The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 6

"Ev1rngc!icnls." But Christ cnnnot thus be Always; that is, constantly; on all occasions "pnrcellccl into fragments" (,eo vere. 12, 13), of special prayer. He could still thank nor !ms nny parly 11 right to bonst ex- God for them, though liis letter was written clusively, "I om of Christ." The audition, '' with many tears" (2 Cor. ii. 4). For the ,. nncl ours," coulcl not be regarded ns super- grace of God. The grace (xc/.pis) of spiritual fluous iu writing to a Church of which one life showing itself in many special spiri- -section wnnted to assert an exclusive right tual gifts (xa.piop.a:ra.), such as "the gift of in Christ. tongues." Which was given you. This is one Ver. 3.-Graoe to you and peace. This of 8t. Paul's "baptismal aorists." He al- is St. Paul's greeling in all the Epistles ways regarcls ancl speaks of the life of the soul ,except the pnRtoral Epistles, in which he as summed up potentially in one supreme beautifully adds the worcl "mercy." It moment ancl crisis-namely, the moment of is a remarkable blending of the Greek conversion and baptism. The grace given and Jewish salutations. The Greeks said once was given for ever, and was continuaily Xa.fpew, and to them the word " grace" in- manifested. In Christ Jesus. St. Paul re- volved the notions of joy and brightness garded the life of the Christian as '' hid ancl prosperity. The calmer and more with Christ in God," and of Christ a.s being solemn greeting of the East was, " Peace be the Christian's life (see Rom. vi. 23; 2 Cor. to thee." The Church unites both forms of iv. 10, 11; Col. iii. 3, 4; 2 Tim. i. 1; 1 John greeting-" grace," the beginning of every v. 11, etc.). blessing ; "peace," the end of all blessings; Ver. 5.-In everything; i.e. of conrse, every and into both she infuses a deeper meaning, gift which belongs specially to the Christian .that of a "joy" "hich defied all tribula- life. In all utterance ; i.e. in all " elo- tions, and e. " peace which pa~seth all under- quence" (.\O')'<,>), or perhaps "in all doc- standing." From God our Father and the trine" (so Luther, Calvin, :lleyer, etc.). The Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Source of word for" utterance" is rhema ; logos means "every goocl gift and every perfect gift." "discourse" and "reason" (comp. 2 Cor. God is our Father as our Creator, and as viii. 7). Knowledge. From the word gnosis the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in is derived the name Gnostic, which was ap- whom we become, in a higher sense, his plied to so many forms of ancient heresy. children. Christ, in his mediatorial king- There was danger to the Corinthian Chris- dom, is specially and immediately •• our tians in the exaggerated estimate of what Lord," though that phrase, now eo univer- they took for gnosis, and many of them were sal, only occurs (in its isolated form) in tempted to pride themselves on purely intel- Heb . .ii. 14. JesWJ Christ. One of St. Paul's lectual attoinments, which were valueless peculiarities of style is the constant reite- for the spiritual life. St. Clement of Rome rntion of one dominnut word. In the first also, in writing to them (' Ep. ad Cor. i.') nine verses of this Epistle, the Name "Jesus speaks of their "mature and established Christ" fa repeated no less than nine times. knowledge." "Observe," says St. Chrysostom, "how he Ver. ti.-Even as ; i.e. "inasmuch as." nails them down to the Name of Christ, not •The testimony of Christ. The testimony mentioning any man, either apostle or borne to Christ by the apostle. The geni- teacher, but continually mentioning him for tive is thus objective (about Christ), not sub- whom they yeo.rn, as men preparing to jective (" the testimony borne by Christ"). awaken those who are drnwsy e.fter a de- In reality, however, the meanin.~ would be bauch. For nowhere in any other Epistle the same in either case, for if the apostles is the Name of Christ so continually intro- testified concerning Christ, so, too, Christ duced. . . . By means of it he weaves to- spoke in the apostles. Was confirmed in gtther almost his whole exordium." you. This does not merely mean "that the Vere. 4-9.-The thanksgiving. The truth of Christianity was established among thar.ksgiving is a feAture in almost every them," but that they were Ii ving confirma- Epistle of St. Paul, except the Epistle to tions of the apostolic testimony. the Gnlatians, in which he plunges at once Ver. 7.-So that ye come behind in no gift. intu severe reprobation. The "gifts" are here the charismata. Ver. 4.-I thank my God. It is probable, gruces, such as powers of healing, etc., from papyrus rolls in the British llluseum, which were the result of the outpouring of that the general form ancl outline of letters the t,pirit. The sequel shows thut they was more 01· less conventional. In St. Paul, were rather outward tllau inward; they were however, this thnnksgiving is the natural splendid endowments ratter than spiritual overflow of a full heart. It was no mere fruits. Yet even these were not wholly compliment or rhetorical ortifire like the wanting, oe we see from 2 Cor. viii. 7. Tho captatio benevolentiro, or endeavouring to Greek may also mean "causing you not to be win the heare1·e by fluttery, wl,ich we find in co11sciou;J of inferiority." Waiting; expect- most e.ncient speeches. My God (Hom. i. 8). ing, not fearing it. '!'his was the co11stant.  THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE COlUN'l'HIANS. [en. r. 1-31.