1After saluting the church at Corinth, 4and thanking God for his grace toward them, 10Paul exhorteth them to unity, 11and reproveth their dissensions. 17The plain doctrine of the gospel, however foolish in the eyes of the world, is the power and wisdom of God to the salvation of believers. 26God, to take away human boasting, hath not called the wise, the mighty, the noble; but the foolish, the weak, the despised among men. 30Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
1PAUL,1 called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and 2Sosthenes our 3brother,
1 Of the name Paul and what follows, see the annotations on Acts 13:9; Rom. 1:1.
2 Some think that this was the same Sosthenes, who before was a ruler of the synagogue at Corinth, and was converted unto Christ, Acts 18:17, and that he was now with Paul, or was departed from Corinth with him, because of the persecution against him; but this is uncertain.
3 So he calls this Sosthenes, not only because he was a disciple of Christ, but also a principal teacher and companion of Paul, and in great esteem with the congregation. See the like, 2 Cor. 1:1, and Gal. 1:2.
2Unto the church of God which is at 4Corinth, to them thata are 5sanctified in Christ Jesus, 6calledbto be saints, withc all that 7in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
4 This was the capital city of Achaia in Greece, situated between two seas, in the straight whereby Peloponnesus was joined to Achaia, a very rich and famous city of merchant, and withal full of voluptuousness and luxury, which had been once laid waste by the Romans, but afterward in the time of Augustus Cæsar was built up again, and brought to its former flourishing condition. See Acts 18:1.
a John 17:19; Acts 15:9; 1 Thes. 4:7.
5 That is, who are separated by Christ and communion with Him from the common heap of the world unto a congregation of God.
6 Namely, not only outwardly by the Word, but also inwardly by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby he understands the best part of the congregation, that is, true believers, of whom Christ speaks, Acts 18:10.
b Rom. 1:7; Eph. 1:1.
c 2 Tim. 2:22.
7 Namely, of Achaia, in which Corinth was situated, as is expressed 2 Cor. 1:1. Or, of the whole world, where the name of Christ is called upon, as believers are described thereby, Acts 9:14; 2 Tim. 2:22. For that which Paul writes unto one congregation, is a prescript according to which all congregations must regulate themselves; as Christ said unto His disciples, Mark 13:37.
38Gracedbe unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 See hereof, Rom. 1:7.
d Rom. 1:7; 2 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:2; 1 Peter 1:2.
4I thank 9my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you 10by Jesus Christ;
9 This is the word of faith, which acknowledges God for his God, Rom. 1:8, and Christ his Savior, Gal. 2:20; not to exclude other believers from it, but to prescribe them an example of true confession. See the like, Job 19:25; Psalm 18:2, and 23:1 and 27:1; Isa. 63:16; John 20:28; 1 Tim. 1:15, etc.
10 Or, in Jesus Christ.
5Thate11in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and 12in all knowledge;
e Col. 1:9.
11 That is, abundantly endowed with all manner of spiritual gifts through Him. Hereby he lays a foundation to show that by these gifts they must not be high-minded or boast one against another, but that they must thank God in Christ for them, and use them for edification of one another in peace and unity.
12 Or, in every word. This is to be understood either of the gift of being able to utter skillfully that which by knowledge was conceived by them, or, of the word of the apostle himself, whereby they were brought to this knowledge of all the mysteries of faith, Acts 20:20.
6Even as 13the testimony of Christ was 14confirmed in you:
13 That is, the word of the Gospel of Christ, Rom. 1:16, as hereafter, 1 Cor. 2:1.
14 Namely, outwardly by several miracles, which were done among them, 2 Cor. 12:12, and inwardly by the seal of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, 1 Cor. 2:12; 2 Cor. 1:22. See also Mark 16:20.
7So that ye come behind 15in no gift; 16waitingf for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Namely, needful to salvation and edification. Otherwise here we know but in part, and prophecy but in part, 1 Cor. 13:9. And this the apostle speaks here in general of the true Christians, who were among them, whom afterwards he reprehends for the abuse of their gifts, in respect of the faults which were crept in, even among some of them.
16 Namely, in His second coming, in which we shall first be made perfect in all that which is yet wanting in us. 1 Cor. 13:10, 11, 12. See also 1 Peter 1:7, 23.
f Philip. 3:20; Titus 2:13.
8Whog shall also 17confirm you unto the end, that ye may be 18blameless 19in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
g 1 Thes. 3:13; 5:23.
17 Or, strengthen you, namely, in the faith, and the good which is already begun in you.
18 That is properly, whom no man shall be able to accuse, Rom. 8:1, 33.
19 That is, in the last day when Christ shall appear for to judge, and to redeem perfectly His own, Rom. 2:16; Eph. 4:30.
9Godhis 20faithful, by whom ye were called untoi21the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
h 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thes. 5:24.
20 Namely, in the performance of His promises, whereby He has promised that He will not forsake His own. See Isa. 49:15.
i Jer. 32:40, etc.; John 15:5; Gal. 2:20; 1 John 1:3.
21 Namely, not only the external, whereby we profess to have communion with Christ and His benefits, but especially the internal, wherein we are united to Him by faith and by the Spirit of Christ, and are partakers of all His benefits. See Rom 8:32; Eph. 3:17; 1 John 1:3.
10Now 22I beseech you, brethren, 23by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thatj ye all speak 24the same thing, and that there be no 25divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly 26joined together in the same 27mind and in the same judgment.
22 Or, exhort you. Here the apostle begins to admonish them against schisms, and to warn them that they must be no respecters of persons among their teachers, seeing division arises from this; nor to adhere more to one than to another because of outward gifts. And the teachers themselves, that they do not adorn the Gospel with human wisdom or eloquence, but set it forth in simplicity and power of the Spirit of Christ.
23 That is, by Christ, or, for Christ’s sake.
j Rom. 12:16; 15:5; Philip. 2:2; 3:16; 1 Peter 3:8.
24 That is, use one manner of speaking of the same faith, or of the grounds of the same faith; namely, because from the diversity of speaking oftentimes comes diversity of opinions, or at least vain disputation.
25 Gr. schismata, which are properly divisions, which arise in the congregation about some differences in belief, which are not fundamental; or which does not concern faith itself, but love and outward ordinances only; among which also heresies (which properly strike at the foundations of doctrine) are numbered as the works of the flesh, Gal. 5:20, although it be sometimes taken more largely also.
26 Or, united; a similitude taken from a thing which consists of many parts, which, joined one to another, make one perfect work or body.
27 Or, meaning, this is the other means to keep true unity in the congregation, namely, under the same manner of speaking, to hold all one meaning, or opinion.
11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house 28of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
28 This person seems to have been a pious matron, and of esteem among the congregation of Corinth.
12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, Ik am of 29Paul; and I ofl30Apollos; and I of 31Cephas; and I of 32Christ.
k 1 Cor. 3:4.
29 Namely, a disciple, as also in the following.
l Acts 18:24; 1 Cor. 16:12.
30 That this Apollos also brought many to the faith at Corinth, appears from Acts 18:24, 27.
31 That is, of Peter. See John 1:43; Gal. 2:9; from where nevertheless it does not follow that Peter preached at Corinth also; but it may be that some of his disciples were there, who boasted of Peter or of Peter’s doctrine. For that they also misused the names of Paul, Cephas and Apollos for this purpose, and not only the names of other teachers, appears by what follows in 1 Cor. 4:6.
32 These were the simple and upright Christians, who would not take any factious names of teachers, and therein did well.
1333Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized 34in the name of Paul?
33 From here on the apostle brings forward various reasons whereby he proves that such divisions are unbecoming. First of all, it seems from this that they would want to divide Christ, Who alone is the Head of His church, when they call one part of the church only after Christ, and the other parts after Paul, Peter, Apollos and other teachers. Moreover also that Christ is not solely the Redeemer of His church, that in the end they would be baptized in the name of some other than in the Name of Christ.
34 Namely, to take on you hereby the name of Paul. See of this phrase Mat. 28:19.
14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispusm and Gaius;n
m Acts 18:8.
n Rom. 16:23.
15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas:o besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
o 1 Cor. 16:15, 17.
17For Christ sent me 35not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: 36notp with wisdom of 37words, lest 38the cross of Christ should be made of 39none effect.
35 That is, not chiefly. For all the apostles were sent to baptize, Mat. 28:19, and otherwise the apostle would not have been permitted to baptize these (persons). But they left this service, whereunto less gifts were needed than to preaching, to others of their disciples and teachers, in order that they would not loose time. See Acts 10:48.
36 In the following words the apostle discovers the source from which these divisions had sprung amongst the Corinthians, namely, from this that some teachers sought to garnish up the uprightness and simplicity of the Gospel of Christ with human eloquence, and to mingle it with human wisdom or philosophy, whereby the ears of some of the hearers were tickled, and despised other upright teachers or bypassed them, which practice the apostle confutes by his own example and other reasons.
p 1 Cor. 2:1, 4; 2 Peter 1:16.
37 Gr. word, or speech, namely, which human wisdom teaches, 1 Cor. 2:4, or with artificial eloquence.
38 That is, the word of the cross, as is expounded in the following verse.
39 That is, be not deprived of its praise and virtue, which is done when men ascribe the same to human wisdom or eloquence.
18For 40the preaching of the cross is to them that perish 41foolishness; butq unto us which are saved it is 42the power of God.
40 That is, the doctrine of the Gospel of Christ, Who was crucified for us.
41 That is, is held by them for foolishness, and accounted wise by the worldly (ones).
q Rom. 1:16.
42 That is, a means whereby the Spirit of Christ works powerfully faith and regeneration in us for our salvation, Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 3:3, 4.
19For it is written, Ir will destroy the wisdom 43of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
r Job 5:12; Isa. 29:14.
43 That is, who are accounted as worldly wise, or who ascribe such wisdom to themselves. The prophet relates these words against those who despised the Word of God propounded by the prophets, and more esteemed human doctrines.
20Wheresis 44the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made 45foolish 46the wisdom of this world?
s Isa. 33:18.
44 That is, worldly wise. These words seem to be taken out of Isa. 33:18, where the like, though somewhat altered, are found; or, they are the words of Paul himself which he draws from the foregoing testimony. But the sense comes all to one.
45 That is, showed it to be foolish; or else by a righteous judgment given up to foolishness. See Rom. 1:21, 22.
46 Namely, when men will measure Divine things according to the same.
21Fort after that 47in the wisdom of God the world 48by wisdom 49knew not God, it pleased God by 50the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
t Mat. 11:25; Luke 10:21.
47 That is, in the creatures of heaven and earth, by which God reveals His wisdom in a special manner, Rom. 1:20.
48 By their natural understanding and reason.
49 Namely, as it ought, and as was necessary unto salvation, Rom. 1:18, 20.
50 That is, by the preaching of Christ crucified, which worldly men account foolishness, verse 23.
22For theu Jews require 51a sign, and the Greeks seek after 52wisdom:
u Mat. 12:38; 16:1; John 4:48.
51 That is, miracles. See Mat. 16:4; John 4:48.
52 That is, reasons, which are accounted wisdom by human ingenuity.
23But we preach Christ crucified, unto thev Jews 53a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks 54foolishness;
v Mat. 11:6; John 6:60, 66.
53 Namely, by reason of His humble and despised estate in the world, seeing they looked for a mighty King in the world, Who would cause them to reign over others as little kings. See also Luke 2:34.
54 Namely, that we would obtain life by the death of a crucified Man.
24But unto them 55which are called, both Jews and Greeks, 56Christ the power of God, and thew wisdom of God.
55 Namely, not only outwardly by the Word, for also the preceding ones, who perish, are likewise called, but also inwardly and effectually by the Spirit of God, and according to His purpose, verses 26, 27; Rom. 8:28, 30.
56 Or, we preach Christ. Hereby may be understood either the preaching of Christ, Who before in verse 18 is also called the power of God; or Christ Himself, Who is called the Power and Wisdom of God, because He is the express Image of the Father’s Person, by Whom He has manifested His Divine power and wisdom above all things in the redemption of mankind, verse 30. See Prov. 8:1; Mat. 11:19; Luke 11:49.
w Col. 2:3.
25Because 57the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and 58the weakness of God is stronger than men.
57 That is, what worldly men account foolishness, is wiser than they are with all their worldly wisdom.
58 That is, what they account weak and of no power to bring men to salvation, is stronger or more powerful than they with all their arrogant eloquence and elegance.
26For 59ye see your calling, brethren, how thatx not many wise men 60after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
59 Or, see your calling, that is, how you are called; or, those who are called among you, namely to the communion of Christ and His congregation.
x John 7:48; James 2:5.
60 That is, according to the outward state and estimation of men.
27But God 61hath chosen 62the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world 63to confound the things which are mighty;
61 That is, according to His eternal election brought to His congregation.
62 That is, those whom the worldly-wise account foolish, weak, ignorant, etc.
63 That is, would show that, in matters of salvation, it does not avail anything before God, but is vain.
28And basey things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things 64which are not, to bring 65to nought things 66that are:
y lowly, humble*
64 That is, that is esteemed so inconsiderable, as if it were nothing, 1 Cor. 3:7.
65 That is, shown to be unprofitable and vain.
66 That is, that which is esteemed to be something, or some great thing.
29That 67no flesh should glory in his presence.
67 That is, no man, as Gal. 2:16, namely, as if there were anything in him, whereby God should be moved to show him this grace more than to others.
30But 68of him are ye 69in Christ Jesus, whoz of God is made unto us 70wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and 71redemption:
68 That is, by His grace and power, as Rom. 11:36. See also 1 John 4:1, 2, 4, 6.
69 That is, united to Christ by faith, Rom. 8:1.
z Jer. 23:5; John 17:19.
70 That is, the cause and matter of all true wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification.
71 Namely, from all evils and miseries of body and soul, which shall perfectly come to pass at the last day, which is therefore called the day of redemption, Eph. 4:30. See also Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23.
31That, according as it is written, Heaa that glorieth, let him 72glory in the Lord.
aa Isa. 65:16; Jer. 9:23, 24; 2 Cor. 10:17.
72 That is, ascribe all to Him alone with thanksgiving, Jer. 9:23.