Teks -- 1 Corinthians 1:4 (NET)

Thanksgiving

1:4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: 1Co 1:4 - I thank my God

I thank my God ( eucharistō tōi theōi ).

Singular as in Rom 1:8; Phi 1:3; Phm 1:4, but plural in 1Th 1:2; Col 1:3. The grounds of Paul’ s thanksgivings in his Epistles are worthy of study. Even in the church in Corinth he finds something to thank God for, though in II Cor. there is no expression of thanksgiving because of the acute crisis in Corinth nor is there any in Galatians. But Paul is gracious here and allows his general attitude (always, pantote ) concerning (peri , around) the Corinthians to override the specific causes of irritation.

Robertson: 1Co 1:4 - For the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus

For the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus ( epi tēi chariti tou theou tēi dotheisēi humin en Christōi Iēsou ).

Upon the basis of (epi ) God’ s grace, not in general, but specifically given (dotheisēi , first aorist passive participle of didōmi ), in the sphere of (en as in 1Co 1:2) Christ Jesus.

Vincent: 1Co 1:4 - I thank

I thank ( εὐχαριστῶ )

Found in the Gospels, Acts, and Revelation, but most frequently in Paul.

Vincent: 1Co 1:4 - My God

My God

Some very high authorities omit. The pronoun implies close personal relationship. Compare Act 27:23; Phi 1:3; Phi 3:8.

Vincent: 1Co 1:4 - By Christ Jesus

By Christ Jesus ( ἐν )

Better, as Rev., in ; in fellowship with. The element or sphere in which the grace is manifested.

Wesley: 1Co 1:4 - Always

Whenever I mention you to God in prayer.

JFB: 1Co 1:4

He puts the causes for praise and hope among them in the foreground, not to discourage them by the succeeding reproof, and in order to appeal to their better selves.

JFB: 1Co 1:4 - my God

(Rom 1:8; Phi 1:3).

JFB: 1Co 1:4 - always

(Compare Phi 1:4).

JFB: 1Co 1:4 - the grace . . . given you

(Compare 1Co 1:7).

JFB: 1Co 1:4 - by . . . Christ

Literally, "IN Jesus Christ" given you as members in Christ.

Clarke: 1Co 1:4 - For the grace - which is given you

For the grace - which is given you - Not only their calling to be saints, and to be sanctified in Christ Jesus; but for the various spiritual gifts which they had received, as specified in the succeeding verses.

Calvin: 1Co 1:4 - I give thanks to my God // For the grace

4.I give thanks to my God Having in the salutation secured for himself authority from the station assigned him, he now endeavors to procure favor for his doctrine, by expressing his affection for them. In this way he soothes their minds beforehand, that they may listen patiently to his reproofs. ⁴⁵ He persuades them of his affection for them by the following tokens — his discovering as much joy in the benefits bestowed upon them, as if they had been conferred upon himself; and his declaring that he entertains a favorable opinion of them, and has good hopes of them as to the future. Farther, he qualifies his congratulations in such a way as to give them no occasion to be puffed up, as he traces up to God all the benefits that they possessed, that the entire praise may redound to him, inasmuch as they are the fruits of his grace. It is as though he had said — “I congratulate you indeed, but it is in such a way as to ascribe the praise to God.” His meaning, when he calls God his God, I have explained in my Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans (Rom 1:8.) As Paul was not prepared to flatter the Corinthians, so neither has he commended them on false grounds. For although all were not worthy of such commendations, and though they corrupted many excellent gifts of God by ambition, yet the gifts themselves it became him not to despise, because they were, in themselves, deserving of commendation. Farther, as the gifts of the Spirit are conferred for the edification of all, it is with good reason that he enumerates them as gifts common to the whole Church. ⁴⁶ But let us see what he commends in them.

For the grace, etc. This is a general term, for it comprehends blessings of every kind that they had obtained through means of the gospel. For the term grace denotes here not the favor of God, but by metonymy ⁴⁷ (μετωνυμικῶς), the gifts that he bestows upon men gratuitously. He immediately proceeds to specify particular instances, when he says that they are enriched in all things, and specifies what those all things are — the doctrine and word of God. For in these riches it becomes Christians to abound; and they ought also to be esteemed by us the more, and regarded by us as so much the more valuable, in proportion as they are ordinarily slighted. The phrase in ipso ( in him) I have preferred to retain, rather than render it per ipsum ( by him,) because it has in my opinion more expressiveness and force. For we are enriched in Christ, inasmuch as we are members of his body, and are engrafted into him: nay more, being made one with him, he makes us share with him in everything that he has received from the Father.

TSK: 1Co 1:4 - thank // the grace

thank : Rom 1:8, Rom 6:17; Act 11:23, Act 21:20

the grace : 1Co 1:3; Joh 10:30, Joh 14:14, Joh 14:16, Joh 14:26, Joh 15:26; 1Ti 1:14

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 1Co 1:4

Lest his former salutation should be misapprehended by them, as signifying that he thought they were without grace, he here cleareth his meaning by blessing God for that grace which they had received: but no man hath so much grace, but he is still capable of more, and stands in need of further influences; therefore, as he here blesseth God for the grace of God, which they by Jesus Christ received; so he before prayed for grace and peace for them, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is both the Author and Finisher of our faith, he giveth both to will and to do. The beginnings, increases, and finishings of grace are all from him. Grace is indeed from God the Father, but by Jesus Christ; it floweth from him who is Love, but it is through his Well-beloved. No man hath the love of God, but by and through Jesus Christ.

Haydock: 1Co 1:4 - That is given you in

That is given you in, or by Christ Jesus. [1] Where we may take notice with St. John Chrysostom for the understanding of other places, that in, is many times put for by or through.

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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]

In Christo Jesu, Greek: en christo Iesou. St. John Chrysostom, Greek: om. b., ora pos pollakou to en, anti tou di ou, estin.

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Gill: 1Co 1:4 - I thank my God always on your behalf // for the grace which is given you by Jesus Christ

I thank my God always on your behalf,.... Now follows a thanksgiving for various blessings bestowed upon this church, which is a proof of the apostle's great affection for it, and how much its welfare lay at his heart. The object of thanksgiving is God, for as he is the author of all mercies, the glory and praise of them ought to be given to him. The apostle styles him "my God", to distinguish him from others; and to express his faith of interest in him; and to observe to this church, that all the good things they enjoyed came from him, who was his God and their God, his Father and their Father; and for which reason he returned thanks to him for them, and by so doing set them an example: the persons on whose behalf he gave thanks were not at this time himself and Sosthenes, but the members of the church at Corinth; and the continuance of his thankfulness for them, is "always", as often as he went to the throne of grace, or at any other time thought of them: what he particularly gives thanks to God for in this verse is,

for the grace which is given you by Jesus Christ: and includes all sorts of grace, adopting, justifying, pardoning, regenerating, and sanctifying grace; every particular grace of the Spirit, as faith, repentance, hope, love, fear, humility, self-denial, &c. all are gifts of God, and entirely owing to his free grace, and not to man's free will and power, or to any merits of his; and all come through the hands of Christ, and are given forth by him, as the Mediator of the covenant, and in consequence of his blood, righteousness, sacrifice, and merit.