ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 1 v4 - 9
OVERVIEW:
Paul puts himself in the position of a father; he gives thanks for his children, the Corinthians, all the time, regardless of what they have done. They are called to be one with all believers in Christ (ORIGEN). Paul begins with praise in order to prepare the Corinthians (CHRYSOSTOM) for the admonition that is to come (THEODORET OF CYR). Some of the Corinthians were no longer living according to their faith, so as to appear to make void the grace they had once received (AMBROSIASTER, PELAGIUS). On the day of the Lord (JEROME), unbelievers will know the truth of what they disbelieved. Christians will find that what they believed is wonderful beyond what they had imagined (AMBROSIASTER).
1:4a | Thanking God for Them
ALL THE TIME. ORIGEN: Paul does not just give thanks for the Corinthians some of the time, nor only when they do good. He puts himself in the position of a father, who is thankful for his children all the time, whatever they may have done. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.2.1-15.1
1:4b | The Grace of God Given in Christ Jesus
BY FAITH ALONE. AMBROSIASTER: God has decreed that a person who believes in Christ can be saved without works. By faith alone he receives the forgiveness of his sins. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.2
NOT BY WORKS. CHRYSOSTOM: You were saved by grace, not by works. And who gave you this grace? It was not Paul, or another apostle, but Jesus Christ himself. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 2.3.
A SWEET BEGINNING. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul takes care to sweeten their ears before starting to admonish them. What he says is true, however: He gives thanks to God because of the gifts which have been given to them. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 166.4
1:5 | Enriched with Speech and Knowledge
SPEECH GOES FURTHER. ORIGEN: Knowledge shows what there is to know. Speech goes further and explains it. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.2.29-30.5
STEADFAST IN GRACE TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE. AMBROSIASTER: This means that the Corinthians have remained steadfast in the grace which they have received and in the preaching of the doctrine of truth, because they have acquired spiritual knowledge. Paul therefore gives thanks to God for these things. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.6
ONCE BLESSED WITH GRACE. PELAGIUS: When the Corinthians came to faith in Christ they were blessed with all grace. But now that they were no longer living according to their faith, they had made void the grace which they had received. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 1.
TO UNDERSTAND AND TO SPEAK. CHRYSOSTOM: There is knowledge which goes beyond speech. Many have knowledge which they cannot expressâfor example, those who are uneducated and unable to express themselves clearly. But the Corinthians were not like them. They were able both to understand and to speak. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 2.3.8
1:6 | The Testimony to Christ
CONFIRMED IN US. ORIGEN: The testimony of Christ is confirmed in us if we can say, like the apostle Paul, âI am persuaded that neither life nor death etc. can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lordâ [Rom 8:38-39]. But if we are upset by every little thing that happens, then Christâs testimony has not been confirmed in us at all. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.2.35-40.9
THE TESTIMONY STRENGTHENED BY FAITH. AMBROSIASTER: The testimony of Christ has been confirmed in them because they have been strengthened by their faith. They had come to put no trust in human things. Rather, all their hope was in Christ, for they were ensnared neither by pleasure nor by the enticements of pleasure. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.10
1:7a | Lacking No Spiritual Gift
PRAISE BEFORE CRITICISM. CHRYSOSTOM: These praises are not uncritical, as the rest of the epistle makes clear. But they are inserted in order to prepare the Corinthians for the criticism which is to come. For whoever starts out with unpleasant words antagonizes his hearers. Paul starts by praising them in order to avoid this. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 2.5.
UNIMPEACHABLE IN THE PRESENT. JEROME: Although we lack no gift, nevertheless we await the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will then keep us secure in all things and present us unimpeachable when the day of our Lord Jesus Christ comes. The end of the world shall arrive, when no flesh may glory in his sight. AGAINST THE PELAGIANS 2.8.12
1:7b | The Revealing of Our Lord Jesus Christ
WAITING FOR THE REVEALING. ORIGEN: In this life the righteous person does not yet enjoy what he hopes for but rather endures suffering and danger. He is waiting for the revelation of Christ to come. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.2.48-51.13
BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVERS AWAIT THAT DAY. AMBROSIASTER: It is clear that Paul was a circumspect man who was full of concern as he awaited the day of judgment. On that day the Lord Jesus Christ will be revealed both to believers and to unbelievers. Then unbelievers will realize that what they did not want to believe is in fact true. Believers will rejoice, finding that what they believed in is more wonderful than they had imagined. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.14
THE REVELATION IS NOW HIDDEN. PELAGIUS: Christâs second coming is described as a revelation, because now it is hidden from us. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 1.
1:8 | Sustained by Christ
SUSTAINED FOREVER. ORIGEN: Who sustains us? Christ Jesus, the Word and Wisdom of God. Moreover, he sustains us not merely for a day or two, but forever. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.2.52-54.16
GUILTLESS IN THE DAY OF OUR LORD. AMBROSIASTER: Paul is confident that the Corinthians will persevere in righteousness until the day of judgment. People who could not be shaken in spite of so many turmoils and disagreements proved that they would remain faithful to the end. In praising them, Paul is also challenging those who had been corrupted by the errors of the false apostles, for in proclaiming the faith of the former, he is calling the latter to repentance. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.17
HIDDEN REPROOF. CHRYSOSTOM: This is not praise but backhanded reproof, since the Corinthians were far from âguiltless,â as the rest of the epistle makes clear. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 2.7.18
IF NOW GUILTY, THEN GUILTLESS. THEODORET OF CYR: By saying that he hopes that they will be guiltless in the day of Christ Jesus, Paul is indicating that right now they are guilty. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 167.
1:9a | God Is Faithful
THE GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: That God is faithful means that we can trust his self-revelation. His Word reveals him. He is the God who is faithful. STROMATEIS 2.27.3.20
THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH GOD. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul says this so that the Corinthians will not fall into despair when he criticizes them. He reminds them that God is not the problem. We are, because of our sin and unbelief. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 2.7.21
1:9b | Called into Fellowship by God
CALLED TO BE ONE WITH CHRIST. ORIGEN: Believe in Christ always, because you were called for no other purpose than to be one with us in him. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.3.22
BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR ADOPTION. AMBROSIASTER: Fellowship is brotherhood. Just as Paul declares Godâs unfailing faithfulness toward us in this regard, so we ourselves must not be found to be faithless or dishonourable with respect to our adoption. Rather we must remain faithful in it. COMMENTARY ON PAULâS EPISTLES.