Day 323

J. Book of 1 Corinthians (from Ephesus)

1. Paul's concern for the church in Corinth

a. Division in the church - 1 Corinthians 1:1-31

b. God's wisdom, not man's needed - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

c. Christian service evaluated - 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

d. Correct church leadership - 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2)


This verse caught my attention first with the word sanctified and saints - but as I typed it out,  I noticed that Christ Jesus and Jesus Christ are used.  I vaguely remember someone speaking about the difference for the Christ being first or last.  Commentaries aren't giving me anything and one of the websites I found online was s-t-r-a-n-g-e.  Will mosey along on this one and wait for Father to reveal, if it is pertinent.


sanctified - G37 - From G40; to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate.


saints - G40 - From ἅγος hagos (an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated.


Christ - G5547 - From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.  G5548 - Probably akin to G5530 through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil, that is, (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service.


Jesus - G2424 - Of Hebrew origin [H3091]; Jesus (that is, Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites.


I liked Gill's commentary on the this verse, specifically:



sanctified in Christ Jesus; not by baptism, for they were sanctified before that; but were set apart, or chosen in Christ from all eternity, to grace here, and glory hereafter; justified by the blood and righteousness of Christ, in which sense the word "sanctified" is sometimes used; and to whom Christ was made "sanctification" and righteousness; and in consequence of which they were sanctified by his Spirit in his name, out of that fulness of grace and holiness which is in him: wherefore it follows, 

called to be saints; for though they were chosen to holiness in Christ, and through sanctification of the Spirit unto salvation, yet before calling were unholy; though Christ had given himself for them to sanctify and purify them, yet whilst uncalled were impure; they fell in Adam, and became both guilty and filthy through his transgression; and by their first birth were unholy and unclean, and were so in their lives and conversations; nor are any holy by natural descent: these were not born saints, nor made so by their own free will, but were become such through the powerful grace of God in the effectual calling; in which not only desires after holiness, but principles of holiness were wrought in them; and by which they were called to the practice of external holiness, or to live an holy life and conversation. And this epistle is not only inscribed to these saints at Corinth, but to them,

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (1 Corinthians 1:22-23)

Again, Gills commentary on these passages is very enlightening - a brief, summation:  Though Jesus gave signs, the Jews were not satiated; the Greeks sought natural wisdom, philosophy, reason of things, flowery oratory.

stumblingblock - G4625 - A “scandal”; probably from a derivative of G2578; a trap stick (bent sapling), that is, snare (figuratively cause of displeasure or sin).

foolishness - G3472 - From G3474; silliness, that is, absurdity.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall received a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

This verse, in the past year, has become very poignant to me.  Our ladies Bible study had listened to a series of cds regarding spiritual gifts by Charles Stanley.  His initial introduction focused on exhorting us to be cognizant of what we would be left with once our works were tried.  Beyond just that, was the heart attitude, works done with the wrong attitude warrant n-o-t-h-i-n-g.

My heart's cry to the Bride is:  What are we doing?  Are we about our Father's business?  How much do we reflect Him?  How conformed to this world have we become?   Are we desiring to be transformed by the renewing of our mind?