_Paul, called to be an apostle_ There is great propriety in every clause of the salutation, particularly in this, as there was a faction at this time in the church at Corinth, which pretended to entertain doubts of his apostleship, 1 Corinthians 9:1; probably in consequence of insinuations thrown ou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto the church of God which is at Corinth_ The apostle, writing in a familiar manner to the Corinthians, as also to the Thessalonians and Galatians, uses this plain appellation; to the other churches he uses a more solemn address: _to them that are sanctified in_, or through, _Christ Jesus_ That i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Grace be unto you_, &c. See on Romans 1:7. _I thank my God always_ Whenever I mention you to God in prayer, or on every occasion; _on your behalf_ On your account; _for the grace of God which is given you_, &c. For all those spiritual blessings which are freely conferred upon you by God, for Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now I beseech_, παρακαλω, _I exhort you, brethren_ You have faith and hope, secure love also; _by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ_ That endearing name, infinitely preferable to all the human names in which you glory. The apostle intending, says Locke, to abolish the names of the leaders, whereby... [ Continue Reading ]
_For it hath been declared_ Not out of ill-will, but to procure a remedy of the evil; _unto me_ Whom it concerns to know such things, that I may redress them; _of you, my brethren Brethren_, says Locke, is a name of union and friendship, and is twice used by the apostle in this exhortation to these... [ Continue Reading ]
Why do you not all say the same thing, namely, _I am of Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:23_. _Is Christ divided?_ Did one Christ send Paul, and another Apollos, to preach the gospel to you? Is not one and the same Christ preached to you by us all? or is his body divided? See 2 Corinthians 11:4. _Was Paul_ O... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Christ sent me not to baptize_ Not chiefly: this was not the principal end of my mission. He did not call me in so wonderful a way, and endue me with extraordinary powers, chiefly in order to my doing that which might be done as well by an ordinary minister: (all the apostles, however, were als... [ Continue Reading ]
_The preaching of the cross_ The doctrine of the crucifixion of the Son of God, to expiate the sins of mankind, and procure salvation for such as should believe in him; _is to them that perish_ By obstinately rejecting the only name whereby they can be saved; _foolishness_ Accounted an absurd, ridic... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Jews require a sign_ Demand of the apostles, as they did of their Lord, more signs still, after all they have seen already. _And the Greeks_ Or Gentiles; _seek after wisdom_ The depths of philosophy, and the charms of eloquence. _But we preach Christ crucified_ We proceed to bear our testim... [ Continue Reading ]
And hereby it appears that _the foolishness of God is wiser than men_, &c. Because he makes use of such weak and mean instruments to bring men to the knowledge of the truth. _For ye see_ Βλεπετε, _behold, consider; your calling_ And you will discern how agreeably to these things the divine wisdom ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_But God hath chosen the foolish things_ Or, supplying the word προσωπα, _the foolish persons of the world._ Such persons as are of little esteem in the world, for want of learning, parts, eloquence, and such other endowments as some have attained, and who are judged altogether unfit to teach others... [ Continue Reading ]
_But of him_ Of his free mercy and grace; _are ye in Christ Jesus_ Ingrafted into him, and therefore possessed of an interest in him, and union with him; _who of God_ The original source of our salvation in all its parts, and of all the gifts and graces we possess; _is made unto us who_ now _believe... [ Continue Reading ]