As if the apostle had said, "My brethren, although. speak the highest wisdom amongst them that are perfect, yet could not. speak the unto you as unto spiritual persons, but as unto carnal: because the works of the flesh are found with you, and at the best you are but babes in Christ." Learn hence,... [ Continue Reading ]
With milk, that is, with easy and common truths; not with the mysterious parts of gospel knowledge; with the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, and not with the higher doctrines of Christianity, which neither then nor now are ye able to bear. Learn hence, That it is great prudence and wisd... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Ye are in. great measure carnal; for your envy, strife, and divisions prove you to be so, and that you live according to the corrupt nature of man." They had the seed and root of grace abiding, and yet the relics of corruption remaining in them. There is. vast difference between weak grace... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, one saith, in opposition to another,. am the disciple of Paul; and another. follow Apollos: and thus, probably, they call themselves after the names of their admired preachers, factiously crying up one minister above another. Hence learn, That although it be. people's duty to have. great an... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Neither Paul nor Apollos were the authors of your faith, but only ministerial helpers of it, as God is pleased to furnish them with gifts, and to give. blessing to their ministerial endeavours." Your ministers give out to you as God gives in to them: and therefore you ou... [ Continue Reading ]
I PLANTED; That is,. first preached the gospel among you, and first instructed you in the principles of Christ.. converted you to Christ: after me came Apollos, and watered the seed which. had sown: but God it was, and God alone, that caused the seed (which. sowed, and Apollos watered) to fructify a... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense is, "Neither he that planteth is to be esteemed as any thing, nor he that watereth as any thing, but the glory of all must be ascribed to God that giveth the increase:" yet must we understand the apostle speaking thus not absolutely, but comparatively; "They are not any thing, that is, not... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT PLANTETH AND HE THAT WATERETH ARE ONE: that is, in their design and scope, in the aim and end of their ministry; therefore they should not be factiously divided, either among themselves or by their hearers. Although there is. variety and diversity in the gifts of Christ's ministers, yet the... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The honourable title put upon the ministers of God, they are labourers or workers together with God. But in what sense are they so? ANS. Not so by any power or their own to produce any spiritual effect, as if they without God could work faith and repentance in the hearts of sinner... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The character which St. Paul assumes to himself, namely, that of. master-builder, yea, of A WISE MASTER-BUILDER. But was it not vain-glorious in the apostle thus to describe himself? Is not Christ the great and wise master-builder of the church? Yes, undoubtedly: but the apostles... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, no other foundation can man lay, than that which is already laid by me; namely, the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and faith in him. The ministers of Christ ought to lay no other foundation than Christ: they are to lead their people to, and build them upon, no other rock but Christ. All threa... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words the apostle speaks of two sorts of preachers, under the metaphor of builders. 1. Some that are sound and orthodox, who hold the foundation, and build upon it GOLD, SILVER, AND PRECIOUS STONES; that is, such sincere and wholesome doctrine as will bear the touchstone and trial. 2. Oth... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here, in the judgment of some interpreters, makes use of. farther argument to convince the Corinthians of the evil of their divisions. They are the church and temple of God, therefore not to be profaned by divisions; KNOW YE NOT THAT YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD? As if the apostle had said,... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. word of caution: LET NO MAN DECEIVE HIMSELF. Self-deceit is the ground of all other deceit. Whatever deceit is abroad, it begins at home.. deceitful heart will not spare so much as itself, although the self-deceit be most unnatural and monstrous, most fatal and pernicious. Observe,... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle closes his discourse with an inference not to glory in any teacher whatsoever, either in Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, seeing they were all theirs; that is, all the apostles and ministers of Christ, from the highest to the lowest, from the greatest to the least, and all their ministe... [ Continue Reading ]