Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians by the Holy Apostle Paul
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Preface to 1 Corinthians
Corinth, famous for its great wealth and wisdom, although it believed in Christ, but having believed, it was in danger of falling away from Christ. For the rich formed their parties, and the wise men theirs, and having chosen their own teachers, they reproached Paul as a poor and uneducated man. In addition, one of them mixed with his stepmother; some, out of gluttony, ate things sacrificed to idols; others were sued before Hellenic judges in pecuniary disputes; further, men grew their hair, ate in churches, and did not give to the needy; they were exalted with spiritual gifts; Regarding the doctrine of the resurrection, they hesitated. The cause of all these disorders was external wisdom; for she is the mother of all evil to those who believe in all things. Therefore, Paul writes an epistle to Corinth with the aim of correcting all this. Since, most importantly, there were divisions in the Church, and this was due to arrogance; then he first of all tries to exterminate arrogance. Those infected with arrogance thought that they were teaching something higher. That is why Paul begins as follows [1].
CHAPTER ONE
Paul, by the will of God called an apostle of Jesus Christ.
This is the beginning, which directly denounces false teachers. I, he says, have been called, and have not invented it myself, have not comprehended it by my own wisdom, and have been sent by Christ, and have not ordained myself, as your teachers did. Jesus Christ. Teacher Christ: How then do you appoint people for your teachers? By the will (δια θελήματος) of God. He saved and called us, not because we were worthy of it, but because it pleased Him. That is why even now He wants me to be your apostle. How do you wish for other teachers? Are you not opponents of God? Note the preposition δια (through), which here refers to the Father.
And Sosthenes is a brother.
Out of modesty, he places along with himself a man who was much smaller than himself; but he does so in order to shame the high-minded Corinthians, who despised everyone.
Church of God, located in Corinth.
The Church is not one or the other, but God's. How then do you have people as leaders? [2] If, again, you are the Church, you must be in perfect unity.
Sanctified in Christ Jesus.
You are sanctified, not in any man, but in Christ, that is, through baptism, and not through wisdom or riches, of which you are proud.
To the called saints.
And the same thing, he says, that ye have believed, not of yourselves, but ye have obeyed and believed, because ye have been called of God. Therefore faith also has its origin in God; for if he had not called, you would not have believed.
With all who come is the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.