1:5
Given the severe criticism that Paul will give later, there are some who see his words here as somewhat ironic. However, there is no need to do so, and it seems better to take them as genuine. Moreover, while there were severe problems, there were also those who were faithful to Christ, and they would need encouragement. It is Christ who has enriched them, none of it is due to any goodness on their part. Paul highlights the speaking gifts and the knowledge gifts. It is important to note that he never denigrates the gifts, only the misuse of them.
1:6,7
The gospel is not just a presentation of ideas or thoughts, the gospel has power. The death and resurrection of Jesus is not just a noble act, but something that has power and affects lives today. The basic truth is that we are creatures created by God, and the cross has brought those who believe into right relationship with God. And when we believe He gives us the Holy Spirit. He starts producing changes within us, and He also gives us spiritual gifts, He does things that go beyond things that can be naturally explained. God confirms the message of the gospel, and this had happened among the Corinthians. The reason they had spiritual gifts was that the message of Jesus Christ was true.
So they “eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed”. They had received much, but no matter how much they had received, there was much, much more to come when Christ returns. There are two serious mistakes we can make. One is to assume that what we have now is all there is, or that the gospel is all about now. The other mistake is to assume that it is all about the future, all about what happens when we die. The clear presentation of the Bible is that the good news affects now, and there is something many times greater when Christ returns.
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