1 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 1:1

Thou wilt say. Perhaps the Gentile believer might boast over the Jews: “The Jewish branches were broken off, that we Gentiles might be grafted in. Is not this a preference of the Gentile”? It is not.

1 Corinthians 1:2

Because of unbelief they were broken off. Had they believed, they would have remained. The Gentile is grafted in when he believes. Thou standest by faith. Unbelief would cut off the Gentile branch as well as the Jew.

1 Corinthians 1:3

For if God spared not the natural branches, the Jews, but broke them off on account of their unbelief, certainly he would not spare the Gentile, not a natural branch, if he was an unbeliever.

1 Corinthians 1:4

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God. “Severity” is shown in breaking off the Jewish branches on account of their unbelief; “goodness”, in admiring Gentile believers.

1 Corinthians 1:5

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief. As Gentile believers will be cut off unless they “continue in the goodness of God” (Romans 11:22), so the Jews, if they abandon their unbelief, shall again be grafted in. They are not cut off by a decree of God casting them away, but by their own unbelief.

1 Corinthians 1:6

For if thou. This argument is to the Gentile. Wert cut out of the olive-tree, etc. If wild branches were grafted into the good olive tree, the Gentiles grafted into the spiritual stock of Abraham, how much more likely is it that the natural branches, the Jews, shall be grafted again into their own olive tree, the seed of Abraham to which they belong by nature.

1 Corinthians 1:7

I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery. Any secret thing, known to but a few, is called “a mystery”. The mystery that Paul is about to unfold is concerning the conversion of Israel. He unfolds it lest the Gentile Christians should be wise in your own conceits, or may have incorrect views. The first thing noted in explaining this mystery, is that blindness in part hath happened to Israel. This blindness, or hardening, had been due to Israel’s sins, especially to unbelief. The second fact is that it would continue until the fulness of the Gentiles shall be come in, or the greater part of the Gentile world been converted.

1 Corinthians 1:8

So all Israel shall be saved. After the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, the Jews, as a people, shall be saved. That is, of the Jews then living, the great part shall be converted. The nation shall turn to the Lord. As it is written. Paul does not quote literally in what follows, but cites the sense of Isa 59:20,21 27:9. There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer. Christ. And shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Convert to righteousness the descendants of Jacob, the Jews.

1 Corinthians 1:9

This [is] my covenant to them. The Lord’s covenant unto them is what follows, “Take away their sins”. Hence these passages imply the restoration of Israel to the divine favor.

1 Corinthians 1:10

As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sake. Their rejection of the gospel had proved a blessing to the Gentile world. See Romans 11:11. Hence their enmity was allowed for the sake of the conversion of the Gentiles. As concerning the election, [they are] beloved for the father’s sake. The nation was a chosen nation. Though enemies of God, God still remembered that they were children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and did not cast them off forever, but remembered them in love. To this day he has preserved Israel, and yet purposes the salvation of the nation.

1 Corinthians 1:11

For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. God does not change his purposes or fail to keep his covenant. What he has promised concerning Israel will be fulfilled.

1 Corinthians 1:12

For as ye. The Gentiles. In times past have not believed in God, etc. Formerly they were without God, but had now obtained mercy. This was due, indirectly, as shown, to the Jewish unbelief.

1 Corinthians 1:13

Even so have these also now not believed. These Jews who were now in unbelief. Their disobedience had opened the door for the Gentiles. That through your mercy they may also obtain mercy. But the mercy shown the Gentiles, the fact that they are honoring and worshiping God, shall be a means of converting the Jews. Thus shall “they also [the Jews] may also obtain mercy”.

1 Corinthians 1:14

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief. Hath included all under disobedience. First the Gentiles were disobedient, but now were called. Now the Jews were disobedient, but would finally be saved. That he may have mercy upon all. God would have mercy on all, both Jew and Gentile.

1 Corinthians 1:15

O the depth of the riches. The rest of the chapter is an outburst of wonder and praise. From a mountain height the apostle surveys the sublime plan of God, and his soul breaks out in a transport of delight. In this wonderful plan for the salvation of Jew and Gentile there is an unfathomable depth of riches, and wisdom, and knowledge. The depth of the “knowledge” is shown in the latter part of Ro 11:33; the “wisdom” is described in Romans 11:34; and the “riches” in Romans 11:35.

1 Corinthians 1:20

Christian Life SUMMARY OF ROMANS 12: The Divine Mercy Should Move Us. Being Transformed. Humility. Faithfulness in Our Own Personal Duties. Loving with Pure Hearts. Blessing for Cursing; Good for Evil. Leaving Vengeance to the Lord. Treatment of Enemies. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God. The depth of the riches of the divine mercy has been shown in the argument of the preceding chapters, mercy for Jew and Gentile believers, and mercy in prospect for all Israel. The argument is now ended; God’s plans have been explained, and the apostle appeals to those who have found mercy, in the name of that mercy, “to continue in the goodness of God” (Romans 11:22). Present your bodies a living sacrifice. The Jewish dispensation with its sacrifices was ended; it closed when Christ, “our passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7), was offered for us. But a new order of sacrifice has come in. We should give ourselves. As the victim on the altar was surrendered wholly to God, so our bodies with all their members should be consecrated to his service; not as slain, but as “living sacrifices”. We do this when they become the temple of the Holy Spirit, and are used to serve God. Your reasonable service. The consecration of the body to God is not an outward act, like the sacrifice on the altar, but an act of the mind, or reason; hence “a reasonable service”.

1 Corinthians 1:21

And be not conformed to this world. The spirit of the world is opposed to that of Christ. Satan is “the Prince of this world (John 12:31 14:30 16:11). Christ died “to deliver us from this present wicked world” (Galatians 1:4). Hence the service of Christ renders necessary a refusal to fashion ourselves after its ways. But be ye transformed. Instead of following the ways of the world, the Christian must be “transformed”, changed into a new form of life by the renewing of your mind, by having a new spirit, and “walking after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1,4 Galatians 5:16,25). That ye may prove. Demonstrate, show forth. The saint, transformed, renewed, will show forth in his life “the will of God”.

1 Corinthians 1:22

Through the grace given to me. The grace to him, specially, was that of apostleship. See Romans 1:5 15:15 1 Corinthians 3:10. Not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think. A much needed exhortation. To be puffed up in one’s own conceits is the end of progress. It is the “humble” who are exalted (Matthew 23:2); those that “hunger” are filled (Matthew 5:6 Lu 6:21). Think soberly. Let each one take a sober judgment of himself, of his powers, and duties. The measure of faith. That measure of faith which would enable one to exercise spiritual gifts. Romans 12:4-8 show that this is Paul’s meaning. It is not the ordinary faith that saves the soul, but the extraordinary faith, which was accompanied in the first century by supernatural gifts, that is meant.

1 Corinthians 1:23

For as we have many members in one body. The church is likened to the human body in which the various organs each has its own office.

1 Corinthians 1:24

[Being] many, are one body in Christ, In the church, all are related to each other as the organs of the body are related.

1 Corinthians 1:25

Having then gifts. Each in the church had his duties, just as the hand, or foot, or eye of the body. These duties were indicated by the “gift” dealt out by “the measure of faith”. Differing according to the grace that is given to us. Compare Romans 12:3. One gift was given to one, as he was seen to be fitted for it, and another gift to another. Seven gifts are now spoken of in succession. The first four are official, and some of them are extraordinary. Prophecy. To prophesy was to speak by inspiration. As the early church did not yet have the New Testament, many were thus inspired to speak. One would be called to this work.

1 Corinthians 1:26

Ministry. If instead of prophecy, our gift of the more lowly one of ministering, let us give our time and attention to it. The Greek word rendered “ministry” is “diakonia”, “deaconship”, or service. Teaching. The work of an elder, or bishop, who must be “apt to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2 2 Timothy 2:24). If this was one’s work, his soul must be put into it.

1 Corinthians 1:27

He that exhorteth. He whose peculiar strength was to encourage feeble saints, and to stir up Christians to duty. He that giveth. A duty of all, which must be discharged without ostentation. See Matthew 6:2. He that ruleth. One who is an elder should attend to his duty with diligence, an exhortation that a great many elders have overlooked. Every leader should be diligent. He that showeth mercy. Whenever called upon to show compassion.

1 Corinthians 1:28

[Let] love be without dissimulation. Not a deceitful profession of love, but genuine; not like that of Judas to Christ (Matthew 26:48), or Joab to Amasa (2 Samuel 20:9,10): a kiss and a stab. Abhor that which is evil. Evil must be repulsive to the saint; good, on the other hand, attractive.

1 Corinthians 1:29

With brotherly love. The brotherhood of the saints was not a name only, but a real tie of tenderness and love; and each, in the spirit of true brotherhood, was to seek the honor of his Christian brother.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Not slothful in business. “In diligence, not slothful” (Revised Version). The idea is, “Give all diligence”. Fervent in spirit. Zealous, enthusiastic, not indifferent. Serving the Lord. Whatever we find to do is to be done with our might, but above all, the service of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:31

Rejoicing in hope. Hopeful, and hence rejoicing in the prospect. Patient in tribulation. Patient in sorrow, suffering and persecution. Patience implies steadfastness. Continuing instant in prayer. “Continuing steadfastly” (Revised Version). “Praying always and fainting not” (Lu 18:1).