afterthought. Robertson and Plummer suggest that Paul's amanuensis reminded him of this case. Paul calls him a first-fruit of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15) and so earlier than Crispus and he was one of the three who came to Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR CHRIST SENT ME NOT TO BAPTIZE (ου γαρ απεστειλεν με Χριστος βαπτιζειν). The negative ου goes not with the infinitive, but with απεστειλεν (from αποστελλω, αποστολος, apostle).FOR CHRIST DID NOT SEND ME TO BE A BAPTIZER (present active infinitive, linear action) like John the Baptist.BUT TO... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WORD OF THE CROSS (ο λογος γαρ ο του σταυρου). Literally, "for the preaching (with which I am concerned as the opposite ofWISDOM OF WORD in verse 1 Corinthians 1:17) that (repeated article ο, almost demonstrative) of the cross." "Through this incidental allusion to preaching St. Paul pa... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL DESTROY (απολω). Future active indicative of απολλυμ. Attic future for απολεσω. Quotation from Isaiah 29:14 (LXX). The failure of worldly statesmanship in the presence of Assyrian invasion Paul applies to his argument with force. The wisdom of the wise is often folly, the understanding of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE IS THE WISE? WHERE IS THE SCRIBE? WHERE IS THE DISPUTER OF THIS WORLD? (Που σοφοσ; που γραμματευσ; που συνζητητης του αιωνος τουτου;). Paul makes use of Isaiah 33:18 without exact quotation. The sudden retreat of Sennacherib with the annihilation of his officers. "On the tablet of Shalmanese... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THAT (επειδη). Since (επε and δη) with explanatory γαρ.THROUGH ITS WISDOM (δια της σοφιας). Article here as possessive. The two wisdoms contrasted.KNEW NOT GOD (ουκ εγνω). Failed to know, second aorist (effective) active indicative of γινωσκω, solemn dirge of doom on both Greek philoso... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THAT (επειδη). Resumes from verse 1 Corinthians 1:21. The structure is not clear, but probably verses 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 1:24 form a sort of conclusion or apodosis to verse 1 Corinthians 1:22 the protasis. The resumptive, almost inferential, use of δε like αλλα in the apodos... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED (ημεις δε κηρυσσομεν Χριστον εσταυρωμενον). Grammatically stated as a partial result (δε) of the folly of both Jews and Greeks, actually in sharp contrast. We proclaim, "we do not discuss or dispute" (Lightfoot). Christ (Messiah) as crucified, as in 1 Corinthians 2:... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT TO THEM THAT ARE CALLED (αυτοις δε τοις κλητοις). Dative case, to the called themselves.CHRIST (Χριστον). Accusative case repeated, object of κηρυσσομεν, bothTHE POWER OF GOD (θεου δυναμιν) andTHE WISDOM OF GOD (θεου σοφιαν). No article, but made definite by the genitive. Christ crucifi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD (το μωρον του θεου). Abstract neuter singular with the article, the foolish act of God (the Cross as regarded by the world).WISER THAN MEN (σοφωτερον των ανθρωπων). Condensed comparison, wiser than the wisdom of men. Common Greek idiom (Matthew 5:20; John 5:36) and quite... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD (βλεπετε). Same form for imperative present active plural and indicative. Either makes sense as in John 5:39 εραυνατε and 1 Corinthians 14:1 πιστευετε.CALLING (κλησιν). The act of calling by God, based not on the external condition of those called (κλητο, verse 1 Corinthians 1:2), but on... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD CHOSE (εξελεξατο ο θεος). First aorist middle of εκλεγω, old verb to pick out, to choose, the middle for oneself. It expands the idea in κλησιν (verse 1 Corinthians 1:26). Three times this solemn verb occurs here with the purpose stated each time. Twice the same purpose is expressed,THAT HE M... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY BEFORE GOD (οπως μη καυχησητα πασα σαρξ ενωπιον του θεου). This is the further purpose expressed by οπως for variety and appeals to God's ultimate choice in all three instances. The first aorist middle of the old verb καυχαομα, to boast, brings out sharply that not a si... [ Continue Reading ]
OF HIM (εξ αυτου). Out of God. He chose you.IN CHRIST JESUS (εν Χριστω Ιησου). In the sphere of Christ Jesus the choice was made. This is God's wisdom.WHO WAS MADE UNTO US WISDOM FROM GOD (ος εγενηθη σοφια ημιν απο θεου). Note εγενηθη, became (first aorist passive and indicative), not ην, was,... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT (ινα). Probably ellipse (γενητα to be supplied) as is common in Paul's Epistles (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 8:13; Galatians 1:20; Galatians 2:9; Romans 4:16; Romans 13:1; Romans 15:3). Some explain the imperative καυχασθω as an anacoluthon. The shortened quotation is from... [ Continue Reading ]