1 Corinthians 1:4-9

§ 2. THE THANKSGIVING. The Pauline thanksgiving holds the place of the captatio benevolentiœ in ancient speeches, with the diff [68] that it is in solemn sincerity addressed to God. The Ap. thanks God (1) for the past grace given the Cor [69] in Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:4; (2) for the rich intellectual development of that grace, according with the sure evidence upon which they had received the Gospel, and attended by an eager anticipation of Christ's advent, 1 Corinthians 1:5-7; (3) for the certainty that they will be perfected in grace and found unimpeached at Christ's return a hope founded on God's fidelity to His own signal call, 1 Corinthians 1:8 f. Paul reflects gratefully on the past, hopefully on the future of this Church; he is significantly silent respecting its present condition: contrast with this the Thess. and Phil. Thanksgivings. He extracts from a disquieting situation all the comfort possible.

[68] difference, different, differently.

[69] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.