1Cor 1:21, 9:27, 15:11, 2Ti 1:11, Tit 1:3 | JFB | STEP | 21. after that-- rather, "whereas." in the wisdom of God-- in the wise arrangement of God. world by wisdom-- rather, "by its wisdom," or "its philosophy" ( ; ). knew not God-- whatever other knowledge it attained ( , ). The deistic theory that man can by the light of nature discover his duty to God, is disproved by the fact that man has never discovered it without revelation. All the stars and moon cannot make it day; that is the prerogative of the sun. Nor can nature's highest gifts make the moral day arise; that is the office of Christ. Even the Jew missed this knowledge, in so far as he followed after mere carnal world wisdom. it pleased God-- Paul refers to Jesus' words ( ). by the foolishness of preaching-- by that preaching which the world (unbelieving Jews and Gentiles alike) deem foolishness. save them that believe-- ( ).

‏ 1 Corinthians 1:21

21. after that--rather, "whereas."

in the wisdom of God--in the wise arrangement of God.

world by wisdom--rather, "by its wisdom," or "its philosophy" (Joh 1:10; Ro 1:28).

knew not God--whatever other knowledge it attained (Ac 17:23, 27). The deistic theory that man can by the light of nature discover his duty to God, is disproved by the fact that man has never discovered it without revelation. All the stars and moon cannot make it day; that is the prerogative of the sun. Nor can nature's highest gifts make the moral day arise; that is the office of Christ. Even the Jew missed this knowledge, in so far as he followed after mere carnal world wisdom.

it pleased God--Paul refers to Jesus' words (Lu 10:21).

by the foolishness of preaching--by that preaching which the world (unbelieving Jews and Gentiles alike) deem foolishness.

save them that believe--(Ro 1:16).

‏ 1 Corinthians 9:27

27. keep under--literally, "bruise the face under the eyes," so as to render it black and blue; so, to chastise in the most sensitive part. Compare "mortify the deeds of the body," Ro 8:13; also 1Pe 2:11. It is not ascetic fasts or macerations of the body which are here recommended, but the keeping under of our natural self-seeking, so as, like Paul, to lay ourselves out entirely for the great work.

my body--the old man and the remainders of lust in my flesh. "My body," so far as by the flesh it opposes the spirit [Estius] (Ga 5:17). Men may be severe to their bodies and yet indulge their lust. Ascetic "neglect of the body" may be all the while a more subtile "satisfying of the flesh" (Col 2:23). Unless the soul keep the body under, the body will get above the soul. The body may be made a good servant, but is a bad master.

bring it into subjection--or bondage, as a slave or servant led away captive; so the Greek.

preached--literally, "heralded." He keeps up the image from the races. The heralds summoned the candidates for the foot race into the race course [Plato, Laws, 8.833], and placed the crowns on the brows of the conquerors, announcing their names [Bengel]. They probably proclaimed also the laws of the combat; answering to the preaching of the apostles [Alford]. The The Christian herald is also a combatant, in which respect he is distinguished from the herald at the games.

a castaway--failing shamefully of the prize myself, after I have called others to the contest. Rejected by God, the Judge of the Christian race, notwithstanding my having, by my preaching, led others to be accepted. Compare the equivalent term, "reprobate," Jr 6:30; 2Co 13:6. Paul implies, if such earnest, self-denying watchfulness over himself be needed still, with all his labors for others, to make his own calling sure, much more is the same needed by the Corinthians, instead of their going, as they do, to the extreme limit of Christian liberty.

‏ 1 Corinthians 15:11

11. whether it were I or they--(the apostles) who "labored more abundantly" (1Co 15:10) in preaching, such was the substance of our preaching, namely, the truths stated in 1Co 15:3, 4.

‏ 2 Timothy 1:11

11. Whereunto--For the publication of which Gospel.

I am appointed--Greek, "I was appointed."

preacher--Greek, "herald."

teacher of the Gentiles--(1Ti 2:7). He brings forward his own example in this verse and 2Ti 1:12, as a pattern for Timothy, as a public "preacher," an "apostle," or missionary from place to place, and a "teacher" in private instructing His flock with patient perseverance.

‏ Titus 1:3

3. in due times--Greek, "in its own seasons," the seasons appropriate to it, and fixed by God for it (Ac 1:7).

manifested--implying that the "promise," Tit 1:2, had lain hidden in His eternal purpose heretofore (compare Col 1:26; 2Ti 1:9, 10).

his word--equivalent to "eternal life" (Tit 1:2; Joh 5:24; 6:63; 17:3, 17).

through preaching--Greek, "in preaching," of rather as Alford (see on 2Ti 4:17), "in the (Gospel) proclamation (the thing preached, the Gospel) with which I was entrusted."

according to--in pursuance of (compare 1Ti 1:1).

of God our Saviour--rather as Greek, "of our Saviour God." God is predicated of our Saviour (compare Jude 25; Lu 1:47). Also Psa 24:5; Is 12:2; 45:15, 21, Septuagint. Applied to Jesus, Tit 1:4; Tit 2:13; 3:6; 2Ti 1:10.