CHAPTER II. _The apostle makes an apology for his manner of preaching_, 1. _And gives the reason why he adopted that manner_, 2-5. _He shows that this preaching, notwithstanding it was not with_ _excellence of human speech or wisdom, yet was the mysterious_ _wisdom of God, which the princes of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:2. _I DETERMINED NOT TO KNOW ANY THING AMONG YOU_] Satisfied that the Gospel of God could alone make you wise unto salvation, I determined to cultivate no other knowledge, and to teach nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified, as the foundation of all true wisdom, piety, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:3. _I WAS WITH YOU IN WEAKNESS_] It is very likely that St. Paul had not only something in his _speech_ very unfavourable to a ready and powerful elocution, but also some infirmity of _body_ that was still more disadvantageous to him. A fine _appearance_ and a fine _voice_ cov... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:4. _AND MY SPEECH_] ο λογος μου, My _doctrine_; the _matter_ of my preaching. _AND MY PREACHING_] το κηρυγμα μου, My proclamation, my _manner_ of recommending the grand but simple truths of the Gospel. WAS _NOT WITH ENTICING WORDS OF MAN'S WISDOM_] ενπειθοις ανθρωπινης σοφιας... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:5. _THAT YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT STAND_] That the illumination of your souls and your conversion to God might appear to have nothing _human_ in it: your belief, therefore, of the truths which have been proposed to you is founded, not in _human wisdom_, but in _Divine power_: huma... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:6. _WE SPEAK WISDOM AMONG THEM THAT ARE PERFECT_] By the εν τοις τελειοις, _among those that are perfect_, we are to understand _Christians_ of the highest knowledge and attainments- those who were _fully instructed_ in the knowledge of God through Christ Jesus. Nothing, in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:7. _THE WISDOM OF GOD IN A MYSTERY_] The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, which had been comparatively _hidden_ from the _foundation of_ _the world_, (the settling of the Jewish economy, as this phrase often means,) though appointed from the beginning to be _revealed_ in the fulness of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:8. _WHICH NONE OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW_] Here it is evident that _this world_ refers to the Jewish state, and to the degree of knowledge in that state: and the _rulers_, the _priests, rabbins_, c., who were principally concerned in the crucifixion of our Lord. _THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:9. _BUT, AS IT IS WRITTEN_] The quotation is taken from Isaiah 64:4. The sense is continued here from verse seven, and λαλουμεν, _we speak_, is understood-We do not _speak_ or preach the wisdom of this world; but that mysterious wisdom of God, of which the prophet said: _Eye h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:10. _BUT GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US_] A manifest proof that the apostle speaks here of the glories of the _Gospel_, and not of the glories of the _future_ world. _FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHETH ALL THINGS_] This is the Spirit of God, which spoke by the prophets, and has now give... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:11. _FOR WHAT MAN KNOWETH THE THINGS OF A MAN_] The word ανθρωπων in the first clause is omitted by the _Codex_ _Alexandrinus_, and one other; and by _Athanasius, Cyril_, and _Vigil_ of Tapsus. Bishop _Pearce_ contends strongly against the authenticity of the word, and reads t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:12. _NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED, NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD_] We, who are the genuine apostles of Christ, have received this Spirit of God, by which we know the deep things of God; and, through the teaching of that Spirit, we preach Christ crucified. We have not therefore _received... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:13. _WHICH THINGS ALSO WE SPEAK_] We dare no more use the _language_ of the Jews and the Gentiles in speaking of those glorious things, than we can indulge their _spirit_. The Greek orators affected a high and florid language, full of tropes and figures, which dazzled more than... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:14. _BUT THE NATURAL MAN_] ψυχικος, The _animal_ man-the man who is in a mere state of nature, and lives under the influence of his animal passions; for the word ψυχη, which we often translate _soul_, means the lower and sensitive part of man, in opposition to νους, the _unders... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:15. _BUT HE THAT IS SPIRITUAL JUDGETH ALL THINGS_] He who has the mind of Christ discerns and judges of all things spiritual: yet he himself is not discerned by the mere animal man. Some suppose that the word ανακρινεται should be understood thus: He _examines, scrutinizes, co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Corinthians 2:16. _FOR WHO HATH KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD_] Who that is still an animal man can know the mind of God? so as to instruct him, viz. the spiritual man, the same that is spoken of, 1 Corinthians 2:15. But the words may be better understood thus: How can the animal man know the m... [ Continue Reading ]