1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1 Introduction to the Letter’s Main Themes. The opening verses can be divided into an initial greeting (vv. 1 Corinthians 1:1) and a report to the letter’s recipients on how Paul prays for them (vv. 1 Corinthians 1:4). Both parts use language relating to some of... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:2 SANCTIFIED... SAINTS. These two words are closely related in Greek. One is a verb meaning “make holy” and the other an adjective meaning “holy.” Here the adjective is used as a noun and means “holy people.” See note on 7:14. Something “holy” is set apart from... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:3 GRACE... AND PEACE. See note on Rom. 1:7. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:4 THANKS. See note on Rom. 1:8. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:5 ENRICHED IN HIM. In 1 Corinthians 4:8 Paul will say that the Corinthians’ spiritual riches have led to an inappropriate pride. Paul’s thankfulness here shows that the problem was not with the gifts God had given them. It was in the way the Corinthians used tho... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:7 SO THAT YOU ARE NOT LACKING IN ANY GIFT. Paul implies that many spiritual gifts are “enrichments” (see v. 1 Corinthians 1:5) of abilities that people had before they became Christians. AS YOU WAIT FOR THE REVEALING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST implies that spiritu... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:8 GUILTLESS. There is no condemnation on judgment day for those who, like the Corinthians, are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 Divisions over Christian Preachers. The Corinthians’ pride has led them to value appearance and powerful speaking over the genuine work of the Spirit. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:11 CHLOE’S PEOPLE may have reported the situation to Paul firsthand (1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 11:18). Chloe’s identity, location, and relationship to these “people” are unknown. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTag [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:12 Apparently the Corinthian Christians were divided based on who had baptized them (vv. 1 Corinthians 1:14). Paul knew APOLLOS well (1 Corinthians 16:12). His speaking skills were impressive. The Corinthian Christians had received him gladly after Paul’s depart... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:17 WORDS OF ELOQUENT WISDOM. Effective public speaking was highly valued in the Greco-Roman world. Professional lecturers came to large cities like Corinth. Paul’s preaching was not as impressive as these men’s speeches. But his preaching focused on the POWER of... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18 CROSS. See note on the crucifixion at Matthew 27:35. FOLLY. Paul’s preaching in Corinth focused on the saving fact of Christ’s crucifixion. This method of execution was considered so crude it was not even mentioned in polite company. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = docum... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:23 On Christ as a STUMBLING BLOCK, see note on Isa. 8:11–15. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26 Those who believed the gospel were FOOLISH by the world’s standards. God transformed them into his people by saving them. They must not boast in ancestry, accomplishment, or relationship with a particular preacher (see also 1 Corinthians 3:21). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var ima... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27 GOD CHOSE WHAT IS WEAK... TO SHAME THE STRONG. See 1 Samuel 2:1; Isaiah 61:1; compare Luke 1:52; John 9:39. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]