The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 24

Vers. 1-3.-Christian salutation. I. CHRISTIAN SALUTATION SHOULD BE COURTEOUS. Christianity teaches the truest politeness. It seeks to eradicate the harsh and the 1,rutal. Life is rough enough without our making it rougher; Christianity tends to smooth the ruggedness of life and to make it more kindly. Courtesy in others towards ourselves we greatly value; we have to be towards others what we would have them to be towards us. Paul's courtesy is evidently of the right type-it is heart-courtesy. Surface-courtesy is of little worth. Besides which it is a lie. I I. CHRISTIAN SALUTATION SHOULD BE GENEROUS. Paul's is not conceived in a carping spirit. There is a disposition to look upon the better side. 'l'he Corinthian Church afforded plenty of inducement to severity in an exordium. The apostle declined the temptation. He knew the way to the human heart, and, whilst reserving needed rebuke, he saluted his Corinthian friends (and enemies) in a manner certain to impress them as charitable and large-hearted. Whilst strictly adhering to truth, we must, if we would win men, manifest a spirit of generosity. We are sometimes so terribly afraid of saying too much, that we say altogether too little. We are severely anxious to be just, and become really unjust. Large-heartedness is attractive, and wins; stinginess in sentiment is repulsive, and loses. Insistance upon the dark side often makes it darker. Men need encouragement as well as lecturing, and the exhibition of a noble, sympathetic, generous spirit is one of the most encouraging spectacles that men who are erring and imperfect ,;an be called to look upon. III. CHRISTIAN SALUTATION SHOULD BE CHEERFUL. Many burdens pressed upon the apostle's heart, but he nevertheless gives a cheery greeting to the Corinthians. To start with a groan is not propitious. We have sometimes cause for sorrow; we have always cause for joy if we are in Christ. To wave the black flag is to give but poor welcome. We are to rejoice in the Lord always, and in saluting our brethren we may well let this joy beam forth. Glumness and dismalness are not the chief of the Christian graces, though ~ome seem to think they are. We are not looking forward to a funeral, but to a wedding -" the marriage supper of the Lam b." In Christian intercourse a little more brightness and gladness would not be out of place. IV. CHRISTIAN SALUTATION MAY WELL DE EXTENSIVE. w·e are one family, and all the members ha Ye a claim upon our good wishes. Paul's greeting is not too selective; his sympathies go out to all who call upon the Name of the Lord. Some are very fond of saluting the rich, and have no fondness for saluting the pe>or. One might suppose that a serious mistake had been made in the non-calling of many wise and mighty and uob!e, for some of God's people seem to care for no others. Paul sent an equal greeting to the Corinthian believers; his sentiment was unaffecttd by poverty, ignorance, feeble- ness, or obscurity. Our love is apt to become cramped. '!'he very best of us tend to cm. r. 1-31.] THE FIIlST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 23