Jesus was the one believers waited for

JESUS WAS THE ONE BELIEVERS WAITED FOR
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
I COR 1:7 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual
gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be
revealed
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
The Patience OfHope
1 Corinthians 1:7
D. Fraser
Waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Old Testamentworthies
waited for the advent of Messiahand the consolationofIsrael. New Testament
saints wait for the secondcoming of the Lord, the completion of the Church in
holiness, and its entrance into his glory at his appearing. They alreadypossess
Christ by faith. He answers for them in order to their justification, and he
dwells in them in order to their sanctification. Theylove him as their Saviour
unseen, and therefore they long to see him as he is. Men who are afraid of
judgment hope for acquittal; men who are wearyand worn hope for rest; men
whose earthly course has been disappointing hope for a better world; but
none of these wishes or expectations come up to the blessedhope which is
distinctively Christian. We look for the Saviour. We wait for the apocalypse of
our Lord.

I. THE GROUND ON WHICH WE CHERISH THIS EXPECTATION. It is
simply the word of promise. In parables, and in plain statements also, Jesus
Christ assuredhis disciples that he would return in an unexpected hour. At
his ascensionthe heavenly messengers, "menin white apparel," said explicitly
to the "men of Galilee" that "this Jesus" wouldreturn from heaven.
Accordingly the apostles infused this hope into the early Church; all the
Epistles refer to it; and the last book of the Bible closeswith a repetition of the
Lord's promise: "Behold, I come quickly;" and the response of the Church:
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" We do not entertain any question of
probability. ForChristians the matter rests on a sure word of prophecy and
promise, pledging the truth of the Son of God. If any persons are capable of
believing that the Sonof God spoke atrandom or kindled by his words
expectations that are never to be fulfilled, we cannot prove to them that Christ
will come again. But all who reverence him as One in whose mouth no guile
was ever found, are bound to believe that he will be revealedin his glory; and
all who love him will look for his appearing.
II. REASONS FOR OUR WAITING FOR THE LORD.
1. "We see not yet all things put under him," and we long to do so. Promises
of universal sovereigntyand honour made to Christ in the Psalms waitfor
fulfilment. Prayers of many generations made "for him" as well as through
him, wait for the answer. Therefore the Church, believing the promises and
continuing the prayers, above all, loving him to whom such things are
promised and the ardour of such prayers is devoted, cannot but waitfor the
Lord as night watchers waitfor the morning. Ever since the Ascension,
Christ... has had, by appointment of the Father "all authority in heaven and
earth." The glory in heaven is hidden from us, but all may see that since the
day of his ascensionhis Name has been rising continually above all other
names knownto mankind, and has so extended the area of its fame and
influence that it is beyond question the mightiest name upon earth. Still Christ
has many enemies. They are not yet made "his footstool." And many of those

who are called Christians are at heart indifferent to his cause, disobedientto
his Word, apathetic about his kingdom and glory. Then the tribes and nations
of the earth do not to any appreciable extent, even in Christendom,
acknowledge orserve the Lord Jesus;and there are vast populations that
have scarcelyheardhis Name. Even in our own country, one is struck with the
avoidance of any express mention of him who is Lord of all, as Lord over us.
In public documents, expressive of the national mind and will, there may be
reference to "Almighty God," and to a superintending Providence - cold
phrases of theism; but there is an apparent reluctance to name the Lord Jesus
Christ, and to own submission to his Word. This is grievous to those who love
him and know that he is the sole sufficient Healer of mankind. They take their
part zealouslyin all movements to check injustice, to stay the foetid streams of
vice, to relieve misery, and to spread virtue and peace;but they lament that
Christ is so little soughtand honoured in the efforts of philanthropy, and they
often cry to him in their struggle, "Lord, how long? When wilt thou return
from the far country? When wilt thou take thy greatpower, and reign?"
2. We have such correspondence now with the unseen Saviour as makes us
long for his bright presence. It is not fair or reasonable to put the revelation of
Christ to us now by the Holy Spirit againstthe personalrevelationto his
saints at his secondcoming, and to ask which of them is the more to be
desired. Each is to be desired in its season, and the first whets the longing for
the second. If I have had pleasantand profitable correspondence foryears
with one whom I have not seen, but who is known to me by his wisdom and
kindness;if he has done me more goodthan all the men whom I have seen,
taught me, helped me, and stamped the impression of himself on my mind and
heart; do I not long to see him face to face, and eagerlywait for a day when I
may be nearer to him who has become indispensable to me, the very life of my
life? Surely it is so betweenChristians and Christ. They have heard his words,
receivedhis Spirit, had much correspondencewith him in prayer and the
Lord's Supper, got much help from him in time of need. Though unseen, he
has been far more to them than all the teachers andfriends whom they have
seen;and for that very reasonthey long to behold him. Their hearts cannever
be quite satisfied till they see the Lord.

3. We are wearyof ourselves and ashamedof our faults, and therefore long to
be perfected at his coming. It is true that the life of faith has deep wells of
comfort, and Christians ought to be happy. It is also true that the abiding
Spirit of Christ is able to keephis servants from sin, and to sustain them in a
course of holy obedience. But it is useless to dispute the fact that we are all
imperfect in characterand faulty in service. We fall short of our best aims,
blunder in our well doing, spoil much goodby faults of temper and even of
manner, and are unprofitable servants. The best Christians, in whom perhaps
we see no blemish, see in themselves sin and imperfection to the last. Now, we
make no excuse for fault m inconsistency. We maintain that honestservants of
Jesus Christ will aim daily and prayerfully at amendment, and endeavourto
walk more closelywith God. Still, there will always be some defecttill the
servants see their Lord. It is his coming that will give the signalfor the
perfecting of his people, and their complete transformation into his likeness.
Such is the doctrine often taught by the Apostle Paul: "Unreprovable in the
day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (ver. 8); "Unblamable in holiness before our
God and Fatherat the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints" (1
Thessalonians 3:13);"Without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ"
(1 Thessalonians5:23). There may here be added the prospectof the Lord's
kind approval of diligent though imperfect service rendered to him, for which
he will award a kingly recompense. But we do not much dwell on this, because
the thought of getting anything from the King is not so dear to those who love
him as the expectationof being made like him, purified as he is pure.
Therefore the intense longing of the saints for the revelationof our Lord
Jesus.
(1) Watch and be sober. Extravagance ofmind, glorying in the flesh,
indulgence of inordinate desire, are not becoming in men who wait for the
Lord. Be temperate in all things.

(2) Watch and pray. Ask God to help your infirmities, and to deliver you from
the spirit of slumber. Your lamps will not go out so long as you pray; for then
you have a continual supply of oil.
(3) Watch and work. The Lord followedup the parable of the waiting virgins
with that of the trading servants. Blessedis the faithful and wise servant
whom the Lord, when he comes, shallfind doing the work assignedto him.
The Masterbids us not "prepare for death," as so many put it, but prepare to
render accountof our service to him at his return. Alas for the wickedand
slothful servants in that day! - F.
Waiting for the coming of the Lord
T. Dale, M. A.
I. THE OBJECTOF EXPECTATION TO ALL TRUE BELIEVERS. "The
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." It should rather have been rendered, the
discoveryor manifestationof our Lord Jesus Christ. The primary idea is that
of stripping off a garment, rolling away a curtain, or removing a screen;and
under whichever of these aspects we contemplate the image depicted by the
apostle, it will come home with equal powerto our own consciousnessof
frailty, our own liability to death. Practically, that moment will be to us the
manifestation of Christ as Judge, which shall strip off this garment of
mortality, roll awaythe dark curtain of the grave, and remove the screen
which divides us from the invisible world. The believer does not, like one
conscious ofunacknowledgedand unrepented sin, start back from judgment
with apprehension and alarm. It is not a Judge who will be manifestedto his
spiritual view, arrayed in lightnings and attended by ministers of wrath — it
is not such a Judge, but our Lord Jesus Christ: yea, he can even say, with all
the confiding appropriation of the Apostle Paul, "Christ Jesus, my Lord, the
excellencyof whose knowledgeis life eternal, and in whom I desire to be

found, not having mine own righteousness, whichis of the law, but that which
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness whichis of God by faith."
II. THE MODE OF SO PREPARING FOR THE COMING OR
MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST JESUS, THAT IT SHALL BE, NOT THE
APPREHENSIONOF IMPENDING EVIL, BUT' THE EXPECTANCYOF
CERTAIN AND ENDURING GOOD. The apostle speaksofGod "confirming
these Corinthians unto the end." Confirming them, you will ask, in what? The
reference is to the fourth verse, in which St. Paul speaks, first, of the
producing cause, in which alone preparation had commencedor could
commence, eventhe "grace whichhad been given through Jesus Christ";and
afterwards of the effectwhich had been produced thereby — "that they were
enriched in all utterance and in all knowledge";in which utterance, being the
declarationof a goodconfession— and in which knowledge,being that which
is to life eternal — he desires that through the same grace, and by the same
power, they may he confirmed.
III. THE CONSEQUENCEOF BEING THUS PREPARED BYGRACE
AND CONFIRMEDOF GOD UNTO THE END: viz., that we shall be found
blameless in the day of Jesus Christ. This word "blameless"is strictly a
forensic term, applicable to the trial of the soul in the high court of heaven,
and by God, the Judge of all. Whatever may be the discoveries ofthe last day,
or to whomsoevermade, of one thing we are certain, beyond all fear of a
contingency, "there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."
(T. Dale, M. A.)
Waiting
H. J. W. Buxton, M. A.
1. We are all doing this in one way or another. Some watchful and faithful at
our post, in the midst of a wickedworld, like the sentry who died on guard in

sinful Pompeii; some in slothful forgetfulness, like the foolish virgins; others
in abject fear, like condemned criminals who wait the coming of the
executioner;many, I trust, with patience, and hope, and peace.
2. Waiting is very hard work, far harder than doing. Waiting too for
uncertainties, and better times which may never come;"hoping against
hope," with that "hope deferred which maketh the heart sick," is one of the
hardest of the tasks whichwe have to do. Waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ is
also hard work, because ofthe sin which is in us and around us, but it is not
hopeless ordoubtful. "In due time we shall reap if we faint not."
3. How may we best wait for this?
4. Though we are waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus, He is in a sense
always with us.
5. We must wait for our Lord's coming with our armour girded on and in the
front of the battle.
(H. J. W. Buxton, M. A.)
The coming of Christ
When we expectany one we turn our eyes that way, as the wife looks towards
the sea whenshe expects her husband's return. Surely, then, if we look for
Christ to come we shall keepour eyes heavenward, and our minds occupied
with the country from which He cometh.
Christ's secondcoming

We are not afraid to go alone on a journey to a strange place when we are
sure that a friend will meet us at the end of the journey. The husband in a
distant city telegraphs to his wife to come to him, and he will be at the station
to receive her.
Faith and preparation as to the secondcoming of Christ
A. Thomson, D. D.
The coming of Christ literally refers to His appearing at the lastday, but in its
substantial meaning, and as to all its practicaleffects, it may be consideredas
equivalent to our death, because there not only is our future condition
determined, but we enter into that scene in which His award shall fix us when
He pronounces our final sentence. Let us, then, considerwhat is implied in the
Christian's waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. A FIRM CONVICTION THAT CHRIST WILL COME. In any other state
of mind the term "waiting" would be inapplicable. And, indeed, the second
coming of Christ forms a part of the deliberate and cherishedcreed of every
true disciple. It is not a mere speculationindulged in because it is agreeable;a
conjecture suggestedby appearances, andadhered to as being probable and
useful; the result of a process ofreasoning, liable to errors and doubts; it is a
point of settled belief, which the Christian maintains because it is founded on
the testimony of Him who is equally omniscient and true. It is the subject of a
Divine prediction, of a Divine promise, of a Divine assurance;and therefore
we cannot withhold our full assentto it without impeaching the absolute
perfection of that absolutelyperfect Being by whom it has been attested. And
remember that it is not set down merely as one of a multitude of events which
will happen, but as a constituent portion of that scheme which the Sonof God
undertook to execute as the Redeemerofsinful men. Christ was "once offered
to bear the sins of many, and unto them who look for Him Christ will appear
the secondtime, without sin, unto salvation."
II. THAT THIS EVENT IS THE SUBJECT OF HABITUAL THOUGHT
AND CONTEMPLATION. How, indeed, canit be otherwise, seeing itis so

true and so important in His regard? Were it a merely probable circumstance,
a fact of little interest, or nothing more than a dry abstracttruth, the mind of
the Christian could not entertain it with much cordiality, or look forward to
the period of its being realised with any intensity of feeling. But how
differently must he be affectedtowards it, when he considers its indubitable
certainty — the touching concerns which it involves — the various attractions
which it presents in its every aspect — and the bearing which it has on all that
he now is, and all that he is to be for ever!
III. A DILIGENT AND FAITHFUL PREPARATION FOR IT. Unless we had
this preparation, we could not with any propriety be said to wait for Christ's
coming, because, if unprepared for His coming, it would be an event to be
fearedand deprecated. Christ will come for two purposes: to reward His
people and to punish His enemies. But if we are among the number of His
enemies, then, when He comes, we must suffer the condemnation which He
has threatenedagainstall those who have refusedor neglectedto become
what He required them to be. Those who wait for His coming, and are
prepared for that event, are —
1. Believers. Relying on Christ in the exercise ofa true faith, we may wait for
His coming, because His merit, appropriated by that faith, has cancelledour
guilt, the prevalence of which would have made His coming terrible, and has
obtained for us a title to the celestialkingdom, which we never could have
entered through any doings or deservings of our own.
2. Saints — holy persons. When Christ comes it is to conduct His people to
their reward. But how can He take us into His Father's house, if our
principles and dispositions and habits are all in irreconcilable hostility to the
exercises andenjoyments of that blessedabode? Nothing that defileth can
enter into the New Jerusalem.

IV. A DECIDED AND ARDENT DESIRE FOR IT. The feeling is dictated by
all our present experience, and by all our future prospects. There are evils
from which that event alone canemancipate us, and there are enjoyments to
which that event alone canintroduce us. And if it be a right thing to wish for
deliverance from the one, and for the attainment of the other, then it is right
to wish for the secondadvent of Christ, because that is identified with both
advantages.
1. Here you are subject to disease — to its pain, and its languishing, and its
mortal issue. But when your Saviour comes He will put upon you the crownof
life, and you shall neither sicken, nor suffer, nor die any more.
2. Here your reputation may be wounded from ignorance, envy, prejudice, or
malevolence. But when your Saviour comes He will place you among those
whom God hath justified, and whom no man cancondemn — in whose society
calumny cannot reachyou, and reproachcannot hurt you.
3. Here you may have to struggle with the numerous ills and hardships of
poverty. But when your Saviourcomes you shall have no wants which He will
not supply with inexhaustible abundance.
4. Here your cherishedfriends may betray you when you are most confiding,
and those who were dear to you as your own soul may be torn from your
embrace by the relentless hand of death. But when your Saviour comes He
will wind up this scene oftrial, and will take you where ingratitude and
treacheryand dissolution shall be unknown.

5. Here you have the plague of sin to trouble and torment you. But when your
Saviour comes He will place you where you shall be beyond the reach of
temptation, and beyond the fearand the capacityof transgressing.
6. Here your eye and your heart are often pained by the sight of abounding
iniquity. But when your Saviour comes He will conduct you into a regionas
pure as it is happy.
7. Here your best services andhighest attainments are mixed with much
imperfection and weakness.But when your Saviour comes He will make you
"perfect, even as your Father in heavenis perfect."
8. Here all your enjoyments, howeverexquisite, multiplied, and prolonged, are
but mingled at the best, and soonover. But when your Saviour comes He will
impart to you a happiness immortal as the souls that are to enjoy it — as the
uncreated source from which it is to flow.
9. Here it is a trial to your patience that the Cross ofChrist should be such a
rock of offence, and that He who bore its agonyand its shame should be
despisedand rejectedof men. But when your Saviour comes His enemies will
be destroyed, the numberless trophies of His humiliation and His blood will be
assembledto honour Him, and all the hosts of heaven will unite with all the
redeemedfrom the earth, to ascribe to Him the blessing, and dominion, which
He had so richly won.
V. THE EXERCISE OF PATIENCE AND RESIGNATION. Submissionto
the Divine arrangements is a necessarypart of the Christian character, and
particularly in this regard. You should wait for Christ's secondcoming with
patience, because —

1. The period of that coming is fixed by God's appointment. It is a part of the
plan which He has formed for your salvation. It originates in the same mercy
which prompted Him to give up His Son to suffering and to death for you.
And does not every view of the Divine perfections constrainyou to acquiesce
in all that has been fixed as to the secondcoming, as wellas in all that took
place with regard to the first coming of Christ?
2. It is conducive to your own improvement and advantage. The present is a
scene ofpreparation for the future. Every temptation that you successfully
resist;every obligationthat you faithfully fulfil; every trial to which you
patiently submit; every step that you advance in the careerofgodliness and
virtue; every victory that you achieve over the devil, the world, and the flesh,
by that faith and patience which characterisc the saints of God upon earth,
will put a loftier note in your song of praise, and add another gem to your
crownof righteousness andglory in heaven. Seeing, then, that your continual
stay here is conducive to your everlasting benefit, let not your souls be cast
down, and let not their desires for deliverance overstepthe limits of devout
resignationto the will of Him who has arrangedyour lot in this world with a
view to your destiny beyond it, and whose redeeming mercy will leadHim to
make all things work togetherfor your good.
3. It is for the advantage of your brethren and fellow men. This was one of
Paul's motives, when amidst his longings to depart and to be with Christ, he
was still contented to remain where the greatHead of the Church had
ordained him to labour. "Nevertheless," saidhe, "to abide in the flesh is more
needful for you."
(A. Thomson, D. D.)

The uncertainty of Christ's coming
W. A. Butler, M. A.
This blending of light and obscurity —
I. LEAVES US IN A STATE MORE SUITABLE AND MORE
PROFITABLE THAN EITHER ABSOLUTE IGNORANCE OR PERFECT
KNOWLEDGE.
1. It awakensfeelings whichthe former would fail to excite, and which —
2. The latter would quench as they arose.
II. IT IS SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO KEEP ALIVE EXPECTATION, BY
BRINGING EMPHATICALLY BEFORE US THE PERPETUAL
POSSIBILITYOF AN IMMEDIATE MANIFESTATION. Itkeeps us in a
state of —
1. Lively hope;
2. Watchfulness;
3. Humility;
4. Fidelity;

5. Earnestinquiry after truth;
6. Reverence anddread.
(W. A. Butler, M. A.)
The revelationof Jesus Christ
The Study.
This "revelation" would do two things —
I. "CONFIRMTHEM UNTO THE END" (ver. 8). "All is well that ends
well." The "end" of the Christian will confirm the wisdomof his choosing
such an "end." Hence "the end of a thing is better than the beginning." The
world calls him a "fool";the day of Christ will "confirm" his wisdom. The
world calls him ignoble; the day of Christ will "confirm" his pretensions to
greatness andglory. The world calls him poor; the "day of Christ" will
"confirm" his claims to an "inheritance incorruptible," &c. We are now
"confirming the testimony of Christ," and proving Him true (ver. 6). In "that
day" Christ will confirm our testimony, and prove us true. It will be the
manifestation of the sons of God.
II. MAKE THEM BLAMELESS. Then all imperfections will end. Sin's damp
mists will no longer rise to obscure the moral heavens. Lessons:
1. Encouragementto the faithful worker.
2. Confidence. Do circumstances look discouraging in your labours of love?
Do long-looked-forwants tarry? Do the desiredclouds refuse to break in

blessings on the parched heart? Have faith. The blessing will come, though it
tarry, "for God is faithful," &c. (ver. 9). He will keepHis promises, &c.
3. Stimulus. "The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ" will be a revelationof
unrecognisedor undeveloped" "gifts." Therefore "come behind in no gift,"
&c. When that day dawns, the grand confirmation service will be held —
"confirming" the goodand the bad alike.
(The Study.)
Firm to the end
H. J. W. Buxton, M. A.
Steadfastnessis one of the most important characteristicsofa Christian.
What are love, self-denial, patience, and faith without it? It is not the best
regiment which makes the most headlong charge, but which can stand firm.
The Spartans were forbidden by their laws to flee. In the Pass of Thermopylae
stands a monument to Leonidas and his followers, bearing this inscription —
"Go, stranger, and tell at Lacedaemonthat we died here in obedience to our
laws." Whatwe want, as soldiers of Christ, is not so much zeal, or enthusiasm,
or outward profession, as firmness to the end, steadfastnessto die, if need be,
for the laws of our God. We find plenty of zealous professors, but after a time
the fire dies out into dead ashes;they have no staying power. Note —
I. SOME OF THE DANGERS OF THE CHURCH NOW.
1. The restless spirit of the age. This is the result of various causes.(1)The
spread of education. Men are taught to cultivate their heads at the price of
their hearts.(2)The growthof cheapliterature. The fact is, some of us in these
days are getting too clever. We have got a few drops of learning, and we fancy
that we can pour the whole oceanofknowledge into our poor little bottle.

True education makes us humble, because it shows us our ignorance. What
are the doubters and the unbelievers going to give you in exchange for what
they rob you of? They can take awaythe Saviour, and only leave you your
sins. They may scoffyou out of believing in the resurrection. But canthey
laugh you out of believing in death?
2. A constantdesire for something new, and, if possible, sensational. And,
above all, these people want a religion made easy. They have no objection to
being saved provided that the process is quick and cheap. They turn away
from the thought of self-denial, &c.; they must be made goodall at once.
Beware ofthis mushroom religion; the best fruit is not that which ripens most
quickly, and the best Christian certainly does not come to maturity all in a
moment. The Persianfable tells us how a gourd wound itself round a lofty
palm-tree, and in a few weeks climbedto its very top. The gourd askedthe
palm-tree its age, and the tree answered, "An hundred years." Then the
gourd answeredboastinglythat it had grown as tall as the palm in fewerdays
than the tree could count years. "True," answeredthe palm-tree, "every
summer has a gourd climbed round me, as proud as thou art, and as short-
lived as thou wilt be."
3. This is a speciallybusy age. Every walk of life is crowded, and competition
is most keen. Now there is greatdanger in all this to a man's spiritual life, if he
has not God with him in his work. He will become selfishand unscrupulous.
II. THE MEANS BY WHICH CHRIST WILL CONFIRM YOU UNTO THE
END.
(H. J. W. Buxton, M. A.)

COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(7) So that ye come.—Notexactlyas in the English, “so that ye come behind”
(or, are wanting) “in no gift,” but “the result being that ye come behind others
in no gift.” You have as fully as any others those spiritual gifts which sustain
you and enable you to wait for the revelation (i.e., the secondvisible
appearance, whichthe early Church expectedwould soonoccur) of our Lord
Jesus Christ, not with fear, or with impatience, but with a calm trustfulness
(Luke 17:30; Titus 2:13).
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
1:1-9 All Christians are by baptism dedicated and devotedto Christ, and are
under strict obligations to be holy. But in the true church of God are all who
are sanctifiedin Christ Jesus, calledto be saints, and who call upon him as
God manifest in the flesh, for all the blessings ofsalvation; 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, andcomforting 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 conversionto the faith of Christ; that grace was giventhem
by Jesus Christ. They had been enriched by him with all spiritual gifts. He
speaks ofutterance and knowledge. And where God has given these two gifts,
he has given greatpower for usefulness. These were gifts of the Holy Ghost,
by which God bore witness to the apostles. Those thatwait 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 powerof Christ,
from the powerof our corruptions and Satan's temptations!
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
So that - God has so abundantly endowedyou with his favors.
Ye come behind - ὑστερεῖσθαι hustereisthai. You are not missing, or deficient.
The word is usually applied to destitution, want, or poverty; and the
declarationhere is synonymous with what he had said, 1 Corinthians 1:5, that
they abounded in everything.
In no gift - In no favor, or gracious endowment. The word used here χάρισμα
charisma, does not refer necessarilyto extraordinary and miraculous
endowments, but includes also all the kindnesses ofGod toward them in
producing peace ofmind, constancy, humility, etc. And the apostle meant
evidently to saythat they possessed, in rich abundance, all those endowments
which were bestowedon Christians.
Waiting for - Expecting, or looking for this coming with glad and anxious
desire. This was, certainly, one of the endowments to which he referred, to
wit, that they had grace giventhem earnestly to desire, and to wait for the
secondappearing of the Lord Jesus. An earnestwishto see him, and a
confident expectationand firm belief that he will return, is an evidence of a
high state of piety. It demands strong faith, and it will do much to elevate the
feelings above the world, and to keepthe mind in a state of peace.
The coming ... - Greek The revelation - τὴν ἀποκάλυψινtēn apokalupsin- the
manifestation of the Son of God. That is, waiting for his return to judge the
world, and for his approbation of his people on that Day. The earnest
expectationof the Lord Jesus became one of the marks of early Christian

piety. This return was promised by the Saviour to his anxious disciples, when
he was about to leave them; John 14:3. The promise was renewedwhen he
ascendedto heaven;Acts 1:11. It became the settled hope and expectationof
Christians that he would return; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:12; Hebrews 9:28. And
with the earnestprayer that be would quickly come, John closes the volume of
inspiration; Revelation22:20-21.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
7. ye come behind—are inferior to other Christians elsewhere [Grotius].
in no gift—not that all had all gifts, but different persons among them had
different gifts (1Co 12:4, &c.).
waiting for … coming of … Christ—The crowning proof of their "coming
behind in no gift." Faith, hope, and love, are all exercisedherein (compare 2Ti
4:8; Tit 2:13). "Leaving to others their MEMENTO MORI(remember death),
do thou earnestly cherishthis joyous expectationof the Lord's coming"
[Bengel]. The Greek verb implies, "to expectconstantly, not only for a certain
time, but even to the end till the expectedevent happens" (Ro 8:19, [Tittmann,
Greek Synonyms of the New Testament]).
Matthew Poole's Commentary
Not that every one of them was filled with all the gifts of the blessedSpirit;
but one excelledin one gift, anotherexcelledin another, as the apostle
expounds himself, 1 Corinthians 12:7,8;neither doth the apostle assertthem
perfect in their gifts, but saith that they came behind-hand, or were defective,
in no gift; but were all waiting for the secondcoming of the Lord Jesus Christ
to judgment, of which he mindeth them, to encourage them to go on as they
had began.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So that ye come behind in no gift,.... Ordinary or extraordinary; a detail of the
gifts which were bestowedon them is made in 1 Corinthians 12:8; by which it
appears that they were not inferior in gifts to any of the churches:
waiting for the coming; or "the revelation"
of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will appeara secondtime, come in greatglory,
will raise the dead, and judge both quick and dead; when gifts will cease and
be of no more use, and when they must all be accountedfor; and therefore, till
that time comes, shouldbe diligently made use of, and improved to the
interest and service ofChrist; who will surely come again, and call his
servants and churches to an accountfor the talents he has intrusted them
with; and whose coming is to be believed, loved, looked, and hoped for by all,
that love him in sincerity and truth.
Geneva Study Bible
So that ye come behind in no gift; {10} waiting for the {f} coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ:
(10) He says along the way that there is no reasonwhy they should be so
pleasedin those gifts which they had received, seeing that those were nothing
in comparisonof those which are to be lookedfor.
(f) He speaks ofthe last coming of Christ.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Meyer's NT Commentary
1 Corinthians 1:7. Result of τὸ μαρτ. τ. Χ. ἐβεβ. ἐν ὑμῖν, consequently parallel
to ἐν παντὶ ἐπλουτ. ἐν αὐτᾷ. The negative expressionμὴ ὑστερεῖσθαι ἐν is
conceivedquite after the analogyof the positive πλουτίζ. ἐν (see on 1

Corinthians 1:5), so that ἐν denotes that, in which one is behind (defectively
constituted). Hence:so that ye in no gift of grace are behind (i.e. less rich than
other churches). Comp Plat. Pol. vi. p. 484 D: μηδʼ ἐν ἄλλῳ μηδενὶ μέρει
ἀρετῆς ὑστηροῦντας. Sir51:24. The sense would be different, if the words
were μηδενὸς χαρίσματος (so that no gift of grace is lacking to you). See
Romans 3:22; Luke 22:35; John 2:3. Ruhnk. a[124]Tim. p. 51. Lobeck, a[125]
Phryn. p. 237;a[126]Soph. Aj. 782. Χάρισμα is here to be taken(with Calvin
and others, including Rosenmüller, Pott, de Wette, Maier) in the wider sense
of the spiritual blessings ofChristianity generally, in so far as believers are
made partakers of them by the divine grace through the πνεῦμα ἅγιον
(Romans 1:11; 1 Corinthians 7:7); not, with most of the older expositors, as
well as Billroth, Rückert, Olshausen, Hofmann, in the narrowersense ofthe
extraordinary gifts (chap. 12 ff.). The proof of this is, first, that the
immediately following ἀπεκδεχομ.κ.τ.λ[127]makes the ΜῊ ὙΣΤΕΡΕῖΣΘΑΙ
ἘΝ ΜΗΔΕΝῚ ΧΑΡΊΣΜΑΤΙ appear as an ethical endowment; second, that
the significantretrospective reference ofthe ἀνεγκλήτους in 1 Corinthians 1:8
does not suit the ΧΑΡΊΣΜΑΤΑ in the narrowersense, but does suit all the
more strikingly the moral characterofthe Christian gifts of the Spirit in
general. The form of expressionin the singular here stands as little in the way
of this view (in opposition to Hofmann) as at Romans 1:11, and is, in fact,
necessitatedby the negative form of the discourse. Rückert, indeed, objects:
“that Paul could not at all mean here those purely moral blessings, seeing that
the Corinthians did not possessthem.” The apostle, however, is not speaking
of every individual, but of the church takenas a whole (comp already
Chrysostomand Theophylact); and, moreover, expresses himselfwith much
caution in a negative way, so that he only needs to answerfor the presence of a
sufficienter praeditum esse to stand comparisonwith other churches.
ἀπεκδεχομ. Κ.Τ.Λ[129]]is a significantaccompanying definition to what has
gone before: as persons, who are not in any wise afraid of the revelationof
Christ (1 Peter1:7; Colossians 3:3 f.) and wish it away, but who are waiting
for it. This waiting and that afflux of grace stand in a mutual relation of
actionand reaction. Bengelsays rightly: “CharacterChristiani veri vel falsi,
revelationemChristi vel expectare velhorrere.” The fact that there were

among the Corinthians deniers of the resurrection(and consequently of the
Parousia in its full idea)—which, we may add, might naturally enough cause
this hope to become all the more vividly prominent in the case ofthe rest—
does not take awayfrom the truth of the words, which hold goodof the
church a potiori. Just as little can they (contrary to the winning tone of the
whole preamble) have it as their design to terrify with the thought of the day
of judgment (Chrysostom), or to censure the doubters (Grotius, Rückert), or
even to make ironical reference to the fancied perfection of the Corinthians
(Mosheim). The participial clause, whichneeded neither ὡς nor the article, is
not merely a temporal definition—consequently“for the time” of the waiting
(Hofmann)—any more than at Titus 2:13; Romans 8:23; Judges 1:21.
ἀπεκδ.]denotes the persevering expectation. See onRomans 8:19; Fritzsche in
Fritzschior. Opusc. p. 150 ff. The word does not indicate the element of
longing (de Wette). See Romans 8:25;1 Peter 3:20. For the subject-matter,
comp Php 3:20; Titus 2:13; 2 Timothy 4:8; Luke 12:36.
[124]d refers to the note of the commentatoror editor named on the
particular passage.
particular passage.
particular passage.
[127].τ.λ. καὶ τὰ λοιπά.

[129].τ.λ. καὶ τὰ λοιπά.
Expositor's Greek Testament
1 Corinthians 1:7 describes the result of the firm establishmentof the Gospel:
ὥστε ὑμᾶς μὴ ὑστερεῖσθαι κ.τ.λ. (ὥστε with inf[87] of contemplated result: see
Bn[88] §§ 369 ff.), “causing you not to feel behindhand in any gift of grace”;
the mid[89] ὑστερεῖσθαι implies subjective reflexion, the consciousnessof
inferiority (Ev[90]): similarly in Romans 3:23, “find themselves short of the
glory of God” (Sanday and Headl.); and in Luke 15:14, “he beganto feel his
destitution”. The pr[91] inf[92] and ptp[93] of the vbs. bear no ref[94]to the
time of writing; their time is given by the governing ἐβεβαιώθη:the strong
assurance withwhich the Cor[95]embraced the Gospelwas followedby a
showerof spiritual energies, ofwhich they had a lively sense. A χάρισμα (see
parls.) is χάρις in some concrete result(see Cr[96] s. v.),—a specific
endowment of (God’s) grace, whetherthe fundamental charism, embracing all
others, of salvation in Christ (Romans 5:16), or, e.g., the specialand
individual charism of continence (1 Corinthians 7:7). No church excelledthe
Cor[97]in the variety of its endowments and the satisfactionfelt in them.
Chaps. 12–14 enumerate and discuss the chief Cor[98]χαρίσματα, setting
ἀγάπη in their midst; ethicalqualities are included under this term, 1
Corinthians 1:8 f.—ἀπεκδεχομένους τ. ἀποκάλυψινκ.τ.λ. “while you eagerly
awaited(or eagerlyawaiting, as you did) the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ”. The vb[99] is one of P.’s characteristic intensive compounds (see
parls.). The anarthrous pr[100] ptp[101] implies a continuous state
conditioning that of the foregoing clause:the unstinted plenty of Divine gifts
continued while the recipients fixed their thought upon the day of Christ; 1
Corinthians 15:12; 1 Corinthians 15:33 f. show that this expectationhad been
in many instances relaxed. Romans 8 and Colossians3 (also 1 John 2:28 to 1
John 3:3) illustrate the bearing of faith in the παρουσία on Christian
character;cf. Matthew 25, Luke 12:32 ff., etc. It is an ἀποκάλυψις, an
“unveiling” of Christ that the Cor[102]lookedfor; since although they are “in
Christ,” still he is hidden (Colossians 3:3 f.); His presence is a mystery
(Colossians1:27, Ephesians 5:32). “Παρουσία denotes the factof Christ’s
(future) presence, ἑπιφάνεια its visibility” and splendour, “ἀποκάλυψιςits
inner meaning” (Ed[103]);φανέρωσις (it might be added: Colossians 3:4)its

open display. The Cor[104]were richly blessedwith presentgood, while
expecting a goodfar exceeding it: “a tacit warning againstfancied satisfaction
in the present” (Gd[105]:cf. 1 Corinthians 4:8).
[87] infinitive mood.
[88] E. Burton’s Syntax of the Moods and Tenses in the N.T. (1894).
[89] middle voice.
[90] T. S. Evans in Speaker’s Commentary.
[91] present tense.
[92] infinitive mood.
[93] participle
[94] reference.
[95] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
[96] Cremer’s Biblico-TheologicalLexiconof N.T. Greek (Eng. Trans.).

[99] verb
[100]present tense.
[101]participle
[102]Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
[103]T. C. Edwards’Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians.2
[104]Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
[105]F. Godet’s Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng.
Trans.).
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
7. come behind] should rather be translated fall short. No comparisonwith
other Churches seems to have been intended.

the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ] The word in the original and in the
margin of the Englishversion is revelation. But this is not always equivalent to
coming. The ‘revelation of Jesus Christ’ unquestionably means (1) the Last
Day in such passages as 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and 1 Peter1:7, and the same is
the case withSt Luke 17:30. But on the other hand, in passagessuchas 2
Corinthians 12:1; Galatians 1:12; Galatians 1:16;Galatians 2:2, it means (2)
the fuller revelationof the mysteries of God’s kingdom; while in Revelation
1:1, it signifies (3) the unfolding of things to come. The secondof these three
meanings would seemmost appropriate here. The testimony of Christ,
confirmed originally by the inward witness of the Spirit, receives additional
confirmation by the gradual unfolding of things Divine, until the believer,
fully grounded in the faith, stands without reproach before Christ at His
coming.
Bengel's Gnomen
1 Corinthians 1:7. Ὥστε ὑμᾶς μὴ ὑστερεῖσθαι, So that ye are not behind) This
clause depends on ye are enriched by antithesis.—ἀπεκδεχομένους, expecting,
[waiting for]) The characterofthe true or false Christian is either to expect or
dread the revelationof Christ. [Leaving to others their MEMENTOMORI,
do thou urge this joyful expectation.—V. g.].
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 7. - So that ye come behind in no gift. The "gifts" are here the
charismata, graces, suchas powers of healing, etc., which were the result of
the outpouring of the Spirit. The sequel shows that they were rather outward
than inward; they were splendid endowments rather than spiritual fruits. Yet
even these were not wholly wanting, as we see from 2 Corinthians 8:7. The
Greek may also mean "causing you not to be consciousofinferiority."
Waiting; expecting, not fearing it, This was the constantattitude of the early
Christians (Romans 8:19-25;Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 9:20; 1 Thessalonians
1:10; Colossians3:4; Titus 2:13). Love for Christ's manifestation was a
Christian characteristic (2 Timothy 4:8). The revelation. Three words are
used to express the secondadvent: apokalypsis (as here and in 2
Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter1:7, 13); parousia (as in Matthew 24:3, 27, etc.; 1

Thessalonians 2:19;James 5:7, 8, etc.); and epiphaneia, in the pastoral
Epistles (1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; Titus 2:13). St.
Paul, however, only uses parousia six times in 1 and 2 Thessalonians, andonce
in 1 Corinthians 15:23. All Christians alike expectedthe return of Christ very
soon, and possibly in their own lifetime (1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10, etc.;1
Corinthians 15:51; James 5:8, 9; 1 Peter4:7; 1 John 2:18; Revelation22:20,
etc.). Their expectationwas founded on the greateschatologicaldiscourse of
our Lord (Matthew 24:29, 30, 34), and on his express promise that that
generationshould not pass awaybefore his predictions were fulfilled. They
were fulfilled in the fall of Jerusalemand the close ofthe old dispensation,
though they awaita stilt more universal fulfilment.
Vincent's Word Studies
Come behind (ὑστερεῖσθαι)
See on Luke 15:14, and compare Romans 3:23. Contrastwith were enriched.
Gift (χαρίσματι)
See on Romans 1:11. Its prevailing sense in this epistle is that of special
spiritual endowments, such as tongues, prophecy, etc. Here of spiritual
blessings generally.
Waiting (ἀπεκδεχομένους)
See on Romans 8:19. Denoting assiduous waiting. Dr. Thayer compares the
phrase wait it out (ἐκ).
Revelation(ἀποκάλυψιν)

See on Revelation1:1.
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
JACK ARNOLD
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift. This is an obvious reference to
spiritual gifts. They were a blessedchurch. In fact, one wonders if there was
ever a localchurch blessedwith all the spiritual gifts as was the church at
Corinth. The New Testamentlists at leasttwenty-one spiritual gifts, and the
Corinthian church had them all: tongues, healings, helps, teaching,
knowledge, leadership, etc. The Corinthians must have had some fascinating,
exciting meetings. No one wanted to miss church at Corinth.
The Corinthians had all the gifts, but the gifts did not make them spiritual. It
made them exciting, but not spiritual. They were carnal. One may be very
gifted and not necessarilywalking with God, not necessarilyguided by the
Holy Spirit in the use of his gift. Becauseoftheir carnality, they abused their
spiritual gifts. Since their hearts were not right with Christ, they used their
gifts for their own glory rather than for the glory of God.
Did you know eachChristian has at leastone spiritual gift? Some have two or
three. You have been given some gift and God expects you to use it in and
through the localchurch to reachthe lost for Christ and to build up the saints.

Are you using your spiritual gift or gifts? If not, you are not experiencing the
fullness of Christ in your life.
As you eagerlywait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. The Corinthians
as a whole were waiting for the secondadvent of Christ, and they apparently
understood that when He returned to this earth, He would set things right
They were not given to naive and liberal delusions that they would, by their
own efforts, handle all the problems of the world and correctall evil in life
and that by doing so they would usher in the kingdom. They discarded all
human schemes forsaving the world and lookedto the return of the Lord
Jesus Christ as their only hope. Perhaps they had made a determination to use
their gifts faithfully until the Lord Jesus returned.
Christ’s secondcoming is called“a revelation” (unveiling). On that day,
Christ will be totally unveiled; we will see and know Him as He really is. It
will also be a day in which there will be a true unveiling by Christ of the
motives in our hearts as to why we served Him.
“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes.
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives
of men’s hearts” (I Cor. 4:5).
It is possible to have a right eschatology(understanding of last events)and
still be carnal in certainareas of life. Looking for the secondcoming of Christ
should cause us to live holy lives, but quite often our head knowledge far
exceeds our heart experience.

“Dearfriends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet
been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies
himself, just as he is pure” (I Jn. 3:2-3).
Verse seven strongly implies that all the spiritual gifts will be in existence to
some degree until the secondcoming of Christ. It also implies that the church
in generalis not perfectand will not be until Christ returns, and many
churches, like Corinth, have a long way yet to go in this old world. Every
Christian, however, should be using his or her spiritual gifts until the Lord
returns for His church.
WILLIAM BARCLAY
Salvationis the charisma of God. To enter into a right relationship with God
is something which a man could never achieve himself. It is an unearned gift,
coming from the sheer generosityofthe love of God. (compare Romans 6:23).
(b) It gives a man whateverspecialgifts he may possessandwhatever special
equipment he may have for life. (1 Corinthians 12:4-10;1 Timothy 4:14; 1
Peter4:10). If a man has the gift of speechor the gift of healing, if he has the
gift of music or of any art, if he has a craftsman's gifts upon his hands, all
these are gifts from God. If we fully realized that, it would bring a new
atmosphere and characterinto life. Such skills as we possessare not our own

achievement, they are gifts from God, and, therefore, they are held in trust.
They are not to be used as we want to use them but as God wants us to use
them; not for our profit or prestige but for the glory of God and the goodof
men.
(iii) There is the ultimate end. In the Old Testamentthe phrase, The Day of
the Lord, keeps recurring. It was the day when the Jews expectedGodto
break directly into history, the day when the old world would be wiped out
and the new world born, the day when all men would be judged. The
Christians took over this idea, only they took The Day of the Lord in the sense
of The Day of the Lord Jesus, andregarded it as the day on which Jesus
would come back in all his powerand glory.
That indeed would be a day of judgment. Caedmon, the old English poet,
drew a picture in one of his poems about the day of judgment. He imagined
the Cross setin the midst of the world; and from the Cross there streameda
strange light which had a penetrating X-ray quality about it and stripped the
disguises from things and showedthem as they were. It is Paul's belief that
when the ultimate judgment comes the man who is in Christ can meet even it
unafraid because he will be clothednot in his own merits but in the merits of
Christ so that none will be able to impeach him.
JOSEPHBEET
Waiting for: Romans 8:19; Romans 8:23; Romans 8:25. They already
possessedspiritual gifts which were a proof of God's favor: while at the same
time they were eagerlylooking forwardto that day when Jesus will visibly
appear to bring in the final glory. These added words remind us that the
Christian life is essentiallya looking forward to future glory. All present

enrichment is but an earnestof the better things which Christ, at His coming,
will bring.
CALVIN
Verse 7
7.So that ye come behind in no gift ̔Υστερεισθαι means to be in want of what
you would otherwise stand in need of. (49) He means, therefore, that the
Corinthians abound in all the gifts of God, so as not to be in want of anything,
as if he had said, “The Lord has not merely honored you with the light of the
gospel, but has eminently endowedyou with all those graces that may be of
service to the saints for helping them forward in the way of salvation.” Forhe
gives the name of gifts ( χαρίσματα)to those spiritual graces that are, as it
were, means of salvation to the saints. But it is objected, on the other hand,
that the saints are never in such abundance as not to feelin want of graces to
some extent, so that they must always of necessitybe “hungering and thirsting
” (Matthew 5:6.) For where is the man that does not come far short of
perfection? I answer, “As they are sufficiently endowed with needful gifts, and
are never in such destitution but that the Lord seasonablyrelieves their need;
Paul on this ground ascribes to them such wealth.” For the same reasonhe
adds: waiting for the manifestation, meaning, that he does not ascribe to them
such abundance as to leave nothing to be desired; but merely as much as will
suffice, until they shall have arrived at perfection. The participle waiting I
understand in this sense, “Inthe meantime while you are waiting.” Thus the
meaning will be, “So that ye are in want of no gift in the meantime while you
are waiting for the day of perfected revelation, by which Christ our wisdom (1
Corinthians 1:30) will be fully manifested.”

ADAM CLARKE
Verse 7
So that ye come behind in no gift - Every gift and grace of God's Spirit was
possessedby the members of that Church, some having their gifts after this
manner, others after that.
Waiting for the coming of our Lord - It is difficult to say whether the apostle
means the final judgment, or our Lord's coming to destroy Jerusalem, and
make an end of the Jewishpolity. - See 1 Thessalonians3:13. As he does not
explain himself particularly, he must refer to a subject with which they were
well acquainted. As the Jews in generalcontinued to contradict and
blaspheme, it is no wonder if the apostle should be directed to point out to the
believing Gentiles that the judgments of God were speedily to fall upon this
rebellious people, and scatterthem over the face of the earth; which shortly
afterwards took place.
THOMAS CONSTABLE
Verse 7
God had blessedthe Corinthians greatly with spiritual gifts. Note that Paul
praised his readers for their gifts but not their behavior. Ancient orators
typically praised their audiences for both. [Note:Keener, p22.]But Paul could
not do that. The revealing of the Lord Jesus Christto His saints at the
Rapture would be God"s greatestgift to them. The early Christians awaited
His return eagerly. This reference to the Rapture is one of many indications
that the apostles taught the imminent (i.e, any moment) return of the Lord for
His own (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52;1 Corinthians 16:22;

Philippians 3:20; Philippians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10;2 Thessalonians 1:10-
12; Titus 2:13; James 5:7-9; 1 John 2:28; Revelation3:11; Revelation22:7;
Revelation22:12;Revelation22:17;Revelation 22:20). [Note: See Wayne A.
Brindle, "BiblicalEvidence for the Imminence of the Rapture," Bibliotheca
Sacra158:630(April-June2001):146-48.]
"Three words are prominently employed in connectionwith the return of the
Lord: (1) Parousia, also usedby Paul of the coming of Stephanas ( 1
Corinthians 16:17), of Titus ( 2 Corinthians 7:6-7), and of his own coming to
Philippi ( Philippians 1:26). The word means personalpresence, and is used of
the return of the Lord as that event relates to the blessing of Christians ( 1
Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)andto the destruction of the man
of sin ( 2 Thessalonians 2:8). (2) Apokalupsis, employed here, and meaning
unveiling, revelation. This word emphasizes the visibility of the Lord"s
return. It is used of the Lord ( 2 Thessalonians1:7; 1 Peter1:7; 1 Peter1:13; 1
Peter4:13), of the sons of God in connectionwith the Lord"s return ( Romans
8:19), and of the man of sin ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3;2 Thessalonians 2:6;2
Thessalonians 2:8), and always implies perceptibility. And (3) epiphaneia,
translated "brightness" ( 2 Thessalonians 2:8)or "manifestation" in some
other versions. It means an appearing, and is used of both advents (first
advent, 2 Timothy 1:10; secondadvent, 2 Thessalonians 2:8;1 Timothy 6:14;
2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:8; Ti. 1 Corinthians 2:13)." [Note: The New
ScofieldReference Bible, p1233.]
JOHN GILL
Verse 7

MATTHEW HENRY
It is the characterofChristians that they waitfor Christ's secondcoming; all
our religion has regard to this: we believe it, and hope for it, and it is the
business of our lives to prepare for it, if we are Christians indeed. And the
more confirmed we are in the Christian faith the more firm is our belief of our
Lord's secondcoming, and the more earnestour expectationof it.
PETER PETT

‘Waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.’Paul now turns their
thoughts to the future when Jesus Christwill be revealed in His glory
(Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians4:13-18;Hebrews 9:28). Let them
remember that the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom they are sanctified, and from
Whom and concerning Whom they have receivedthe word and wisdom, will
imminently be revealedand is the One for Whom they are eagerlywaiting. All
God’s gifts are to be exercisedin the light of His coming, when Christ is
revealedas what He is, and all that is in part will pass away(1 Corinthians
13:10). For when He is revealedto His people they will be ‘taken up’ to meet
Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), drawn as His chosenones from all
nations (Matthew 24:31), changedin the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians
15:52), and then they will have their works tested(1 Corinthians 3:10-15;
Romans 14:10-12), before they enter into their glory (Revelation21:10-11;
Revelation21:23-24;Revelation22:3-5), as their Forerunner has done before
them (Luke 24:26).
‘Waiting eagerly’. See Romans 8:19; Romans 8:23; Galatians 5:5; Philippians
3:20). The expectationof the early church assistedgreatlyin enabling them to
recognise that, as ‘the church’, separatedfrom ‘the world’, they as one body
awaitedthe final summation of all things. This is expanded in chapter 15
when the hope of the coming resurrection of all His people is stressed. It drew
their attention constantly to the spiritual future, awayfrom the pull of the
world, and their oneness in the light of that spiritual future.
WHAT OUR DESTINYIS IN CHRIST (vv. 7b-9).

You can face the challenges oftrails, and growth, and change;when you know
- with full assurance - that you will be made victorious in the end. And that's
the kind of encouragementPaulgives to the Corinthian believers.
He tells them of the enthusiastic expectationthey live under when he says that
they enjoy all these blessings while "eagerlywaiting for the revelation of our
Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 7).
Here we are in the year 2006. All of the people to whom Paul wrote have gone
into the Lord's presence. Theirbodies are now in their graves. They died
without seeing this expectationfulfilled; and now they, as it were "sleep". We
too may one day "sleep";should the Lord tarry in His return. But here's what
Paul tells the Corinthians later in his letter;
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed
- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the lasttrumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. So when this corruption has put on incorruption, and this mortal
has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written: "Deathis swallowedup in victory."
" Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?"
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to
God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians
15:51-57).
That is our hope - the great expectationwe have regarding the revelation of
our Lord when He returns for us. And this is greatlymotivating! I can't help

but note Paul's closing words:"Therefore, by beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the workedof the Lord, knowing that your
labor is not in vain in the Lord" (v. 58).
* * * * * * * * * *
Second, Paultells the Corinthian believers of their future perfection. He tells
them that of Jesus'revelationat His secondcoming; "who will also confirm
you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ" (v. 8).
I remember that a godly old saint once said, "I may not be much to look at
right now; but one day, I'm goin' on parade!" He lookedaheadto the
fulfillment of the promise Paul made under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit;
"that He who has begun a goodwork in you will complete it until the day of
Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
And this too is to be a greatmotivation for us. As the apostle John has
written;
"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealedwhat
we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for
we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies
himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2-3).
* * * * * * * * * *
In closing, note how Paul tells the Corinthian believers of the assurance they
can have that this will all be done for them. He says, "Godis faithful, by
whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord"

(v. 9). It is not our doing. It is all His doing! "Forwhom He foreknew, He also
predestined to be conformedto the image of His Son, that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren. Moreoverwhom He predestined, these He
also called;whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified,
these He also glorified" (Romans 8:29-30). We cannot lose!
Dearbrothers and sisters in Christ, you canface the coming year with
confidence - if you trust fully in three things: (1) who you are in Christ, (2)
what you have in Christ, and (3) what your destiny in in Christ.
Isn't it goodto greetthe new year with the knowledge that you have assured
victory in Christ?
Misseda message?Check the Archives!
Copyright © 2006 BethanyBible Church, All Rights Reserved
WAYNE BARBER
The Church of God Lives Eagerfor the Return of Christ
Well, we’ve finally come to the seventh characteristic. The seventhone is they
live eagerforthe return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh boy! Look at verse 7
again:“so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerlythe revelation
of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let me ask you a question. Are you really living
this way? People love those songs, “The King is coming. The King is coming.”
They sing all these songs and then they live as if He’s never going to come.

They don’t live walking righteously before Him. They don’t live convictedby
sin. All of us sometimes drift into that kind of apathy. We saythat we look
forward to the coming of Jesus. Has it dawned on you yet what that’s going to
mean in your life when you stand before Him one day, the eyes of Him who
knows all and has seenall? Has it dawned on you what you’re saying when
you say, “I’m living expectantly waiting the return of Christ.” I dare sayto
you that a lot of people aren’t living that way though they saythey are.
The church at Corinth wasn’tliving that way. This wouldn’t have been in
their life had they been living that way. He says, “so that you are not lacking
in any gift, awaiting eagerly.” The word “awaiting eagerly” comesfrom two
Greek words. One is apo and the other one is dechomai, which has the idea of
it’s just that eagernessofdoing something. Remember back when Paul went
to the church of Berea and found those Berean believers who searchedthe
Scriptures. It says, “They eagerlyreceivedthe Word of God.” The Scripture
says that they were more noble-minded. They were of a higher class than the
ones he had been to. They at leastlistened to him. And with eagerness they
received. The word dechomaiis used there.
Suppose I had a gift to give you and you knew about it. You were at home
expectantly awaiting that gift to come because you saw me in the store. You
didn’t know what it was because yougot there too late and it was in a box.
You went home waiting on me to bring it by your house. You would be
waiting eagerlyto receive it. That’s different than if you didn’t know I was
going to give you a gift. I dropped by your house and gave it to you. You’d
receive it but not with the same eagerness. That’s whathe’s talking about
here. It’s, “awaiting eagerlythe revelationof our Lord Jesus Christ.”
If the church of God is walking in the realization that Christ may come at any
time, they live eagerlyexpecting that, trusting Him to have enriched them in
anything, depending upon His grace and peace, and living with purposes that

are only His as people who are His full possession. Now listento me, they’re
not going to live as if they lack anything. When you find a personwho lives as
if he lacks, it’s a personwho’s not yet lined up with what he’s supposed to be.
If a person’s not living and walking under the grace ofGod, living a life that’s
for Him to use and trusting only Him and His Word, then that person lives as
if he lacks and he is not eagerlyawaiting for the return of Christ.
The return of the Lord Jesus Christ is associatedwith something we need to
understand and that’s our adoption as sons. You know, it’s interesting to me.
We’ve been adopted. We know that from Ephesians. We’re enjoying the
process ofthat adoption now, but one day the final chapter’s going to be
written because Romans 8 says, “We look forwardto the adoption as sons.”
That’s a strange thing. Isn’t it? I’ve been saved. I’m being saved. I shall be
saved. It all fits in the same kind of understanding.
Look at Romans 8:19. It uses the same word. Look at what it attaches it to.
What is the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, His coming, when He comes
for His church, associatedwith? It talks here about creation, not necessarily
humankind, but the animal life, the trees, the plants, everything’s awaiting
something here. It has to do with this coming of the Lord. It has to do with our
adoption, the final act of our adoption. It says, “Forthe anxious longing of the
creationwaits eagerly[the same exactword we’re looking at over in 1
Corinthians] for the revealing of the sons of God.” Do you realize one day
when Jesus comes forHis church, we’re going to look at Him and we’re going
to look at ourselves and we’re going to look back at Him and back at ourselves
and say, “This is what it was all about.” BecauseGod’s going to give us a
glorified body when He comes againfor His church. That’s when we get our
glorified body. That’s the final act of our adoption that we haven’t
experiencedyet. It’s guaranteedbecause Scripture says, “Those whomHe
called, He justified. Those whom He justified, He also glorified.” He’s already
seenit happen. We haven’t. He has. It’s guaranteedone day in that final act.

So the coming, the appearing of the Lord Jesus has to do with the final act of
our adoption when we finally get our glorified body, when redemption has
been made complete and then we cango on being about the purposes of God
and live with Him forever.
Look over in 1 Thessalonians4:13. This is really illustrated here, I think, as
clearly as anywhere in Scripture. They’re having a real dilemma. They didn’t
know what happened to the righteous dead. They knew Christ was coming.
They believed in the eminent return of Christ. I totally disagree with those
who say, “There is no imminence to the return of Christ.” Are you kidding?
They lived with this fear that maybe He’ll come. What happens to those who
have already died? They didn’t understand. What happened to their bodies?
Paul says in verse 13, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren,
about those who are asleep.” The word“asleep” alwaysdeals with death and
the physical body. Some people say there’s a soul sleep. Are you kidding? It
says in Corinthians, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the
Lord.” There’s not soulsleep. Your spirit goes right up to be with the Lord
Jesus Christ. The word “asleep” here has to do with the body and death.
You see, whenyou go to sleep, whatdo you do? You lay down, right? But
what do you do after you’ve slept long enough? You get up. Every time you
see that, remember what’s going to happen to the body. A preacher one time
said, “I’m going to plant a body.” I thought that was kind of callous until I
studied 1 Corinthians 15 and found out that’s exactly what he did. The spirit
went to be with the Lord. What did he do? He took the body out and planted
it in the ground. What do you do when you plant something? You expect it to
come up one day. That’s exactly what’s going to happen here. He said, “those
who are asleep.” He’s talking about their bodies. They’re in the ground. He
says, “that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those
who have fallen asleepin Jesus.”

I thought they were in the ground. No, their spirit is with Him. Their body is
in the ground. There’s been a separationhere. In death the spirit goes to be
with the Lord. The body goes into the ground. Then he says in verse 15, “For
this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain
until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
Paul seems to suggestthat he thought he was going to be one of them. You talk
about imminence, “we who are alive.” He thought he was going to be living
when Jesus came again. What he’s saying is some people are going to be living
when this happens. Most, perhaps, are going to be dead. There are going to be
many who are going to be alive. He said that we’ll not precede those.
The first thing that’s going to happen is that the dead in Christ will rise first.
Their bodies shall be raised up first. Verse 16 reads, “Forthe Lord Himself
will descendfrom heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Now, they’re
going to come up first. Their bodies will rise. They’ll be changed, glorified,
and wrap themselves around their immortal spirit. Verse 17 continues, “Then
we who are alive and remain shall be caughtup togetherwith them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
That word “caughtup” is where you get the word “rapture,” harpazo. It’s
never in Scripture as a noun. It’s in Scripture as a verb. People say, “There’s
no rapture in Scripture.” Well, which do you want it to be, a noun or a verb?
I’d much rather be a verb. I’d much rather go up with Him in the air. That’s
what he’s talking about.
The word in secularGreek was usedof a wolf coming in amongsta flock of
sheepand grabbing and snatching one out of there. We’re going to be
snatchedup, taken up one day to meet Him in the air. That’s what it says.
Then it says, “Therefore comfortone another with these words.”

Over in 1 Corinthians 15 it gives you the order. We’ll get to this. I can’t wait
to get to chapter 15. If you’ve everfeared death, you won’t after chapter 15. 1
Corinthians 15:20 reads, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the
first fruits of those who are asleep.” He setthe pattern for all those that are
coming after Him. “Forsince by a man came death, by a man also came the
resurrectionof the dead. Foras in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be
made alive. But eachin his own order: [Here’s the order] Christ the first
fruits [He’s already gone through it. What He did will happen to us? He
raisedfrom the dead, physically, not just spiritually as some people say. If He
didn’t raise physically then our bodies will stay in the ground because there’s
no hope for them], after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes
the end.”
Look what Paul’s doing. Oh, my goodness!He’s coveredthe past. He’s given
you all things. He’s coveredthe present. Now live out of these. He’s enriched
your life in everything. And now he covers the future that one day Christ is
coming for you. Let me ask you a question. You’ve gotthe past. You’ve got
the presenttoday. One day out in the future you’ve got Christ coming. What
about from right now to then? What about that part? What about that mean
time period? Does it coverthat? Oh, yes.
END OF PRECEPT AUSTIN RESOURCES
STUDYLIGHTRESOURCES
Adam Clarke Commentary

So that ye come behind in no gift - Every gift and grace of God's Spirit was
possessedby the members of that Church, some having their gifts after this
manner, others after that.
Waiting for the coming of our Lord - It is difficult to say whether the apostle
means the final judgment, or our Lord's coming to destroy Jerusalem, and
make an end of the Jewishpolity. - See 1 Thessalonians3:13. As he does not
explain himself particularly, he must refer to a subject with which they were
well acquainted. As the Jews in generalcontinued to contradict and
blaspheme, it is no wonder if the apostle should be directed to point out to the
believing Gentiles that the judgments of God were speedily to fall upon this
rebellious people, and scatterthem over the face of the earth; which shortly
afterwards took place.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:7". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/1-
corinthians-1.html. 1832.
Return to Jump List return to 'Jump List'
Albert Barnes'Notes onthe Whole Bible
So that - God has so abundantly endowedyou with his favors.

Ye come behind - ὑστερεῖσθαι hustereisthaiYou are not missing, or deficient.
The word is usually applied to destitution, want, or poverty; and the
declarationhere is synonymous with what he had said, 1 Corinthians 1:5, that
they abounded in everything.
In no gift - In no favor, or gracious endowment. The word used here χάρισμα
charismadoes notrefer necessarilyto extraordinary and miraculous
endowments, but includes also all the kindnesses ofGod toward them in
producing peace ofmind, constancy, humility, etc. And the apostle meant
evidently to saythat they possessed, in rich abundance, all those endowments
which were bestowedon Christians.
Waiting for - Expecting, or looking for this coming with glad and anxious
desire. This was, certainly, one of the endowments to which he referred, to
wit, that they had grace giventhem earnestly to desire, and to wait for the
secondappearing of the Lord Jesus. An earnestwishto see him, and a
confident expectationand firm belief that he will return, is an evidence of a
high state of piety. It demands strong faith, and it will do much to elevate the
feelings above the world, and to keepthe mind in a state of peace.
The coming … - Greek The revelation - τὴν ἀποκάλυψινtēn apokalupsin-the
manifestation of the Son of God. That is, waiting for his return to judge the
world, and for his approbation of his people on that Day. The earnest
expectationof the Lord Jesus became one of the marks of early Christian
piety. This return was promised by the Saviour to his anxious disciples, when
he was about to leave them; John 14:3. The promise was renewedwhen he
ascendedto heaven;Acts 1:11. It became the settled hope and expectationof
Christians that he would return; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:12; Hebrews 9:28. And
with the earnestprayer that be would quickly come, John closes the volume of
inspiration; Revelation22:20-21.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Barnes, Albert. "Commentaryon 1 Corinthians 1:7". "Barnes'Notesonthe
Whole Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/1-
corinthians-1.html. 1870.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
Copyright Statement

The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernisedand adapted
for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved,
Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard
Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Bibliography
Gill, John. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:7". "The New John Gill
Exposition of the Entire Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/1-corinthians-1.html.
1999.
Geneva Study Bible
So that ye come behind in no gift; 10 waiting for the f coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ:
(10) He says along the way that there is no reasonwhy they should be so
pleasedin those gifts which they had received, seeing that those were nothing
in comparisonof those which are to be lookedfor.
(f) He speaks ofthe last coming of Christ.
Copyright Statement
Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography

Beza, Theodore. "Commentaryon 1 Corinthians 1:7". "The 1599 Geneva
Study Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/gsb/1-
corinthians-1.html. 1599-1645.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
ye come behind — are inferior to other Christians elsewhere [Grotius].
in no gift — not that all had all gifts, but different persons among them had
different gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4, etc.).
waiting for … coming of … Christ — The crowning proof of their “coming
behind in no gift.” Faith, hope, and love, are all exercisedherein (compare 2
Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13). “Leaving to others their Memento Mori (remember
death), do thou earnestlycherish this joyous expectationof the Lord‘s
coming” [Bengel]. The Greek verb implies, “to expect constantly, not only for
a certain time, but even to the end till the expected event happens” (Romans
8:19, [Tittmann, Greek Synonyms of the New Testament]).
Copyright Statement
These files are a derivative of an electronic edition prepared from text
scannedby Woodside Bible Fellowship.
This expanded edition of the Jameison-Faussett-BrownCommentary is in the
public domain and may be freely used and distributed.
Bibliography

Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on 1
Corinthians 1:7". "Commentary Criticaland Explanatory on the Whole
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfb/1-corinthians-
1.html. 1871-8.
Robertson's WordPictures in the New Testament
So that ye come behind in no gift (ωστε υμας μη υστερεισται εν μηδενι
χαρισματι — hōste humas mē hustereisthaien mēdeni charismati).
Consecutive clause with ωστε — hōste and the infinitive and the double
negative. Come behind (υστερεισται — hustereisthai) is to be late (υστερος —
husteros), old verb seenalreadyin Mark 10:21;Matthew 19:20. It is a
wonderful recordhere recorded. But in 2 Corinthians 8:7-11; 2 Corinthians
9:1-7 Paul will have to complain that they have not paid their pledges for the
collection, pledges made over a year before, a very modern complaint.
Waiting for the revelation (απεκδεχομενους τηναποκαλυπσιν —
apekdechomenoustēn apokalupsin). This double compound is late and rare
outside of Paul (1 Corinthians 1:7; Galatians 5:5; Romans 8:19, Romans 8:23,
Romans 8:25; Philemon 3:20), 1 Peter 3:20; Hebrews 9:28. It is an eager
expectancyof the secondcoming of Christ here termed revelation like the
eagerness in προσδεχομενοι — prosdechomenoiin Titus 2:13 for the same
event. “As if that attitude of expectationwere the highest posture that canbe
attained here by the Christian” (F.W. Robertson).
Copyright Statement
The Robertson's WordPictures of the New Testament. Copyright �
Broadman Press 1932,33,Renewal1960. All rights reserved. Used by
permission of Broadman Press (Southern BaptistSunday SchoolBoard)

Bibliography
Robertson, A.T. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:7". "Robertson's Word
Pictures of the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/rwp/1-corinthians-1.html.
Broadman Press 1932,33.Renewal1960.
Vincent's Word Studies
Come behind ( ὑστερεῖσθαι )
See on Luke 15:14, and compare Romans 3:23. Contrastwith were enriched.
Gift ( χαρίσματι )
See on Romans 1:11. Its prevailing sense in this epistle is that of special
spiritual endowments, such as tongues, prophecy, etc. Here of spiritual
blessings generally.
Waiting ( ἀπεκδεχομένους )
See on Romans 8:19. Denoting assiduous waiting. Dr. Thayer compares the
phrase wait it out ( ἐκ ).
Revelation( ἀποκάλυψιν)

See on Revelation1:1.
sa40
Copyright Statement
The text of this work is public domain.
Bibliography
Vincent, Marvin R. DD. "Commentaryon 1 Corinthians 1:7". "Vincent's
Word Studies in the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/vnt/1-corinthians-1.html.
Charles Schribner's Sons. New York, USA. 1887.
Wesley's ExplanatoryNotes
So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
Waiting — With earnestdesire. For the glorious revelationof our Lord Jesus
Christ - A sure mark of a true or false Christian, to long for, or dread, this
revelation.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.

Bibliography
Wesley, John. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:7". "John Wesley's
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wen/1-corinthians-1.html.
1765.
Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
So that ye come behind in; are deficient in. No church had been more highly
favored in respectto its spiritual blessings.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Abbott, John S. C. & Abbott, Jacob. "Commentaryon 1 Corinthians 1:7".
"Abbott's Illustrated New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ain/1-corinthians-1.html.
1878.
Calvin's Commentary on the Bible
7.So that ye come behind in no gift ̔Υστερεισθαι means to be in want of what
you would otherwise stand in need of. (49) He means, therefore, that the
Corinthians abound in all the gifts of God, so as not to be in want of anything,

as if he had said, “The Lord has not merely honored you with the light of the
gospel, but has eminently endowedyou with all those graces that may be of
service to the saints for helping them forward in the way of salvation.” Forhe
gives the name of gifts ( χαρίσματα)to those spiritual graces that are, as it
were, means of salvation to the saints. But it is objected, on the other hand,
that the saints are never in such abundance as not to feelin want of graces to
some extent, so that they must always of necessitybe “hungering and thirsting
” (Matthew 5:6.) For where is the man that does not come far short of
perfection? I answer, “As they are sufficiently endowed with needful gifts, and
are never in such destitution but that the Lord seasonablyrelieves their need;
Paul on this ground ascribes to them such wealth.” For the same reasonhe
adds: waiting for the manifestation, meaning, that he does not ascribe to them
such abundance as to leave nothing to be desired; but merely as much as will
suffice, until they shall have arrived at perfection. The participle waiting I
understand in this sense, “Inthe meantime while you are waiting.” Thus the
meaning will be, “So that ye are in want of no gift in the meantime while you
are waiting for the day of perfected revelation, by which Christ our wisdom (1
Corinthians 1:30) will be fully manifested.”
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Calvin, John. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:7". "Calvin's Commentary
on the Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/1-
Vv. 7. "So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our
Lord Jesus Christ."

In the explanation of the preceding verse, which we have rejected, the ὥστε,
so that, is made to refer to the verb ἐβεβαιώθη of 1 Corinthians 1:6 : "Your
faith was confirmed in such a way, that in consequence no gift was lacking to
you..." But in the sense of1 Corinthians 1:6, which we have adopted, this
verse being rather an observationthrown in by the way, it is natural to refer
the ὥστε to the ἐπλουτίσθητε of 1 Corinthians 1:5, which gives a simpler and
clearermeaning: "Ye were so enriched, that in point of gifts ye lacked
nothing." There is indeed an evident contrastbetweenthe two ideas of being
enriched and lacking.
The word ὑστερεῖσθται, to lack, denotes a deficiencyeither relatively to the
normal level which a Church should attain (1 Corinthians 16:17; Colossians
1:24; 1 Thessalonians3:10), or comparatively to other Churches more richly
endowed(2 Corinthians 11:5; 2 Corinthians 12:11). The first of these two
meanings is evidently the more suitable here. The Corinthians realize, in
respectof gifts, χαρίσματα, allthat can be desired for a Church on the earth.
The ἐν μηδενί corresponds to the ἐν παντί of 1 Corinthians 1:5.
The word χάρισμα, gift, will play a large part in this Epistle. As the form of
the Greek term indicates, it denotes in generalevery concrete product in
which grace is embodied. Severalcommentators (Calvin, de Wette, Meyer)
apply the word here to the blessings ofsalvation in general, as in Romans
1:11; but the evident relation to 1 Corinthians 1:5 (comp. the reference of
ὑστερεῖσθαι to πλουτισθῆναι, and that of μηδενί to παντί) leads us to give a
more definite sense to the word χάρισμα. According to the two expressions,
knowledge and utterance, it must be applied here to the new spiritual powers
with which the Spirit had endowedthe members of the Church at Corinth.
These various powers, which so often in Paul"s writings bear the name of
χαρίσματα, gifts of grace, are certainlythe effects ofthe supernatural life due
to faith in Christ; but they fit in notwithstanding to pre-existing natural
aptitudes in individuals and peoples. The Holy Spirit does not substitute

Himself for the human soul; He sanctifies it and consecrates its innate talents
to the service of the work of salvation. By this new direction, He purifies and
exalts them, and enables them to reachtheir perfect development. This was
what had takenplace at Corinth, and it was thus especiallythat the apostolic
testimony had been divinely confirmed in this Church. We see how Paul still
carefully avoids (as in 1 Corinthians 1:5) speaking of the moral fruits of the
gospel, for this was the very respectin which there was a deficiency, and a
grave deficiency, at Corinth.
The following words, waiting for the revelation..., have been very variously
understood. Grotius and Rückerthave seenin them an indirect reproof to
those of the members of the Church who, according to chap. 15 , denied the
resurrection. But the apostle speaks ofwaiting for the Lord"s return, and not
of faith in the resurrection. Chrysostomsupposes that he wishes to alarm
them by thus glancing at the approach of the judgment; but this would not be
very suitable to a thanksgiving. Calvin, Hofmann, Meyersuppose, on the
contrary, that he wishes to encourage them: "Ye cango to meet the Lord"s
advent with confidence, forye possessallthe graces that suffice for that
time;" or, as Meyersays:"The blessings whichye have received fit you to see
the Lord come without fear." But would the apostle thus reassure people
whom he saw filled with the most presumptuous self-satisfaction, and given
over to a deceitful security? Comp. 1 Corinthians 4:6-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-
22. Reuss supposes thatPaul wishes to lead them to put to goodaccountthe
spiritual aids which they now enjoy. But Paul would have declaredthis
intention more clearly. Mosheimseems to me to have come nearer the true
sense, whenhe finds irony here: "Ye lack nothing, waiting howeverthe great
revelation!" Without going the length of finding a sarcasmwhich would be
out of place here, I think that there is really in this appendix, "waiting the
revelation...," the purpose of bringing this too self-satisfiedChurch to a more
modest estimate. Richas they are, they ought not to forgetthat as yet it is only
a waiting state:they lack nothing...waiting for the moment which will give
them everything. As is said, indeed (1 Corinthians 13:11), all our present gifts
of utterance and knowledge have still the characterof the imperfect state of
childhood, in comparison with that which the perfect state will bring about.

There was a tendency among the Corinthians to anticipate this latter state;
they already imagined that they were swimming in the full enjoyment of the
perfectedkingdom of God (1 Corinthians 4:8). The apostle reminds them that
real knowledge is yet to come; and this no doubt is the reasonwhy he here
uses the term, the revelationof Jesus Christ, to denote His advent. He means
thereby less to characterize His visible presence ( παρουσία), than the full
revelation both of Him and of all things in Him, which will accompanythat
time. In that light what will become of your knowledge,your present
prophesyings and ecstasies?Comp. 2 Thessalonians 1:7;1 Peter 1:7, where
the use of this term is also occasionedby the context.
The term ἀπεκδέχεσθαι, compoundedof the three words, ἀπό, far from (here,
from far), ἐκ, from the hands of, and δέχεσθαι, to receive, admirably depicts
the attitude of waiting.
After expressing his gratitude for what God has already done for his readers,
the apostle, as in Ephesians 1:17 seq., and Philippians 1:6 seq., adds the hope
that God will yet accomplishin them all that is lacking, that they may be able
to stand in that greatday; such is the idea of the two following verses.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Godet, Frédéric Louis. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:7". "Frédéric Louis
Godet- Commentary on SelectedBooks".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/gsc/1-corinthians-1.html.

Scofield's ReferenceNotes
coming
Three words are used in connectionwith the return of the Lord:
(1) Parousia, "personalpresence,"also usedby Paul of the "coming" of
Stephanas 1 Corinthians 16:17 of Titus 2 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 7:7
and of his own"coming" to Philippi Philippians 1:26. The word means simply
personalpresence, and is used of the return of the Lord as that event relates
to the blessing of the saints;1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14;1
Thessalonians 4:17 and to the destruction of the man of sin 2 Thessalonians
2:8.
(2) Apokalupsis, "unveiling," "revelation." The use of this word emphasizes
the visibility of the Lord's return. It is used of the Lord 2 Thessalonians 1:7;1
Peter1:7; 1 Peter1:13; 1 Peter4:13 of the sons of God in connectionwith the
Lord's return Romans 8:19 and of the man of sin 2 Thessalonians2:3; 2
Thessalonians 2:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and always implies visibility.
(3) Epiphaneia, "appearing," trans. "brightness" 2 Thessalonians 2:8 A.V.;
"manifestation," R.V.), and means simply an appearing. It is used of both
advents.; 2 Timothy 1:10; 2 Thessalonians2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy
4:1; 2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13.
coming (Greek - revelation, unveiling).

Copyright Statement
These files are consideredpublic domain and are a derivative of an electronic
edition that is available in the Online Bible Software Library.
Bibliography
Scofield, C. I. "ScofieldReferenceNoteson 1 Corinthians 1:7". "Scofield
Reference Notes(1917Edition)".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/srn/1-corinthians-1.html.
1917.
John Trapp Complete Commentary
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
Ver. 7. So that ye come behind, &c.] Yet were babes and carnal, 1 Corinthians
3:2-3, and fell short in many graces.We must distinguish betweengifts and
graces,and covetthese rather than those, 1 Corinthians 13:1.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Trapp, John. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:7". John Trapp Complete
Commentary. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/1-
Greek TestamentCriticalExegeticalCommentary
7.] So that ye are behind (others) in no gift of grace;—not, lack no gift of
grace, whichwould be genitive. χάρισμα here has its widest sense, ofthat
which is the effectof χάρις,—notmeaning ‘spiritual gifts’ in the narrower
sense, as in ch. 1 Corinthians 12:4. This is plain from the whole strain of the
passage, whichdwells not on outward gifts, but on the inward gracesofthe
Christian life.
ἀπεκδεχ.]which is the greatestproofof maturity and richness of the spiritual
life; implying the coexistence andco-operationof faith, whereby they believed
the promise of Christ,—hope, whereby they lookedon to its fulfilment,—and
love, whereby that anticipation was lit up with earnestdesire;—compare
πᾶσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιντὴνἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ, 2 Timothy 4:8.
ἀπεκδ. κ. τ. λ., is takenby Chrys.,—who understands χαρίσματα of
miraculous powers,—asimplying that besides them they needed patience to
wait till the coming of Christ; and by Calv.,—“ideo addit expectantes
revelationem, quo significat, non talem se affluentiam illis affingere in qua
nihil desideretur; sed tantum quæ sufficiet usquedum ad perfectionem
perventum fuerit.” But I much prefer taking ἀπεκδεχομένουςas parallelwith
and giving the result of μὴ ὑστ. κ. τ. λ.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Alford, Henry. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:7". Greek Testament
Critical ExegeticalCommentary.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hac/1-corinthians-1.html.
1863-1878.
Heinrich Meyer's Critical and ExegeticalCommentaryon the New Testament
1 Corinthians 1:7. Result of τὸ μαρτ. τ. χ. ἐβεβ. ἐν ὑμῖν, consequently parallel
to ἐν παντὶ ἐπλουτ. ἐν αὐτᾷ. The negative expressionμὴ ὑστερεῖσθαι ἐν is
conceivedquite after the analogyof the positive πλουτίζ. ἐν (see on 1
Corinthians 1:5), so that ἐν denotes that, in which one is behind (defectively
constituted). Hence:so that ye in no gift of grace are behind (i.e. less rich than
other churches). Comp Plat. Pol. vi. p. 484 D: μηδʼ ἐν ἄλλῳ μηδενὶ μέρει
ἀρετῆς ὑστηροῦντας. Sirach51:24. The sense would be different, if the words
were μηδενὸς χαρίσματος (so that no gift of grace is lacking to you). See
Romans 3:22; Luke 22:35; John 2:3. Ruhnk. a(124)Tim. p. 51. Lobeck, a(125)
Phryn. p. 237;a(126)Soph. Aj. 782. χάρισμα is here to be taken(with Calvin
and others, including Rosenmüller, Pott, de Wette, Maier) in the wider sense
of the spiritual blessings ofChristianity generally, in so far as believers are
made partakers of them by the divine grace through the πνεῦμα ἅγιον
(Romans 1:11; 1 Corinthians 7:7); not, with most of the older expositors, as
well as Billroth, Rückert, Olshausen, Hofmann, in the narrowersense ofthe
extraordinary gifts (chap. 12 ff.). The proof of this is, first, that the
immediately following ἀπεκδεχομ.κ. τ. λ(127)makes the ΄ὴ ὑστερεῖσθαι ἐν
΄ηδενὶ χαρίσ΄ατι appear as an ethical endowment; second, that the significant
retrospective reference ofthe ἀνεγκλήτους in 1 Corinthians 1:8 does not suit

Jesus was the one believers waited for

Jesus was the one believers waited for

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Jesus was the one believers waited for

Similar to Jesus was the one believers waited for (20)

More from GLENN PEASE

More from GLENN PEASE (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Jesus was the one believers waited for