1Cor 1:4-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 1:4-9: 1:4-9 Paul thanks God for the spiritual gifts he sees in the lives of the Corinthian Christians and expresses his confidence that God will keep them safe to the end. 1:4 now that you belong to Christ Jesus (literally in Christ Jesus ): Paul frequently uses the phrase in Christ Jesus to refer to the saving relationship believers have with Christ (e.g., Rom 3:24 ; Gal 2:4 ; Eph 3:6 ).

a1:4-9►

b1:4►

cRom 3:24►

dGal 2:4►

eEph 3:6►

f1:5►

g1:7►

h1:18–2:5►

i3:18-20►

j12:1–14:40►

‏ 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

Summary for 1Cor 1:4-9: 1:4-9 ^a Paul thanks God for the spiritual gifts he sees in the lives of the Corinthian Christians and expresses his confidence that God will keep them safe to the end. 1:4 ^b now that you belong to Christ Jesus (literally in Christ Jesus): Paul frequently uses the phrase in Christ Jesus to refer to the saving relationship believers have with Christ (e.g., Rom 3:24 ^c; Gal 2:4 ^d; Eph 3:6 ^e).
1:5 ^f God had enriched the Corinthian church spiritually, specifically in eloquent words and knowledge. This probably refers to the spiritual messages and understanding (see 1:7 ^g) on which the church prided itself. Word and knowledge occur frequently in this letter: Paul acknowledges the abundant spiritual gifts that God has given the church in Corinth. Later, he corrects their distorted perspectives on these gifts (see 1:18–2:5 ^h; 3:18-20 ⁱ; 12:1–14:40 ^j).