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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T C O R I N T H I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. I.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. The preface or introduction to the whole epistle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:1-9">ver. 1-9</A>.
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II. One principal occasion of writing it hinted, namely, their
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divisions and the origin of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:10-13">ver. 10-13</A>.
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III. An account of Paul's ministry among them, which was principally
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preaching the gospel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:14-17">ver. 14-17</A>.
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IV. The manner wherein he preached the gospel, and the different
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success of it, with an account how admirably it was fitted to bring
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glory to God and beat down the pride and vanity of men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:17-31">ver. 17 to the end</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Co1_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostle's Salutation.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Paul, called <I>to be</I> an apostle of Jesus Christ through the
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will of God, and Sosthenes <I>our</I> brother,
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2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
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sanctified in Christ Jesus, called <I>to be</I> saints, with all that
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in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both
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theirs and ours:
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3 Grace <I>be</I> unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and
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<I>from</I> the Lord Jesus Christ.
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4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God
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which is given you by Jesus Christ;
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5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance,
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and <I>in</I> all knowledge;
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6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
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7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of
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our Lord Jesus Christ:
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8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, <I>that ye may be</I>
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blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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9 God <I>is</I> faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship
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of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the apostle's preface to his whole epistle, in which we
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may take notice,</P>
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<P>
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I. Of the inscription, in which, according to the custom of writing
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letters then, the name of the person by whom it was written and the
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persons to whom it was written are both inserted.
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1. It is an epistle from Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, to the
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church of Corinth, which he himself had planted, though there were some
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among them that now questioned his apostleship
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:1,2"><I>ch.</I> ix. 1, 2</A>),
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and vilified his person and ministry,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+10:10">2 Cor. x. 10</A>.
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The most faithful and useful ministers are not secure from this
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contempt. He begins with challenging this character: <I>Paul, called to
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be an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God.</I> He had not
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taken this honour to himself, but had a divine commission for it. It
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was proper at any time, but necessary at this time, to assert his
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character, and magnify his office, when false teachers made a merit of
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running him down, and their giddy and deluded followers were so apt to
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set them up in competition with him. It was not pride in Paul, but
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faithfulness to his trust, in this juncture, to maintain his
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apostolical character and authority. And, to make this more fully
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appear, he joins Sosthenes with him in writing, who was a minister of a
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lower rank. Paul, and Sosthenes his brother, not a fellow-apostle, but
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a fellow-minister, once a ruler of the Jewish synagogue, afterwards a
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convert to Christianity, a Corinthian by birth, as is most probable,
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and dear to this people, for which reason Paul, to ingratiate himself
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with them, joins them with himself in his first salutations. There is
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no reason to suppose he was made a partaker of the apostle's
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inspiration, for which reasons he speaks, through the rest of the
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epistle, in his own name, and in the singular number. Paul did not in
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any case lessen his apostolical authority, and yet he was ready upon
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all occasions to do a kind and condescending thing for their good to
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whom he ministered. The persons to whom this epistle was directed were
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<I>the church of God that was at Corinth, sanctified in Christ Jesus,
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and called to be saints.</I> All Christians are thus far sanctified in
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Christ Jesus, that they are by baptism dedicated and devoted to him,
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they are under strict obligations to be holy, and they make profession
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of real sanctity. If they be not truly holy, it is their own fault and
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reproach. Note, It is the design of Christianity to sanctify us in
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Christ. <I>He gave himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity, and
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purify us to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.</I> In
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conjunction with the church at Corinth, he directs the epistle <I>to
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all that in every place call on the name of Christ Jesus our Lord, both
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theirs and ours.</I> Hereby Christians are distinguished from the
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profane and atheistical, that they dare not live without prayer; and
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hereby they are distinguished from Jews and Pagans, that they call on
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the name of Christ. He is their common head and Lord. Observe, In
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every place in the Christian world there are some that call on the name
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of Christ. God hath a remnant in all places; and we should have a
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common concern for and hold communion with all that call on Christ's
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name.</P>
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<P>
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II. Of the apostolical benediction. <I>Grace be to you, and peace, from
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God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.</I> An apostle of the
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prince of peace must be a messenger and minister of peace. This
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blessing the gospel brings with it, and this blessing every preacher of
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the gospel should heartily wish and pray may be the lot of all among
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whom he ministers. Grace and peace--the favour of God, and
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reconciliation to him. It is indeed the summary of all blessings.
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<I>The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace,</I>
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was the form of benediction under the Old Testament
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+6:26">Num. vi. 26</A>),
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but this advantage we have by the gospel,
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1. That we are directed how to obtain that peace from God: it is in and
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by Christ. Sinners can have no peace with God, nor any good from him,
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but through Christ.
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2. We are told what must qualify us for this peace; namely, grace:
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first grace, then peace. God first reconciles sinners to himself,
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before he bestows his peace upon them.</P>
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<P>
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III. Of the apostle's thanksgiving to God on their behalf. Paul begins
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most of his epistles with thanksgiving to God for his friends and
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prayer for them. Note, The best way of manifesting our affection to our
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friends is by praying and giving thanks for them. It is one branch of
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the communion of saints to give thanks to God mutually for our gifts,
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graces, and comforts. He gives thanks,
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1. For their conversion to the faith of Christ: <I>For the grace which
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was given you through Jesus Christ,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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He is the great procurer and disposer of the favours of God. Those who
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are united to him by faith, and made to partake of his Spirit and
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merits, are the objects of divine favour. God loves them, bears them
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hearty good-will, and bestows on them his fatherly smiles and
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blessings.
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2. For the abundance of their spiritual gifts. This the church of
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Corinth was famous for. They did not come behind any of the churches in
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any gift,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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He specifies <I>utterance and knowledge,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Where God has given these two gifts, he has given great capacity for
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usefulness. Many have the flower of utterance that have not the root of
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knowledge, and their converse is barren. Many have the treasure of
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knowledge, and want utterance to employ it for the good of others, and
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then it is in a manner wrapped up in a napkin. But, where God gives
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both, a man is qualified for eminent usefulness. When the church of
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Corinth was enriched with all utterance and all knowledge, it was fit
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that a large tribute of praise should be rendered to God, especially
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when these gifts were a testimony to the truth of the Christian
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doctrine, a confirmation of the testimony of Christ among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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They were <I>signs and wonders and gifts of the Holy Ghost,</I> by
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which God did bear witness to the apostles, both to their mission and
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doctrine
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:4">Heb. ii. 4</A>),
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so that the more plentifully they were poured forth on any church the
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more full attestation was given to that doctrine which was delivered by
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the apostles, the more confirming evidence they had of their divine
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mission. And it is no wonder that when they had such a foundation for
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their faith they should live in expectation of the coming of their Lord
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Jesus Christ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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It is the character of Christians that they wait for Christ's second
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coming; all our religion has regard to this: we believe it, and hope
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for it, and it is the business of our lives to prepare for it, if we
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are Christians indeed. And the more confirmed we are in the Christian
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faith the more firm is our belief of our Lord's second coming, and the
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more earnest our expectation of it.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Of the encouraging hopes the apostle had of them for the time to
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come, founded on the power and love of Christ, and the faithfulness of
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God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
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He who had begun a good work in them, and carried it on thus far, would
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not leave it unfinished. Those that wait for the coming of our Lord
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Jesus Christ will be kept by him, and confirmed to the end; and those
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that are so <I>will be blameless in the day of Christ:</I> not upon the
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principle of strict justice, but gracious absolution; not in rigour of
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law, but from rich and free grace. How desirable is it to be confirmed
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and kept of Christ for such a purpose as this! How glorious are the
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hopes of such a privilege, whether for ourselves or others! To be kept
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by the power of Christ from the power of our own corruption and Satan's
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temptation, that we may appear without blame in the great day! O
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glorious expectation, especially when the faithfulness of God comes in
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to support our hopes! He <I>who hath called us into the fellowship of
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his Son is faithful, and will do it,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+5:24">1 Thess. v. 24</A>.
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He who hath brought us into near and dear relation to Christ, into
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sweet and intimate communion with Christ, is faithful; he may be
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trusted with our dearest concerns. Those that come at his call shall
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never be disappointed in their hopes in him. If we approve ourselves
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faithful to God, we shall never find him unfaithful to us. <I>He will
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not suffer his faithfulness to fail,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:33">Ps. lxxxix. 33</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="1Co1_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Party-Spirit Reproved.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
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Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and <I>that</I> there be no
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divisions among you; but <I>that</I> ye be perfectly joined together
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in the same mind and in the same judgment.
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11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by
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them <I>which are of the house</I> of Chloe, that there are
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contentions among you.
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12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul;
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and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
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13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye
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baptized in the name of Paul?
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here the apostle enters on his subject.</P>
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<P>
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I. He extorts them to unity and brotherly love, and reproves them for
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their divisions. He had received an account from some that wished them
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well of some unhappy differences among them. It was neither ill-will to
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the church, nor to their ministers, that prompted them to give this
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account; but a kind and prudent concern to have these heats qualified
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by Paul's interposition. He writes to them in a very engaging way:
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"<I>I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;</I>
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if you have any regard to that dear and worthy name by which you are
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called, be unanimous. <I>Speak all the same thing;</I> avoid
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<I>divisions or schisms</I>" (as the original is), "that is, all
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alienation of affection from each other. <I>Be perfectly joined
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together in the same mind,</I> as far as you can. In the great things
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of religion be of a mind: but, when there is not a unity of sentiment,
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let there be a union of affections. The consideration of being agreed
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in greater things should extinguish all feuds and divisions about minor
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ones."</P>
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<P>
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II. He hints at the origin of these contentions. Pride lay at the
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bottom, and this made them factious. <I>Only of pride cometh
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contention,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+13:10">Prov. xiii. 10</A>.
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They quarrelled about their ministers. Paul and Apollos were both
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faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, and helpers of their faith and joy:
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but those who were disposed to be contentious broke into parties, and
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set their ministers at the head of their several factions: some cried
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up Paul, perhaps as the most sublime and spiritual teacher; others
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cried up Apollos, perhaps as the most eloquent speaker; some Cephas, or
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Peter, perhaps for the authority of his age, or because he was the
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apostle of the circumcision; and some were for none of them, but Christ
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only. So liable are the best things in the world to be corrupted, and
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the gospel and its institutions, which are at perfect harmony with
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themselves and one another, to be made the engines of variance,
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discord, and contention. This is no reproach to our religion, but a
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very melancholy evidence of the corruption and depravity of human
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nature. Note, How far will pride carry Christians in opposition to one
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another! Even so far as to set Christ and his own apostles at variance,
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and make them rivals and competitors.</P>
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<P>
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III. He expostulates with them upon their discord and quarrels: "<I>Is
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Christ divided?</I> No, there is but one Christ, and therefore
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Christians should be on one heart. <I>Was Paul crucified for you?</I>
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Was he your sacrifice and atonement? Did I ever pretend to be your
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saviour, or any more than his minister? Or, <I>were you baptized in the
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name of Paul?</I> Were you devoted to my service, or engaged to be my
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disciples, by that sacred rite? Did I challenge that right in you, or
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dependence from you, which is the proper claim of your God and
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Redeemer?" No; ministers, however instrumental they are of good to us,
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are not to be put in Christ's stead. They are not to usurp Christ's
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authority, nor encourage any thing in the people that looks like
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transferring his authority to them. He is our Saviour and sacrifice, he
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is our Lord and guide. And happy were it for the churches if there were
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no name of distinction among them, as Christ is not divided.</P>
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<A NAME="1Co1_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Party-Spirit Reproved.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and
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Gaius;
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15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
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16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I
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know not whether I baptized any other.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here the apostle gives an account of his ministry among them. He thanks
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God he had baptized but a few among them, <I>Crispus,</I> who had been
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a ruler of a synagogue at Corinth
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+18:8">Acts xviii. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Gaius, and the household of Stephanas,</I> besides whom, he says, he
|
|
did not remember that he had baptized any. But how was this a proper
|
|
matter for thankfulness? Was it not a part of the apostolical
|
|
commission to baptize all nations? And could Paul give thanks to God
|
|
for his own neglect of duty? He is not to be understood in such a sense
|
|
as if he were thankful for not having baptized at all, but for not
|
|
having done it in present circumstances, lest it should have had this
|
|
very bad construction put upon it--that he had baptized in his own
|
|
name, made disciples for himself, or set himself up as the head of a
|
|
sect. He left it to other ministers to baptize, while he set himself to
|
|
more useful work, and filled up his time with preaching the gospel.
|
|
This, he thought, was more his business, because the more important
|
|
business of the two. He had assistants that could baptize, when none
|
|
could discharge the other part of his office so well as himself. In
|
|
this sense he says, <I>Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach
|
|
the gospel</I>--not so much to baptize as to preach. Note, Ministers
|
|
should consider themselves sent and set apart more especially to that
|
|
service in which Christ will be most honoured and the salvation of
|
|
souls promoted, and for which they are best fitted, though no part of
|
|
their duty is to be neglected. The principal business Paul did among
|
|
them was to preach <I>the gospel</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>the cross</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Christ crucified,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
Ministers are the soldiers of Christ, and are to erect and display the
|
|
banner of the cross. He did not preach his own fancy, but the
|
|
gospel--the glad tidings of peace, and reconciliation to God, through
|
|
the mediation of a crucified Redeemer. This is the sum and substance
|
|
of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our joys. By
|
|
his death we live. This is what Paul preached, what all ministers
|
|
should preach, and what all the saints live upon.</P>
|
|
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|
<A NAME="1Co1_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Co1_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Efficacy of the Gospel; The Character of the Gospel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>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 of 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 <I>is</I> the wise? where <I>is</I> the scribe? where <I>is</I> 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.
|
|
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the
|
|
weakness of God is stronger than men.
|
|
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise
|
|
men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, <I>are
|
|
called:</I>
|
|
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 which are despised,
|
|
hath God chosen, <I>yea,</I> and things which are not, to bring to
|
|
nought things that are:
|
|
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
|
|
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto
|
|
us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
|
|
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him
|
|
glory in the Lord.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The manner in which Paul preached the gospel, and the cross of
|
|
Christ: <I>Not with the wisdom of words</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>the enticing words of man's wisdom</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:4"><I>ch.</I> ii. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
the flourish of oratory, or the accuracies of philosophical language,
|
|
upon which the Greeks so much prided themselves, and which seem to have
|
|
been the peculiar recommendations of some of the heads of the faction
|
|
in this church that most opposed this apostle. He did not preach the
|
|
gospel in this manner, lest <I>the cross of Christ should be of no
|
|
effect,</I> lest the success should be ascribed to the force of art,
|
|
and not of truth; not to the plain doctrine of a crucified Jesus, but
|
|
to the powerful oratory of those who spread it, and hereby the honour
|
|
of the cross be diminished or eclipsed. Paul had been bred up himself
|
|
in Jewish learning at the feet of Gamaliel, but in preaching the cross
|
|
of Christ he laid his learning aside. He preached a crucified Jesus in
|
|
plain language, and told the people that that Jesus who was crucified
|
|
at Jerusalem was the Son of God and Saviour of men, and that all who
|
|
would be saved must repent of their sins, and believe in him, and
|
|
submit to his government and laws. This truth needed no artificial
|
|
dress; it shone out with the greatest majesty in its own light, and
|
|
prevailed in the world by its divine authority, and the demonstration
|
|
of the Spirit, without any human helps. The plain preaching of a
|
|
crucified Jesus was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy
|
|
of the heathen world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. We have the different effects of this preaching: To those who
|
|
perish it is foolishness, <I>but to those who are saved it is the power
|
|
of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>It is to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness;
|
|
but unto those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
|
|
of God and the wisdom of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:23,24"><I>v.</I> 23, 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. Christ crucified is a stumbling-block to the Jews. They could not
|
|
get over it. They had a conceit that their expected Messiah was to be a
|
|
great temporal prince, and therefore would never own one who made so
|
|
mean an appearance in life, and died so accursed a death, for their
|
|
deliverer and king. They despised him, and looked upon him as
|
|
execrable, because he was hanged on a tree, and because he did not
|
|
gratify them with a sign to their mind, though his divine power shone
|
|
out in innumerable miracles. The Jews require a sign,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+12:38">Matt. xii. 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. He was to the Greeks foolishness. They laughed at the story of a
|
|
crucified Saviour, and despised the apostles' way of telling it. They
|
|
sought for wisdom. They were men of wit and reading, men that had
|
|
cultivated arts and sciences, and had, for some ages, been in a manner
|
|
the very mint of knowledge and learning. There was nothing in the plain
|
|
doctrine of the cross to suit their taste, nor humour their vanity, nor
|
|
gratify a curious and wrangling temper: they entertained it therefore
|
|
with scorn and contempt. What, hope to be saved by one that could not
|
|
save himself! And trust in one who was condemned and crucified as a
|
|
malefactor, a man of mean birth and poor condition in life, and cut off
|
|
by so vile and opprobrious a death! This was what the pride of human
|
|
reason and learning could not relish. The Greeks thought it little
|
|
better than stupidity to receive such a doctrine, and pay this high
|
|
regard to such a person: and thus were they justly left to perish in
|
|
their pride and obstinacy. Note, It is just with God to leave those to
|
|
themselves who pour such proud contempt on divine wisdom and grace.
|
|
|
|
3. To those who are called and saved <I>he is the wisdom of God, and
|
|
the power of God.</I> Those who are called and sanctified, who receive
|
|
the gospel, and are enlightened by the Spirit of God, discern more
|
|
glorious discoveries of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of
|
|
Christ crucified than in all his other works. Note, Those who are saved
|
|
<I>are reconciled to the doctrine of the cross,</I> and led into an
|
|
experimental acquaintance with the mysteries of Christ crucified.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. We have here the triumphs of the cross over human wisdom,
|
|
according to the ancient prophecy
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+29:14">Isa. xxix. 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the
|
|
understanding of the prudent. 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?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>,
|
|
|
|
All the valued learning of this world was confounded, baffled, and
|
|
eclipsed, by the Christian revelation and the glorious triumphs of the
|
|
cross. The heathen politicians and philosophers, the Jewish rabbis and
|
|
doctors, the curious searchers into the secrets of nature, were all
|
|
posed and put to a nonplus. This scheme lay out of the reach of the
|
|
deepest statesmen and philosophers, and the greatest pretenders to
|
|
learning both among the Jews and Greeks. When God would save the world,
|
|
he took a way by himself; and good reason, for <I>the world by wisdom
|
|
knew not God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
All the boasted science of the heathen world did not, could not,
|
|
effectually bring home the world to God. In spite of all their wisdom,
|
|
ignorance still prevailed, iniquity still abounded. Men were puffed up
|
|
by their imaginary knowledge, and rather further alienated from God;
|
|
and therefore <I>it pleased him, by the foolishness of preaching, to
|
|
save those that believe.</I> By the <I>foolishness of
|
|
preaching</I>--not such in truth, but in vulgar reckoning.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The thing preached was foolishness in the eyes of worldly-wise men.
|
|
Our living through one who died, our being blessed by one who was made
|
|
a curse, our being justified by one who was himself condemned, was all
|
|
folly and inconsistency to men blinded with self-conceit and wedded to
|
|
their own prejudices and the boasted discoveries of their reason and
|
|
philosophy.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The manner of preaching the gospel was foolishness to them too. None
|
|
of the famous men for wisdom or eloquence were employed to plant the
|
|
church or propagate the gospel. A few fishermen were called out, and
|
|
sent upon this errand. These were commissioned to disciple the nations:
|
|
these vessels chosen to convey the treasure of saving knowledge to the
|
|
world. There was nothing in them that at first view looked grand or
|
|
august enough to come from God; and the proud pretenders to learning
|
|
and wisdom despised the doctrine for the sake of those who dispensed
|
|
it. And yet <I>the foolishness of God is wiser than men,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those methods of divine conduct that vain men are apt to censure as
|
|
unwise and weak have more true, solid, and successful wisdom in them,
|
|
than all the learning and wisdom that are among men: "<I>You see your
|
|
calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many
|
|
mighty, not many noble, are called,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. You see the state of Christianity; not many men of learning, or
|
|
authority, or honourable extraction, are called." There is a great deal
|
|
of meanness and weakness in the outward appearance of our religion.
|
|
For,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Few of distinguished character in any of these respects were
|
|
chosen for the work of the ministry. God did not choose philosophers,
|
|
nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth and power and interest in
|
|
the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. Not the wise men
|
|
after the flesh, though men would apt to think that a reputation for
|
|
wisdom and learning might have contributed much to the success of the
|
|
gospel. Not the mighty and noble, however men might be apt to imagine
|
|
that secular pomp and power would make way for its reception in the
|
|
world. But God seeth not as man seeth. He hath chosen the foolish
|
|
things of the world, the weak things of the world, the base and
|
|
despicable things of the world, men of mean birth, of low rank, of no
|
|
liberal education, to be the preachers of the gospel and planters of
|
|
the church. <I>His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as
|
|
our ways.</I> He is a better judge than we what instruments and
|
|
measures will best serve the purposes of his glory.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Few of distinguished rank and character were called to be
|
|
Christians. As the teachers were poor and mean, so generally were the
|
|
converts. Few of the wise, and mighty, and noble, embraced the doctrine
|
|
of the cross. The first Christians, both among Jews and Greeks, were
|
|
weak, and foolish, and base; men of mean furniture as to their mental
|
|
improvements, and very mean rank and condition as to their outward
|
|
estate; and yet what glorious discoveries are there of divine wisdom in
|
|
the whole scheme of the gospel, and in this particular circumstance of
|
|
its success!</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. We have an account how admirably all is fitted,
|
|
|
|
1. To beat down the pride and vanity of men. God hath chosen <I>the
|
|
foolish things of the world to confound the wise</I>--men of no
|
|
learning to confound the most learned; <I>the weak things of the world
|
|
to confound the might</I>--men of mean rank and circumstances to
|
|
confound and prevail against all the power and authority of earthly
|
|
kings; <I>and base things, and things which are despised</I>--things
|
|
which men have in the lowest esteem, or in the utmost contempt, to pour
|
|
contempt and disgrace on all they value and have in veneration; <I>and
|
|
things which are not, to bring to nought (to abolish) things that
|
|
are</I>--the conversion of the Gentiles (of whom the Jews had the most
|
|
contemptuous and vilifying thoughts) was to open a way to the
|
|
abolishing of that constitution of which they were so fond, and upon
|
|
which they valued themselves so much as for the sake of it to despise
|
|
the rest of the world. It is common for the Jews to speak of the
|
|
Gentiles under this character, as <I>things that are not.</I> Thus, in
|
|
the apocryphal book of Esther, she is brought in praying that God would
|
|
not give his sceptre to those <I>who are not,</I>
|
|
|
|
<U>Esth. xiv. 11</U>.
|
|
|
|
Esdras, in one of the apocryphal books under his name, speaks to God
|
|
<I>of the heathen as those who are reputed as nothing,</I>
|
|
|
|
<U>2 Esdras vi. 56, 57</U>.
|
|
|
|
And the apostle Paul seems to have this common language of the Jews in
|
|
his view when he calls Abraham the <I>father of us all before him whom
|
|
he believed, God, who calleth those things that are not as though they
|
|
were,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+4:17">Rom. iv. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
The gospel is fitted to bring down the pride of both Jews and Greeks,
|
|
to shame the boasted science and learning of the Greeks, and to take
|
|
down that constitution on which the Jews valued themselves and despised
|
|
all the world besides, <I>that no flesh should glory in his
|
|
presence</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
that there might be no pretence for boasting. Divine wisdom alone had
|
|
the contrivance of the method of redemption; divine grace alone
|
|
revealed it, and made it known. It lay, in both respects, out of human
|
|
reach. And the doctrine and discovery prevailed, in spite of all the
|
|
opposition it met with from human art or authority: so effectually did
|
|
God veil the glory and disgrace the pride of man in all. The gospel
|
|
dispensation is a contrivance to humble man. But,
|
|
|
|
2. It is as admirably fitted to glorify God. There is a great deal of
|
|
power and glory in the substance and life of Christianity. Though the
|
|
ministers were poor and unlearned, and the converts generally of the
|
|
meanest rank, yet the hand of the Lord went along with the preachers,
|
|
and was mighty in the hearts of the hearers; and Jesus Christ was made
|
|
both to ministers and Christians what was truly great and honourable.
|
|
All we have we have from God as the fountain, and in and through Christ
|
|
as the channel of conveyance. He is made of God to us <I>wisdom,
|
|
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
|
|
|
all we need, or can desire. We are foolishness, ignorant and blind in
|
|
the things of God, with all our boasted knowledge; and he is made
|
|
wisdom to us. We are guilty, obnoxious to justice; and he is made
|
|
righteousness, our great atonement and sacrifice. We are depraved and
|
|
corrupt; and he is made sanctification, the spring of our spiritual
|
|
life; from him, the head, it is communicated to all the members of his
|
|
mystical body by his Holy Spirit. We are in bonds, and he is made
|
|
redemption to us, our Saviour and deliverer. Observe, Where Christ is
|
|
made righteousness to any soul, he is also made sanctification. He
|
|
never discharges from the guilt of sin, without delivering from the
|
|
power of it; and he is made righteousness and sanctification, that he
|
|
may in the end be made complete redemption, may free the soul from the
|
|
very being of sin, and loose the body from the bonds of the grave: and
|
|
what is designed in all is <I>that all flesh may glory in the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe, It is the will of God that all our glorifying should be in the
|
|
Lord: and, our salvation being only through Christ, it is thereby
|
|
effectually provided that it should be so. Man is humbled, and God
|
|
glorified and exalted, by the whole scheme.</P>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
|
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
|
<TR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
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[<A HREF="MHC46000.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC46002.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
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<TR>
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