“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;”
My Notes
What Does 1 Corinthians 1:4 Mean?
Paul opens 1 Corinthians by thanking God for the Corinthians — specifically for the grace given to them through Christ. The thanksgiving comes BEFORE the correction (chapters 3-16 are largely corrective). Paul begins with what's right before addressing what's wrong.
The phrase "I thank my God always on your behalf" means Paul's gratitude for the Corinthians is continuous — despite their problems. The church in Corinth was divided (1:10-12), tolerating immorality (5:1), suing each other (6:1), misusing spiritual gifts (12-14), and denying the resurrection (15:12). And Paul thanks God for them. Always. The gratitude precedes — and survives — the correction.
"For the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ" identifies the specific reason for thanks: not the Corinthians' behavior (which is problematic). The grace God gave them. The thanksgiving is aimed at what GOD did, not what THEY did. The behavior is a mess. The grace is a gift. Paul thanks God for the gift while preparing to address the mess.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Can you thank God for someone (for the grace given to them) while also recognizing how much correction they need?
- 2.Does the always-thanks (despite massive problems) model how to approach people you need to confront?
- 3.Does separating the thanksgiving (aimed at God's gift) from the correction (aimed at their behavior) help you love difficult people?
- 4.Is your typical approach to problems thanksgiving-first — or do you skip straight to the confrontation?
Devotional
I thank my God always for you. For the grace given to you. Before I correct everything you're doing wrong.
Paul opens the most corrective letter in the New Testament with thanksgiving. The Corinthians are divided. Immoral. Litigious. Charismatic without love. Denying the resurrection. And Paul's opening sentence is: I thank God for you. Always.
The always is the grace: Paul doesn't thank God when the Corinthians behave well (he'd rarely have occasion). He thanks God for the grace given to them — regardless of their behavior. The thanksgiving targets the gift, not the recipient. God's grace to Corinth is praiseworthy even when Corinth's response to the grace isn't.
"For the grace of God which is given you" — the reason for thanks is God's action, not theirs. God gave grace. The grace is real even though the behavior is wrong. Paul can thank God for the gift without endorsing how the gift is being used. The gratitude and the correction coexist because they aim at different things: the gratitude at God's giving. The correction at their living.
The order is the model: thanksgiving BEFORE correction. Affirmation BEFORE confrontation. What God has done BEFORE what you need to fix. Paul doesn't rush to the problems. He establishes the foundation: you are graced. God has given to you. I thank Him for that. NOW — let's talk about chapters 5 through 15.
The Corinthians hearing this letter would hear the thanks first and the correction second. The thanks would soften the soil for the correction. The gratitude would frame the confrontation. You're loved. You're graced. And you need to change everything.
Start with thanks. Even when the letter that follows is mostly correction.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
I thank my God ... - No small part of this Epistle is occupied with reproofs for the disorders which had arisen in the…
For the grace - which is given you - Not only their calling to be saints, and to be sanctified in Christ Jesus; but for…
We have here the apostle's preface to his whole epistle, in which we may take notice,
I. Of the inscription, in which,…
the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ Rather, perhaps, the favour of God which is given you in Jesus…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture