Useful Bible Studies > 1 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 1
Paul describes the people who had become Christians in Corinth. These were the people whom God had saved. God had chosen them to join the family of God. There is no greater honour than to be one of God’s people.
But other people did not consider most of the Christians at Corinth to be great or important people. They were not people who were famous for their wisdom or importance. Paul mentions some slaves who were members of that church (7:20-22). He mentions some people who did not have enough food (11:21). He says that some of the members had nothing (11:22).
Just a few of the important or wealthy citizens of Corinth became Christians. Among them were Crispus (Acts 18:8), Gaius and Erastus (Romans 16:23).
God’s good news is for everyone, but God cares especially about poor and weak people (Luke 4:18; Deuteronomy 24:17-22; Micah 2:1-3). That fact reminds us that people must not be proud (Isaiah 57:15; Proverbs 16:18). It is essential for people to be humble in front of God (Luke 18:9-14).
That was why, in Corinth, God saved so many poor and weak people. He was giving honour to those people who really were humble in front of him. And so God showed clever people that their wisdom was not complete. He showed strong people that they were too weak to save themselves. He was giving wise and powerful people the opportunity to become humble. And if they did that, he could save them too, because of Christ’s death.
A proud person is not ready to ask God to save him. But when he sees God’s work in other people’s lives, perhaps he will be humble enough to ask for God’s help, too.
Next part: True greatness (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.