11 Paul, [a] called apostle of Jesus Christ, by God's will, and Sosthenes the brother, 2 to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, to [those] sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always about you, in respect of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything ye have been enriched in him, in all word [of doctrine], and all knowledge, 6 (according as the testimony of the Christ has been confirmed in you,) 7 so that ye come short in no gift, awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who shall also confirm you to [the] end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God [is] faithful, by whom ye have been called into [the] fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
(Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9)
All Christians are by baptism dedicated and devoted to Christ, and are under strict obligations to be holy. But in the true church of God are all who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, and who call upon him as God manifest in the flesh, for all the blessings of salvation; who acknowledge and obey him as their Lord, and as Lord of all; it includes no other persons. Christians are distinguished from the profane and atheists, that they dare not live without prayer; and they are distinguished from Jews and pagans, that they call on the name of Christ. Observe how often in these verses the apostle repeats the words, Our Lord Jesus Christ. He feared not to make too frequent or too honourable mention of him. To all who called upon Christ, the apostle gave his usual salutation, desiring, in their behalf, the pardoning mercy, sanctifying grace, and comforting peace of God, through Jesus Christ. Sinners can have no peace with God, nor any from him, but through Christ. He gives thanks for their conversion to the faith of Christ; that grace was given them by Jesus Christ. They had been enriched by him with all spiritual gifts. He speaks of utterance and knowledge. And where God has given these two gifts, he has given great power for usefulness. These were gifts of the Holy Ghost, by which God bore witness to the apostles. Those that wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, will be kept by him to the end; and those that are so, will be blameless in the day of Christ, made so by rich and free grace. How glorious are the hopes of such a privilege; to be kept by the power of Christ, from the power of our corruptions and Satan's temptations!