1 Corinthians Thanksgiving 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, Having concluded his salutation, the apostle now turns to thanksgiving for the Corinthians and for the wonderful work of God in their lives (vv. 4–9). It was a noble trait in Paul’s life that always sought to find something thank-worthy in the lives of his fellow believers. If their practical lives were not very commendable, then he would at least thank his God for what He had done for them. This is exactly the case here. The Corinthians were not what we would call spiritual Christians. But Paul can at least give thanks for the grace of God which was given to them by Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, The cause of Paul’s thanks was that the Corinthians had been enriched, and that this enrichment was “in all utterance and knowledge.” The extent of this enrichment is expressed in verse 7 that they come behind in no gift. While the term gift (Gr charisma) has a wide variety of meanings, here it probably has reference to spiritual gifts later developed in the epistle. 1 Corinthians 1:6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, Here is the most significant result of their enrichment. This is that message of the gospel concerning Jesus Christ that Paul faithfully preached at Corinth. 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 1:7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, :8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Since the gospel had been faithfully preached and responded to by the Corinthian believers, they are now privileged to wait upon the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, who in turn will also confirm you. Historically, the gospel had been confirmed in them. Now they anticipate the prospect of that blessed event when Jesus Christ shall also confirm them blameless before the throne of God. 1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul’s optimism concerning the Corinthians is based on the faithfulness of God who called them into the fellowship of His Son. He knows that since God had gone to such tremendous cost to make them sharers of the life of our Lord, He would never let them slip out of His hands. DISORDERS IN THE CHURCH: Divisions among Believers 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. The apostle is now ready to take up the problem of divisions in the church (1:10–4:21). He begins with a loving exhortation to unity. Instead of commanding with the authority of an apostle, he pleads with the tenderness of a brother. The appeal for unity is based on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and since the name stands for the Person, it is based on all that the Lord Jesus is and has done. The Corinthians were exalting the name of men; that could only lead to divisions. Paul will exalt the name of the Lord Jesus, knowing that only in this way will unity be produced among the people of God. To speak the same thing means to be of the same mind and of one accord. It means to be united as to loyalty and allegiance. This unity is produced when Christians have the mind of Christ, and in the verses to follow, Paul will tell them in a practical manner how they can think Christ’s thoughts after Him. 1 Corinthians 1:11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. News concerning the contentions in Corinth had come to Paul from Chloe’s household. In naming his informers, Paul lays down an important principle of Christian conduct. We should not pass on news about our fellow believers unless we are willing to be quoted in the matter. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Macdonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.