Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 1].
philosopher or professional rhetorician that Paul appeared before
the Corinthians (1Co 2:1-5). Some who followed Apollos may have
been guilty of a fancy for external show, though Apollos was not
a mere performer and juggler with words. But the Alexandrian
method as in Philo did run to dialectic subtleties and luxuriant
rhetoric (Lightfoot). {Lest the cross of Christ should be made
void} (\hina m• ken•th•i ho stauros tou Christou\). Negative
purpose (\hina m•\) with first aorist passive subjunctive,
effective aorist, of \keno•\, old verb from \kenos\, to make
empty. In Paul's preaching the Cross of Christ is the central
theme. Hence Paul did not fall into the snare of too much
emphasis on baptism nor into too little on the death of Christ.
"This expression shows clearly the stress which St. Paul laid on
the death of Christ, not merely as a great moral spectacle, and
so the crowning point of a life of self-renunciation, but as in
itself the ordained instrument of salvation" (Lightfoot).
1:18 {For the word of the cross} (\ho logos gar ho tou staurou\).
Literally, "for the preaching (with which I am concerned as the
opposite of {wisdom of word} in verse 17) that (repeated
article \ho\, almost demonstrative) of the cross." "Through this
incidental allusion to preaching St. Paul passes to a new
subject. The discussions in the Corinthian Church are for a time
forgotten, and he takes the opportunity of correcting his
converts for their undue exaltation of human eloquence and
wisdom" (Lightfoot). {To them that are perishing} (\tois men
apollumenois\). Dative of disadvantage (personal interest).
Present middle participle is here timeless, those in the path to
destruction (not annihilation. See 2Th 2:10). Cf. 2Co 4:3.
{Foolishness} (\m•ria\). Folly. Old word from \m•ros\, foolish.
In N.T. only in 1Co 1:18,21,23; 2:14; 3:19. {But unto us which
are being saved} (\tois s•zomenois h•min\). Sharp contrast to
those that are perishing and same construction with the articular
participle. No reason for the change of pronouns in English. This
present passive participle is again timeless. Salvation is
described by Paul as a thing done in the past, "we were saved"
(Ro 8:24), as a present state, "ye have been saved" (Ep 2:5),
as a process, "ye are being saved" (1Co 15:2), as a future
result, "thou shalt be saved" (Ro 10:9). {The power of God}
(\dunamis theou\). So in Ro 1:16. No other message has this
dynamite of God (1Co 4:20). God's power is shown in the
preaching of the Cross of Christ through all the ages, now as
always. No other preaching wins men and women from sin to
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