The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  1:8 the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Cf. 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14. This refers to the coming of the Lord for His church, the rapture (John 14:1–3; 1 Thess. 4:13–18; Rev. 3:10). This is to be distinguished from the Day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:2, 4; 2 Thess. 2:2), a term referring to judgment on the ungodly (see Introduction to Joel: Historical and Theological Themes).

  1:9 God is faithful. Because of God’s sovereign and unchangeable promise, believers are assured of this grace—past, present, and future—and will remain saved, assured of future glory at Christ’s appearing (Eph. 5:26, 27). by whom you were called. This call, as always in the epistles of the NT, refers to an effectual call that saves (see note on Rom. 8:30). God who calls to salvation and heaven will be faithful to give the grace needed to fulfill that call. the fellowship of His Son. See notes on 1 John 1:3–7.

  1:10 speak the same thing. Paul is emphasizing the unity of doctrine in the local assembly of believers, not the spiritual unity of His universal church. Doctrinal unity, clearly and completely based on Scripture, must be the foundation of all church life (cf. John 17:11, 21–23; Acts 2:46, 47). Both weak commitment to doctrine and commitment to disunity of doctrine will severely weaken a church and destroy the true unity. In its place, there can be only shallow sentimentalism or superficial harmony. joined together. The basic idea is that of putting back together something that was broken or separated so it is no longer divided. The term is used in both the NT and in classical Gr. to speak of mending such things as nets, broken bones or utensils, torn garments, and dislocated joints. Cf. Rom. 16:17; Phil. 1:27. same mind…same judgment. Cf. Phil 3:15, 16. The demand is for unity internally in their individual minds and externally in decisions made among themselves—unified in truth by beliefs, convictions, standards, and in behavior by applied principles of living (Acts 4:32; Eph. 4:3). The only source of such unity is God’s Word which establishes the standard of truth on which true unity rests.

  1:11–13 Cf. 3:4–8.

  1:11 Chloe’s household. Probably a prominent person in the Corinthian church who had written or come to visit Paul in Ephesus to tell him of the factions in the church. It is not known whether Chloe was a man or a woman.

  1:12 Apollos. See notes on 16:12; Acts 18:24–28. Cephas. The Apostle Peter.

  1:13 Is Christ divided? No human leader, not even an apostle, should be given the loyalty that belongs only to the Lord. Such elevation of leaders leads only to contention, disputes, and a divided church. Christ is not divided and neither is His body, the church. Paul depreciates his worth in comparison to the Lord Jesus. For passages on unity, see 12:12, 13; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 4:4–6.

  1:14 Crispus. The leader of the synagogue in Corinth who was converted under Paul’s preaching (Acts 18:8). His conversion led to that of many others. Gaius. Since Romans was written from Corinth, this man was probably the host referred to in Rom. 16:23.

  1:16 Stephanas. Nothing is known of this family.

  1:17 This verse does not mean that people should not be baptized (cf. Acts 2:38), but that God did not send Paul to start a private cult of people personally baptized by him. See Acts 26:16–18. He was called to preach the gospel and bring people to oneness in Christ, not baptize a faction around himself.

  1:18 message of the cross. God’s total revelation, i.e., the gospel in all its fullness, which centers in the incarnation and crucifixion of Christ (2:2); the entire divine plan and provision for the redemption of sinners, which is the theme of all Scripture, is in view. foolishness. Translates the word from which “moron” is derived. perishing… being saved. Every person is either in the process of salvation (though not completed until the redemption of the body; see Rom. 8:23; 13:11) or the process of destruction. One’s response to the cross of Christ determines which. To the Christ-rejectors who are in the process of being destroyed (cf. Eph. 2:1, 2) the gospel is nonsense. To those who are believers it is powerful wisdom.

  1:19 it is written. Quoted from Is. 29:14 (see note there) to emphasize that man’s wisdom will be destroyed. Isaiah’s prophecy will have its ultimate fulfillment in the last days when Christ sets up His kingdom (cf. Rev. 17:14) and all of human wisdom dies.

  1:20 Where is the wise? Paul paraphrased Is. 19:12, where the prophet was referring to the wise men of Egypt who promised, but never produced wisdom. Human wisdom always proves to be unreliable and impermanent (cf. v. 17; Prov. 14:12; Is. 29:14; Jer. 8:9; Rom. 1:18–23). scribe. Probably Paul has in mind the Assyrians, who sent scribes along with their soldiers to record the booty taken in battle. God saw to it they had nothing to record (Is. 33:18). disputer. This was a Gr. word with no OT counterpart, identifying those who were adept at arguing philosophy.

  1:21 in the wisdom of God. God wisely established that men could not come to know Him by human wisdom. That would exalt man, so God designed to save helpless sinners through the preaching of a message that was so simple the “worldly wise” deemed it nonsense. Cf. Rom 1:18–23. who believe. From the human side, salvation requires and comes only through faith. Cf. John 1:12; Rom. 10:8–17.

  1:22 a sign. Unbelieving Jews still wanted supernatural signs (Matt. 12:38–44), yet they refused to accept the most glorious of all the supernatural sign-works of God, namely providing salvation through a virgin-born, crucified, and risen Messiah. In fact, the sign was a stumbling block to them (cf. Rom. 9:31–33). wisdom. Gentiles wanted proof by means of human reason, through ideas they could set forth, discuss, and debate. Like the Athenian philosophers, they were not sincere, with no interest in divine truth, but merely wanting to argue intellectual novelty (Acts 17:21).

  1:23 Christ crucified. The only true sign and the only true wisdom. This alone was the message Paul would preach (2:2) because it alone had the power to save all who believed.

  1:24, 25 called. See note on v. 9. To all the “called,” the message of the cross, which seems so pointless and irrelevant to man’s proud, natural mind, actually exhibits God’s greatest power and greatest wisdom.

  1:26–28 God disdained human wisdom, not only by disallowing it as a means to knowing Him, but also by choosing to save the lowly. He does not call to salvation many whom the world would call wise, mighty, and noble (cf. Matt. 11:25; 18:3, 4). God’s wisdom is revealed to the foolish, weak, and common, i.e., those considered nothing by the elite, who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. God clearly received all the credit and the glory for causing such lowly ones to know Him and the eternal truths of His heavenly kingdom. No saved sinner can boast that he has achieved salvation by his intellect (v. 29).

  1:30, 31 The redeemed not only are given salvation by God’s wisdom rather than by their own, but are also graciously given (“by His doing”) a measure of His divine wisdom, as well as imputed righteousness (Rom. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:21), sanctification from sin (Eph. 2:10), and redemption by God (Eph 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19) in order that, above all else, the Lord will be glorified (cf. Gal. 6:4).

  1:31 Quoted from Jer. 9:24.

  1 Corinthians 2

  2:1 excellence of speech or of wisdom. See notes on 1:20–22.

  2:2 crucified. Though Paul expounded the whole counsel of God to the church (Acts 20:27) and taught the Corinthians the Word of God (Acts 18:11), the focus of his preaching and teaching to unbelievers was Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for sin on the cross (Acts 20:20; 2 Cor. 4:2; 2 Tim. 4:1, 2). Until someone understands and believes the gospel, there is nothing more to say to them. The preaching of the cross (1:18) was so dominant in the early church that believers were accused of worshiping a dead man.

  2:3 weakness…fear…trembling. Paul came to Corinth after being beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, run out of Thessalonica and Berea, and scoffed at in Athens (Acts 16:22–24; 17:10, 13, 14, 32), so he may have been physically weak. But in that weakness, he was most powerful (see vv. 4, 5; 2 Cor. 12:9, 10) There were no theatrics or techniques to manipulate people’s response. His fear and shaking were because of the seriousness of his mission.

  2:6 mature. Paul uses this word to refer to genu
ine believers who have been saved by Christ, as in Heb. 6:1; 10:14. rulers. Those in authority. See notes on 1:19, 20. this age. All periods of human history until the Lord returns.

  2:7 mystery. This term does not refer to something puzzling, but to truth known to God before time, that He has kept secret until the appropriate time for Him to reveal it. See notes on Matt. 13:11; Eph. 3:4, 5. for our glory. The truth God established before time and revealed in the NT wisdom of the gospel is the truth that God will save and glorify sinners. See notes on Eph. 3:8–12.

  2:8 had they known. The crucifixion is proof that the rulers/Jewish religious leaders lacked wisdom. Cf. 1 Tim. 1:12, 13.

  2:9 These words from Is. 64:4, often incorrectly thought to refer to the wonders of heaven, refer rather to the wisdom God has prepared for believers. God’s truth is not discoverable by eye or ear (objective, empirical evidence), nor is it discovered by the mind (subjective, rational conclusions).

  2:10–16 The wisdom that saves, which man’s wisdom can’t know, is revealed to us by God. He makes it known by revelation, inspiration, and illumination. Revelation (vv. 10, 11) and inspiration (vv. 12, 13) were given to those who wrote the Bible; illumination (vv. 14–16) is given to all believers who seek to know and understand that divinely written truth. In each case, the Holy Spirit is the divine agent doing the work (cf. 2 Pet. 1:21).

  2:10 God has revealed them. By the Holy Spirit, God disclosed His saving truth (cf. Matt. 11:25; 13:10–13). The Spirit alone was qualified because He knows all that God knows, Himself being God. to us. As with the “we’s” in vv. 6, 7 and vv. 12, 13, Paul is, first of all, speaking of himself (as in John 14:26; 15:26, 27; see notes there), and, in a sense, of believers who have been given the Word as recorded by the apostles and their associates who wrote the NT.

  2:12 we have received. The “we” and “us” refer to the apostles and other writers of the Word of God. The means was inspiration (see notes on 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21), by which God freely gave the gift of His Word. It was this process of inspiration that turned the spiritual thoughts into spiritual words (v. 13) to give life (cf. Matt. 4:4).

  2:14 natural man. This refers to the unconverted, who lack supernatural life and wisdom. spiritually discerned. Through illumination of the Word, the Holy Spirit provides His saints the capacity to discern divine truth (see Ps. 119:18), which the spiritually dead are unable to comprehend (cf. John 5:37–39; see notes on 1 John 2:20, 27). The doctrine of illumination does not mean we know everything (cf. Deut. 29:29), that we do not need teachers (cf. Eph. 4:11, 12), or that understanding does not require hard work (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15).

  2:15 judged by no one. Obviously, unbelievers are able to recognize Christians’ faults and shortcomings; but they are not able to evaluate their true nature as spiritual people who have been transformed into children of God (cf. 1 John 3:2).

  2:16 the mind of Christ. Quoted from Is. 40:13. The same word is translated “understanding” in 14:14, 15, 19. Believers are allowed, by the Word and the Spirit, to know the thoughts of their Lord. Cf. Luke 24:45.

  1 Corinthians 3

  3:1 The cause of problems in the church was more than external, worldly influence. It was also internal carnality. The pressures of the world were combined with the weakness of the flesh. carnal. Although Corinthian believers were no longer “natural,” they were not “spiritual” (fully controlled by the Holy Spirit). In fact, they were “carnal” (controlled by the fallen flesh). Though all believers have the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 8:9) they still battle the fallen flesh (see notes on Rom. 7:14–25; 8:23). babes in Christ. The carnality of those believers was indicative of their immaturity. They had no excuse for not being mature, since Paul implied that he should have been able to write to them as mature, in light of all he had taught them (v. 2). See notes on Heb. 5:12–14; 1 Pet. 2:1, 2.

  3:2 milk. Not a reference to certain doctrines, but to the more easily digestible truths of doctrine that were given to new believers. solid food. The deeper features of the doctrines of Scripture. The difference is not in kind of truth, but degree of depth. Spiritual immaturity makes one unable to receive the richest truths.

  3:3 envy, strife. Carnality produces the attitude of envy, a severe form of selfishness, which produces the action of strife and the subsequent divisions. mere men. Apart from the will of the Spirit, hence carnal, not spiritual.

  3:4 Paul…Apollos. Factionalism was the divisive product of carnality. Cf. 1:11–13.

  3:5–7 Who then is Paul…Apollos. A humble, but accurate assessment of the roles that ministers play. the Lord gave…God gave…God who gives. It is the Lord alone who can give the faith to the spiritually ignorant and dead. Salvation is God’s work of grace to whom He chooses to give it (see notes on Rom. 9:15–19; Eph. 2:8, 9).

  3:8 are one. All the human instruments God uses to produce salvation life are equally considered and rewarded for their willingness to be used by God. But all the glory goes to Him, who alone saves. Because of that, the silly favoritism of v. 4; 1:12 is condemned. See notes on Matt. 20:1–16.

  3:9 we. Paul, Apollos, Peter, and all ministers are equal workers in the field, but the spiritual life from that field is entirely by God’s grace and power. God’s building. Paul shifts the imagery from agricultural to construction (vv. 10–17).

  3:10 master builder…foundation. The Gr. word is the root for architect, but contained the idea of builder as well as designer. Paul’s specialty was designing and building spiritual foundations (cf. Rom. 15:20). He was used by God to establish the groundwork for churches in Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece. Others (e.g., Timothy, Apollos) built the churches up from his foundations. That God used him in that way was all of grace (cf. v. 7; 15:20; Rom. 15:18; Eph. 3:7, 8; Col. 1:29). each one. This primarily refers to evangelists and pastor-teachers.

  3:11 no other foundation. Paul did not design the foundation, he only laid it down by preaching Christ. Cf. 1 Pet. 2:6–8.

  3:12 if anyone builds. This is, first of all, in reference to the evangelists and pastors (v. 9), and then to all believers who are called to build the church through faithful ministry. gold, silver, precious stones. His quality materials represent dedicated, spiritual service to build the church. wood, hay, straw. Inferior materials implying shallow activity with no eternal value. They do not refer to activities that are evil (see note on v. 13).

  3:13 the Day. Refers to the time of the Judgment Seat of Christ (see notes on 2 Cor. 5:10). revealed by fire. The fire of God’s discerning judgment (cf. Job 23:10; Zech. 13:9; 1 Pet. 1:17, 18; Rev. 3:18). Second Corinthians 5:10 indicates that the wood, hay, and straw are “worthless” things that don’t stand the test of judgment fire (see note there; cf. Col. 2:18).

  3:14 endures. All that which has been accomplished in His power and for His glory will survive (cf. Matt. 25:21, 23; 2 Cor. 5:9; Phil. 3:13, 14; 1 Thess. 2:19, 20; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8; James 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:4; Rev. 22:12). reward. Cf. Rev. 22:12. This is not a judgment for sin. Christ has paid that price (Rom. 8:1), so that no believer will ever be judged for sin. This is only to determine eternal reward (cf. 4:5, “each one’s praise”).

  3:15 be saved. No matter how much is worthless, no believer will forfeit salvation.

  3:16, 17 Here is a severe warning to any who would try to interfere with or destroy the building of the church on the foundation of Christ. See notes on Matt. 18:6, 7.

  3:18, 19a deceive himself. See notes on 1:18–25. Those who defile the church and think they can succeed in destroying it by their human wisdom, would be far better to reject that wisdom and accept the foolishness of Christ’s cross.

  3:19b, 20 With quotations from Job 5:13 and Ps. 94:11, Paul reinforces his point from 1:18–25 by reminding them that human wisdom which cannot save, also cannot either build a church or prevent its growth.

  3:21 boast in men. Cf. v. 4; 1:12. Paul, Apollos, and all others receive no credit for the building of the church. all things are yours. All believers share equally in God’s most important and valuable provisio
ns and glories; human boasting, therefore, is ludicrous as well as sinful.

  3:22 the world. Although the universe is now in Satan’s grip, it is still the God-given and God-made possession of Christians (2 Cor. 4:15; 1 John 5:19). In the millennial kingdom and throughout eternity, however, believers will possess both the recreated and eternal earth in an infinitely more complete and rich way (Matt. 5:5; Rev. 21). life. Spiritual, eternal life (cf. John 14:23; cf. 2 Pet. 1:3, 4). death. Spiritual and eternal death (15:54–57; Phil. 1:21–24). things present. Everything the believer has or experiences in this life (cf. Rom. 8:37–39). things to come. All the blessings of heaven. Cf. 1 Pet. 1:3, 4. all are yours. In Christ, all good and holy things are for believers’ blessing and for God’s glory. Cf. Eph. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3.

  3:23 Christ’s…God’s. Knowing that believers belong to Christ and therefore to each other is the greatest incentive for unity in the church (6:17; John 9:9, 10, 21–23; Phil. 2:1–4).

  1 Corinthians 4

  4:1 so consider us. Paul wanted everyone to view him and his fellow ministers only as the humble messengers God ordained them to be (cf. 3:9, 22). servants. Paul expresses his humility by using a word lit. meaning “under rowers,” referring to the lowest, most menial, and most despised galley slaves, who rowed on the bottom tier of a ship (9:16; see Luke 1:2; Acts 20:19). stewards. Paul defines his responsibilities as an apostle by using a word originally referring to a person entrusted with and responsible for his master’s entire household: e.g., buildings, fields, finances, food, other servants, and sometimes even children of the owner. Cf. 1 Pet. 4:10. mysteries of God. “Mystery” is used in the NT to refer to divine revelation previously hidden. See notes on 2:7; Matt. 13:11; Eph. 3:4, 5. Here the word is used in its broadest sense as God’s full revealed truth in the NT (Acts 20:20, 21, 27; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16). It was all that truth which Paul had to oversee and dispense as God’s servant and steward.