The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 9

for Y"" 9 " This m1lhnrst of feeling is ,·ery a_postles awoke the sneers of philosophm·s important. ns pr0d11g the imnwa.,nrahle dis- like Celsus and Porphyry. The oroee of tance which, in Paul's own view, separnted Christ. The centml doctl'ine of Christio.nity, him from his Lord. It is also instructive to (he pmachiug of a crucified Redeemer se<' how Si.. Pnul at once denounces the Should be made void. The rendcriug of the .spi,·i/ of party without dc>igning to enter Authorized Version is too strong; the in to the question as to 11•hich party of these cross oaunot " be mnde of none effeot." wr,,ngling "theologians" w~s most or least . 'fhe word means "should be emptied" in the ri.ght. He did not choose to pander (comp. eh. ix. 15; 2 Cor. ix. 3; Phil. ii. 7: to their sectarian spirit by dccidiug between Rom. iv. 14); made void of its specio.l and their various forms of aggressive orthodoxy. independent power. The words, " the cross Into the name (comp. lllatt. xxviii. 19). of Christ," form the emphatic end of the- Ver. 14.-I thank God that I baptized none sentence in the Greek. of yon. St. Paul, in his characteristic man- Vers. 18-25.-The nature of lrue Ch1-i1• ner, "goes off at the word" baptize. He tian preaching. thankc>d God, not by way of any dispnrnge- Ver. 18.-For the preaching of the oross;. mcnt to baptism, but because he had thus rather, the word of the cross. To them that given no excuse to the undue exaltation of are perishing; rather, to the pe-l'ishing ; to all his mm name. Compare the practice of our those who are now walking in the paths that Lord himself, in leaving his disciples to lead to destruction (2 Cor. ii. 15). To them b~ptize (John iv. 2). The apostles would it we.a foolishness, because it requires not have approved the system of wholesale spiritual discernment (eh. ii. 14); and, on baptisms of the heathen which has prevailed the other hand, human wisdom is foolishness in some Romanist missions. Save Crisp118. with God (eh. iii. 19). Foolishness. It shows The ruler of the synagogue (Acts xviii. 8). the heroic character of the faith of St. Paul Doubtless there were some strong special that he delibero.tcly preached the doctrine reasons why, in these instances, St. Paul of the cross because he felt that therein lay departed from his general rule of not per- the conversion and se.lve.tion of the world, sonally baptizing his converts. And Gains. although he was well a.ware that he could Gains of Corinth (Rom_ xvi. 23). It was preach no truth so oerto.in at first to revolt one of the commonest of names. There wa& the unregenerate hearts of his hearers. 1'0 another Gains of Derbe (Acts xx.' 4), and the Jews "the cross " was the tree of shame another J,,71own to St. John (3 John 1). and horror; and a crucified person was Ver. 15.-1 he.d baptized. The better "accursed of God" (Dent. xxi. 23; Go.I. iii. reading, followed by the Revised Version, 13). To the Greeks the cross was the gibhet is, Ye were baptized wnto my name ; tt, A, of a slave's infamy e.nd a murderer's punish- B,O. ment. There was not e. single association ,er. 16.-And I baptized also. This he connected with it except those of shame recalls by an afterthought, being, perhaps, and agony. The thought of "a crucified reminded of it by Stephanas himself. The Messiah" seemed to the Jews o. revolting honsehold of Stephe.ne.s. Stephanas and folly ; the worship of a crucified malefactor his house were the first converts in Achaia seemed to the Greeks "o.n execrable super- (eh. xvi. 5). When con'l'erts became more stition" (Tacitus, 'Ann.,' xv. 44; Pliny, numerous, St. Paul ceased to bapfu:e them 'Epp.' x. 97); yet so little did St. Paul personally (comp. Acts x. 48). I know no!. seek for popularity or immediate success, The inspiration of the apostles involved that this we.s the very doctrine which he none of the mechanical infallibility ascribed put in the forefront, even o.t o. city so to them by popular dogma.. He forgot whether refined and so voluptuous as Corinth. And he had baptized any one else or not, but this the result proved his inspired wisdom. made no difference as regards his ma.in 'fhat very cross became the recognized argument. badge of Christianity, and when three Yer. 17.-Sent me not to baptize, but; that centuries had elapsed it was woven in gold is, according to Semitic idiom," not so much upon the banners and set in jewels on the to baptize, as " (Matt. xxviii. 19). The diadems of the Roman empire. For had not word" sent" (apesteilen) involves the mean- Christ prophesied, "And I, if I be lifted Ul)) mg "made me an apostle" (apostows). The will draw 1111 men unto me"? Unto ns which primary function of the apostles was " to are being saved; who a.re on the way of salvu.- bear witness" (Mark xvL 15; Acts L 8, tion. The same present participle is u1ed etc.). To preach the gospel. St. Paul a.gain in Luke xiii. 23; Acts ii. 47; 2 Cor. ii. 15; " goes off" at this word, and dwells for Rev. xxi. 24. It is the power of God. eight verses on the character of his preach- Because the cross is at the heart or that ing. Not in wisdom of words; not, that is, gospel which is "the power of God unto in a philosophic and oratorical style. The salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. siwplicity of tl..ie style and teacl..iing of the i. 16; viii. 3), though many were tempted en. 1, 1-31.J THE FIHST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 'j