1 Corinthians 1:6

1Co 1:6. Καθὼς, even as) That the Corinthians wanted nothing, he declares from this, that the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them. The particle is here demonstrative.—τοῦ Χριστοῦ, of Christ) Christ is not only the object, but the author of this testimony, Act 18:8, note.—ἐβεβαιώθη, was confirmed) by Himself, and by the gifts and miracles, which accompanied it, 1Co 12:3; 2Co 1:21-22; Gal 3:2; Gal 3:5; Eph 4:7-8; Heb 2:4.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Co_1:6. Καθώς] According as, introduces the relation of that happy condition of things (ἐν παντὶ ἐπλουτίσθητε … γνώσει) to its cause. See on Joh_13:34; Joh_17:2; 1Co_5:7; Eph_1:4; Php_1:7; Mat_6:12.

τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ Χ.] characteristic designation of the Gospel, the publishers of which bear witness of Christ. Comp 2Ti_1:8; Act_1:8; Act_3:15, al[115]; 2Th_1:10; 1Pe_5:1. Comp ΜΑΡΤ. ΤΟῦ ΘΕΟῦ, 1Co_2:1.

ἘΒΕΒΑΙΏΘΗ] is rendered by most: is confirmed[117] has been accredited (Mar_16:20; Rom_15:8; Heb_2:3, al[118]); comp also Rückert: evinced as true by its effect on you; and Ewald: guaranteed among you by signs of the power of the Holy Spirit. So too, in substance, Hofmann. It is more in keeping, however, with the logical relation of καθὼς Κ.Τ.Λ[120] to the foregoing, as well as with the βεβαιώσει of 1Co_1:8 (comp 2Co_1:21; Col_2:7), to explain it of the gospel becoming firmly established in their souls (by stedfast faith), so that the opposite is expressed by the Johannine τὸν λόγον οὐκ ἔχετε μένοντα ἐν ὑμῖν (Joh_5:38). Comp Billroth and de Wette.

ἐν ὑμῖν] in animis vestris.

[115] l. and others; and other passages; and other editions.

[117] Non de confirmatione externa verbi, quae fit per miracula, sed de confirmatione interna, quae fit per testimonium Sp. St., Calovius. Chrysostom understood it of both; Theodoret, Theophylact, and otters, of the miracles only.

[118] l. and others; and other passages; and other editions.

[120] .τ.λ. καὶ τὰ λοιπά.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Co 1:6 . τοῦ Χριστοῦ is objective gen [83] to τὸ μαρτύριον “the witness to Christ,” coming from both God and man (1Co 15:3-11 , 2Th 1:10 ); otherwise in 1Co 2:1 ; cf. Rom 1:2 , “the good news of God about His Son”. μαρτόριον indicates the well-established truth of the message (see, e.g. , 1Co 15:15 ), εὐαγγέλιον its beneficial and welcome nature (see Rom 1:16 f.). ἐβεβαιώθη ἐν ὑμῖν , “(the witness about Christ) was made sure among you”; its reality was verified. By outward demonstration miracles, etc.; or by the inner persuasion of a firm faith, “interna Spiritus virtus” (Cv [84] )? The latter certainly, in Pauline usage (see parls.: but not to the exclusion of the former); cf. 1Co 2:4 f., and notes; 1Co 12:10 , ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων ; also 1Th 1:5 f., 1Co 2:13 , Gal 3:5 ; the two went together πολλῶν θαυμάτων , ἀφάτου χάριτος (Cm [85] ). At first discouraged, Paul had preached at Cor [86] with signal power, and his message awakened a decided and energetic faith; see 1Co 2:1-5 , 1Co 15:1 ; 1Co 15:11 ; Act 18:5-11 .

[83] genitive case.

[84] Calvin’s In Nov. Testamentum Commentarii .

[85] John Chrysostom’s Homiliœ († 407).

[86] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Co_1:6

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you.

Even as, i.e. because, inasmuch as. They were thus enriched, because the testimony of Christ, that is, the gospel, was confirmed among them. The gospel is called the testimony of Christ, either because it is the testimony concerning God and divine things, which Christ bore; or because it is the testimony which the apostles bore concerning Christ. Either explanation is agreeable to the analogy of the Scripture. Christ is called the true witness; and is said to have borne witness of the truth. Compare Joh_3:11, Joh_3:32, Joh_3:33; Joh_8:13, Joh_8:14. On the other hand, the apostles are frequently called the witnesses of Christ, and are said to have borne testimony concerning him. The gospel, therefore, is, in one view, the testimony which Christ bore; and, in another, the testimony which the apostles bore concerning him. The former is the higher, and therefore, the better sense. It is good to contemplate the gospel as that system of truth which the eternal Logos, or Revealer, has made known.

Was confirmed in you. This may mean either, was firmly established among you; or was firmly established in your faith. The gospel was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit to be true, and was firmly settled in their conviction. This firm faith was then, as it is now, the necessary condition of the enjoyment of the blessings by which the gospel is attended. Therefore the apostle adds.

Charles Hodge — Commentary on Romans (1835), First Corinthians (1857), and Ephesians (1856) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

By those excellent gifts of the holy Ghost.

He showeth that the true use of these gifts consisteth herein that the mighty power of Christ might thereby be set forth in them, that hereafter it might evidently appear how wickedly they abused them to glory and ambition.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

According as the testimony of (of, and concerning) Christ (who is both the object and author of this testimony [BENGEL]; Co1 2:1; Ti1 2:6; Ti2 1:8) was confirmed among [ALFORD] you; that is, by God, through my preaching and through the miracles accompanying it (Co1 12:3; Mar 16:20; Co2 1:21-22; Gal 3:2, Gal 3:5; Eph 4:7-8; Heb 2:4). God confirmed (compare Phi 1:7; Heb 2:3), or gave effect to the Gospel among (or better as English Version, "in") the Corinthians by their accepting it and setting their seal to its truth, through the inward power of His Spirit, and the outward gifts and miracles accompanying it [CALVIN].

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 6. As the testimony of Christ, &c.] The testimony of Christ is the Gospel which the apostle had preached, and which had been confirmed by various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and miracles wrought by the apostle.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

6. Even as the testimony, etc. Erasmus gives a different rendering, to this effect, “that by these things the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them;” that is, by knowledge and by the word. The words, however, convey another meaning, and if they are not wrested, the meaning is easy — that God has sealed the truth of his gospel among the Corinthians, for the purpose of confirming it. Now, this might be done in two ways, either by miracles, or by the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit. Chrysostom seems to understand it of miracles, but I take it in a larger sense; and, first of all, it is certain, that the gospel is properly confirmed in our experience by faith, because it is only when we receive it by faith that we “set to our seal that God is true” (John 3:33.) And though I admit that miracles ought to have weight for the confirmation of it, yet we must go higher in search of the origin, namely this, that the Spirit of God is the earnest and seal. Accordingly, I explain these words in this manner — that the Corinthians excelled in knowledge, inasmuch as God had from the beginning given efficacy to his gospel among them, and that not in one way merely, but had done so both by the internal influence of the Spirit, and by excellence and variety of gifts, by miracles, and by all other helps. He calls the gospel the testimony of Christ, or respecting Christ, because the entire sum of it tends to discover Christ to us,

“In whom all the treasures of knowledge are hid” (Colossians 2:3.)

If any one prefers to take it in an active sense, on the ground that Christ is the primary author of the gospel, so that the Apostles were nothing but secondary or inferior witnesses, I shall not much oppose it. I feel better satisfied, however, with the former exposition. It is true that a little afterwards (1 Corinthians 2:1) the testimony of God must, beyond all controversy, be taken in an active sense, as a passive signification would not be at all suitable. Here, however, the case is different, and, what is more, that passage strengthens my view, as he immediately subjoins what it is — to know nothing but Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:2.)

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(6) Even as the testimony of Christ.—The testimony which St. Paul bore to Christ, and from Christ, was confirmed among them by this full bestowal of spiritual gifts.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6. even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift] The testimony of Christ is St Paul’s preaching concerning Christ. It was ‘confirmed’ by the outpouring of His Spirit.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. By "the testimony of Christ" is meant the Gospel of Christ, which bears a testimony to his deity, his incarnation, his obedience, sufferings, and death, his resurrection from the dead, ascension to heaven, session at God's right hand, and intercession for the saints; to redemption by his blood, justification by his righteousness, pardon and atonement of sin by his sacrifice, and complete salvation by his obedience and death. This, as it had been preached to the Corinthians, was confirmed and established among them, by the signs and miracles with which it was attended; by the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, particularly of prophecy bestowed on many of them; and by the internal power and energy of the Spirit, accompanying and applying it to their souls.

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. By "the testimony of Christ" is meant the Gospel of Christ, which bears a testimony to his deity, his incarnation, his obedience, sufferings, and death, his resurrection from the dead, ascension to heaven, session at God's right hand, and intercession for the saints; to redemption by his blood, justification by his righteousness, pardon and atonement of sin by his sacrifice, and complete salvation by his obedience and death. This, as it had been preached to the Corinthians, was confirmed and established among them, by the signs and miracles with which it was attended; by the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, particularly of prophecy bestowed on many of them; and by the internal power and energy of the Spirit, accompanying and applying it to their souls.

1 Corinthians 1:7

co1 1:7

co1 1:7

co1 1:7So that ye come behind in no gift,.... Ordinary or extraordinary; a detail of the gifts which were bestowed on them is made in Co1 12:8; by which it appears that they were not inferior in gifts to any of the churches:

waiting for the coming; or "the revelation"

of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will appear a second time, come in great glory, will raise the dead, and judge both quick and dead; when gifts will cease and be of no more use, and when they must all be accounted for; and therefore, till that time comes, should be diligently made use of, and improved to the interest and service of Christ; who will surely come again, and call his servants and churches to an account for the talents he has intrusted them with; and whose coming is to be believed, loved, looked, and hoped for by all, that love him in sincerity and truth.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

Ver. 6. The testimony of Christ] The gospel, called also the testimony, Isa 8:20. To the law, and to the testimony.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Even as - Καθώς Kathōs. The force of this expression seems to be this, “The gospel of Christ was at first established among you by means of the miraculous endowments of the Holy Spirit. Those same endowments are still continued among you, and now furnish evidence of the divine favor, and of the truth of the gospel to you, ‘even as’ - that is, in the same measure as they did when the gospel was first preached.” The power to speak with tongues, etc. 1 Cor. 14 would be a “continued miracle,” and would be a demonstration to them then of the truth of Christianity as it was at first.

The testimony of Christ - The gospel. It is here called “the testimony of Christ,” because it bore witness to Christ - to his divine nature, his miracles, his Messiahship, his character, his death, etc. The message of the gospel consists in bearing witness to Christ and his work; see 1Co 15:1-4; 2Ti 1:8.

Was confirmed - Was established, or proved. It was proved to be divine, by the miraculous attestations of the Holy Spirit. It was confirmed, or made certain to their souls by the agency of the Holy Spirit, sealing it on their hearts. The word translated “confirmed” ἐβεβαιώθη ebebaiōthē, is used in the sense of establishing, confirming, or demonstrating by miracles, etc.; in Mar 16:20; compare Heb 13:9; Phi 1:7.

In you - ἐν ὑμῖν en humin. Among you as a people, or in your hearts. Perhaps the apostle intends to include both. The gospel had been established among them by the demonstrations of the agency of the Spirit in the gift of tongues, and had at the same time taken deep root in their hearts, and was exerting a practical influence on their lives.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

As the testimony of Christ, what Christ testified and taught was confirmed in you, that is, your faith in Christ hath been confirmed by those graces and gifts which you received from the Holy Ghost at your baptism, and when by imposition of hands you were confirmed by me, or some other bishop. (Witham)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

By which knowledge and utterance the testimony of Christ, that is, the gospel, which containeth both the testimony which Christ had given of himself, and which the apostles had given concerning Christ; (the gospel is called the testimony of God, Rom 2:1; 2Ti 1:8;) others understand the gifts of, the Spirit (for the Spirit is one of the witnesses upon earth, 1Jo 5:8); was confirmed in you; by the miraculous operations wrought by the apostles, as some think; but the way of confirmation here spoken of by the apostle seemeth rather to be understood of their knowledge and utterance. The gospel, and the doctrine of it, and the mission of the Holy Spirit, were confirmed to them and to the world by the knowledge which God had given the apostles, and these Corinthians, of the great things of God; and their ability to communicate this knowledge unto others, for the honour of God, and the good of others.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

6. Testimony of Christ—The apostolic testimony to Christ’s history and doctrine.

Was confirmed—Was firmly grounded in your faith.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Even as; i.e. "inasmuch as." The testimony of Christ. The testimony borne to Christ by the apostle. The genitive is thus objective (about Christ), not subjective ("the testimony borne by Christ"). In reality, however, the meaning" would be the same in either case, for if the apostles testified concerning Christ, so, too, Christ spoke in the apostles. Was confirmed in you. This does not merely mean "that the truth of Christianity was established among them," but that they were living confirmations of the apostolic testimony.

HOMILIES BY J. WAITE Ver. 6.

The testimony of Christ.

There are two kinds of testimony the external and the internal; the revelation without and the revelation within; the written historical testimony that God has given us of his Son, and that which consists in the facts of Christian consciousness, the consciousness of one in whom he dwells. These are not to be regarded as separate and independent. The external record is vain until graven on the living heart; while there could be no such inward realization apart from the outward record, with all that helps to attest and substantiate it. The one is to the other as the river is to the bed in which it flows, as the echo to the voice that awakens it, as the musical harmony to the instrument by which it is produced. The revealed truth is made the instrument and channel of a hidden life. The written record becomes a vital experience. The testimony finds its answer in the living heart. Thus was the gospel word "confirmed" in the Corinthians, as in all who savingly receive it. Consider

(1) The testimony;

(2) the confirmation.

I THE TESTIMONY. It is the truth about Christ which formed the sum and substance of the apostolic message. The truth "as it is in Jesus.

1. The message contains two elements the historical and the doctrinal.

An unwarrantable separation is sometimes made between these. The attempt to sever the historic fact from some form of dogmatic teaching by which that fact is linked with the spiritual interests and needs of men, as the Divine answer to them, is irrational and vain. The fact contains within itself the doctrine. It is not a meaningless incident. What is the doctrine but just the articulate expression of its meaning? Take any of the recorded apostolic discourses Peter"s sermon on the day of Pentecost, (Ac 2) Paul"s sermon in the synagogue at Antioch, (Ac 13) or his summary of the gospel (1Co_15:1-4) they are none of them bare statements of historic fact. They glow with the living force of words that carry the historic fact home to the consciences and hearts of men as God"s condemnation of sin and pledge of forgiveness and promise of the life everlasting.

2. The authority of this message of mingled fact and doctrine lies in its divinity. It is the testimony that "God has given us of his Son." The reason men disregard the appeals of the gospel is that they do not believe or feel this. Their diviner sensibility is so deadened by other than Divine influences, that they fail to recognize the approach of God to their souls. If they know that God is speaking to them how can they resist? "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater." We readily receive the witness of men. Our whole social existence proceeds on the principle of faith in the general veracity of those with whom we have to do. Why can we not carry up into the higher region a principle of action that in the lower we feel to be so salutary and necessary? Habitual distrust of one"s fellow creatures would be a dishonour done to our common nature, would poison the very springs of human life, and turn some of our purest joys to bitterness. And yet men cherish on the heavenward side of their being a cold, repellent spirit of unbelief that gives the lie to a God of infinite truth and righteousness and love. "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true"; (Joh_3:33) "He that believeth not God hath made him a liar," etc.. (1Jn_5:10)

II THE CONFIRMATION For the testimony to assert its authority in a way that cannot be gainsaid is one thing; for it to be practically and savingly efficacious is another, No man to whom the message has intelligibly come can escape the special responsibility under which it places him. His whole position as an accountable being is henceforth changed. He may affect to disown the claim, but the sovereign authority of that claim is over him still, and he must answer for his neglect. (Joh_12:47) The testimony accomplishes its end only when the Spirit of God writes it in living characters on the "fleshy table of the heart." How important a transition of thought to pass from the region of words, ideas, outward revelations, to that of the perceptions, affections, and energies of a personal life! Consider the confirmation:

1. As regards its effect on the believer himself. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself". (1Jn_5:10) It has become emphatically his own. The Christ revealed to him is now "in him," a quickening, sanctifying power, "the hope of glory," "a well of water springing up unto everlasting life." All life is self asserting, self assuring. It proves and verifies itself. We don"t question the reality of our physical life. We know that we live in living. We think, feel, breathe, move, act therefore we live. So spiritually; in the sensibilities and energies that accompany Christian faith we have sufficient proof of the power of Christ "to give eternal life to as many as believe in him." And as no external evidence can supply the place of this, so no outward assault of the forces of unbelief can have any real power against it. "We know that the Son of God is come," etc.. (1Jn_5:20) This is what is wanted to give firmness to men in these days of restless thought and unsettled opinion; not mere doctrinal safeguards, not theological rigidity, but the deep inward consciousness of the life giving power of Christ.

2. As regards its effect on others. The testimony of Christ wins its victories in the world on the strength, not so much of historic or miraculous or argumentative proof, but of what it is and what it can do. The fruits of Christian character and deed are the mightiest of all arguments. Saintly, consecrated lives; it is these that give convincing force to the doctrine. "Ye are our epistle," etc.. W. (2Co_2:2, 2Co_2:3)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The testimony of Christ - The gospel. Was confirmed among you - By these gifts attending it. They knew they had received these by the hand of Paul: and this consideration was highly proper, to revive in them their former reverence and affection for their spiritual father.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

6, 7. “As the testimony of Christ is confirmed in you, so that you are deficient in no gift.” The Greek word charisma here occurring is the very identical word used to denote those nine extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost (Ch. 1Co 12:8-11). Hence we see that some of them actually possessed all of these spiritual gifts which you find in that catalogue of nine, and which Paul expounds in chapters 12 and 14. “Expecting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,” i. e., the same personal Jesus whom they had seen with their eyes, and whose voice they had heard with their ears, and whose body they had taken by the hand, having flown up from Mt. Olivet into heaven, is going to come back where we can recognize Him with our physical senses as before His ascension. Paul lived in constant expectancy of His glorious appearing, and made this great fact of the Lord’s return to the earth exceedingly prominent in all of his ministry, as we see unmistakably in every epistle. As we are eighteen hundred years nearer this glorious revelation of Jesus again on the earth, we should be on the constant lookout.

William B. Godbey, Commentary on the New Testament (1896–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

even as the testimony of [about] Christ was confirmed in you [Paul here asserts that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit which characterized the times when he preached to them and converted them, were still equally manifest among them]:

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

6. Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. It was confirmed by the fruits which it brought forth; their belief and the spiritual gifts which were bestowed upon some of them.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

6. καθώς. Inasmuch as. The ground of the former assertion is here given. Ye were enriched, because the testimony of Christ was made sure unto you. Cf. ch. 1Co 5:7; Rom 1:28; Eph 1:4, &c. Or, even as, the usual sense of καθώς, i.e. in exact measure as.

τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ. The objective genitive, the testimony concerning Christ. This testimony was St Paul’s preaching concerning Him. It was ‘confirmed’ by the evidence of the ‘gifts’ of the Spirit.

ἐβεβαιώθη. Stronger than our ‘confirm.’ Render, was made firm, or was secured. The aorist relates to the historical fact that such gifts as the Apostle speaks of had been actually poured out on them.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6. τὸ μαρτ. τ. χριστοῦ] the witness concerning Christ delivered by me.

καθώς, as indeed, ‘siquidem.’

ἐβεβ., was confirmed,—took deep root, among you; i.e. ‘as was to have been expected, from the impression made among you by my preaching of Christ.’ This confirmation was internal, by faith and permanence in the truth, not external, by miracles.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6. καθώς. It introduces, not a mere parallel or illustration, but rather an explanation of what precedes: ‘inasmuch as’; v. 7; Joh 13:34, Joh 17:2. But 1Th 1:5 (quoted by Lightfoot) is less strong.

τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ Χρ. ‘The witness borne [by our preaching] to Christ’; genitivus objecti. Cf. 15:15. Origen takes it of the witness borne by the Scriptures to Christ, and also of the witness borne by Christ, who is the ἀρχίμαρτυς through His death.

ἐβεβαιώθη. Either (1) was established durably (βεβαιώσει, v. 8) in or among you (Meyer); or (2) was verified and established by its influence on your character (2Co 3:2); or (3) was brought home to your deepest conviction as true by the witness of the Spirit (2:4.)*. This last is the best sense.

B* F G, Arm. have τοῦ Θεοῦ for τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Witness of Christ [μαρτυριον του χριστου] . Testimony concerning Christ. See on Joh 1:7. Compare Act 1:8; 2Ti 1:8.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Vv. 6. This verse may be understood in two ways: some (Meyer, Edwards, etc.) regard it as indicating the cause of that abundance of gifts which has just been mentioned. They then apply the term ἐβεβαιώθη, was confirmed, or rather affirmed, to an internal fact: “in consequence of the depth and firmness of faith with which the gospel impressed (affirmed) itself in you.” To support this meaning, they rely on the βεβαιώσει of 1Co 1:8; but we shall see that this ground proves nothing, because there the idea of confirmation applies, not to the gospel, but to the persons of the Corinthians. This explanation is not in keeping with the natural meaning of καθώς, according as, which indicates rather a mode than a cause. The sense seems to me quite different: the apostle means, not that the wealth of their gifts is due to the depth and solidity of their faith, which would be contrary to the spirit of the whole passage, but that these gifts have been the mode of confirming the gospel specially granted to the Church of Corinth. Elsewhere, God could confirm the apostolic preaching otherwise; by miracles, for example, or by moral virtues, fruits of the Spirit; comp. Heb 2:3: “The salvation which, having at the first been spoken by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him, God Himself bearing witness with them by signs and wonders and by distribution of the powers of the Spirit;” also, 1 and 2Th 1:3 and Gal 3:2. The conj. καθώς agrees perfectly with this meaning: “Thus, and not otherwise, did the Divine confirmation of the testimony rendered to Christ take place among you.”

The term testimony is here used to denote preaching, because this is essentially the attestation of a historical fact (1Co 1:23-24). The gen. Χριστοῦ denotes the subject of the testimony, and not its author. It would be otherwise with the gen. θεοῦ, of God, if this reading were adopted with the Vatic.

Frédéric Louis Godet — Commentaries on Luke, John, Romans, and 1 Corinthians — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1870s–1890s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.