IV. (1-5) The first five verses of this chapter contain a further argument against party-spirit as it existed in the Corinthian Church — viz., that God alone can judge of any man’s work whether it be worthy, and that God, unlike man, who selects only some _one_ for praise, will give to _every_ work... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN. — In a generic sense means “every one” (as in 1 Corinthians 11:28, and Galatians 6:1). US — _i.e.,_ Paul himself and Apollos. AS OF THE MINISTERS OF CHRIST. — Better, _as ministers of Christ._ The word used for “ministers” here expresses more strongly the idea of subordination than the word wh... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER IT IS REQUIRED... — Better, _Moreover here_ (on earth) _inquiry is made in the case of stewards in order that it may be found that one is faithful._ The word “found” having the force of “discovered,” or “proved _to be_” (as in Matthew 1:18; Romans 7:10). The argument here is that, as in the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WITH ME IT IS A VERY SMALL THING... — As, however, the Corinthians had actually “judged” various of their teachers, the Apostle assures them that _their_ judgment — or the judgment of the world generally — is to him “a very small matter” — nay, no earthly judgment is of any concern to him. He do... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I KNOW NOTHING BY MYSELF. — The general meaning of this passage is given in the previous Note. The Greek of the words rendered, “I know nothing of myself,” is clearly “I am not conscious in myself” of having been unfaithful; the word being almost invariably used in classical Greek in a bad sense... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE TIME. — This is explained by the following words to be “the day of the Lord.” When this arrives the truth will be ascertainable, for God will bring into light all the things at present hidden in the darkness, and will show forth the inner motives of each heart. Then every man (and not onl... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS — _i.e.,_ all that he has written about the factions. He only mentioned himself and Apollos (and not the other heads of parties), so that his motive in rebuking this schismatic spirit may not be misunderstood — which possibly it might have been had he written strongly and directly regar... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR... — This is the explanation of why such “puffing up” is absurd. Even if one possess some gift or power, he has not attained it by his own excellence or power; it is the free gift of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW YE ARE FULL. — These three following sentences are ironical. The emphasis is on the word “now.” Ye are already (as distinct from us Apostles) full, rich, kings. You act as if you had already attained the crowning point in the Christian course. “Piety is an insatiable thing,” says Chrysostom on t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR... — This introduces the reason why he may well express the devout wish which he has just uttered for the coming of the kingdom of his Lord. The imagery of this passage would be easily understood by the Corinthians, familiar as they were with the arena. The writer, in a few striking phrases, pic... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE FOOLS. — This verse is charged with irony. Our connection with Christ, as His Apostles and preachers, may make us fools; you are, on the contrary, “wise Christians; we are weak Christians, ye strong; ye are glorified, made leaders of factions and churches, we are despised.”... [ Continue Reading ]
WE BOTH HUNGER. — From the strong irony of the last verse, the Apostle here passes, in the pathethic and sad description which occupies 1 Corinthians 4:11, to show how intensely true that last word “despised” was, as expressing his own position, not only in time past, but at the very hour of his wri... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LABOUR. — While at Ephesus, whence this letter was written, the Apostle supported himself by working with Aquila and Priscilla at tent-making. This labour was no recreation or pastime with St. Paul, it was hard and earnest work. (See 1 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:8.) That this labour wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FILTH OF THE WORLD. — The word here used for “filth” occurs only in one other passage in the LXX. Proverbs 21:18, where it has the idea of an additional expiatory sacrifice. Perhaps the word is used here by the Apostle to include that idea in the sufferings, the description of which here reaches... [ Continue Reading ]
I WRITE NOT THESE THINGS TO SHAME YOU. — Better, _I write these things not as one making you ashamed, but I am warning you as beloved children._ The mingled irony and reproach of the preceding verses here ceases, and from indignant expostulation the writer now turns to make a tender and touching app... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. — The reason why he has a right to address them as a father would his children. They may have had since their conversion a host of instructors, but they could have only one father who begot them in Jesus Christ. That father was Paul. “I have begotten you.” _I_, emphatic as opposed to “many.” Th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE. — Because I stand in this relation I call you to preserve, as it were, in a moral sense, that family likeness which would naturally accompany such a relationship (Galatians 4:12; Ephesians 5:1; Philippians 3:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CAUSE. — When St. Paul contemplated a visit to the churches in Macedonia and Achaia he sent Timothy and Erastus in advance (Acts 19:21). It is to this fact allusion is here made — from 1 Corinthians 16:10, we see that the Apostle did not calculate on Timothy’s arrival in Corinth until after... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW SOME ARE PUFFED UP. — Some of those in Corinth who were puffed up were in the habit of saying that the Apostle would not come and visit the Corinthian Church. The moment they heard the announcement that he was sending Timothy, they would naturally say, That is a proof of the truth of our asserti... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT WILL YE? — I give you a choice. I am coming to you as a father in any case. But shall I come as a father comes with a rod (Isaiah 11:4), and going to inflict punishment with it (such is the force of the Greek, “_in_ a rod”); or as a father would come when no faults on the child’s part need inte... [ Continue Reading ]