The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 13

pC'nce." If men hn'l"e these they have all. 2. The highest good from the highc,t Sor,rce. "God the Father." Men need this good; Heaven only can bestow it. Y crs. 4-9.-E.remplary grati:tnde and precious confidence. "I thank my God alwa~·s on yonr he half," etc. Here we have two blessed states of mind-(1) exemplary yratitwie, and (2) Jfferious confidence. I. EXEMPLARY a1· \TITlJDF.. "I thank my God always on your behalf." Tho gratitude here was: 1. Unselfish. "On your behalf." It is right and well to praise God for what he has done for us, but it is a higher and nobler thing to praise him for what he has done for others. No ma'."! rightly appreciates a blessing who does not desire others to participate in it. The sublimity of a landscape is more than doubly enjoyed when one or more stand by your side to share your admiration. 2. Por spiritual good. "For the grace of God." (1) That grace which "enriched in all utterance and in all knowledge." Two splendid girts these, where they are inspired by the" grace of God," and properly related. "Utterance," apart from "knowledge," is worthless and pernicious. Volubilities and garrulousness are social evils. "Know- ledge" is of no 'l"alue to others, unless it has effective" utterance." Knowledge, with a powerful natural oratory, will move the world; it has shivered dynastied, converted millions, and created Churches. (2) That grace which confirmed in their experience the testimony of Christ. Their spiritual experience confirmed the testimony. What higher gift than this-a personal realization of Christianity? (3) 'l'hat grace which inspired them with a practical hope of the appearance of Christ. "Waiting for the coming of our Lord." 3. Lin habitual state of mind. "I thank my God always." It was not an occasional sentiment; it was a settled attitude of heart. II. PRECIOtiS CONFIDEKCE. The apostle seems to have had confidence in three things in relation to Christ. 1. In his peifecting character. "Who shall also confirm you unto ihe end." So perfecting it that it shall be "blameless." All moral imperfections remo'l"ed. 2. In his appearing again. "In the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." The day-when he will appear. This day is the day of days for humanity. 3. In his granting them companionship. '" Unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." "Vvhere I am there ye shall be also." Unshaken confidence in these things, bow precious I Vers. 10-13.-The importance of spiritual unity. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord," etc. Here the apostle comes to the grand object of writing this letter: it was to put an end to that party spirit that had riven the Church at Corinth into conflicting divisions. His remarks on this subject continue to eh. iv. 20. There are two things here which show the transcendent importance which he attached to spiritual ,mity-(1) his solemn exhortation, and (2) his earnest expostulation. I. His SOLEMN EXHORTATION. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing," etc. What union does he seek? Not ecclesiastical union, conformity to the same system of worship. Not theological union, conformity to the eame scheme of doctrine. Such unions cannot touch hearts, cannot weld souls. They are the union of the various parts of the machine, not the union of the branches of a tree. 1. The unity he seeks is that of spiritual utterance. " That ye all speak the same thing." Not the same thing in letter, but in life. Let the utterances be as varied as all the notes in the gamut, but let love, like the key-note, tune them into music. 2. The unity he seeks is that of unity of soul. " That ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." These include unity of the supreme sympathy and aim. Of such unity Christ alone is the Centre. Creeds divide; Christ unites. Accordin:i; to the laws of mind, all that love Christ supremely, though separated in person by distances immeasurable, are one in heart, one as planets are one, revolving round the same centre. This is the union that Paul sought; this is Divine socialism. No wonder that he was solemn in his entreaties. "In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ" he asks it. II. Hrs EARNEST EXPOSTULATION. Divisions or schisms were rife and rampant in the Church at Corinth at this time. Some person of the name of Chloe, unknown to u~, but evidently well known to Paui and his contemporaries of the Corinthian Church, brought 1hese divisions under Paul's notice, told him of the 1:ontentions We must, 1 011. 1. 1-31.J THE FITIS'l' EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 11