1._Paul, called to be an Apostle _In this manner does Paul proceed, in almost all the introductions to his Epistles, with the view of procuring for his doctrine authority and favor. The former he secures to himself from the station that had been assigned to him by God, as being an Apostle of Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
2._To the Church of God which is at Corinth. _It may perhaps appear strange that he should give the name of a Church of God to a multitude of persons that were infested with so many distempers, that Satan might be said to reign among them rather than God. Certain it is, that he did not mean to flatt... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Grace be to you and peace _For an exposition of this prayer, let my readers consult the beginning of my Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 1:7;) for I do not willingly burden my readers with repetitions.... [ Continue Reading ]
4._I give thanks to my God. _Having in the salutation secured for himself authority from the station assigned him, he now endeavors to procure favor for his doctrine, by expressing his affection for them. In _this _way he soothes their minds beforehand, that they may listen patiently to his reproofs... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Even as the testimony_, etc. Erasmus gives a different rendering, to this effect, “that by these things the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them;” that is, by knowledge and by the word. The words, however, convey another meaning, and if they are not wrested, the meaning is easy — that God ha... [ Continue Reading ]
7._So that ye come behind in no gift _ ̔Υστερεισθαι means to be in want of what you would otherwise stand in need of. (49) He means, therefore, that the Corinthians abound in all the gifts of God, so as not to be in want of anything, as if he had said, “The Lord has not merely honored you with the l... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Who will also confirm you. _The relative here refers not to Christ, but to God, though the word _God _is the remoter antecedent. For the Apostle is going on with his congratulation, and as he has told them previously what he thought of them, so he now lets them know what hope he has of them as to... [ Continue Reading ]
9._God is faithful _When the Scripture speaks of God as faithful the meaning in many cases is, that in God there is steadfastness and evenness of tenor, so that what he begins he _prosecutes _to the end, (50) as Paul himself says elsewhere, that _the calling of God is without repentance _(Romans 11:... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Now I beseech you, brethren _Hitherto he has handled the Corinthians mildly, because he knew that they were much too sensitive. Now, however, after preparing their minds for receiving correction, acting the part of a good and skillful surgeon, who soothes the wound when about to apply a painful... [ Continue Reading ]
11._It has been declared. _As general observations have usually little effect, he intimates, that what he had said was more particularly applicable to them. The application, therefore, is designed with the view of leading the Corinthians to perceive, that it was not without good reason that Paul had... [ Continue Reading ]
12._I say then, etc. _Some think there is here an instance of μιμησις,_imitation_, as if Paul were here repeating their expressions. Now, although the manuscripts differ as to the particle ὅτι, I am of opinion that it is the conjunction (_because_) rather than the relative (_which_), so that there i... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Is Christ divided? _This intolerable evil was consequent upon the divisions that prevailed among the Corinthians: for Christ alone must reign in the Church. And as the object of the gospel is, that we be reconciled to God through him, it is necessary, in the first place, that we should all be bo... [ Continue Reading ]
14._I thank my God. _In these words he reproves very sharply the perversity of the Corinthians, which made it necessary for him to avoid, in a manner, a thing so sacred and honorable as that of the administration of baptism. Paul, indeed, would have acted with propriety, and in accordance with the n... [ Continue Reading ]
17._For Christ sent me not. _He anticipates an objection that might, perhaps, be brought against him — that he had not discharged his duty, inasmuch as Christ commands his Apostles to baptize as well as teach. Accordingly he replies, that this was not the principal department of his office, for the... [ Continue Reading ]
18._For the preaching of the cross_, etc. In this first clause a concession is made. For as it might very readily be objected, that the gospel is commonly held in contempt, if it _be _presented in so bare and abject a form, Paul of his own accord concedes this, but when he adds, that it is so in the... [ Continue Reading ]
19._For it is written_, etc. He shows still farther, from the testimony of Isaiah, how unreasonable a thing it is that the truth of the gospel should be regarded with prejudice on the ground that the wise of this world hold it in contempt, not to say derision. For it is evident from the words of the... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Where is the wise? where is the scribe? _This expression of triumph is added for the purpose of illustrating the Prophet’s testimony. Paul has not taken this sentiment from Isaiah, as is commonly thought, but speaks in his own person. For the passage which they point to (Isaiah 33:18) has nothin... [ Continue Reading ]
21._For since the world knew not. _The right order of things was assuredly this, that man, contemplating the wisdom of God in his works, by the light of the understanding furnished him by nature, might arrive at an acquaintance with him. As, however, this order of things has been reversed through ma... [ Continue Reading ]
22._For the Jews require a sign _This is explanatory of the preceding statement — showing in what respects the preaching of the gospel _is accounted foolishness _At the same time he does not simply explain, but even goes a step farther, by saying that the Jews do not merely despise the gospel, but e... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Both Greeks and Jews _He shows by this contrast, that the fact that Christ was so unfavorably received, was not owing to any fault on his part, nor to the natural disposition of mankind generally, but arose from the depravity of those who were not enlightened by God, inasmuch as the elect of God... [ Continue Reading ]
25._For the foolishness of God _While the Lord deals with us in such a way as to seem to act foolishly, because he does not exhibit his wisdom, what appears _foolishness _surpasses in _wisdom _all the ingenuity of men. Farther, while God appears to act with weakness, in consequence of his concealing... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Behold your calling. _As the mood of the Greek verb ( βλέπετε) is doubtful, and the indicative suits the context equally as well as the imperative, I leave it to the reader’s choice which of them he may prefer. The meaning is manifestly the same in either case, for supposing it to be the indicat... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Things that are not _He makes use of similar terms in Romans 4:17, but in a different sense. For in that passage, when describing the universal call of the pious, he says, that we are nothing previously to our being called, which must be understood as referring to reality in the sight of God, ho... [ Continue Reading ]
29._That no flesh should glory _Though the term _flesh _here, and in many passages of Scripture, denotes all mankind, yet in this passage it carries with it a particular idea; for the Spirit, by speaking of mankind in terms of contempt, beats down their pride, as in Isaiah 31:3 — _The Egyptian is fl... [ Continue Reading ]
30._Of him are ye. _Lest they should think that any of those things that he had said were inapplicable to them, he now shows the application of those things to them, inasmuch as _they are not _otherwise than _of God _For the words _ye are _are emphatic, as though he had said — “You have your beginni... [ Continue Reading ]
31._He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord _Mark the end that God has in view in bestowing all things upon us in Christ — that we may not claim any merit to ourselves, but may give him all the praise. For God does not despoil with the view of leaving us bare, but forthwith clothes us with his gl... [ Continue Reading ]