Chapter One
1 Cor. 1:1. Paul, called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.
Here is the beginning, directly exposing the false teachers. I, he says, was called, and did not invent it myself, did not attain it by my own wisdom, and was sent by Christ, and did not ordain myself, as your teachers did. "Jesus Christ." The Teacher is Christ: how then do you appoint men as teachers for yourselves? "By the will" (δια θελήματος) "of God." He saved and called us not because we were worthy of it, but because it was pleasing to Him. Therefore now He Himself also wills that I be your apostle. How then do you desire other teachers for yourselves? Are you not opponents of God? Note the preposition δια (through), which here refers to the Father.
1 Cor. 1:1. And Sosthenes the brother.
Out of humility he places alongside himself a man who was far lesser than he; and he does this in order to shame the high-minded Corinthians, who despised everyone.
1 Cor. 1:2. To the church of God which is at Corinth.
The Church is not of this or that person, but of God. How then do you have men as your leaders? If, again, you are the Church, then you must be in perfect unity.
1 Cor. 1:2. To those sanctified in Christ Jesus.
You were sanctified not in some human being, but in Christ, that is, through baptism, and not through wisdom or wealth, of which you boast.
1 Cor. 1:2. Called to be saints.
And that very thing, he says, that you believed, is not from you, but you obeyed and believed because you were called by God. Therefore faith too has its beginning from God; for if He had not called, you would not have believed.
1 Cor. 1:2. With all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace, he says, and peace be not only with you, Corinthians, but also with all who call upon the name of Christ, and not of this one or that one.
1 Cor. 1:2. In every place, both theirs and ours.
He mentions the believers in every place in order to show that all believers constitute one Church, wherever they may be. How then have you, living in one city, become divided? On the other hand, he added "our." For having said "of our Lord Jesus Christ" and placed in the middle "in every place," he repeated and said the Lord "both theirs and ours," in order to show that the Master is one for all. Some, however, understand these words as they stand: in every place, both theirs and ours, that is, in which both we live and they.
1 Cor. 1:3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace from God. Even before, when we were at enmity against Him, we received peace by His grace, and I pray that from God both may always be yours, that is, that you be deprived of neither His grace nor peace; because you live in discord among yourselves. How then do you turn to men and seek from them, as from teachers, grace and favor?
1 Cor. 1:4. I give thanks unceasingly.
He teaches us to be thankful. He does this in almost every epistle; but now he speaks of thankfulness especially fittingly. For thankfulness is for a benefaction, and a benefaction is neither a debt nor a recompense. Consequently, by this too he brings down the pride of the Corinthians.
1 Cor. 1:4. My God.
He appropriates to himself, out of great love, the God who is common to all.
1 Cor. 1:4. For you, on account of the grace of God.
This teaches the Corinthians as well to always nurture grateful feelings toward God and not toward their own works, for he says: I give thanks "for the grace of God," and not for your works.
1 Cor. 1:4. Given to you in Christ Jesus.
That is, through Christ Jesus, and not through such-and-such a person. Why then do you give heed to men?