God is the source of the believer’s life in Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:2). Righteousness, sanctification, and redemption are metaphors of salvation, the result of the wisdom we find in Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:11). Righteousness focuses on our right standing in the sight of God (justification), sanctification on His making us more holy (sanctification), and redemption on our liberation from sin (glorification). read more
1:30 holiness, (h-21) Hagiasmos . See Note i at Romans 1:4 . read more
Greeting and Thanksgiving. Partisanship in the ChurchSt. Paul, after greeting the Church and giving thanks for its spiritual gifts, rebukes the preference for various teachers which was prevalent among them; such a spirit lost sight of Christ crucified, the one subject of all Christian teachers.1-9. Greeting and Thanksgiving.1. Called to be an apostle] chosen by God, not self-appointed: see Acts 22:17-21. Sosthenes] This may be the ruler of the synagogue of Acts 18:17, converted since that... read more
(30) But.—So far from boasting in His presence, we all owe all to Him. He is the author of the spiritual life of us who are in union with Christ, “who was (not “is”) made wisdom unto us from God.” The past tense here refers us back to the fact of the Incarnation; in it Christ became to us God’s revelation of Himself, thus giving us a wisdom from the source of all wisdom, which surpasses utterly any wisdom we could have derived from nature or from man. Not only is Christ the source of whatever... read more
Called to Be Saints 1 Corinthians 1:2 Many names are given to the followers of our Lord in the New Testament. But the name most frequently given is 'saint'. The word occurs sixty times in its pages, and it is plainly intended to describe the life which every Christian should earnestly seek after. I. The idea of devotion devoted to Christ; that is the essence of the Christian life, that is the primary notion of sainthood. And really this is the basis of membership in the Church of Christ. This... read more
Chapter 4THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHINGIn the preceding section of this Epistle Paul introduced the subject which was prominent in his thoughts as he wrote: the divided state of the Corinthian Church. He adjured the rival parties by the name of Christ to hold together, to discard party names and combine in one confession. He reminded them that Christ is indivisible, and that the Church which is founded on Christ must also be one. He shows them how impossible it is for anyone but Christ to be the... read more
2. Contrasts. Chapter 1:10-4). CHAPTER 1:10-31. 1. Divisions rebuked. (1 Corinthians 1:10-16 ). 2. The Cross of Christ, the Power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17-31 ). The section which begins, after the introductory words, with the tenth verse and ends with the fourth chapter, shows a number of contrasts. There is the contrast of the fact that they were called into the one fellowship. The fact of being called into the fellowship of God’s Son, as members of the one body is contrasted with their... read more
1:30 But {a} of him are ye in Christ Jesus, {27} who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:(a) Whom he cast down before, now he lifts up, indeed, higher than all men: yet in such a way that he shows them that all their worthiness is outside of themselves, that is, it stands in Christ, and that of God.(27) He teaches that especially and above all things, the Gospel ought not to be condemned, seeing that it contains the principal things that are to... read more
Paul writes here as "a called apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God." As such, it is the authoritative word of God he communicates, that which requires the subjection and obedience of all the Church of God. He allows no latitude for the preferences or wills of men, whoever they are. The will of God is supreme and absolute: if communicated graciously through a humble instrument called of God for this very purpose, yet such grace only magnifies the authority of the message. And with him... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
The folly of the Corinthian believers 1:26-31Paul turned from the content of the gospel to the Corinthian believers to strengthen his argument that the gospel he preached contradicted human expectations. God had chosen "nobodies" rather than the "beautiful people" of Corinth. They themselves were evidence that God’s "foolishness" confounds the "wise." Jeremiah 9:23-24, with its emphasis on boasting in one proper thing or another improper thing, lies behind this pericope. read more