Commentary on 1 Corinthians

Theodore of Mopsuestia (350–428)

The power and wisdom of God is not the divinity of Christ as such but the preaching of the cross.

Paul uses the expression "things that are not" differently here from the way he uses it in his epistle to the Romans. Here it means simply that which is vile and contemptible, as opposed to "things that are," which are beautiful, powerful and respected.

Boasting, even if it is of good works, harms the soul of the boaster. Anyone who boasts of worldly achievements is highly worldly himself.

By wisdom Paul means the cross and the whole dispensation of salvation.

Paul calls us God's fellow workers, not his servants or slaves.

The one who believes in Christ receives the Holy Spirit, who dwells in him by the washing of rebirth, and thus he is spiritual. But if such people then turn around and serve worldly passions, in that respect they are carnal. Paul says that those who have become spiritual according to their confession of faith may nevertheless still live as though they were carnal so as to become an insult to the Holy Spirit who dwells in them.

See also

• More works by Theodore of Mopsuestia

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