Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
Commentary on the Corinthians partnership The old interpreter renders it society I have preferred, however, to render it fellowship, as bringing out better the force of the Greek word {κοινωνιας} 52 For this is the design of the gospel, that Christ may become ours, and that we may be engrafted into his body. Now when the Father gives him to us in possession, he also communicates himself to us in him; and hence arises a participation in every benefit. Paul's argument, then, is this — "Since you have, by means of the gospel which you have received by faith, been called into the fellowship of Christ, you have no reason to dread the danger of death, 53 having been made partakers of him (Hebrews 3:14) who rose a conqueror over death." In fine, when the Christian looks to himself he finds only occasion for trembling, or rather for despair; but having been called into the fellowship of Christ, he ought, in so far as assurance of salvation is concerned, to think of himself no otherwise than as a member of Christ, so as to reckon all Christ's benefits his own. Thus he will obtain an unwavering hope of final perseverance, (as it is called,) if he reckons himself a member of him who is beyond all hazard of falling away.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
10. Observo autem vos, fratres, per nomen Domini nostri Jesu Christi, ut idem loquamini omnes, et non sint inter vos dissidia: sed apte cohaereatis in una mente et in una sententia. 54
11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
11. Significatum enim mihi de vobis fuit, fratres mei, ab iis qui sunt Chloes, quod contentiones sint inter vos.
12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
12. Dico autem illud, 55 quod unusquisque vestrum dicat, Ego quidem sum Pauli, ego autem Apollo, ego autem Cephae:, ego autem Christi.
13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in 52Calvin in his Institutes, (volume 2,) after speaking of Christ's being represented by Paul as "offered to us in the gospel with all the abundance of heavenly blessings, with all his merits, all his righteousness, wisdom, and grace, without exception," remarks — "And what is meant by the fellowship {κοινωνια} of Christ, which, according to the same apostle (1 Corinthians 1:9) is offered to us in the gospel, all believers know.'' --- Ed 53"La mort et perdition;" — "Death and perdition." 54"Et en une mesme volonte," ou "et mesme avis;" — "And in the same disposition," or "and the same judgement."
55"Et ie de ceci," ou "Or ce que ie di c'est qu'un chacun;" — "And this I say," or "Now what I say is this, that every one."