1 Corinthians 1:17-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

We have here, I. The manner in which Paul preached the gospel, and the cross of Christ: Not with the wisdom of words (1 Cor. 1:17), the enticing words of man's wisdom (1 Cor. 2:4), the flourish of oratory, or the accuracies of philosophical language, upon which the Greeks so much prided themselves, and which seem to have been the peculiar recommendations of some of the heads of the faction in this church that most opposed this apostle. He did not preach the gospel in this manner, lest the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

1:10-17 Brothers, I urge you through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should make up your differences and that you should see to it that there may be no divisions among you, but that you should be knit together in the same mind and the same opinion. Brothers, it has become all too clear to me, from information that I have received from members of Chloe's household, that there are outbreaks of strife amongst you. What I mean is this--each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul; I belong... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

1:18-25 For the story of the Cross is foolishness to those who are on the way to destruction, but it is the power of God to those who are on the way to salvation. For it stands written, "I will wipe out the wisdom of the wise and I will bring to nothing the cleverness of the clever." Where is the wise? Where is the expert in the law? Where is the man who debates about this world's wisdom? Did not God render foolish the wisdom of this world? For when, in God's wisdom, the world for all its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17

For Christ sent me not to baptize ,.... Some think the apostle refers to his particular mission from Christ, Acts 26:16 in which no mention is made of his administering the ordinance of baptism; but no doubt he had the same mission the rest of the apostles had, which was to baptize as well as preach; and indeed, if he had not been sent at all to baptize, it would have been unlawful for him to have administered baptism to any person whatever; but his sense is, that baptism was not the chief... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross ,.... Not of the Christian's cross, which he is to take up and bear for the sake of Christ; though this is a doctrine taught by Christ, and his apostles, and found to be true by the saints in all ages; and is what is had in great aversion and contempt, being very disagreeable to the natural man: but of the cross of Christ, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Christ; or the doctrine of peace and reconciliation by the blood of his cross, and of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:17

For Christ sent me not to baptize - Bp. Pearce translates thus: For Christ sent me, not so much to baptize as to preach the Gospel: and he supports his version thus - "The writers of the Old and New Testaments do, almost every where (agreeably to the Hebrew idiom) express a preference given to one thing beyond another by an affirmation of that which is preferred, and a negation of that which is contrary to it: and so it must be understood here, for if St. Paul was not sent at all to baptize,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross - Ὁ λογος γαρ ὁ του σταυρου , The doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine that is of or concerning the cross; that is, the doctrine that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the crucifixion of Christ. Is to them that perish foolishness - There are, properly speaking, but two classes of men known where the Gospel is preached: απολλυμενοι , the unbelievers and gainsayers, who are perishing; and σοζομενοι , the obedient believers, who are in a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:17

Verse 17 17.For Christ sent me not. He anticipates an objection that might, perhaps, be brought against him — that he had not discharged his duty, inasmuch as Christ commands his Apostles to baptize as well as teach. Accordingly he replies, that this was not the principal department of his office, for the duty of teaching had been principally enjoined upon him as that to which he should apply himself. For when Christ says to the Apostles, (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15,) Go, preach and baptize, he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Verse 18 18.For the preaching of the cross, etc. In this first clause a concession is made. For as it might very readily be objected, that the gospel is commonly held in contempt, if it be presented in so bare and abject a form, Paul of his own accord concedes this, but when he adds, that it is so in the estimation of them that perish, he intimates that no regard must be paid to their judgment. For who would choose to despise the gospel at the expense of perishing? This statement, therefore,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:1-31

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