1 Corinthians 1:4 - Exposition

I thank my God. It is probable, from papyrus rolls in the British Museum, that the general form and outline of letters was more or less conventional. In St. Paul, however, this thanksgiving is the natural overflow of a full heart. It was no mere compliment or rhetorical artifice like the captatio benevolentiae, or endeavouring to win the hearers by flattery, which we find in most ancient speeches. My God ( Romans 1:8 ). Always ; that is, constantly; on all occasions of special prayer. He could still thank God for them, though his letter was written "with many tears" ( 2 Corinthians 2:4 ). For the grace of God. The grace ( χάρις ) of spiritual life showing itself in many special spiritual gifts ( χαρίσματα ) , such as "the gift of tongues." Which was given you. This is one of St. Paul's "baptismal aorists." He always regards and speaks of the life of the soul as summed up potentially in one supreme moment and crisis—namely, the moment of conversion and baptism. The grace given once was given for ever, and was continually manifested. In Christ Jesus. St. Paul regarded the life of the Christian as "hid with Christ in God," and of Christ as being the Christian's life (see Romans 6:23 ; 2 Corinthians 4:10 , 2 Corinthians 4:11 ; Colossians 3:3 , Colossians 3:4 ; 2 Timothy 1:1 ; 1 John 5:11 , etc.).