k For we stretch not ourselves be so have I strived to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest It Paul... found a yond our mea should build upon another man's foundation:* 21 but as it is written, “To l sure, as though we reached not unto you...and not to boast in hindered from coming to you. another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 2 Co. 10, 14, 16. ? Is. 52, 15. Or, many ways, or, oftentimes. 24 certain Jew named Aquila... lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome.)... Ac. 18, 26; and 1 Co. 16, 19. Ac. 20, 2. WHOM HE WAS NOT SPOKEN OF, THEY SHALL SEE; AND THEY THAT HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.' 22 For which cause also I have been 'much 23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you:" for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward Ac. 18, 2, with by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints." 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual would have enm... Oftentimes things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. 29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. 30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of Rome....Ac. 19, 31 that I see the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; ...In prisons... be delivered from them that do not believe in Judæa; and ...Comforted to that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 32 that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed." 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. I purposed to come unto you. ...Ch. 1, 13. n...After I have been there I must also 21. gether with you. ...Ch. 1, 12. K Gr., with you. o Ac. 20, 16, 22. 1 Co. 16, 1-4. p Pr. 19, 21. 2 16 COMMEND unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 that ye receive her in the Lord, Christ. as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners," who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. them which are of Aristobulus' "household. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the "household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss." The churches of Christ salute you. 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have into Syria, and learned; and avoid them. 18 8 For they that are such serve not our Lord cilla and Aquila, Jesus Christ, but their own belly ;" and by good words and fair speeches having shorn his deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For obedience is come abroad unto chrea, for he all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you had a vow. Ac. wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 18, 18. Mat. 18, 8, 17. Col. 2, 8. 2 Th. 3, 6, 14. 1 Ti. 6, 3. 2 Ti. 3, 2. 2 Jno. 10. a Ez. 13, 19. Ph. 3, 18, 19. 2 Pe. 2, 3. 20 And the God | § Or, harmless. of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea. c Erastus abode at Corinth...... 2 Ti. 4, 20. Acts The First Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the CORINTHIANS. (xix., 10.) BOTH ecclesiastical tradition and internal evidence unite in ascribing this epistle to the apostle Paul. During his first visit to Corinth, and his residence there for a year and six months, Paul had formed a Christian church which appears to have been largely endowed with spiritual gifts. Into this church, after his departure, abuses and disorders of various sorts had crept; intelligence of which had been conveyed to the apostle. One of the chief of these was sectarian division—“ Every one said, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ." Respecting the number of these sects and the peculiar tenets of each, considerable diversity of opinion exists among interpreters. The popular notion that there were three sects-that of Paul, that of Apollos, and that of Peter-whilst the sound and peaceable members of the church are described as "of Christ," is now universally rejected by scholars as incompatible with the apostle's train of animadversion on the subject. The best writers seem to be divided between the opinion that there were only two parties-the Pauline and the Petrine, to each of which belonged a subsection-to the former that of Apollos, to the latter that of Christ; and the opinion that there were four parties-the Pauline, consisting of those whom Paul's preaching had been the means of converting, and who held by his peculiar mode of representing divine truth, that of Apollos, consisting of those converted by him, and not essentially differing in sentiment from those belonging to the Paul party,-that of Peter, consisting chiefly of Jewish converts who retained much of their former particularism, and were jealous of Paul's liberal mode of viewing mankind in relation to the kingdom of God,—and the Christ party, consisting of persons disposed to depreciate apostolic authority, and to assert for themselves an independent position as taught by Christ Himself and amenable only to Him. The latter of these two opinions appears to us the more probable. See the whole question fully and ably discussed in Davidson's Introduction to the New Testament, vol. ii., pp. 223-240. Besides these schisms, other disorders existed in the church at Corinth. Some had fallen into sins of uncleanness; some had formed a grossly immoral connection without being brought under the discipline of the church; and they had been in the habit of appealing to heathen tribunals for the settlement of differences which ought to have been settled by the church. Contrary to the customs of the day, the women appeared in public unveiled, xi., 2-10; those who possessed spiritual gifts exercised them in a disorderly manner; and finally the church did not unite as brethren in their Agapæ, but the richer members ate their sumptuous repast by themselves, leaving the poorer to want. Differences of opinion also upon some points of Christian doctrine and ethics prevailed among them. There were some who doubted or denied the resurrection of the body; the subject of marriage had occasioned perplexity to some; and they were divided on the subject of eating meats that had been offered by their heathen neighbours to idols. Of this state of things in the church information had reached the apostle through various channels; and it even appears that on some of these points his counsel had been asked by the Corinthians. This furnished the occasion of the apostle's writing this epistle, which is chiefly occupied in rectifying the errors, censuring the disorders, and solving the difficulties of the church to which it is addressed. Some have supposed, in consequence of an expression used in Ch. v., 9, that this epistle was not the first addressed by Paul to the church at Corinth in reference to the state of things in it; but this is exceedingly doubtful. The reader will find the one view ingeniously supported by Mr. Birks, in his recent edition of Paley's Hore Pauline; and the reasons in support of the other view adduced in Kitto's Biblical Cyclopædia, Art., Corinthians, First Epistle to the. This epistle was written at Ephesus, towards the close of the apostle's second residence in that city, and was despatched to Corinth by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus-the bearers of the church's letter to him, and Titus. Its date may be fixed in the year 57, not long before Pentecost (Ch. xvi., 8, 19). d 1 PAUL, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, Folly, and der Introduction, charity, Corinth, to them that are sanctified' in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of phesy. Ch. 14, 1. Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge: 6even as the a Gr., revelation. testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. A hearts unblame able in holiness before God...... 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Th. 3, 13. Warning a gainst divibrethren to dwell sions and par together in unity. Ps. 133, 1. B Gr., schisms. 9 Ch. 3, 3; & 6, 1. Pr. 13, 10. 2 Co. 12, 20. h Ch. 16, 12. Ac. 18, 24-28; and 19, 1. Tit. 3, 13. i Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israel ites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 2 Co. 11, 22. k...The chief rugogue (Corinth). ler of the syna Ac. 18, 8. 7... Mine host and of the m whole church (Corinth) Ro. 16, 23. fruits of Achaia. ...Ch. 16, 15. ties, 10-16. that in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall in the name of the Lord. Zep. 3, 12. all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions | I will also leave ye among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of trust Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 lest any should say that I had baptized in fellow) say? mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas;" besides I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom" of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power ...... Righteousof God. 19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND WILL BRING TO NOTHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRUDENT. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom? knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness" of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness: 24 but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." .....The first 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of body of sin might God is stronger than men. be 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 and base things of the world, and things 8 which are despised," hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 that no flesh should glory in his presence." Gr., be. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, ....... The power and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption : 31 that, according as it is written," "HE THAT GLORIETH, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD." 2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.* 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in which man's wis- much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men," but in the power that henceforth we should not serve sin. Ro. 6, 6. or, persuasible. a (Who) grope in the dark without light......Job 12, 25. b...... In under standing......Ch. 14, 20. c....Which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest......Ro. d... They knew Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the 16, 25, 26. wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even The atonement the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto of Christ, the sum of Paul's our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew :d for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, "EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR preaching, re- the Spirit, & 16. EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets, which are read every sabbath-day. Ac. 13, 27. e Is. 64, 4. f The anointing THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.' abideth in you; and ye need not that any man teach you...... 1 Jno. 2, 27. 9 Counsel in the heart of man is ...Pr. 20, 5. like deep water. h...The Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, v If a man think himself to be he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Ga. 6, 3. to us the ministry of reconcilia2 Co. 5, tion. 18. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit something when searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; (He) hath given that we might know the things that are freely given' to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness' unto him: neither can he know them, because they are By whom we spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is "judged of no man." 1666 FOR WHO HATH KNOWN THE MIND OF Ga. 4, 7. THE LORD, THAT HE MAY INSTRUCT HIM?" But we have the mind k...... Cunningly devised fables... Christ. 2 Pe. 1, 16. Father. Ro. 8, 15. i...If a son, then an heir of God through Christ. mity against of A Or, tillage. have received grace and apostleship..... Ro. 1, 5. z......If any man 1 Because the car-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto ability not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Ro. 8, 7. m... Filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 1, 9. Col. Or, discerneth. The blessed n Or, discerned. Spirit's teach"......A strangering more imdoth not inter-portant than meddle with his the human in joy. Pr. 14, 10. • Gr., shall. o Is. 40, 13. p...The revela struments, 5 23. tion of Jesus me, as Christ. 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, my people, sayApollos watered;" but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth: but God that giveth the increase." Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers untempered mortogether with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another Ga. 1, buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. q ...... In under-11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus standing. Ch. Christ.a 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it "shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man 'defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple e Ps. 94, 11. 18 Let no man deceive himself. (Paul) continued ye are. If any man among you seemeth ƒ ...That no one of 19 For you to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,d "HEgainst another. TAKETH THE WISE IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS." 20 And again, "THE LORD KNOWETH THE THOUGHTS OF THE WISE, THAT THEY ARE VAIN." 21 Thereu (Apollos) help-fore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 whether Paul, which had be or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, lieved through or things to come; all are yours; 23 and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. |