1 Corinthians 1:5

that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge;

'that' -'I mean, that in everything' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 759)

'everything' -'God had withheld nothing from them.' (Lenski p. 31) 'So abundant was the grace thus granted that the Corinthian Christians lacked none of the spiritual gifts needed to sustain them in their life and work.' [Note:. Erdman p. 25]

'ye were enriched in him' -'It suggests that formerly the Corinthians were poor spiritually, yea utterly destitute, but that this has now been wondrously changed--they have come into great spiritual wealth.' (Lenski p. 31)

'To. body of Christians composed of "not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble" (1 Corinthians 1:26, i.e. the lower classes of society), Paul said, "You are enriched by Him." (2 Corinthians 8:9)' [Note:. Willis p. 16]

'in all utterance' -'Paul next enumberates specifically the "graces" for which he is giving thanks.' [Note:. Fee p. 38] 'Eloquence--the ability to express their knowledge.' [Note:. The New Century Bible Commentary. & II Corinthians. F.F. Bruce p. 31] 'With full power of expression' (Ber); 'full power to speak of your faith' (Mof) 'The specific thing referred to might to the gifts of tongue speaking, the preaching of God's word by men of outstanding ability (such as Apollos), exhorters, etc...indicates that they were amply blessed with qualified speakers of God's word. (To perceive how richly blessed the Corinthians were with speakers, note the subsequent disorders that arose from several wanting to speak at one time in their assemblies as referred to in ch. 14.)' [Note:. Willis p. 16]

'all knowledge' -'full insight into its meaning' (Mof). They were blessed with an abundance of prophets (1 Corinthians 14:29). 'Thus, the Corinthians were blessed with prophets, discerners of spirits, men who possessed the gift of (supernatural) knowledge, etc. The church was richly blessed with men who could communicate God's revelation and with men who understood it.' [Note:. Willis pp. 16-17]

Points to Note:

1. The problems at Corinth weren't caused by ignorance or lack of revelation. The answer to their problems wasn't. complete New Testament. This congregation was blessed with immense talent, they had access to all the right answers, they heard excellent sermons. Their problems were caused by such things as immaturity, pride, lust, bitterness, resentment, envy and jealousy.

2. This letter should warn us. The most blessed and talented of congregations can be destroyed when it's talented members start becoming selfish and self-centered.

3. 'A violent wicked city,. corrupt and decadent populace,. brawling and bitter community and God sought it's redemption. And God poured out on its former homosexuals and idolaters the multiplied gifts bought for them by Jesus Christ. They had only earned wrath but God had showered on them the blessings of Jesus. How pleased Paul is with God for being so gracious as to enrich these improverished lives. In Paul's experience God had shown himself, over and over again, an inexpressibly generous Lord.' [Note:. McGuiggan p. 20]