1Cor 1:8-9 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 8. Who shall also confirm you . Who shall establish you in the hopes of the gospel. He shall make you firm βεβαιωσει amidst all your trials, and all the efforts which may be made to shake your faith, and to remove you from that firm foundation on which you now rest. Unto the end . That is, to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He would keep them to the end of life in the path of holiness, so that at the coming of the Lord Jesus they might be found blameless. Comp. . The sense is, that they should be kept, and should not be suffered to fall away and perish;--and is one of the many places which express the strong confidence of Paul, that those who are true Christians shall be preserved unto everlasting life. Comp. . That ye may be blameless . The word rendered blameless ανεγκλητους does not mean perfect, but properly denotes those against whom there is no charge of crime; who are unaccused, and against whom there is no ground of accusation. Here it does not mean that they were personally perfect, but that God would so keep them, and enable them to evince a Christian character, as to give evidence that they were his friends, and completely escape condemnation in the last day. . There is no man who has not his faults; no Christian who is not conscious of imperfection; but it is the design of God so to keep his people, and so to justify and sanctify them through the Lord Jesus, that the church may be presented "a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle" in the day of judgment. In the day , etc. In the day when the Lord Jesus shall come to judge the world; and which will be called his day, because it will be the day in which he will be the great and conspicuous object, and which is especially appointed to glorify him. See : "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." (|) "confirm" "establish" (d) "confirm you"

1 Corinthians 1:8-9

Verse 8. Who shall also confirm you. Who shall establish you in the hopes of the gospel. He shall make you firm βεβαιωσει amidst all your trials, and all the efforts which may be made to shake your faith, and to remove you from that firm foundation on which you now rest.

Unto the end. That is, to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He would keep them to the end of life in the path of holiness, so that at the coming of the Lord Jesus they might be found blameless. Comp. Jn 13:1. The sense is, that they should be kept, and should not be suffered to fall away and perish;--and is one of the many places which express the strong confidence of Paul, that those who are true Christians shall be preserved unto everlasting life. Comp. Ph 1:6.

That ye may be blameless. The word rendered blameless ανεγκλητους does not mean perfect, but properly denotes those against whom there is no charge of crime; who are unaccused, and against whom there is no ground of accusation. Here it does not mean that they were personally perfect, but that God would so keep them, and enable them to evince a Christian character, as to give evidence that they were his friends, and completely escape condemnation in the last day. Rom 8:33,34. There is no man who has not his faults; no Christian who is not conscious of imperfection; but it is the design of God so to keep his people, and so to justify and sanctify them through the Lord Jesus, that the church may be presented "a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle" Eph 5:27 in the day of judgment.

In the day, etc. In the day when the Lord Jesus shall come to judge the world; and which will be called his day, because it will be the day in which he will be the great and conspicuous object, and which is especially appointed to glorify him. See 2Thes 1:10: "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe."

(|) "confirm" "establish" (d) "confirm you" 1Thes 3:13, 5:23,24 Verse 9. God is faithful. That is, God is true, and constant, and will adhere to his promises. He will not deceive. He will not promise, and then fail to perform; he will not commence anything which he will not perfect and finish. The object of Paul, in introducing the idea of the faithfulness of God, here is, to show the reason for believing that the Christians at Corinth would be kept unto everlasting life. The evidence that they will persevere depends on the fidelity of God; and the argument of the apostle is, that as they had been called by him into the fellowship of his Son, his faithfulness of character would render it certain that they would be kept to eternal life. The same idea he has presented in Php 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will also perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Ye were called. The word "called" here does not refer merely to an invitation or an offer of life, but to the effectual influence which had been put forth; which had inclined them to embrace the gospel. Rom 8:30; Rom 9:12. See Mk 2:17, Lk 5:32, Gal 1:6,7, 5:8,13; Eph 1:4, Col 3:16. In this sense the word often occurs in the Scriptures, and is designed to denote a power, or influence, that goes forth with the external invitation, and that makes it effectual. That power is the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Unto the fellowship of his Son. To participate with his Son Jesus Christ; to be partakers with him. Jn 15:1 and following. Christians participate with Christ

(1.) in his feelings and views, Rom 8:9.

(2.) In his trials and sufferings, being subjected to temptations and trials similar to his. 1Pet 4:13: "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;" Col 1:24, Php 3:10.

(3.) In his heirship to the inheritance and glory which awaits him. Rom 8:17: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;" 1Pet 1:4.

(4.) In his triumph in the resurrection and future glory. Mt 19:28: "Ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Jn 14:19: "Because I live, ye shall live also." Rev 3:21: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." From all this, the argument of the apostle is, that as they partake with Christ in these high privileges, and hopes, and promises, they will be kept by a faithful God unto eternal life. God is faithful to his Son; and will be faithful to all who are united to him. The argument for the perseverance of the saints is, therefore, sure.

(*) "unto" "into" (a) "fellowship" 1Jn 1:3