ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 1 v26 - 31
OVERVIEW:
A little learning is a dangerous thing, for it makes people unwilling to learn more (CHRYSOSTOM). The world does not understand that the Saviorâs sufferings have become the source of power, for through these sufferings Christ vanquished death (AMBROSIASTER). Christ gave himself as an atonement on our behalf, ransoming us from death with his own life (GREGORY OF NYSSA). No one should glory in human works (AUGUSTINE, THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA). If only the most eloquent people had been chosen as preachers, they would have gloried in their own abilities and been damned for it (THEODORET OF CYR).
1:26 | Considering Their Call
WORLDLY STANDARDS. CHRYSOSTOM: The man who is wise according to the standards of this world is really very foolish, because he will not cast away his corrupt teaching. A little learning is a dangerous thing, because it makes those who have it unwilling to learn more. The unlearned are more open to conviction, because they are not so foolish as to think that they are wise. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.2.1
NOT MANY WERE POWERFUL. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul did not say that there was nobody like this in the church, only that there were not many. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 173.2
1:27 | Shaming the Wise by What Is Foolish
WEAK THINGS A SOURCE OF POWER. AMBROSIASTER: The two most âfoolish things of the worldâ are in particular the virgin birth of Christ and his resurrection from the dead. The wise are confounded because they see that what a few of them deny, the many profess to be true. There is no doubt that the opinions of the many faithful take precedence over those of a small number. Likewise, those who are mighty in this world can easily see the so-called weak things of Christ overturning demons and performing miracles. To the world the injuries and sufferings of the Savior are weak things, because the world does not understand that they have become the source of power through Christ who submitted to suffering in order to overcome death. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.3
GETTING THE BETTER OF THE PHILOSOPHERS. CHRYSOSTOM: In human terms, it was not possible for fishers to get the better of philosophers, but that is what happened by the power of Godâs grace. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.5.
1:28 | Bringing to Nothing Things That Are
GOD CHOSE WHAT IS LOW. AMBROSIASTER: God chose ignoble and contemptible things to exalt. It is not that they are really ignoble and contemptible; this is how the world sees them. By believing in Christ they have overturned worldly reasoning. God did this in order to destroy things which are really ignoble and contemptible, because those who judged were more deserving of judgment and condemnation. Their teaching was asserted in words but not demonstrated in power, and so it was destroyed. Our teaching is proved true not only by words but by power as well. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.5
THINGS THAT ARE NOT. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Paul uses the expression âthings that are notâ differently here from the way he uses it in his epistle to the Romans. Here it means simply that which is vile and contemptible, as opposed to âthings that are,â which are beautiful, powerful and respected. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.6
1:29 | No Human Boasting in Godâs Presence
UNDER THE JUDGMENT OF GOD. AMBROSIASTER: Under the judgment of God the wisdom of the flesh can only blush at its miscalculations. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.7
HUMBLING THOSE IN HIGH PLACES. CHRYSOSTOM: God did not just choose the unlearned, but also the needy, the contemptible and the obscure, in order to humble those in high places. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.3.
THE HARM OF BOASTING. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Boasting, even if it is of good works, harms the soul of the boaster. Anyone who boasts of worldly achievements is highly worldly himself. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.9
ATTACKING PRIDE. AUGUSTINE: Paulâs intention is perfectly clearâto accost the pride of man, that no one should take glory in human works and that no one should glory in himself. PREDESTINATION OF THE SAINTS 5.9.10
THE TEMPTATION OF THE ELOQUENT. THEODORET OF CYR: If Paul had chosen only the most eloquent and gifted people as preachers they would have gloried in their own abilities and been damned for it, whether they preached the truth or not. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 173.11
1:30 | The Source of Life in Christ Jesus
GOD MADE CHRIST OUR SANCTIFICATION. AMBROSE: Christ was made our sanctification, not so that he might change what he was but that he might sanctify us in the flesh. THE HOLY SPIRIT 3.4.26.
OUR REDEMPTION. AMBROSIASTER: Christ did what he did in order to strengthen believers, for no one can redeem something which did not originally belong to him. Therefore, whether it is because we have been redeemed, or because we have been sanctified (i.e., purged from the works of the flesh and the filthiness of idols), or because we have been justified (for it is just to worship only the Creator and spurn everything else) or because we are wise, having learned that worldly people are unwiseâall this is a gift of God through Christ. But this is our redemptionâwhen the devil desires it, Christ offers himself to the devil so that he may cancel sin and rescue the devilâs captives. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.13
OUR RANSOM. GREGORY OF NYSSA: We are taught by the knowledge that Christ is redemption, because he gave himself as an atonement on our behalf, that when he bestowed immortality on us as our own possession, he ransomed us from death with his own life. ON PERFECTION.14
OUR SALVATION. CHRYSOSTOM: God did not just make us wise, righteous and holy in Christ. He gave us Christ so that we should never need anything else for our salvation. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.4.15
1:31 | Boasting of the Lord
BOAST OF THE LORD. AMBROSIASTER: What Jeremiah [as quoted here] says is commendable, because the person who glories in the Lord will not be confounded. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.