1 Corinthians 1:24

αὐτοῖς δὲ τοῖς κλητοῖς, ipsis autem vocatis (Vg [239]): for the emphatic prefixed αὐτοῖς, cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Corinthians 11:1 Thess. 16, etc.; it “marks off those alluded to from the classes to which they nationally belonged” (El [240]) “to the called however upon their part, both Jews and Greeks” cf. the οὐ … διαστολὴ of Romans 3:9; Romans 3:22 ff. “(We proclaim) a Christ (to these) God's power and God's wisdom.” Of God reiterated four times, with triumphant emphasis, in the stately march of 1 Corinthians 1:24 f. Θεοῦ δύν., Θεοῦ σοφ. are predicative, in antithesis to ἐσταυρωμένον (1 Corinthians 1:23): the app. “preach as power and wisdom” One who wears to the world the aspect of utter powerlessness and folly. Δύναμις and Σοφία Θεοῦ were synonyms of the Λόγος in the Alexandrian-Jewish speculations, in which Apollos was probably versed; these surpassing titles Paul appropriates for the Crucified. Θεοῦ δύναμιν reaffirms, after explanation, the δύναμις Θεοῦ of 1 Corinthians 1:18; now Θεοῦ σοφίαν is added to it, for “power” proves “wisdom” here (see note on 1 Corinthians 1:30); the universal efficacy of the Gospel demonstrates its inner truth, and faith is finally justified by reason. δύναμιν matches the σημεῖον of 1 Corinthians 1:22 (see, e.g., 2 Thessalonians 2:9); believing Jews found, after all, in the cross the mightiest miracle, while Greeks found the deepest wisdom. The “wisdom of God,” secretly working in the times of preparation (1 Corinthians 1:20), is thus at length brought to human recognition in Christ. On κλητοῖς see note to 1 Corinthians 1:2 : this term is preferable to οἱ σωζόμενοι, or οἱ πιστεύοντες, where the stress rests upon God's initiative in the work of individual salvation; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:26; Romans 8:28 ff.

[239] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[240] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.