1 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 1:1

SOsthenes,] according to some it is the same as is mentioned, Acts 18:17.

1 Corinthians 1:2

In Jesus Christ,] namely by vertue of their spirituall union with him, by which they have receaved the spirit of sanctification Called,] which are by Gods calling them to the participation of Gods grace and covenant, severed from the world, purified i themselves from sinne, and consecrated to Gods service: in which three points consists the sanctity of man.

1 Corinthians 1:4

By Jesus Christ,] namely by the communion which you have by faith with him, and with the whole Church.

1 Corinthians 1:5

In every thing,] he meanes particularly, the miraculous gifts of tongues and of the knowledge of the mysteries of the Christian faith, infused in those dayes by the Holy Ghost into diverse persons, as well for the confirmation of the faith, as for the speedy provision of persons capable either of founding Churches, or continuing to build those which were already founded by the Apostles.

1 Corinthians 1:6

The testimony,] namely the preaching of the Gospell, by which is declared all that wee ought to know or beleeve of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:1.

1 Corinthians 1:7

The comming,] the Italian, The manifestation,] namely his last comming and appearing in glory, Colossians 3:4. 1 Pet. 4. 13. 1 Iohn 2. 28.

1 Corinthians 1:8

Blamelesse,] that is to say conveniently qualified to be approved to bee true Christians, and acceptable. See Iames 2 24.

1 Corinthians 1:9

Faithfull,] namely to accomplish his grace by the continuall assistance of his spirit, and by his safeguard and protection against all assaults, &c. ac¦cording to his most holy promises made to all his Elect, to whom also he giveth grace to be correspondent on their sides, by all duties required.

1 Corinthians 1:10

By the name,] as the name of Christ which you beare, and whereof you make profes¦sion, ought to bee deare unto you Divisions,] that is to say Ecclesiasticall partialities 1 Corinthians 11:18.

1 Corinthians 1:12

I am,] I take the part of such, or such a Pastor of the Church, against another. Now Saint Paul makes use of his owne name, and of other Apostles names, onely for an example; For the heads of these factions, were of the Pastors of Corinth it selfe, 1 Corinthians 4:6 Of Christ, words of some od men,] which were enemies of these factions, and that would call them selves by no other name but CHRISTS. Or of some who under this holy name would separate themselves from all the rest.

1 Corinthians 1:13

Is Christ,] though hee hath diverse Ministers, and instruments, hath he any more than one Church, or one body, or one Kingdome?

1 Corinthians 1:14

I bapized,] it is likely that he employed Silas, and Timothy, Acts 18:5. in the act of baptizing, the great number which beleeved and was baptized, Acts 18:8. when he was at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 1:15

In mine owne name,] as to binde them unto me, to acknowledge me for their head.

1 Corinthians 1:16

Any other,] namely in your Church.

1 Corinthians 1:17

Sent me not,] Matth. 28. 19. the Apostles were sent both to preach, and to baptize. And therefore the meaning is here, that the Apostles charge was chiefly to lay the foundation of Churches by preaching, without being tide to baptize all the beleevers one by one, with a particular instruction and examination, See Hebrews 6:2. which was left to the care of the ordinary Pastors, established by them in the Churches, by meanes of those foresaid miraculous gifts, by which they were in an instant made capable of this calling With wisdome,] Namely in termes of philosophicall wisdome, or Rethoricall arr. Now the Apostle plainely begins to tax the Corinthians other vice, which was the affectation of worldly eloquence, which also peradventure gave occasion to the foresaid divisions The Crosse,] that the divine meanes of saving the world by Christs crosse, which hath in it all the caracters of humility, may not bee weakened, by an ill beseeming way of propounding it: nor disfigured by a pompous manner of preaching.

1 Corinthians 1:18

For,] because that notwithstanding the sinister judgements of worldly men, who have no part in eternall salvation; this plaine way of preaching the Gospell is, accompanied with the power of Gods spirit, to lively perswasion, and salvation, but worldly art hath no such promise nor co-operation The preaching,] the Italian, The word,] namely the doctrine of the Gospell, as well in its owne substance which is CARIST crucified, as in its forme fitted to the subject, in simplicitie and humilitie.

1 Corinthians 1:19

For it is,] hee gives a reason why this doctrine is so disdained amongst worldly men, namely because according to the Prophets threatning, it hath pleased God to appoint a meanes of salvation, so alien from worldly wisdome, that it is confounded and dazeled at it.

1 Corinthians 1:20

The wise,] that understands these things by his owne naturall wisdome The Scbe,] a man of science and understanding, by learning and studdie The disputer,] the Italian, The search 〈◊〉,] so they called the most modest kind of Philosophers especially the Socratists Made foolsh,] not onely mde it appeare, that it is nothing but meere folly, in respect of divine and everlasting things, and of the Soveraigne and sole end of man: but hee hath also by this object of the Gopell, so absurd in humane understanding, but in it selfe altogether divine; stupified and dulled carnall wisdome: and that by a judgement, against the contempt of his wisdome, shewed in the creation, and in the whole order of nature.

1 Corinthians 1:21

In the wisdome,] namely in the frame and Table of this world, which represents the infinite wisdome of God in its creation and conduct. By wsdome,] namely by the right use of reason and discourse. See Iohn 1. 5, 10 By the foolishnesse,] namely by the Gospell which according to the understanding of the flesh is but a shallownesse: for the Iewes doe not finde therein, the greatnesse of the miracles of heaven, and of the clements, as there was in the Ministery of Moses, Ioshua, Elias and others. Nor the Gentiles, the exquisite, and subtile doctrine of Philosophers, nor the eloquence of Orators, by them highly esteemed and admired.

1 Corinthians 1:23

A stumbling blocke,] the Italian A Scandall,] namely a subject of disdaine and of refusall, by reason of the discordancie betweene it and their understanding. See Matthew 11:6.

1 Corinthians 1:24

Christ,] in whose person, office, actions, word, and Kingdome, God manifesteth unto men and communicates unto them his Soveraigne wisdom and power opposite to the Grecians worldly wisdom and to the power of miracles required by the Iews.

1 Corinthians 1:25

Because,] he gives a reason why the Gospell, though esteemed by men to be foolishnesse, and weakenesse, is never the lesse wisdome and power namely because it is Gods, whose least things (if a man may say so) do far exceed the greatest of mens.

1 Corinthians 1:26

For yee see,] the like proceeding God useth in employing such meanes for salvation, as are so contrary to carnall sence; may be also perceaved in the calling of men, amongst which hee often maketh choice of such as are of least esteeme, Matth. 11. 25. as he had likewise done by the Corinthians After the flesh,] that is to say endowed with fleshly wisdome.

1 Corinthians 1:27

To confound,] the Italian, To shame,] Namely to make it appeare, that before him, all worldly power and wisedome is of no esteeme, and how much it hinders the receaving of Gods grace: and therefore to teach us that wee ought altogether to renounce it, if wee meane to make ourselves capable of the glory of Gods Kingdom. See Matthew 18:3.

1 Corinthians 1:28

Which are not,] thus is shewed the totall annihilation of man before God without worth, meits, strength or disposition, Romans 4:17 To bring to nought,] namely, to make us see and feele the vamtie and unprofitablenesse thereof for the end of life everlastng, Things that are,] namely whatsoever the world holdeth to be greatest, and most excellent.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Of him,] having nothing of your owne God hath given you all in Christ according as hee hath made him to bee the spring, and root of all the good things of the Church, namely wisdome in the revelation of the mystery of salvation, righteousnes in satisfaction, and perfect obedience for the justification of man: sanctification in the gift of his spirit of regeneration, and redemption in the last and glorious resurrection, by vertue of the mysticall union with him, Luke 21:28. Romans 8:23.

1 Corinthians 1:31

He that glorieth,] namely he that thinkes worthily of himselfe, and would in truth have reason to doe it, and raise him selfe by elevation of the spirit above the common sort of men: let him seeke and acknowledge all the cause and matter thereof in God alone, and in his grace, to give him all the honour and glory of it.