206

A General Introduction

The Reafon for which this Epiftle was written, was, to anfwer fome important Queries, propofed by the Corinthians; and correct the various criminal Irregularities and Disorders, of which they were guilty.

In correcting the Abuses with which they were chargeable;

The First Article, on which the Apoftle thought himself obliged to infift, related to the Parties and Factions, into which they were fallen, and the Oppofition which was made by fome of them to his own Apoftolical Miffion. On this Head he largely difcourfes in the first Four Chapters: Introducing the Epiftle with an Affectionate Addrefs to the Corinthian Converts, in which he congratulates them on the rich Variety of Gifts and Graces God had beftowed upon them, and animates their Hopes of his continued Favour in the Lord Jefus Chrift, even till the Day of his final Appearance. (Chap. in 9.) And then, expreffing his great Concern on Account of their Animofities and Factions, he expoftulates with them on the Unreasonablenefs of fetting up Chriftian Minifters as Heads of Parties, when they were under fuch ftrong Engagements to Chrift, as their common Saviour and Mafter. (Ver. 10,-16.) And as he well knew, that a fond Regard to Eloquence and Philofophy, to which fome of the Corinthian Teachers made high Pretenfions, was one great Occafion of their Divifions, he fets himfelf to fhew how little Strels was to be laid upon them: which he illuftrates by the Choice that GOD had made of Gofpel-preachers, entirely deftitute of these boasted Accomplishments. (Ver. 17, to the End.) The Apoftle further explains the Reasons for which he had declined all Oftentation of Eloquence, when he came among the Corinthians, and particularly infifts on the extraordinary Nature of the Facts and Doctrines he was to teach, which were of a much higher Original than any Discoveries, which human Wit or Learning could make, and were to be traced up to the immediate Teachings of the Holy Spirit; their Nature being fo wonderful, that it was difficult for the corrupted Minds of Men to receive them, even when they were taught. (Chap ii. throughout.) After this the Apoftle more directly comes to the Cafe of their Animofities and Divifions, and reproves their Carnality in contending about human Teachers, and urges many important Confiderations to cure them of fo unbecoming a Temper: (Chap. iii. 1,-9.) Reminding them for this Purpose, of the great Trial, which every Man's Word muft undergo, the Guilt of polluting, by unhallowed Divifions, the Temple of GoD, the Vanity of human Wisdom in his Sight, and of glorying in Men, fince Minifters and all Things are appointed for the common Benefit of Believers. (Ver. 10. te the End.) The Apostle further difcourfes with the fame View, of the Nature of the Minifterial Office, reminds them of the final Judgment of

him,

to the first Epistle to the Corinthians.

him, who fearcheth all Hearts, and the Obligation they were under to the Divine Goodness for every Advantage, by which they were distinguished from others. (Chap. iv. 1,7.) And as a particular Oppofition had been made in the Corinthian Church to himself, he represents the Hardships and Dangers to which he and his Brethren had been, and were, expofed in the Service of the Gospel, and the Obligations which he had in an especial Manner laid upon them; warning them not to force him upon Severities, which he was very unwilling to ufe. (Ver. 8,to the End.) And having thus difcourfed with admirable Wisdom, Faithfulness, and Zeal, he difmiffes, for the prefent, this Part of his Subject; which, on Account of his perfonal Concern in it, was attended with Circumstances of peculiar Delicacy.

The Second Topick which the Apostle confiders, was the Cafe of a notorious Offender in the Corinthian Church, who was guilty of most fcandalous Inceft with his Father's Wife. Animated therefore, with a warm Zeal for the Honour of Chrift, for the Purity and Credit of the Chriftian Church, with a benevolent Concern for the Conviction of the Offender, and that others might be deterred from the like enormous Practices; he exhorts them, upon thefe Principles, to beware of all unneceffary Connection with him, and to exclude him from Chriftian Communion. (Chap. v. throughout.)

The Third Article, which, in this Epiftle, St. Paul exhibits against the Corinthians, is, that by a covetous and litigious Temper, they were led, contrary to the Rules of Chriftian Prudence, and Love, and fometimes contrary even to the Principles of Juftice, to profecute their Brethren in the Heathen Courts. This he folemnly cenfures and condemns; and closes what he offers upon this Head, by warning them of the fad Confequences, which would attend the Indulgence of thofe criminal. Difpofitions, in which Christianity found them, and from which it was intended to deliver them. (Chap. vi. I-II.)

"

In the Fourth Place, the Apostle Paul cautions them against the Sin of Fornication, to which they had been, in their Gentile State, greatly addicted. And it should feem, that having been formerly wont to look upon this heinous Crime as lawful, there were,. even now, fome among them, who reckoned it among the Things indifferent; and that they were not in general, fufficiently convinced of its Enormity. He therefore introduces what he proposed to say on this Subject, with fome ufe ful Reflections on Things really indifferent, and then illustrates the heinous Evil of Fornication from Views peculiar to the Chriftian Religion. (Ver. 12, to the End.)

Having thus largely, and with great Faithfulness and Plainnefs, cor rected fome fad Disorders, with which the Corinthians were chargeable,.

207

The

208

A General Introduction

The Apostle proceeds to the other main End of his Epiftle; namely, to anfwer certain important Questions, which, it feems, the Corinthians had propofed. And here,

He determines, First, thofe which related to the Marriage-State. Some Questions upon this would naturally arife among the firft Converts to Christianity; as, Whether they fhould difown and withdraw from their Partners, if they continued Unbelievers? And, Whether it was good to marry in the prefent Circumftances of the Church? when the contracting new, and efpecially fuch near Alliances, in thofe Times of Perfecution, would involve in peculiar Difficulties, thofe who fhould enter into the Marriage-Relation; which they might notwithstanding judge it proper for other Reafons to do. Now the Apoftle fhews at his Entrance upon this Subject, that in fome Circumstances the Marriage-State fhould be entered into, and continued in; but in others, forborn, particularly at that Time; and injoins Wives not to depart from their Hufbands, and Hufbands not to difmifs their Wives. (Chap. vii. 1,---11.) He then fhews that Marriages were not to be diffolved, as fome thought they might, on Account of a Difference in Religion; and very properly urges in the general, Contentment with the Stations in which they were called, and a Concern to ferve God in their proper Condition, whether married or fingle, bound or free: (Ver. 12,-24.) And with Regard to fingle Perfons, he afferts the Inexpediency of their marrying in the Circumftances of the Church at that Juncture, inculcating a serious Senfe of the Shortnefs of Time, as the beft Remedy against inordinate Attachment to any fecular Intereft. (Ver. 25, to the End.)

A Second Query, which the Corinthians had propofed to the Apoftle to be refolved, was, How far they might comply with their Heathen Neighbours in eating Things facrificed to Idols? St. Paul, upon this, reminds them, that though all Chriftians might well be fuppofed to know the Vanity of thofe imaginary Deities, to which the Sacrifices were offered; yet it might prove to fome an Occafion of Grief and Scandal, that the Profeffors of Chriftianity fhould partake of these Sacrifices in their Temple; which therefore Charity would require them by all Means to avoid. (Chap. viii. throughout.) And having, in this Inftance, urged them to a Chriftian Condefcenfion to their Brethren, that he might inforce the Principle more ftrongly, by his own Condefcenfion to the Weak, in waving to accept of a Maintenance from the Corinthians, he introduces what he had to fay upon this Head, with a fhort Difcourfe on the Right, which as a Gofpel-minifter, he really had to be fupported by thofe among whom he laboured; which he argues both from natural Equity, and Scripture Principles: (Chap. ix. 1,-14.) He then proceeds to fhew, that out of Tenderness to them, and to prevent Exceptions to the Gofpel, he had waved this Right, and had been cautious upon all Occafions

4

to the first Epistle to the Corinthians.

cafions to avoid Offence by exercifing Self-denial, which he illuftrates
by a very expreffive Simile, taken from those who contended in the Gre-
cian Games, (Ver. 15, to the End.) And to recommend this Self-de-
nial and holy Caution to the Corinthians, he represents the Priviledges,
which Ifrael of Old enjoyed, and the Displeasure, which, notwithstand-
ing this, GoD manifested against them in the Wilderness, when they in-
dulged their irregular and luxurious Defires, and in Contempt of the
Manna, lufted after Quails; an Example, proper to put the Corinthians
in Mind of the Danger they run of incurring the Divine Displeasure, if
they should be induced, for the Sake of gratifying a luxurious Appetite,
to partake of Entertainments upon Things offered to Idols in the Heathen
Temples. (Chap. x. 1,-13,) That he might therefore caution them
against all Approaches to Idolatry, he particularly argues, from that Com-
munion, which as Chriftians, they had with Chrift at his Table, that they
ought to keep at the remotest Distance from what might juftly be called
having Communion with Devils: (Ver. 14,-22.) After which he lays
down more particular Directions, as to the Cafes and Circumftances, in
which Things facrificed to Idols might, or might not, lawfully be eaten ;
and
urges further Confiderations, to engage them willingly to refign their
own Gratification for the Glory of GoD, and the Good of their Brethren,
(Ver. 23, to the End. Chap. xi. 1.)

The Apostle now proceeds to a Third Query, concerning the Manner,
in which Women should deliver any Thing in Publick, when by a Di-
vine Impulse called to it. And after having fettled this Point, he parti-
cularly corrects the Indecency of Women's prophecying with their Head
uncovered. (Ver. 2,-16.) Being thus led to confider Circumftances,
which attended the Chriftian Worship, he takes the Occafion naturally
afforded, of introducing a Difcourfe upon feveral Abuses among them of
an higher Nature, with Refpect to the publick Celebration of the Lord's
Supper, leading back their Views to its original Inftitution, and inferring
from thence the Danger of profaning it, in the Manner they did. (Ver.
17, to the End.) Being thus naturally, and as it were accidentally,
brought to take Notice again of the Corruptions prevailing in the Corin-
thian Church, the Apoftle makes fome Remarks upon their Abuse of the
Spiritual Gifts; obferving that they all proceed from the fame Sacred Agent,
and are intended for the Edification of the fame Body, in which all Chrif
tians are united. (Chap. xii. 1,-13.) Inculcating Humility in the Use
of those Gifts, and that mutual Affection, which the Corinthians needed
to be taught, he purfues the Allegory further, and reprefents Chriftians
as fo united in one Body, as to have entirely the fame Intereft, and insists
on a tender Care of the leaft Member, from its Subferviency to the Good
of the Whole. (Ver. 15, to the End.) And to engage the Corinthians
to cultivate Love, as more important than the Gifts, about which they
contended, he gives a lovely Defcription of that excellent Grace; con-
VOL. IV.
D d
cluding

209

A General Introduction, &c. C. cluding it with a Reflection on its perpetual Duration, in which it exceeds even Faith and Hope. (Chap. xiii. throughout.) After thus inculcating Charity and Love, a Grace which they needed much, to adorn their Chriftian Profeffion, and direct the Exercife of their spiritual Gifts, the Apostle particularly cautions them against their prevailing vain Oftentation of the Gift of Tongues, and reafons with them concerning the Abfurdity of the Manner in which they, fome of them at least, abused that Gift: (Chap. xiv. 1-19.) And adds, upon the whole, proper Motives to prevent that Abufe. (Ver. 20, to the End.)

Some among the Corinthians doubted, and others denied, the Refurrection of the Dead. To prove and establish therefore this great and peculiar Article of the Chriftian Faith, the Apostle Paul makes fome Remarks on the Certainty and Importance of the Resurrection of Chrift: (Chap. xv. 1,-11.) And infers from the Refurrection of Christ, the Certainty of the Refurrection of the Dead; urging the Importance of this grand fundamental Doctrine of Christianity, and mentioning in the Series of his Argument, that Surrender of the Mediatorial Kingdom, which Chrift at the Confummation of all Things shall make to the Father. (Ver. 12,-34.) After which he answers Objections to the Refurrection, drawn from our not being able to conceive of the particular Manner, in which it shall be effected; and concludes with urging this Doctrine, as a noble Incentive to the greatest Readiness, and the warmest Zeal in Religion. (Ver. 25, to the End.)

This is the Connection of the feveral Parts of this excellent Epiftle, and a Sketch of the Apostle's Defign; which was to correct the Corruptions and Abufes, and anfwer fome Queries, of the Corinthian Church. And though he hath not throughout difcuffed these two Points feparately, and with the Exactnefs of Syftematical Method; yet he hath handled his Subject in a more natural Manner, and given a masterly Specimen of the Freedom ufual in Epiftolary Writings. Before he concludes, he gives fome Advices to the Corinthian Church, relating to the Collection propofed to be made for the poor Saints in Judea: (Chap. xvi.

-12.) And then clofes all, with fome particular Salutations and Directions, with general Exhortations to Courage and Love, a folemn Benediction to true Chriftians, and an awful Anathema against those who were deftitute of Love to our Lord Jefus Chrift. (Ver. 13, to the End of the Epifile.)

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