1 Corinthians 1:19-31 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:26

For ye see your calling, brethren ,.... That is, those that were called by the grace of God among them; for as circumcision and uncircumcision stand for circumcised and uncircumcised persons, and election for elect persons, and righteousness for righteous persons, Romans 3:30 so here "calling" designs men called by grace; the manner of whose calling, and what sort of persons they were, the apostle signifies, they did or might, or ought, to see, observe, and consider; for respect is here... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:27

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world ,.... So the Jews, in distinction from their wise Rabbins and doctors, call others, טפשין דעלמא , "the fools of the world" F16 Zohar in Numb. fol. 63. 3. & 65. 4. ; the persons whom God made choice of from all eternity, as appears by his calling them in time, are such who with respect to the wisdom of the world are foolish; have not those natural parts and abilities, that sagacity and penetration in things natural and civil,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:28

And base things of the world ,.... Who are reckoned the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things; men of mean birth, education, and business of life: and things that are despised ; and set at nought, as poor persons generally are; yet God hath chosen them; even the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of a kingdom: yea, and things which are not ; some think the Gentiles are here intended, who by the Jews are called "things that are not": as in the apocryphal... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:29

That no flesh should glory in his presence. That is, "in the presence of God", as some copies, and the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read; not in their blood, birth, families, lineage, and natural descent; nor in their might, power, and dominion; nor in their riches, wealth, and substance; nor in their wisdom, learning, and parts: for however these may be gloried in before men, yet not before God. These are of no account with him, nor will they be regarded by him, or men on account of them;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus ,.... These words, as they direct to the proper object of glorying, Christ, so they show the high honour the called ones are brought to in and through Christ, and are opposed to their outward meanness, folly, weakness, poverty, and contempt. They are first of God the Father, of his own rich free grace and goodness, without any regard to any motive, merit, or desert of theirs, put into Christ by electing grace, in whom they are preserved and blessed; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:31

That, according as it is written ,.... Jeremiah 9:23 . He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord ; not in his own wisdom, riches, and strength; but in Christ, as his wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:19

For it is written - The place referred to is Isaiah 29:14 . I will destroy the wisdom of the wise - Των σοφων , Of wise men - of the philosophers who in their investigations seek nothing less than God, and whose highest discoveries amount to nothing in comparison of the grand truths relative to God, the invisible world, and the true end of man, which the Gospel has brought to light. Let me add, that the very discoveries which are really useful have been made by men who feared God,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:20

Where is the wise - the scribe - the disputer of this world? - These words most manifestly refer to the Jews; as the places ( Isaiah 29:14 ; Isaiah 33:18 ; Isaiah 44:25 ;) to which he refers cannot be understood of any but the Jews. The wise man σοφος , of the apostle, is the חכם chakam ; whose office it was to teach others. The scribe, γραμματευς , of the apostle, is the ספר sopher ; this signifies any man of learning, as distinguished from the common people,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God - Dr. Lightfoot observes, "That σοφια του Θεου , the wisdom of God, is not to be understood of that wisdom which had God for its author, but that wisdom which had God for its object. There was, among the heathen, σοφια της φυσεως , wisdom about natural things, that is, philosophy; and σοφια του Θεου , wisdom about God; that is, divinity. But the world in its divinity could not, by wisdom, know God." The plain meaning of this verse is, that the wise... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:22

For the Jews require a sign - Instead of σημειον , a sign, ABCDEFG, several others, both the Syriac, Coptic, Vulgate, and Itala, with many of the fathers, have σημεια , signs; which reading, as undoubtedly genuine, Griesbach has admitted into the text. There never was a people in the universe more difficult to be persuaded of the truth than the Jews: and had not their religion been incontestably proved by the most striking and indubitable miracles, they never would have received it. This... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:31

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:22

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