| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
1
Corinthians Chapter One
1 Corinthians 1
I will now turn back to take up the thread of the
contents of this epistle from the beginning. Paul was an apostle by the will of
God. That was his authority
however it might be with others. Moreover the same
call that made those of Corinth Christians had made him an apostle. He
addresses the assembly of God at Corinth
adding a character (the application
of which is evident when we consider the contents of the
epistle)-"sanctified in Christ Jesus." Afterwards the universality of
the application of the doctrine and instructions of the epistle
and of its
authority over all Christians
wherever they might be
is brought forward in
this address. Happily
whatever sorrow he felt at the state of the Corinthians
the apostle could fall back upon the grace of God
and thus recognise all the
grace which He had bestowed on them. But the placing them thus in relationship
to God brought all the effects of His holiness to bear upon their consciences
while giving the apostle's heart the encouragement of the perfect grace of God
towards them. And this grace itself became a powerful lever for the word in the
hearts of the Corinthians. In the presence of such grace they ought to be
ashamed of sin. Nor can there be a more remarkable testimony than is here found
of reckoning on the faithfulness of God towards His people. The relationship
does claim holiness: in holiness alone it is enjoyed; but it reposes on the
faithfulness of God. The Corinthians were walking
as we know
badly. The
apostle lets none of the evil pass; but still he declares that God was faithful
and would confirm them to the end that they might be-not safe
but-blameless in
the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
and then proceeds to blame them. what a
wonderful testimony!
Paul (the Spirit Himself) thus linked the Corinthians with God; and
that which He was in this connection with them had all its force upon their
hearts and consciences. At the same time the use of this weapon opened their
heart to all that the apostle had to say. One must be very near the Lord to be
able in practice thus to look at Christians who are walking badly. It is not to
spare their sins-the apostle is very far from doing that; but it is grace which
brings their own consciences to be occupied with it
as having a relationship
with God that was too precious to allow them to continue in sin or to permit
it.
The Epistle to the Galatians supplies us with a
remarkable instance of the confidence thus inspired; compare chapters 4:20;
5:10.
The Corinthians were enriched by God with His gifts
and
His testimony was thus confirmed among them
so that they came behind in no
gift
waiting for the revelation of the Lord
the fulfilment of all things.
Solemn day! for which God
who had called them
confirmed them in His
faithfulness
that they might be without reproach in that day
called as they
were to the fellowship and communion of His Son Jesus Christ. Short but
precious exposition of the grace and faithfulness of God
serving as a basis
(if their condition did not allow the apostle to develop it as he did to the
Ephesians) to all the exhortations and instructions which he addressed to the
Corinthians in order to strengthen them and direct their wavering steps.
The apostle first takes up the folly of the Corinthians
in making the chief christian ministers and Christ Himself heads of schools.
Christ was not divided. They had not been baptised unto the name of Paul. He
had indeed
on occasion
baptised a few; but his mission was to preach
not to
baptise. [1] It was
in virtue of
and according to
Acts 26:17
and 13:2 to 4
and not Matthew
28:19. Moreover
all this human wisdom was but foolishness
which God brought
to nothing: the preaching of the cross was the power of God; and God had chosen
the weak things
the things of nought
foolish things according to the world
to annihilate the wisdom and strength of the world
in order that the gospel
should be evidently the power of God. The Jews asked for a sign
the Greeks
sought for wisdom; but God caused Christ crucified to be preached
a scandal to
the Jews
foolishness to the Greeks
but to them which are called the power of
God. By things that are not He brought to nought things that are
because His
weakness is stronger than the strength of the world; His foolishness wiser than
the wisdom of the age. The flesh shall not glory in His presence. God dealt
with conscience
though in grace
according to the true position of responsible
man
and did not subject Himself to the judgment and reasonings of man's mind
wholly incompetent thereto
and which put him out of his place as if he could
judge of God. But
besides this
the Christian was more even than the object of
God's instruction; he was himself of God in Christ Jesus; of God he had his
life
his being
his position as a Christian. And Christ was unto him
from
God
wisdom
righteousness
sanctification
and redemption-all in contrast with
the pretensions of the human mind
with the false righteousness of the Jew
under the law
with the means and the measure of the sanctification it
supplied
and with the weakness of man
the last trace of which God will remove
in the deliverance He will accomplish by His power in Christ when He shall
complete the work of His grace. Thus we are of God
and Christ is everything
for us on God's part
in order that he who glories may glory in the Lord: a
brief but mighty testimony to what Christianity is in its elements.
[1] This
statement is the more remarkable
as he had a special revelation as to the
Lord's supper. But that ordinance has reference to the unity of the body
which
was specially the testimony of the apostle. The twelve were sent to baptise the
nations (Matt. 28).
── John Darby《Synopsis of 1 Corinthians》
1 Corinthians 1
Chapter Contents
A salutation and thanksgiving. (1-9) Exhortation to
brotherly love
and reproof for divisions. (10-16) The doctrine of a crucified
Saviour
as advancing the glory of God
(17-25) and humbling the creature
before him. (26-31)
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
(Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9)
All Christians are by baptism dedicated and devoted to
Christ
and are under strict obligations to be holy. But in the true church of
God are all who are sanctified in Christ Jesus
called to be saints
and who
call upon him as God manifest in the flesh
for all the blessings of salvation;
who acknowledge and obey him as their Lord
and as Lord of all; it includes no
other persons. Christians are distinguished from the profane and atheists
that
they dare not live without prayer; and they are distinguished from Jews and
pagans
that they call on the name of Christ. Observe how often in these verses
the apostle repeats the words
Our Lord Jesus Christ. He feared not to make too
frequent or too honourable mention of him. To all who called upon Christ
the
apostle gave his usual salutation
desiring
in their behalf
the pardoning
mercy
sanctifying grace
and comforting peace of God
through Jesus Christ.
Sinners can have no peace with God
nor any from him
but through Christ. He
gives thanks for their conversion to the faith of Christ; that grace was given
them by Jesus Christ. They had been enriched by him with all spiritual gifts.
He speaks of utterance and knowledge. And where God has given these two gifts
he has given great power for usefulness. These were gifts of the Holy Ghost
by
which God bore witness to the apostles. Those that wait for the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ
will be kept by him to the end; and those that are so
will
be blameless in the day of Christ
made so by rich and free grace. How glorious
are the hopes of such a privilege; to be kept by the power of Christ
from the
power of our corruptions and Satan's temptations!
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:10-16
(Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-16)
In the great things of religion be of one mind; and where
there is not unity of sentiment
still let there be union of affection.
Agreement in the greater things should extinguish divisions about the lesser.
There will be perfect union in heaven
and the nearer we approach it on earth
the nearer we come to perfection. Paul and Apollos both were faithful ministers
of Jesus Christ
and helpers of their faith and joy; but those disposed to be
contentious
broke into parties. So liable are the best things to be corrupted
and the gospel and its institutions made engines of discord and contention.
Satan has always endeavoured to stir up strife among Christians
as one of his
chief devices against the gospel. The apostle left it to other ministers to
baptize
while he preached the gospel
as a more useful work.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
(Read 1 Corinthians 1:17-25)
Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain
preaching of a crucified Jesus
was more powerful than all the oratory and
philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel.
Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes
the fountain of all our
joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by
the sufferings and death of the Son of God
if explained and faithfully
applied
appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. The sensual
the covetous
the proud
and ambitious
alike see that the gospel opposes their
favourite pursuits. But those who receive the gospel
and are enlightened by
the Spirit of God
see more of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of Christ
crucified
than in all his other works. God left a great part of the world to
follow the dictates of man's boasted reason
and the event has shown that human
wisdom is folly
and is unable to find or retain the knowledge of God as the
Creator. It pleased him
by the foolishness of preaching
to save them that
believe. By the foolishness of preaching; not by what could justly be called
foolish preaching. But the thing preached was foolishness to wordly-wise men.
The gospel ever was
and ever will be
foolishness to all in the road to
destruction. The message of Christ
plainly delivered
ever has been a sure
touchstone by which men may learn what road they are travelling. But the
despised doctrine of salvation by faith in a crucified Saviour
God in human
nature
purchasing the church with his own blood
to save multitudes
even all
that believe
from ignorance
delusion
and vice
has been blessed in every
age. And the weakest instruments God uses
are stronger in their effects
than
the strongest men can use. Not that there is foolishness or weakness in God
but what men consider as such
overcomes all their admired wisdom and strength.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
(Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
God did not choose philosophers
nor orators
nor
statesmen
nor men of wealth
and power
and interest in the world
to publish
the gospel of grace and peace. He best judges what men and what measures serve
the purposes of his glory. Though not many noble are usually called by Divine
grace
there have been some such in every age
who have not been ashamed of the
gospel of Christ; and persons of every rank stand in need of pardoning grace.
Often
a humble Christian
though poor as to this world
has more true
knowledge of the gospel
than those who have made the letter of Scripture the
study of their lives
but who have studied it rather as the witness of men
than as the word of God. And even young children have gained such knowledge of
Divine truth as to silence infidels. The reason is
they are taught of God; the
design is
that no flesh should glory in his presence. That distinction
in
which alone they might glory
was not of themselves. It was by the sovereign
choice and regenerating grace of God
that they were in Jesus Christ by faith.
He is made of God to us wisdom
righteousness
sanctification
and redemption;
all we need
or can desire. And he is made wisdom to us
that by his word and
Spirit
and from his fulness and treasures of wisdom and knowledge
we may
receive all that will make us wise unto salvation
and fit for every service to
which we are called. We are guilty
liable to just punishment; and he is made
righteousness
our great atonement and sacrifice. We are depraved and corrupt
and he is made sanctification
that he may in the end be made complete
redemption; may free the soul from the being of sin
and loose the body from
the bonds of the grave. And this is
that all flesh
according to the prophecy
by Jeremiah
Jeremiah 9:23-24
may glory in the special
favour
all-sufficient grace
and precious salvation of Jehovah.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians》
1 Corinthians 1
Verse 1
[1]
Paul
called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God
and
Sosthenes our brother
Paul
called to be an apostle — There is great propriety in every clause of the salutation
particularly
in this
as there were some in the church of Corinth who called the authority
of his mission in question.
Through the will of God — Called "the commandment of God
" 1 Timothy 1:1 This was to the churches the
ground of his authority; to Paul himself
of an humble and ready mind. By the
mention of God
the authority of man is excluded
Galatians 1:1; by the mention of the will of
God
the merit of Paul
1 Corinthians 15:8
etc.
And Sosthenes — A
Corinthian
St. Paul's companion in travel. It was both humility and prudence
in the apostle
thus to join his name with his own
in an epistle wherein he
was to reprove so many irregularities.
Sosthenes the brother — Probably this word is emphatical; as if he had said
Who
from a Jewish
opposer of the gospel
became a faithful brother.
Verse 2
[2] Unto the church of God which is at Corinth
to them that are sanctified in
Christ Jesus
called to be saints
with all that in every place call upon the
name of Jesus Christ our Lord
both theirs and ours:
To the church of God which is in Corinth — St. Paul
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.
Sanctified through Jesus Christ — And so undoubtedly they were in general
notwithstanding some
exceptions.
Called — Of
Jesus Christ
Romans 1:6 And - As the fruit of that calling
made holy.
With all that in every place — Nothing could better suit that catholic love which St. Paul labours to
promote in this epistle
than such a declaration of his good wishes for every
true Christian upon earth.
Call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — This plainly implies that all Christians pray to Christ
as well as to
the Father through him.
Verse 4
[4] I
thank my God always on your behalf
for the grace of God which is given you by
Jesus Christ;
Always —
Whenever I mention you to God in prayer.
Verse 5
[5] That
in every thing ye are enriched by him
in all utterance
and in all knowledge;
In all utterance and knowledge — Of divine things. These gifts the Corinthians particularly admired.
Therefore this congratulation naturally tended to soften their spirits
and I
make way for the reproofs which follow.
Verse 6
[6] Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
The testimony of Christ — The gospel.
Was confirmed among you — By these gifts attending it. They knew they had received these by the
hand of Paul: and this consideration was highly proper
to revive in them their
former reverence and affection for their spiritual father.
Verse 7
[7] So
that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
Waiting —
With earnest desire. For the glorious revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ - A
sure mark of a true or false Christian
to long for
or dread
this revelation.
Verse 8
[8] Who
shall also confirm you unto the end
that ye may be blameless in the day of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Who will also — if
you faithfully apply to him.
Confirm you to the end. In the day of Christ — Now it is our day
wherein we are to work out our salvation; then it
will be eminently the day of Christ
and of his glory in the saints.
Verse 9
[9] God
is faithful
by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ
our Lord.
God is faithful — To
all his promises; and therefore "to him that hath shall be given." By
whom ye are called - A pledge of his willingness to save you unto the
uttermost.
Verse 10
[10] Now
I beseech you
brethren
by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
that ye all
speak the same thing
and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Now I exhort you — Ye
have faith and hope; secure love also.
By the endearing name of our Lord Jesus
Christ — lnfinitely preferable to all the human
names in which ye glory.
That ye all speak the same thing — They now spoke different things
1 Corinthians 1:12 And that there be no schisms
among you - No alienation of affection from each other. Is this word ever taken
in any other sense in scripture? But that ye be joined in the same mind -
Affections
desires.
And judgment —
Touching all the grand truths of the gospel.
Verse 11
[11] For
it hath been declared unto me of you
my brethren
by them which are of the
house of Chloe
that there are contentions among you.
It hath been declared to me by them of the
family of Chloe — Whom some suppose to have been the wife of
Stephanas
and the mother of Fortunatus and Achaicus. By these three the
Corinthians had sent their letter to St. Paul
1 Corinthians 16:17.
That there are contentions — A word equivalent with schisms in the preceding verse.
Verse 12
[12] Now
this I say
that every one of you saith
I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I
of Cephas; and I of Christ.
Now this I say —
That is
what I mean is this: there are various parties among you
who set
themselves
one against an other
in behalf of the several teachers they
admire.
And I of Christ —
They spoke well
if they had not on this pretence despised their teachers
1 Corinthians 4:8 Perhaps they valued themselves
on having heard Christ preach in his own person.
Verse 13
[13] Is
Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of
Paul?
Is Christ divided —
Are not all the members still under one head? Was not he alone crucified for
you all; and were ye not all baptized in his name? The glory of Christ then is
not to be divided between him and his servants; neither is the unity of the
body to be torn asunder
seeing Christ is one still.
Verse 14
[14] I
thank God that I baptized none of you
but Crispus and Gaius;
I thank God — (A
pious phrase for the common one
"I rejoice
") that
in the course of
his providence
I baptized none of you
but Crispus
once the ruler of the
synagogue
and Caius.
Verse 15
[15] Lest
any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
Lest any should say that I had baptized in my
own name — In order to attach them to myself.
Verse 16
[16] And
I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides
I know not whether I
baptized any other.
I know not —
That is
it does not at present occur to my memory
that I baptized any other.
Verse 17
[17] For
Christ sent me not to baptize
but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of
words
lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
For God did not send me to baptize — That was not my chief errand: those of inferior rank and abilities could
do it: though all the apostles were sent to baptize also
Matthew 28:19 But to preach the gospel - So the
apostle slides into his general proposition: but not with wisdom of speech -
With the artificial ornaments of discourse
invented by human wisdom.
Lest the cross of Christ should be made of
none effect — The whole effect of St. Paul's preaching
was owing to the power of God accompanying the plain declaration of that great
truth
"Christ bore our sins upon the cross." But this effect might
have been imputed to another cause
had he come with that wisdom of speech
which they admired.
Verse 18
[18] For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us
which are saved it is the power of God.
To them that perish — By
obstinately rejecting the only name whereby they can be saved.
But to us who are saved — Now saved from our sins
and in the way to everlasting salvation
it is
the great instrument of the power of God.
Verse 19
[19] For
it is written
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and will bring to nothing
the understanding of the prudent.
For it is written —
And the words are remarkably applicable to this great event. Isaiah 29:14
Verse 20
[20]
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?
hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Where is the wise? etc.-The deliverance of
Judea from Sennacherib is what Isaiah refers to in these words; in a bold and
beautiful allusion to which
the apostle in the clause that follows triumphs
over all the opposition of human wisdom to the victorious gospel of Christ.
What could the wise men of the gentiles do against this? or the Jewish scribes?
or the disputers of this world? - Those among both
who
proud of their
acuteness
were fond of controversy
and thought they could confute all
opponents.
Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this
world — That is
shown it to be very foolishness. Isaiah 33:18
Verse 21
[21] For
after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God
it pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
For since in the wisdom of God — According to his wise disposals
leaving them to make the trial.
The world —
Whether Jewish or gentile
by all its boasted wisdom knew not God - Though the
whole creation declared its Creator
and though he declared himself by all the
prophets; it pleased God
by a way which those who perish count mere
foolishness
to save them that believe.
Verse 22
[22] For
the Jews require a sign
and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
For whereas the Jews 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 wisdom - The depths of philosophy
and the
charms of eloquence.
Verse 23
[23] But
we preach Christ crucified
unto the Jews a stumblingblock
and unto the Greeks
foolishness;
We go on to preach
in a plain and
historical
not rhetorical or philosophical
manner
Christ crucified
to the
Jews a stumblingblock - Just opposite to the "signs" they demand.
And to the Greeks foolishness — A silly tale
just opposite to the wisdom they seek.
Verse 24
[24] But
unto them which are called
both Jews and Greeks
Christ the power of God
and
the wisdom of God.
But to them that are called — And obey the heavenly calling.
Christ —
With his cross
his death
his life
his kingdom. And they experience
first
that he is the power
then
that he is the wisdom
of God.
Verse 25
[25]
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men.
Because the foolishness of God — The gospel scheme
which the world judge to be mere foolishness
is
wiser than the wisdom of men; and
weak as they account it
stronger than all
the strength of men.
Verse 26
[26] For
ye see your calling
brethren
how that not many wise men after the flesh
not
many mighty
not many noble
are called:
Behold your calling —
What manner of men they are whom God calls.
That not many wise men after the flesh — In the account of the world.
Not many mighty —
Men of power and authority.
Verse 28
[28] And
base things of the world
and things which are despised
hath God chosen
yea
and things which are not
to bring to nought things that are:
Things that are not —
The Jews frequently called the gentiles
"Them that are not
" 2
Esdras vi. 56
57. In so supreme contempt did they hold them.
The things that are — In
high esteem.
Verse 29
[29] That
no flesh should glory in his presence.
That no flesh — A
fit appellation. Flesh is fair
but withering as grass.
May glory before God — In God we ought to glory.
Verse 30
[30] But
of him are ye in Christ Jesus
who of God is made unto us wisdom
and
righteousness
and sanctification
and redemption:
Of him —
Out of his free grace and mercy. Are ye Engrafted into Christ Jesus
who is
made unto us that believe wisdom
who were before utterly foolish and ignorant.
Righteousness —
The sole ground of our justification
who were before under the wrath and curse
of God.
Sanctification — A
principle of universal holiness
whereas before we were altogether dead in sin.
And redemption —
That is
complete deliverance from all evil
and eternal bliss both of soul and
body.
Verse 31
[31]
That
according as it is written
He that glorieth
let him glory in the Lord.
Let him glory in the Lord — Not in himself
not in the flesh
not in the world. Jeremiah 9:23
24
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 1
Corinthians》
1 Cor. 1:23
The story is told of a small English
village that had a tiny chapel whose stone walls were covered by traditional
ivy. Over an arch was originally inscribed the words: We preach Christ crucified.
There had been a generation of godly men who did precisely that: they preached
Christ crucified.
But times changed. The ivy grew and
pretty soon covered the last word. The inscription now read: We Preach Christ.
Other men came and they did preach Christ: Christ the example
Christ the
humanitarian
Christ the ideal teacher.
As the years passed
the ivy continued
to grow until finally the inscription read: We preach. The generation that came
along then did just that: they preached economics
social gospel
book reviews
just about anything.
The story probably isn’t literally
true
but it does illustrate how man’s philosophical detours affect how the
gospel is transmitted.
Chapter 1. Divisions
Those Who Are
Perishing
Those Who Are Saved
I. Relation
Between God and Believers
II. The Way of
Church Unity
III. The
Message of the Cross
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
Chapter One General Review OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To understand how division is unacceptable is the Body of Christ 2) To see why our boasting should be only in the Lord SUMMARY
In his opening remarks Paul expresses gratitude that the Corinthians had been enriched by God
came behind in no gift
and were eagerly waiting for the revelation of the Lord (1-9). He immediately begins dealing with the first problem
that of division which manifested itself in what we might call "preacheritis" (10-17). Discerning that the underlying cause concerns the exaltation of human wisdom
Paul demonstrates the folly of boasting in such (18-31). OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION (1-9)
A. GREETINGS FROM PAUL AND SOSTHENES (1-3) 1. To the church at Corinth the name of Jesus (2) 2. Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus (3) B. THANKSGIVING FOR GOD'S GRACE TOWARDS THEM (4-9) 1. Enriching them in all knowledge
even as Christ's testimony was confirmed in them (5-6) 2. Coming short in no gift as they eagerly await the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ (7) 3. Who will confirm them so they may be blameless (8) 4. For God is faithful
who called them into the fellowship of His Son (9)