“That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;”
My Notes
What Does 1 Corinthians 1:5 Mean?
"That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge." Paul opens his letter to Corinth with a paradoxical commendation: you are enriched in everything — especially utterance (logos — speech, articulation, communication) and knowledge (gnōsis — understanding, insight, information). The paradox: the Corinthian church is simultaneously rich in gifts and poor in behavior. They have extraordinary spiritual gifts (1:7) and extraordinary spiritual problems (divisions, immorality, lawsuits, idolatry). The enrichment is real. The maturity to handle the enrichment is absent.
Paul's acknowledgment of their gifts isn't sarcasm. It's foundation: I recognize what God has given you. Now let's address how you're using it. The gifts are genuine. The stewardship is catastrophic.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where are you rich in gifts but poor in the maturity to use them?
- 2.How does the Corinthian pattern (enriched AND dysfunctional) describe your community?
- 3.What's the gap between your giftedness and your character — and what would close it?
- 4.Why does Paul commend the gifts before confronting the problems — and what does that model?
Devotional
Enriched in everything. Especially in speech and knowledge. The Corinthian church has the most impressive spiritual gift portfolio in the New Testament — and the most impressive list of spiritual problems. Both are true at the same time.
In every thing ye are enriched by him. Paul starts with genuine acknowledgment: God has given you abundance. In every area. The gifts are real. The enrichment is divine. The utterance (eloquence, spiritual speech, tongues, prophecy) is from God. The knowledge (theological insight, spiritual discernment) is from God. You lack nothing in terms of giftedness (1:7).
And yet the rest of the letter will address: division (chapters 1-4), sexual immorality (chapters 5-6), lawsuits between believers (chapter 6), marriage confusion (chapter 7), idol-food debates (chapters 8-10), worship disorder (chapters 11-14), and resurrection denial (chapter 15). The most enriched church is the most dysfunctional church.
The enrichment without maturity is the Corinthian problem — and it's a modern problem too. Gifted and immature. Eloquent and divisive. Knowledgeable and arrogant. The gifts are displayed lavishly. The character behind the gifts is underdeveloped. The church has utterance (everybody talks impressively) and knowledge (everybody knows impressive things). What they lack is love (chapter 13) and order (chapter 14).
Paul acknowledges the enrichment before addressing the problems because both are true. The gifts are genuine. The problems are genuine. And the letter exists to connect the two: here's what God gave you (gifts). Here's what God expects of you (maturity). The enrichment isn't the problem. The enrichment without love is the problem. And the love that chapter 13 describes is the maturity that makes the gifts functional rather than destructive.
You can be enriched and immature at the same time. That's Corinth. The giftedness impresses everyone. The immaturity hurts everyone. And the letter to the Corinthians is about closing the gap between the two.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
That in everything ye are enriched by him,.... This is still a continuation of the thanksgiving for this church, that…
That in every thing - In every respect, or in regard to all the favors conferred on any of his people. You have been…
Ye are enriched - ye abound - in all utterance - Εν παντι λογῳ, In all doctrine; for so the word should certainly be…
We have here the apostle's preface to his whole epistle, in which we may take notice,
I. Of the inscription, in which,…
in every thing ye are enriched Rather, Ye were enriched, i.e. at your baptism, when you entered into the covenant-union…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture