WHO BY THE WILL OF GOD. After Paul had left Corinth, some of the "Circumcision party" had come to the church and tried to destroy his authority as an apostle. They said he had not been made an apostle by God, as had the Twelve. He states his authority as an apostle in strong terms (see also 1 Corint... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE CHURCH OF GOD. This is the most common name for Christ's church in the New Testament. [_Names of the church:_ see note on 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5.] TO ALL WHO ARE CALLED. The technical word is _"sanctified."_ See note on Romans 8:29-30. All Christians are _"called"_ to be God's holy people. The... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE YOU GRACE AND PEACE. See note on Romans 1:7. This is Paul's "word of blessing.... [ Continue Reading ]
I ALWAYS GIVE THANKS. Before Paul scolds them, he first praises the good things in their lives. Along with their faults, he could see the rich blessings of Christ in their lives. A good example for all critics!... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN UNION WITH CHRIST. This points back to the "grace he has given you" of 1 Corinthians 1:4. The actual grace which they already have received in being joined to Christ. INCLUDING. The Corinthians were excessively proud of their speaking ability and their knowledge. The reference here includes t... [ Continue Reading ]
HAS BECOME SO FIRMLY FIXED IN you. The reality and truth of it were clearly shown to them. Compare 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YOU HAVE NOT FAILED TO RECEIVE. There are no "second-class Christians!" These had the _present truth_ firmly fixed in them, and the Spirit had given gifts to the community of believers (compare Ephesians 4:7-13). AS YOU WAIT. They had received the _present good,_ but expected far greater blessi... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP YOU FIRM TO THE END. Compare Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Paul does not say they are _without fault_ now, he hopes they will be _then._... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS TO BE TRUSTED. Paul's trust is in God! God has already acted in history, through Christ, to set men free. God will not withdraw his offer of salvation! Both God and Christ guarantee the offer of salvation!!! TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH. God calls everyone to come and be part of the church (messia... [ Continue Reading ]
I APPEAL TO YOU, BROTHERS. Paul could not in honesty give thanks for the condition of the Corinthian, church! AGREE, ALL OF YOU. The Christians at Corinth were competing with one another. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:12. BE COMPLETELY UNITED. Christians are ONE in Christ! However, the Mysterious Wickedne... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM CHLOE'S FAMILY. This is his authority for making such a serious charge against them. Paul had an eyewitness to all that was happening there. THAT THERE ARE QUARRELS. Differences of opinion which were forming parties within the church.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE SAYS. Paul shows that there were four parties in this church. PAUL. Some looked to Paul as their hero, since he had planted the church there. APOLLOS. He was an eloquent speaker (Acts 18:24), but Paul was not (2 Corinthians 11:6). This made Apollos a hero to some. PETER. The "Circumcision party... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO GROUPS! [The TEV follows Lachmann, Westcott and Hort, Meyer, Beet, et. al., and reads this as an _exclamation._] The church is the BODY of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Can that BODY be cut up into pieces which are assigned to human leaders??? The Cross brings us into... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I DID NOT BAPTIZE. Paul shows horror at the thought of any being baptized in his own name as his disciples! He _thanks God_ that he personally did not baptize very many of them. _"And many other people in Corinth heard the message, believed, and were baptized"_ (Acts 18:8). But it was the assoc... [ Continue Reading ]
NO ONE CAN SAY. Paul wanted none of the glory for himself! The Good News was about God's act in Christ!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
(OH YES.) He may have been reminded by Stephanus himself. _See_ 1 Corinthians 16:15-17. On the meaning of "family," see note on Romans 16:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST DID NOT SEND ME TO BAPTIZE. If traditional views of Paul's physical condition are true, he did not have the strength to do much baptizing (since it was immersion). The point here is that his helpers could take care of the work of baptizing, while he spent his time telling the Good News. [The... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE MESSAGE. The gospel of a Crucified Savior. IS NONSENSE. Both Greek philosopher and Jewish teacher of the Law rejected the whole idea of a Savior who had been put to death on a cross. IT IS GOD'S POWER. People divide themselves into two groups on the basis of Christ. Those who are _being lost... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL DESTROY. Isaiah 29:14_ Septuagint._ It is not wisdom and scholarship which saves, but God's power!... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN? Paul uses some of the language of Isaiah 19:11-12_ LXX_ to challenge those who are so proud of this world's wisdom. WISE men. Such as Pharaoh's advisers. SCHOLARS. Such as the Jewish teachers of the Law. SKILLFUL DEBATERS. The Greek philosophers liked nothing better than to argue and dissec... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD. The Greek philosophers were some of the most intelligent men ever to live on this earth. With no tools but their own minds, they explored the limits of our creation and developed some startling concepts, over 2,000 years ago, that form the basis of our modern science. Yet with all their gen... [ Continue Reading ]
JEWS WANT MIRACLES. They wanted some spectacular miracle from heaven that only God could do, as proof (compare notes on Matthew 16:1-4). GREEKS LOOK FOR WISDOM. Some complex and elaborate system of ideology [doctrine] (compare note on Acts 17:18).... [ Continue Reading ]
WE PROCLAIM CHRIST ON THE CROSS. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. This was "God's ACT in Christ to set men free!" Note: not "Christ the crucified," nor "Christ crucified," but _Christ on the cross!_ [The TEV correctly translates ESTAUROMENON as a_ predicative adjunct_ emphasizing the verbal action.] No... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FOR THOSE. _MacKnight_ sees the _called_ as those who have heard and responded to the message of the Cross. THIS MESSAGE IS CHRIST = _we proclaim Christ on the cross._ WHO IS both the _miracle_ the Jews want and the wisdom the Greeks look for. _"The power of God,"_ and _"the wisdom of God"_ were... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE. Things are not always what they seem to be! If the _foolishness_ and _weakness_ are God's, these will be _wiser_ and _stronger_ than anything man has!... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW REMEMBER WHAT YOU WERE. Most Christians were from the common people. FEW OF YOU. Note he says "few," which means that some were from each class he names. Compare John 12:42. Paul's reasoning here: (1) brings down the conceit of his readers (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 4:7-13); (2) reveal... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD PURPOSELY CHOSE. The Greek philosophers were saying that the gospel was _nonsense_ and _weakness._ Paul imitates their language and turns it against them! The _pride_ of the cultured and ruling classes of paganism was to be put to shame by the powers and blessings which Christianity gave to _its... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CHOSE. Compare 1 John 2:15-17. Through the "weakness" of the gospel, the religions, governments, and even civilizations of the world were to be overturned! Not through armed violence, but by changing people (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST. Compare Romans 3:27-28; Ephesians 2:8-10. "The source of your salvation is God's act in Christ, not your own wisdom and strength.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU. _MacKnight_ sees this emphasizing God's side of salvation, in which he alone is said to bring us into union with Christ. See notes on Romans 8:29-30. TO BE OUR WISDOM. Paul's whole line of reasoning is based on this fact. We see God change human wisdom into foolishness (1 Co... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. [Jeremiah 9:23.] By "the Lord," we can only understand Christ. Whoever wants to boast cannot boast in the messengers who proclaimed the Good News to them, but in the Lord Jesus Christ who has brought them into his Church!!!... [ Continue Reading ]