THANKSGIVING FOR THE GRACE OF GOD.
1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
Paul offers thanksgiving to God for the church at Corinth (1 CORINTHIANS 1:4). This is good pastoral care: Paul wants the Corinthians to know that, even if he does have some stern words to speak to them, it is because his heart longs for them. The Apostle offers his thanksgiving to God, not just once but “always” on their behalf, and particularly gives thanks for their gift of grace.
In fact Paul celebrated the Corinthians’ gifted-ness, especially in speech and knowledge, in which they were enriched by God (1 CORINTHIANS 1:5). This is part of God’s grace to them. In this the testimony of Christ has been confirmed in them, and strengthened among them (1 CORINTHIANS 1:6).
Again Paul affirms their gifted-ness (1 CORINTHIANS 1:7), by which they can patiently wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ in His glory. As with all His people, God will not hold them liable to charges, and will confirm their blamelessness at the second coming (1 CORINTHIANS 1:8). He who has begun a good work in us will see it through to the day of Jesus Christ (cf. Philippians 1:6).
