THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle._ -Year of the Constantinopolitan era of the world, as used by the emperors of the east in their diplomata, c., and thence also called the "civil era of the Greeks," 5564 -Year of the Alexandri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:2. _THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH IS AT CORINTH_] This Church was planted by the apostle himself about A. D. 52, as we learn from Acts 18:1, c., where see the notes. _SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS_] ηγιασμενοις, _Separated_ from the corruptions of their place and age. _CALLED_ TO BE _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:3. _GRACE_ BE _UNTO YOU_] For a full explanation of all these terms, Romans 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:4. _FOR THE GRACE - WHICH IS GIVEN YOU_] Not only their calling to be saints, and to be sanctified in Christ Jesus; but for the various spiritual gifts which they had received, as specified in the succeeding verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:5. _YE ARE ENRICHED_ - YE ABOUND - _IN ALL UTTERANCE_] εν παντι λογω, _In all doctrine_; for so the word should certainly be translated and understood. All the truths of God relative to their salvation had been explicitly declared to them; and they had _all knowledge_; so that... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:6. _AS THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST_, c.] The testimony of Christ is the _Gospel_ which the apostle had preached, and which had been _confirmed_ by various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and miracles wrought by the apostle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:7. _SO THAT YE COME BEHIND IN NO GIFT_] Every gift and grace of God's Spirit was possessed by the members of that Church, some having their gifts after this manner, others after that. _WAITING FOR THE COMING OF OUR LORD_] It is difficult to say whether the apostle means the _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:8. _WHO SHALL - CONFIRM YOU_] As the testimony of Christ was _confirmed_ among you, so, in conscientiously believing and obeying, God will _confirm_ you through that testimony. See 1 Corinthians 1:6. _IN THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS_] In the day that he comes to judge the world,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:9. _GOD IS FAITHFUL_] The _faithfulness of God_ is a favourite expression among the ancient Jews; and by it they properly understand the integrity of God in preserving whatever is entrusted to him. And they suppose that in this sense the _fidelity of man_ may illustrate the _f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:10. _NOW I BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN_] The apostle having finished his _introduction_ comes to his _second_ point, exhorting them to abstain from dissensions, that they might be of the same heart and mind, striving together for the hope of the Gospel. _BY THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESU... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:11. _BY THEM_ WHICH ARE OF THE HOUSE _OF CHLOE_] This was doubtless some very religious matron at Corinth, whose family were converted to the Lord; some of whom were probably sent to the apostle to inform him of the dissensions which then prevailed in the Church at that place.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:12. _EVERY ONE OF YOU SAITH_] It seems from this expression that the whole Church at Corinth was in a state of _dissension_: they were all _divided_ into the following sects 1. _Paulians_, or followers of St. Paul; 2. _Apollonians_, or followers of Apollos; 3. _Kephians_, or... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:13. _IS CHRIST DIVIDED?_] Can he be split into different sects and parties? Has he different and opposing systems? Or, is the Messiah to appear under different persons? _WAS PAUL CRUCIFIED FOR YOU?_] As the Gospel proclaims salvation through the _crucified_ only, has Paul pour... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:14. _I THANK GOD THAT I BAPTIZED NONE OF YOU_] None of those who now live in Corinth, except _Crispus_, the ruler of the synagogue, Acts 18:8. _And Gaius_, the same person probably with whom Paul lodged, Romans 16:23, where see the notes. Dr. Lightfoot observes: "If this be Ga... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:15. _LEST ANY SHOULD SAY_, c.] He was careful not to baptize, lest it should be supposed that he wished to make a party for himself because superficial observers might imagine that he baptized them _into his own name_-to be his _followers_, though he baptized them into the name... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:16. _THE HOUSEHOLD OF STEPHANAS_] From 1 Corinthians 16:15, we learn that the family of _Stephanas_ were the _first converts_ in Achaia, probably converted and baptized by the apostle himself. _Epenetus_ is supposed to be one of this family. Romans 16:5. _I KNOW NOT WHETHER I... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _FOR CHRIST SENT ME NOT TO BAPTIZE_] Bp. Pearce translates thus: _For Christ sent me, not so much to baptize as to_ _preach the Gospel_: and he supports his version thus-"The writers of the Old and New Testaments do, almost every where (agreeably to the Hebrew idiom) express a preference... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _FOR THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS_] Ὁ λογος γαρ ὁ του σταυρου, _The doctrine of the cross_; or the _doctrine_ that is _of_ or _concerning_ the _cross_; that is, the doctrine that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the _crucifixion_ of Christ. _IS TO THEM THAT PERISH FOOLISHNESS_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _FOR IT IS WRITTEN_] The place referred to is Isaiah 29:14. _I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE_] των σοφων, Of _wise_ _men_-of the _philosophers_ who in their investigations seek nothing less than God, and whose highest discoveries amount to nothing in comparison of the grand truths r... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _WHERE IS THE WISE - THE SCRIBE - THE DISPUTER OF THIS_ _WORLD?_] These words most manifestly refer to the Jews; as the places (Isaiah 29:14; Isaiah 33:18; Isaiah 44:25) to which he refers cannot be understood of any but the _Jews_. The _wise man_ σοφος, of the apostle, is the חכם _chakam... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _FOR AFTER THAT IN THE WISDOM OF GOD_] Dr. Lightfoot observes, "That σοφια του θεου, _the wisdom of God_, is not to be understood of that wisdom which had God for its _author_, but that wisdom which had God for its _object_. There was, among the heathen, σοφια της φυσεως, _wisdom about na... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _FOR THE JEWS REQUIRE A SIGN_] Instead of σημειον, _a sign_, ABCDEFG, several others, both the _Syriac, Coptic, Vulgate,_ and _Itala_, with many of the _fathers_, have σημεια, _signs_; which reading, as undoubtedly genuine, Griesbach has admitted into the text. There never was a people in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _BUT WE_] Apostles, differing widely from these Gentile philosophers:- _PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED_] Call on men, both Jews and Gentiles, to believe in Christ, as having purchased their salvation by shedding his blood for them. _UNTO THE JEWS A STUMBLING BLOCK_] Because Jesus came meek, low... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _BUT UNTO THEM WHICH ARE CALLED_] τοις κλητοις. Those, both of Jews and Greeks, who were by the preaching of the Gospel _called_ or _invited_ to the _marriage feast_, and have accordingly believed in Christ Jesus; they prove this doctrine to be divinely powerful, to enlighten and convert t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER_, c.] The meaning of these strong expressions is, that the things of God's appointment, which seem to men _foolishness_, are infinitely beyond the highest degree of human wisdom and those works of God, which appear to superficial observers weak and contempt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _YE SEE YOUR CALLING_] την κλησιν. The _state_ of grace and blessedness to which ye are _invited_. I think, βλεπετε την κλησιν, c., should be read in the imperative: _Take heed to_, or _consider your calling, brethren that_ (οτι) _not many_ of you _are wise after the flesh, not many might... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _BUT GOD HATH CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS_] God has chosen by means of men who are esteemed _rude_ and _illiterate_ to confound the greatest of the Greek _philosophers_, and overturn their _systems_; and, by means of men _weak_, without secular _power_ or _authority_, to confound the _scrib... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _AND BASE THINGS - AND THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED_] It is very likely that the apostle refers here to the _Gentiles_ and to the Gentile converts, who were considered base and despicable in the eyes of the Jews, who counted them no better than _dogs_, and who are repeatedly called _the thing... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _THAT NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY_] God does his mighty works in such a way as proves that though he may condescend to employ _men_ as instruments, yet they have no part either in the _contrivance_ or _energy_ by which such works are performed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _BUT OF HIM ARE YE IN CHRIST JESUS_] Even the good which you possess is granted by God, for it is by and through him that Christ Jesus comes, and all the blessings of the Gospel dispensation. _WHO OF GOD IS MADE UNTO US WISDOM_] As being the author of that evangelical wisdom which far exc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 1:31. _ACCORDING AS IT IS WRITTEN_] In Jeremiah 9:23: _Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise_ man _glory in his wisdom,_ _neither let the mighty_ man _glory in his might; let not the rich_ man _glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this_: _That he understandeth... [ Continue Reading ]