1Cor 1:4-9 | 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 ).

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).
1:7 ^k every spiritual gift: See 12:8-10 ^l, 28 ^m.
1:8 ⁿ Even though believers are saved from eternal condemnation (see Rom 8:1 ^o), they remain accountable to God for the way they live (see 1 Cor 3:12-15 ^p; 4:4-5 ^q; 2 Cor 5:10 ^r). Paul encourages his readers to live a holy life so that they will be found faultless when Christ returns (see Phil 1:6 ^s, 10 ^t; 1 Thes 3:13 ^u; 5:23-24 ^v).
1:9 ^w God ... is faithful: See 10:13 ^x; Deut 7:9 ^y; 1 Thes 5:24 ^z.

• he has invited you: God has chosen them and brought them into partnership with his Son (cp. Rom 8:28-39 ^aa).