Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 1

Verse 1

called, &c. Literally a called apostle. See Romans 1:1 .

called . Greek. kletos . See Romans 1:1 . No ellipsis of "to be", nor in 1 Corinthians 1:2 .

apostle . App-189 .

Jesus Christ . App-98 .

through . App-104 . 1 Corinthians 1:1 .

will . App-102 .

God . App-98 .

Sosthenes . If he is the same as in Acts 18:17 , he had followed in the steps of Paul (Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:23 ).

our = the.

Verse 2

Unto = to.

church of God . This expression occurs in 1 Corinthians 10:32 ; 1 Corinthians 11:22 ; 1 Corinthians 15:9 . Acts 20:28 . 2 Corinthians 1:1 .Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:13 . 1 Timothy 3:5 , 1 Timothy 3:15 ; and in the plural in 1 Corinthians 11:16 . 1Th 2:14 . 2 Thessalonians 1:4 .

church App-186 .

at = in. App-104 .

them that are sanctified . Greek. hagiazo. See John 17:17 , John 17:19 .

in . Greek. en ; as above.

Christ Jesus . App-98 .

saints . Greek. hagios. See Acts 9:13 .

with . App-104 .

call upon . Greek. epikaleo. See Acts 2:21 . Same as "appeal to" (Acts 25:11 , &c).

the name . See Acts 2:38 and Compare 1 Corinthians 1:10 .

Lord . App-98 .

Verse 3

Grace . App-184 . See Romans 1:7 .

peace . This has no reference to their divisions, as the same salutation is given in all Paul's epistles except those to Timothy and Titus.

from . App-104 .

Lord . App-98 .

Verse 4

thank, &c . Greek. eucharisteo. See Acts 27:35 .

on your behalf = concerning ( App-104 .) you.

for = upon. App-104 .

by = in. App-104 . Compare Ephesians 1:3 .

Verse 5

are = were.

enriched . Greek. ploutizo. Only here and 2 Corinthians 6:10 ; 2 Corinthians 9:11 .

utterance . App-121 .

knowledge . App-132 . Compare 2 Corinthians 8:7 ; 2 Corinthians 11:6 .

Verse 6

testimony . Greek. marturion. Always rendered "testimony", save Matthew 24:14 .Acts 4:33 ; Acts 7:44 .James 5:3 . In these "witness".

Christ . App-98 .

confirmed . Greek. bebaioo. See Romans 15:8 .

Verse 7

come behind = are not ( App-105 ) lacking (Greek. hustereo) . See Romans 3:23 .

no . Greek. mideis. A double negative.

gift . App-184 .

waiting for = eagerly expecting. Greek. apekdechomai. See Romans 8:19 .

coming = revelation. App-106 . There are two other words used with reference to the Lord's coming, parousia (see Matthew 24:3 ), and epiphaneia (see 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ). Compare 2 Thessalonians 1:7 . 1 Peter 1:7 , 1 Peter 1:13 .

Verse 8

also, &c . = confirm you also.

unto = until. Greek. heos. Compare Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:6 .

end . Greek. telos. See Matthew 10:22 .

blameless . Greek. anengkletos. Here, Col 1:22 . 1 Timothy 3:10 . Titus 1:6 , Titus 1:7 .

Verse 9

faithful . App-150 . Compare 1 Corinthians 10:13 . 2 Corinthians 1:18 . 1Th 5:24 . 2 Thessalonians 3:3 .

by . App-104 . 1 Corinthians 1:1 .

unto . App-104 .

fellowship . Greek. koinonia. Compare 2 Corinthians 13:14 . 1 John 1:3 .

Son . App-108 . The title "Lord" is added to "Jesus Christ" six times in the first ten verses of this chapter.

Verse 10

Now = But.

beseech = exhort. App-134 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina .

speak = say.

no = not. App-105 .

divisions . Greek. schisma. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 11:18 ; 1 Corinthians 12:25 .Matthew 9:16 (rent). Mark 2:21 (rent). John 7:43 ; John 9:16 ; John 10:19 . Hence Engl. "schism".

among . App-104 .

perfectly joined together = -fitted, or perfected. Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 . See App-125 .

judgment = opinion. App-177 .

Verse 11

declared = shown. Greek. deloo = to make manifest. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 3:13 .Colossians 1:8 . Hebrews 9:8 ; Hebrews 12:27 . 1 Peter 1:11 . In these three last, signify. 2 Peter 1:14 (show).

of = concerning; as in 1 Corinthians 1:4 .

by . App-104 .

contentions = strifes. Greek. eris . See Romans 1:29 .

Verse 12

this I say = I mean this.

every, &c . i.e. each one is attached to some party.

Apollos . See Acts 18:24 .

Cephas . See John 1:42 .

Verse 13

Is Christ divided? The omission of me , with the question, implies that the answer must be affirmative. "He is indeed. "Compare 1 Corinthians 12:12-25 . You are rending Him.

was Paul, &c. ? The me here requires a negative answer.

for = on behalf

baptized . App-115 .

in = into. App-104 .

Verse 14

baptized . App-115 .

none . Greek. oudeis.

but = except. Greek. ei me .

Crispus . See Acts 18:8 .

Gaius . See Acts 19:2 .Romans 16:23 .

Verse 15

Lest. Literally in order that (Greek. hina, as in 1 Corinthians 1:10 ) not (Greek. me) .

any . Greek. tis . App-123 .

had . Omit.

Verse 16

also, &c . = the household of Stephanas also.

Stephanas . Compare 1 Corinthians 16:15 , 1 Corinthians 16:17 .

besides = for the rest. Greek. loipon. Neut. of loipos. App-124 .

know . App-132 .

whether = if. App-118 .

other . App-124 .

Verse 17

sent . App-174 .

preach the gospel = evangelize. App-121 .

with = in. App-104 .

words . App-121 . This means either "eloquent language", or "clever reasoning". Perhaps both ideas were in the apostle's mind.

made of none effect . Greek. kenoo. See Romans 4:14 .

Verse 18

preaching = word, or message. Greek. logos, as in 1 Corinthians 1:17 .

them that perish = those that are perishing. Greek. apollumi. Compare 2 Corinthians 2:15 ; 2Co 4:3 . 2 Thessalonians 2:10 . See John 17:12 .

foolishness . Greek. moria. Only in this Epistle, verses: 1 Corinthians 1:21 , 1 Corinthians 1:23 ; 1Co 2:14 ; 1 Corinthians 3:19 .

us which are, &c . = those who are being saved, (even) us. This is the order in the Greek. Salvation has more than one aspect. See Romans 13:11 .Philippians 1:2 , Php 1:12 . 1 Thessalonians 5:8 , 1Th 5:9 ; 2 Timothy 1:9 ; 2Ti 3:15 ; 2 Timothy 4:18 . 1 Peter 1:5 .

power . App-172 . Compare Romans 1:16 .

Verse 19

is = has been. The reference is to Isaiah 29:14 . App-107 .

destroy . Greek. apollumi , as in 1 Corinthians 1:18 .

bring to nothing = annul. Greek. atheteo. See John 12:48 .

understanding. Greek. sunesis. First occurance: Mark 12:33 .

prurient . Greek. sunetos. Adjective akin to the above. See Acts 13:7 . This quotation agrees with the Septuagint, except that it reads "hide" ( krupto ) instead of "bring to nought". In the Hebrew the form of the sentence is different. (See Authorized Version)

Verse 20

disputer . Greek. suzetetees. Only here. Compare Acts 15:2 .

world = age. App-129 . It was an age of speculation. Acts 17:21 .

made foolish . Greek. moraino. See Romans 1:22 .

this = the.

world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 . The wisdom of the world is human wisdom generally.

Verse 21

after that = since.

knew . App-132 .

it pleased God = God was well pleased. Greek. eudokeo. Occurs twenty-one times. Generally translated "pleased", "well pleased", "take pleasure".

preaching = the thing proclaimed. App-121 .

believe . App-150 .

Verse 22

the. Omit.

require = ask. App-134 .

sign . App-176 . The texts read "signs".

seek after = seek.

Verse 23

preach . App-121 .

crucified . That is, a crucified Messiah.

the . Omit.

stumblingblock . Greek. skandalon. Occurs fifteen times. Nine times translated "offence"; once "offend"; thrice "stumblingblock"; elsewhere "occasion to fall, or of stumbling". First occurance: Matthew 13:41 . Instead of the signs of the kingdom promised by the prophets, the One who claimed to be their Messiah was crucified. This staggered them.

Greeks . The texts read "Gentiles" ( ethnos ).

Verse 24

them which are called = the called themselves.

Verse 25

foolishness . Literally foolish thing. Greek. moros

men . App-123 .

weakness . Literally weak thing. Greek. asthenes.

Verse 26

ye . Omit.

see . App-133 .

calling . Greek. klesis. See Romans 11:29 . Here it means the way ye were called, i.e. the kind of persons whom God sent to call you. Hence instead of "are called" as in Authorized Version and Revised Version, the ellipsis should be supplied thus: "not many are wise", &c. Apollos was an eloquent man, but as to Paul, his speech was regarded as contemptible. See 2 Corinthians 10:10 , and compare Acts 17:18 .

after = according to. App-104 .

noble . Greek. eugenes. See Acts 17:11 .

Verse 27

hath chosen = chose. Greek. eklegomai. See Acts 1:2 .

to = in order to. Greek. hina . confound = put to shame. Greek. kataischuno. See Romans 5:5 .

Verse 28

base . Greek. agenes. Literally without family, or descent. Only here. The opposite of eugenes, v . 26.

despised . Greek. exoutheneo. Literally counted as nothing. See Acts 4:11 .

not . App-105 .

bring to nought . Greek. katargeo. See Romans 3:3 .

Verse 29

glory = boast. Greek. kauchaomai. See Romans 2:17 .

Verse 30

of . App-104 .

of = from. App-104 . The Greek reads "became . . . wisdom from God".

is made = became. Greek. ginomai.

and = both.

righteousness . App-191 .

sanctification = holiness. Greek. hagiasmos. See Romans 6:19 .

and = even.

redemption . Greek. apolutrosis. See Romans 3:24 and compare Ephesians 1:7 , Ephesians 1:14 ; Ephesians 4:30 .

Verse 31

is = has been. This is a summary of Jeremiah 9:23 .

Lord . App-98 . 1God.