Origen of Alexandria — Commentary on Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:15

The spiritual man is able to judge everything, whether it is Greek or barbarian, wise or foolish. He cannot be judged by anyone because of the depth of his understanding and his responses.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.11.44-45

1 Corinthians 3:2

In spiritual matters, “solid food” means the teaching about the Father and the Son. In the Old Testament, solid food appears under the guise of typology, as, for example, when we read about the serpent which Moses lifted up in the wilderness. This serpent was a picture, or type, of Christ, which explains why it was that the people were saved when they looked at it.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.12.17-23

1 Corinthians 3:10

This warning applies to you and me as well. If I do not build properly on the foundation already laid for me, then the fire will consume my work on the day of judgment.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.18-20

1 Corinthians 3:11

The other apostles laid this foundation among the Jews, while Paul and Barnabas laid it among the Gentiles.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.41-42

1 Corinthians 3:12

If we think what is right and good, then we are building on a foundation of gold. If we repeat every holy word that has been spoken without corrupting it, then we are building on a foundation of silver. If all our works are good, then we are building on precious stones. But if I sin after laying the foundation, then I am building on wood; if I continue, I am building on hay, and finally, if I still go on, I am building on straw.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.15.46-55

1 Corinthians 3:21

The believer owns everything there is, but the unbeliever is effectively penniless. Anything he may have has been stolen.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.17.12-14

1 Corinthians 4:1

There is a big difference between being a servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God. Anyone who has read the Bible can be a servant of Christ, but to be a steward of the mysteries one must plumb their depths. Paul was acting as a steward of the mysteries when he commissioned Luke, for example, to write his Gospel, and when he sent Timothy to sort out the Ephesian church. I would even dare to say that in Corinth Paul acted like a servant of Christ, whereas in Ephesus he became a steward of the mysteries of God.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.18.10-16

1 Corinthians 4:2

If Paul can say this of people like himself, Peter and Apollos, how much more will it be true of us? We ought to be on our guard to make sure that we are found to be trustworthy stewards.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.18.25-27

1 Corinthians 4:4

Paul knew that even if his heart was still prone to sin, his deeds were upright.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.18.49-51

1 Corinthians 4:5

Why does Paul mention only commendation from God and say nothing about condemnation? The reason seems to be that only that which is commendable will reach God’s ears; the rest will be passed over in silence. I would even go so far as to say that it is God who receives the commendable things we have done, whereas the rest goes straight to the devil.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.18.106-12

1 Corinthians 4:15

The father is the one who has sown the seed of the gospel in their souls. The guides are those who have taken the child later on and helped him develop.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.21.9-11

1 Corinthians 4:16

Paul is saying to the Corinthians: “Be humble as I am humble, suffer as I suffer. It is by your sufferings, not by your gifts, that you will be rated.”

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.21.12-14

1 Corinthians 4:17

By “ways in Christ” Paul means his embodied good deeds. He tells the Corinthians to remember them, because they are self-evident and do not need to be taught.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.21.20-22

1 Corinthians 4:20

It is not smooth talk that reveals the presence of the kingdom of God, but power. When there is power in the words, then the kingdom is present in them.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.22.6-8

1 Corinthians 4:21

The rod does not mean that there is no love, but love is hidden behind its blows and is not perceived by the one who is on the receiving end.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.23.6-8

1 Corinthians 5:1

We learn from this that there are different kinds of immorality, some of which are more serious than others. When God judges it, he will take extenuating factors into account and vary the punishment accordingly. In this case, Paul is teaching us that even when there has been a legal marriage ceremony, if it goes against the law of God, it is immoral and will be condemned accordingly.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.23.15-20

1 Corinthians 5:10

Immoral unbelievers cannot harm the church, but immoral believers corrupt it from within, which is why they must be avoided and expelled.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.26.23-26

1 Corinthians 5:13

Do all you can to expel the wicked person, for once he is gone, Christ will dwell in you.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.26.57-59

1 Corinthians 6:5

Paul attacks the Corinthians because, although they are right in the middle of Greece, they have no truly wise people in their midst, even though many had gone to preach wisdom to them.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.27.20-22

1 Corinthians 6:6

We have rulers of the church to whom we should take our disputes, so that we will not be summoned before the law courts of unbelievers.

COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.27.27-28