1 Coríntios 1
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 1
Wiersbe - The Greek word (ploutizo) translated “enriched” gives us our English word plutocrat, “a very wealthy person.” The Corinthians were especially rich in spiritual gifts (2 Cor. 8:7), but were not using these gifts in a spiritual manner. The fact that God has called us, set us apart, and enriched us ought to encourage us to live holy lives. (The Bible Exposition Commentary) They were rendered plutocrats, spiritually. They had a wealth of enrichment. -- Ray Stedman Smith - The new life in Christ is enriched with a new value and a new power. There is a deeper knowledge of God, a clear vision of the treasure of His Word, and fuller expression of all these in the life. Truly he is a rich man. Rich in faith, rich toward God. MacArthur on in everything...in Him - We have everything that Christ has to give, and He gives everything we need—though many times not everything we want. God’s “divine power has granted (ED: perfect tense = a permanent gift!) to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3+), which is all a believer needs and should be all he wants. In Jesus Christ we “have been made complete” (Col. 2:10+). “All things belong to [us]” (1 Cor. 3:21+). (1 Corinthians MacArthur New Testament Commentary)
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Wiersbe - Yet with all their gifts and knowledge, they lacked love (1 Cor 13:1–3+) and could not get along with each other. Spiritual gifts do not take the place of spiritual graces. (Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament) David
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Wiersbe - We do not know who the people were who belonged to “the house of Chloe,” but we commend them for their courage and devotion. They did not try to hide the problems. They were burdened about them; they went to the right person with them; and they were not afraid to be mentioned by Paul. This was not the kind of “cloak and dagger” affair that we often see in churches—activities that usually make the problem worse and not better. (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary) Vincent on Chloe's people - The persons may have been slaves who had come to Ephesus on business for their mistress, or members of her family. Chloe means tender verdure, and was an epithet of Demeter (Ceres), the goddess of agriculture and rural life. It is uncertain whether she belonged to the Corinthian or to the Ephesian church. (1 Corinthians 1 Commentary) That there are quarrels (eris) among you - Here is the basic problem. There were not just differences of opinion, which are normal in every church, but overt quarrels which the result that there were divisions. As Jack Arnold points out "The logical sequence is opinions, then quarrels, and then divisions. These divisions come about over secondary theological issues or personal preferences when someone says, “My opinion is right and everybody else is absolutely wrong.” This kind of thinking always results in schism, a splinter church, a fragmented church or a denomination. The Apostle Paul says that this kind of reasoning is of the flesh. No wonder the Corinthians were said to be carnal, worldly and fleshly." It is notable that Paul used the same Greek word (eris) translated quarrels in his letter to the Galatians writing "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife (eris) , jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice (present tense - as their habitual practice or lifestyle) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:19-21+) As we see in the the rest of the letter to the Corinthians the Galatian passage could have been an apt description of the church at Corinth (e.g., immorality, disputes, dissensions, factions, etc). Clearly, quarrels indicated that these saints were acting in a fleshly, non-spiritual manner. They were grieving the Spirit and His supernatural power would have been quenched preventing the body from experiencing Spirit wrought unity and fellowship. In fact Paul emphasized their fleshly condition using eris a second time in 1 Cor 3:3+ declaring "you are still fleshly (sarkikos). For since there is jealousy and strife (eris) among you, are you not fleshly (sarkikos), and are you not walking (LIVING, CONDUCTING YOUR LIVES) like mere (NATURAL, UNREGENERATE) men?" Quarrels (2054)(eris) means contention, wrangling, quarrels. It refers to engagement in rivalry, especially with reference to positions taken in a matter! It conveys ideas of self-centered rivalry and contentiousness and is an expression of enmity with bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension. It has no place even for simple tolerance, much less for humility or love.
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Wiersbe - How, then, did the Corinthians create this four-way division? Why were there quarrels (“contentions”) among them? One answer is that they were looking at the Gospel from a philosophical point of view. Corinth was a city filled with teachers and philosophers, all of whom wanted to share their “wisdom.” Another answer is that human nature enjoys following human leaders. We tend to identify more with spiritual leaders who help us and whose ministry we understand and enjoy. Instead of emphasizing the message of the Word, the Corinthians emphasized the messenger. They got their eyes off the Lord and on the Lord’s servants, and this led to competition. (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary) Ray Stedman thinks this fourth group were the worst because they likely had a spirit of self-righteous smugness. Spurgeon agrees writing that "The last were as bad as the others, it makes no difference what the party name is, for it may only thinly conceal the most sectarian spirit to say, “I am of Christ.” MacArthur on those who said "I of Christ" - They had the right name but it is clear from Paul’s accusation that they did not have the right spirit. Perhaps like some “Christ only” groups today they felt they had no need for human instructors—despite the Lord’s specific provision for and appointment of human preachers, teachers, and other leaders in His church (1 Cor. 1:1; 12:28; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 1:11; etc.). (1 Corinthians)
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Wiersbe - When we trace human history, we discover a record of man gaining more and more knowledge, but less and less real wisdom, especially about spiritual matters. (Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament)
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Wiersbe has an excellent summary of this section - God’s wisdom is revealed primarily in the cross of Jesus Christ, but not everybody sees this. Paul pointed out that there are three different attitudes toward the cross. Some stumble at the cross (v. 23a)....Some laugh at the cross (v. 23b)....Some believe and experience the power and the wisdom of the cross (v. 24). (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary) We preach Christ crucified (stauroo), to Jews a stumbling block (a skandalon > A "SCANDAL") - This is the truest of all signs the Jews sought (but did not have spiritual eyes to see) -- Christ crucified, and it is authenticated by the greatest sign, Christ's resurrection from the dead. In fact these truths became a stumbling block (skandalon) for the Jews or as Lenski bluntly put it were like a "deathtrap!" Preach (kerusso) is present tense signifying this was Paul's (and whoever "we" is) habitual practice. As Paul wrote later to the Galatians, to the Jews, the cross was a stumbling block (Gal 5:11+). Christ tripped up the Jews and they stumbled over the Messiah because they were looking for a conquering King, not a suffering Lamb (Jn 1:29+, Isaiah 53+). The preacher is just a conduit (a Word filled and Spirit filled vessel) through whom the message from God is heralded.
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Wiersbe - The Corinthians had a tendency to be “puffed up” with pride (1 Cor. 4:6, 18–19; 5:2). But the Gospel of God’s grace leaves no room for personal boasting. God is not impressed with our looks, our social position, our achievements, our natural heritage, or our financial status. Note that Paul wrote many, not any. In the New Testament, we do meet some believers with “high social standing,” but there are not many of them. The description Paul gave of the converts was certainly not a flattering one (1 Cor. 6:9–11). (Be Wise (1 Corinthians):) Not many mighty (dunatos) - This refers especially to those with political or military power. They appear mighty to other men, but not to God. Lowell
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Wiersbe - God chose the foolish, the weak, the base (“low born”), and the despised to show the proud world their need and His grace. The lost world admires birth, social status, financial success, power, and recognition. But none of these things can guarantee eternal life. The message and miracle of God’s grace in Jesus Christ utterly confounds (“puts to shame”) the high and mighty people of this world. The wise of this world cannot understand how God changes sinners into saints, and the mighty of this world are helpless to duplicate the miracle. God’s “foolishness” confounds the wise; God’s “weakness” confounds the mighty! The annals of church history are filled with the accounts of great sinners whose lives were transformed by the power of the Gospel. In my own ministry, as in the ministry of most pastors and preachers, I have seen amazing things take place that the lawyers and psychologists could not understand. We have seen delinquent teenagers become successful students and useful citizens. We have seen marriages restored and homes reclaimed, much to the amazement of the courts. (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament) And God has chosen (eklego = aorist tense middle voice) the weak (asthenes) things of the world (kosmos) to shame (Kataischuno) the things which are strong (ischuros) - Note this section emphasizes God's sovereign choosing (eklego used 3x). This is a humbling truth to prideful man. But the pride of man will be put to shame when the final curtain falls on this present evil age and these "wise" and "strong" people will be utterly and completely humiliated, disgraced and for to "blush," when they see Jesus the King of kings! And not only will they feel overwhelming shame (and fear) when they see the glorified Jesus, they will be eternally disgraced and suffer the wrath of God because they treated flippantly and rejected His gospel, His Word, and His children. Those who today stand with heads raised in snooty pride will one say bow them in disgrace before the Great White Throne where they are judged and condemned to eternal torment in the Lake of Fire. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the GREAT and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15+) ILLUSTRATION - During the Week of Champions revival, Paul Anderson, at that time the strongest man in the world, was giving his testimony. In one of the isles near the platform was a young man in a wheel-chair with the glow of Christ on his face. A young man came forward and gave his heart to Jesus. When asked what Paul Anderson said that spoke to his heart, he said, “Oh, it was nothing Paul said. When I saw the glow of the Lord on the face of that man in the wheel-chair, I said that if God could put that much joy in a cripple's heart, I wanted Jesus in my life.” God usually chooses the Ordinary rather than the Outstanding; The Common rather than the Cultured; The blue collar folks rather than the blue blood folks. The world looks for Heroes; God seeks the Humble. The world looks for the Somebodies; God seeks Nobodies. Related Resources: List of multiple online resources related to election Dr Wayne Grudem - Systematic Theology Chapter 32 Election and Reprobation When and why did God choose us? Are some not chosen?) Jesus spoke of a similar principle in Luke - "And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." (Luke 16:15+)
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Wiersbe - God chose the foolish, the weak, the base (“low born”), and the despised to show the proud world their need and His grace. The lost world admires birth, social status, financial success, power, and recognition. But none of these things can guarantee eternal life. (BEC) Nullify (do away, nullify, void, cancel,) (2673)(katargeo rom kata = intensifies meaning + argeo = to be idle or inactive from argos = ineffective, idle, inactive from a = without + érgon = work) literally means to reduce to inactivity. The idea is to make the power or force of something ineffective and so to render powerless, reduce to inactivity. Uses in the letters to Corinth - 1 Co. 1:28; 1 Co. 2:6; 1 Co. 6:13; 1 Co. 13:8; 1 Co. 13:10; 1 Co. 13:11; 1 Co. 15:24; 1 Co. 15:26; 2 Co. 3:7; 2 Co. 3:11; 2 Co. 3:13; 2 Co. 3:14; Serving the Smallest God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things. 1 Corinthians 1:28 Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 14:15–23 The video showed a man kneeling beside a busy freeway during an out-of-control brush fire. He was clapping his hands and pleading with something to come. What was it? A dog? Moments later a bunny hopped into the picture. The man scooped up the scared rabbit and sprinted to safety. How did the rescue of such a small thing make national news? That’s why. There’s something endearing about compassion shown to the least of these. It takes a big heart to make room for the smallest creature. Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a man who gave a banquet and made room for everyone who was willing to come. Not just the movers and shakers but also “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke 14:21+). I’m thankful that God targets the weak and the seemingly insignificant, because otherwise I’d have no shot. Paul said, “God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things . . . so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29). How big must God’s heart be to save a small person like me! In response, how large has my heart grown to be? I can easily tell, not by how I please the “important people,” but by how I serve the ones society might deem the least important. By: Mike Wittmer What types of people do you have a hard time valuing? In what ways might God want you to change that? God, as Your servants please help us to value others the way You do, regardless of who they are or what they do. Bishop Simpson - In some of the great halls of Europe may be seen pictures not painted with the brush, but mosaics, which are made up of small pieces of stone, glass, or other material. The artist takes these little pieces, and, polishing and arranging them, he forms them into the grand and beautiful picture. Each individual part of the picture may be a little worthless piece of glass or marble or shell; but, with each in its place, the whole constitutes the masterpiece of art. So I think it will be with humanity in the hands of the great Artist. God is picking up the little worthless pieces of stone and brass that might be trodden under foot unnoticed, and is making of them His great masterpiece. D L Moody - NOTICE that all the men whom Christ called around Him were weak men in a worldly sense. They were all men without rank, without title, without position, without wealth or culture. Nearly all of them were fishermen and unlettered men; yet Christ chose them to build up His kingdom. When God wanted to bring the children of Israel out of bondage, He did not send an army; He sent one solitary man. So in all ages God has used the weak things of the world to accomplish His purposes.
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Wiersbe - And why does God reveal the foolishness and the weakness of this present world system, even with its philosophy and religion? “That no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:29). Salvation must be wholly of grace; otherwise, God cannot get the glory. It is this truth that Paul wanted to get across to the Corinthians, because they were guilty of glorying in men (1 Cor. 3:21). If we glory in men—even godly men like Peter and Paul and Apollos—we are robbing God of the glory that He alone deserves. It was this sinful attitude of pride that was helping to cause division in the church. (BEC) no man may boast before God - KJV = "no flesh." ESV = "no human being." Compare Jeremiah 9:23 "“Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom." Those who are not wise, who are weak in the world's eyes and of low social class know they have no reason to boast in the sight of God. It is not what I have, but Christ who has me It is not what I can give, but in Christ who gave Himself upon the Tree It is who He is, and only for His glory That we may have the honor and blessing to proclaim His story
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Wiersbe applies this truth to the problem of divisions in Corinth - Since every believer is “in Christ” and he has all that he needs, why compete with each other or compare yourselves with each other? It is the Lord who has done it all! The spiritual blessings that we need are not abstractions that elude our grasp; they are all in a Person, Jesus Christ. He is our wisdom (Col. 2:3), our righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21), our sanctification (John 17:19), and our redemption (Rom. 3:24). Actually, the emphasis here is that God shows His wisdom by means of the righteousness, sanctification, and redemption that we have in Christ.(The Bible Exposition Commentary) Alan Johnson on in Christ - To be in Christ is not a mere mystical experience; it is the objective reality of having been united to Christ by the Holy Spirit and thus sharing in his resurrected life, the new creation (2 Cor 5:17) and the new community that is his body (1 Cor 12:12–13). (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Related Resources: See in Christ and in Christ Jesus Ray Ortlund writes We’re in Him the way a baby’s in a womb—but better. We’re in Him the way a moth is in a chrysalis—but better. We’re in Him the way a deep-sea diver’s in his diving suit—but better. We’re in Him the way birds are in the air, or fish are in the sea—but better. Utley on by His doing - This is literally “out of Him,” which is a Greek idiom expressing the First Cause, the Prime Mover. The Father sent it, Jesus brought it, and the Spirit energized it. What follows is a list of God’s gifts to believers through Christ. (1 Corinthians 1 Commentary) Pritchard on by His doing - “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus.” It’s not your wisdom or your intellect or your memorized Bible verses that brought you to Jesus. And you are not a Christian because you are a good person or a church member or because your father was a preacher and your mother was a Sunday School teacher. Salvation is of the Lord. God wants us to know that he is the reason we came to Christ. Ray
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Wiersbe adds that the saints at Corinth had "ignored the fact that they were called into a wonderful spiritual fellowship with the Lord and with each other. Instead, they were identifying with human leaders and creating divisions in the church. Instead of glorifying God and His grace, they were pleasing themselves and boasting about men." (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary) Redemption (629)(apolutrosis from apo = marker of dissociation or separation + lutroo = to redeem <> from lutron/lytron = ransom <> from lúo = loosen what is bound, loose any person tied or fastened - WE WERE FAST BOUND BY SIN AND SATAN!) is literally the act of buying back of a slave or captive through payment of a ransom and hence releasing them or setting them free. It is the payment of a price to ransom (lutron/lytron = money for a ransom = price paid for a slave set free by the one who bought him), a letting go of someone (breaking the shackles that bound them) after the ransom has been paid (cf 1 Pe 1:18-19+)! To release (from the power and authority of someone, spiritually speaking from Sin, Satan). To buy back or to deliver one from a situation from in which one is powerless to liberate themselves (DEAR "SET FREE" BELIEVER, READ THAT AGAIN! YOU WERE POWERLESS AGAINST SIN! IT WAS YOUR HARSH TASKMASTER!) or for which the penalty was so costly that they could never hope to pay the ransom price. For believers this glorious redemption in Christ is in time and for eternity! That should make us all shout "Hallelujah!" THOUGHT - Are you living like one Christ has been set free from the shameful shackles of sin, or are you still allowing Sin to place the shackles back on your hands by committing habitual sin? Just wondering (and asking myself also!) Apolutrosis is used 10 glorious times in NT all except Heb 11:35 referring to the redemption provided by and in Christ. - Lk. 21:28+ = your redemption (REDEEMER - cf Lk 21:27) is drawing near (now for us His soon return! cf Lk 2:38+ we need godly Anna's attitude!); Ro 3:24 = justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;; Ro 8:23 = waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body (OUR GLORIFIED BODY - REDEMPTION IS PAST TENSE AND FUTURE TENSE!); 1 Co. 1:30; Eph. 1:7 = In Him we have redemption through His blood (THE PURCHASE PRICE), the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace; Eph. 1:14 = The Holy Spirit "is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession (GLORIFICATION) Eph. 4:30 = sealed for the day of redemption (GLORIFICATION); Col. 1:14 = in CHRIST we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (NOTE THIS "DEFINITION" OF REDEMPTION = FORGIVENESS OF SINS!) Heb. 9:15 = a death has taken place (CHRIST CRUCIFIED) for the redemption of the transgressions; Heb. 11:35 not accepting their release (of the OT martyrs who refused to redeem themselves from torture by denying God) ILLUSTRATION - An uncle took his young nephew to swim in the ocean when the boy was suddenly attacked by a shark – bitting him so hard it completely severed his leg. With great courage the uncle grabbed a baseball bat, jumped into the water with the shark, and clubbed it until the shark released his nephew's detached leg! The uncle then picked up his nephew and his severed leg and raced to the hospital. Doctors successfully reattached the leg and his nephew was able to walk again. This provides a picture of redemption: winning back what was "lost"! Infinitely greater is our redemption by Christ so we can regain what we have forfeited by our sins! Christ won this back at Calvary by the price of His own blood.Eph 1:7." (Gary Hill) A dignified looking lady once approached the great preacher Dr. G. Campbell Morgan and said, “Dr. Morgan, I don’t like to hear about the blood. It is repulsive to me and offends my esthetic nature." Dr. Morgan replied, “I agree with you that it is repulsive, but the only thing repulsive about it is your sin and mine." It is repulsive to man, but it is through His blood that we have redemption.