PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS

Tag: 1 Corinthians

  • Aegidius Hunnius’s Sermon Outline for the Epistle of Quinquagesima

    The following is my translation of Aegidius Hunnius’s introduction and sermon outline for the Epistle of Quinquagesima (1 Corinthians 13:1–13) from his Postilla (Vol. I, pg. 276–77). Square brackets and footnotes are my own notes and additions.

    Explanation of This Text

    In [St. Paul’s] epistle to the Galatians we read, “Beloved in Christ the Lord, in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but rather faith which is active through love” [Galatians 5:6].1 With this short quote, the Holy Spirit teaches that Christians in the New Testament under Christ’s kingdom are such a free people, who are weighed down neither with circumcision nor other Mosaic laws and ordinances which belonged to the Levitical Divine Service (Gottesdienst), but rather are relieved and freed from all this through Christ; and that nothing further or more is laid upon them other than true faith and unfeigned brotherly love. These two parts hang upon one another in such a way that although faith alone in Jesus Christ justifies and saves, nevertheless, the same [faith], when it is upright is soon busy, effective and active through true love (on the other side, where it does not have to deal with God in man’s justification, but rather with the neighbor). Thus, after the abolition of the Mosaic ordinances, all of Christianity rests upon faith and love as the two chief pillars. It rests upon faith indeed as that which brings the sinner to righteousness before God’s judgment and grasps salvation in Christ Jesus; but it rests upon love as that which heartily loves God the Lord for the received grace of salvation and in common life does good to the neighbor through its praiseworthy works and beautiful fruits.

    Since at other times faith is much and often dealt with, we will this time hear from St. Paul’s words concerning love.

    1. First, how [love] is necessary, and how a Christian indeed may not go without it in his walk, life, and being.2 [v. 1–3]
    2. Second, how the Holy Spirit through St. Paul pen depicts love in its nature and characteristics. [v. 4–7]
    3. Third, how the same [love], above many other gifts and virtues remains and endures into eternity. [v. 8–10]
    1. Hunnius’s entire introduction seems to be a reflection of what is said in the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: “We believe, teach, and confess that the contrition that comes before justification, and the good works that follow it, do not belong to the article of justification before God. Yet one is not to imagine a kind of faith that can exist and abide with, and alongside of, a wicked intention to sin and to act against the conscience. But after man has been justified through faith, then a true living faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). Good works always follow justifying faith and are surely found with it—if it is true and living faith [James 2:26]. Faith is never alone, but always has love and hope with it [1 Corinthians 13:13].” (FC Ep III.11) ↩︎
    2. Concerning the necessity of good works (or love), see FC SD IV.7–12. ↩︎

  • Notes and Useful Applications for 1 Corinthians 4:1–5 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Epistle Reading of the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete), 1 Corinthians 4:1–5, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    I. A statement against those who had low regard for Paul and the other apostles. (v. 1–13)

    Annotated Text

    1. Therefore, let everyone consider us as * Christ’s servants and stewards over God’s mysteries (in the preaching of the Gospel and the distribution of the Holy Sacraments in the house of God, that is, the Christian Church, 1 Timothy 3:15. Luther: “The mystery is the Gospel, in which the divine goods are hidden and expressed to us.”).

    * Matthew 16:19; Colossians 1:25 (2 Corinthians 4:5)

    2. Now nothing more is to be sought in stewards than they * be found faithful (in their office; and not that they all together are adorned with high exceptional gifts).

    * Luke 12:42

    3. But for me it is a small matter (I do not consider it a high matter), that I be judged (in an inconsiderate manner) by you (that you at one time criticize this lack or that lack in me, especially, that my speech is despisable, 2 Corinthians 10:10, and that I do not preach with lofty words and high wisdom, 1 Corinthians 2:1), or by a human day1 (that other men hold me highly and praise out of favor, Jeremiah 17:16), I do not even judge myself (how high I am to be regarded on account of the gifts God has granted to me and how much I have labored; much less is it fitting for you to judge me).

    (2 Corinthians 6:8; Job 9:2ff; Psalm 103:3; Psalm 143:2)

    1 * Even if I am otherwise judged in an ordinary court.

    4. I1 am aware of nothing against myself (no unfaithfulness or willful negligence in my office or any other gross sin);2 but in this * I am not (by God) justified (as if nothing at all were lacking in me and I could therefore stand before God’s judgment by my own righteousness); but it is the † Lord (namely, Jesus Christ, the judge of the whole world) who judges me (who will judge me at His time, namely, on the Last Day, when He then, according to His promise, not only will publicly my diligence in my call which has flowed forth from faith before all angels and men, but rather He will also richly reward me from pure grace).

    1 Greek: “For I” [γὰρ]

    2 * (I therefore do not shrink back from this either)

    * Exodus 34:7

    † Psalm 35:24 (Job 27:6; John 5:27)

    5. Therefore, do not judge1 (out of curiosity and inconsiderateness) before the time until the Lord comes (on the Last Day), which will also bring to light (reveal) what is hidden in darkness (and is carried out and maintained in great secrecy) and reveal the council of hearts (what each has thought and had in mind and with what intention and opinion that one has done this or that);2 then each one’s (each faithful servant of Christ and steward of God, 1 Corinthians 4:1) praise (and wage) will befall him from God.

    (Matthew 7:1; Romans 2:5, 16; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12)

    1 Greek : “in no way,” or “in no part”

    2 Greek: “and” [καὶ]

    Useful Applications

    I. CORRECTION: That we ought to give due honor to teachers and preachers because they are Christ’s servants and (spiritual) stewards over God’s mysteries, that is, over the Holy Word of God, wherein the same mysteries are revealed to us and the heavenly benefits are set forth. (v. 1)

  • Notes and Useful Applications for 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Epistle Reading for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    II. The Introduction. (v. 4–9)

    Annotated Text

    4. I * thank my (beloved) God at all times for your sake (so often I think of you) for the grace of God, which was given (granted) you in Christ Jesus,

    * Ephesians 1:15–16

    5. that you have been made rich in ever way through Him, in all doctrine, and all * knowledge (God has richly graced you with all kinds of spiritual gifts, which are useful and necessary for the edification of the Church and for the knowledge of God; but especially I thank Him, that He has brought you to the saving knowledge of Christ through the doctrine of the Gospel),

    * 1 Corinthians 12:8 (Romans 15:4; Colossians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:17)

    6. for as the preaching of Christ (the testimony of the Gospel) has been powerful in you (in that you have received it with true faith, and that by means of it you have been graced with the Holy Spirit; thus, the preaching of Christ has been confirmed and sealed among you),

    * Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 1:21

    7. thus, that you have no lack in any (temporally and eternally serviceable) gift (consequently, you have no need of any other revelation or doctrine, 1 John 2:20, 27), and * wait only for the (final great and glorious) revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ (who on the Last Day will come again openly to hold the universal judgment);

    * Psalm 34:11; Philippians 3:20 (Titus 2:13)

    8. who * also will keep you firm (in true faith) until the end (of your life), that you ** be irreproachable until the *** (great judgement) day of our Lord Jesus Christ **** (because in this life the perfect righteousness of Christ is reckoned to you through faith, and you strive after an irreproachable walk, and thus can appear before Him with a good conscience).

    * 2 Corinthians 1:21

    ** Colossians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 5:23 (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

    *** Greek: “in the day”

    **** Which is a day in which everything, even that which is now hidden in darkness, will come into the light [1 Corinthians 4:5].

    9. For * God is faithful (He keeps His promise firmly and unbreakably), through whom (by whom) you are called (through the preaching of the Gospel) ** to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Luther: “That is, you are co-heirs and fellow partakers of all the goods of Christ.”)

    * 1 Thessalonians 5:24ff.

    ** John 15:5 (1 Corinthians 10:13)

    Useful Applications

    II. DOCTRINE: We ought to thank God at all times when we see that knowledge of Him, true repentance, and a Christian life are worked in men’s hearts through His Word (v. 4–7).

  • Notes and Useful Applications for 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Epistle Reading for the Feast of the Holy Cross, 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    III. A report against two vices, which have been found over the Preaching Office: one, where the people, who are otherwise completely union in religion, nevertheless become divided for the sake of the teachers; second, where people, because of human wisdom and vain eloquence, marvel highly at the false teachers. (v. 10–31)

    [v. 10–17 omitted due to the appointed reading]

    18. For the Word of the cross (the doctrine of the Gospel concerning Christ, the crucified) is (according to their erring thoughts, v. 25) foolishness to those, * who (in their unbelief) are perishing; but to us, we who are (through faith in Christ) being saved, it is ** a power of God (through which He strengthens us and keeps us to eternal life).

    * 2 Corinthians 4:3.

    ** Romans 1:16.

    (Cf. 1:24; 4:10)

    19. For it stands * written: “I will make as nothing the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the understanding (those who in divine matters follow their human reason) I will destroy.

    * Isaiah 19:14.

    (Job 12:17)

    20. Where * are the wise men (among the Gentiles)? Where are the scribes (among the Jews)? Where are the philosophers? (those who can make from human skill many disputations? Among all these, is there anyone who knows how to declare the counsel of God for our salvation?) Has not God the ** wisdom of this world made as foolishness? (And what they put forward as the way to salvation, is it not shown to be foolishness? Because they regulate the doctrine of the Gospel according to reason and do not receive it in simplicity of faith, they thereby become fools before God.)

    * Job 12:17; Isaiah 33:18.

    ** Baruch 3:28.

    (Matthew 11:25; Romans 1:22)

    21. For because the world (the philosophers) through their (imagined) wisdom * did not know (but rather much more became futile in their reasoning, Romans 1:21) God in their wisdom, it well-pleased God, through the foolish preaching to save those, who believe in it. (That is, because body Jews and Gentiles much more value their earthly and natural wisdom rather than the heavenly wisdom, which God reveals through His Word and in His works, and therefore they neither know nor honor Him, much less can they be saved; so it has pleased His eternal wisdom through the preaching of the Gospel, which appears entirely strange, absurd, and silly to the philosophers, to save all those who believe in it, whereby the highly-praised wisdom of the world is made to shame and pure foolishness.)

    * Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21.

    (Isaiah 55:8ff.)

    22. Since * the Jews demand signs (they do not allow themselves to be content with the evident and powerful miracle-signs of Christ and the Apostles, but rather continually, of their own mind, want to have new and greater miracle-signs) and ** the Greeks (the Gentiles) ask according to wisdom (they judge the doctrine of the Gospel according to their reason, and want to have it proved from philosophy).

    * Matthew 12:38; 1 Corinthians 16:1; John 4:48

    ** Baruch 3:23.

    (John 6:30)

    23. But we preach the crucified Christ, (who) * to the Jews is a stumbling block (who was from the beginning and still is; who seemed to them much to lowly and powerless that He should be the promised Messiah who was to deliver them from their bondage. And it was no small scandal for them that He was condemned to death by the great council in Jerusalem as a blasphemer), and to the ** Greeks is foolishness (it seemed to be, as those thought it was great foolishness if one should believe that through the death of one man the sin of the entire world has been atoned for and [eternal] life has been won).

    * Matthew 11:6; John 6:61; Romans 9:32

    ** 1 Corinthians 2:14

    (Acts of the Apostles 26:24)

    24. But to those who are called (through the Gospel to knowledge of Christ, and do not despise such call willingly), both Jews and Greeks, we preach Christ (who indeed is [the Christ] in fact, whether or not they recognize Him as such), * divine power and divine wisdom. (The holy Apostle calls Christ divine power and divine wisdom, not only because He is true God, of one essence of the Father, and divine power and wisdom is essential to Him, but also because God proved His power and wisdom through Him, in that Christ through His suffering and death has blotted out the sin of the entire world, has powerfully overcome death and the devil, and has thereby fulfilled the most wise counsel of God concerning our salvation; that He also has revealed this same divine wisdom in the preaching of the Gospel, and thereby has gathered a Church for Himself from the human race, which He powerfully sustains and protects against all the the raging of the gates of hell; and finally, because He has made us wisdom from God, v. 1 Corinthians 1:30, and we are preserved by His power through faith unto salvation, 1 Peter 1:5.)

    * Romans 1:16; Colossians 2:3.

    25. For the divine foolishness (what the Gentiles who demand wisdom, v. 22, according to their corrupted reason judge as foolishness) is wiser than men are (not only than human wisdom, but rather also than men themselves); and the divine weakness (what the Jews, who demand signs, v. 22, consider as weakness) is stronger than men are. (Luther: “Divine foolishness and weakness is the Gospel, which is foolish in the eyes of the wise, but is powerful and wise in the eyes of Christians.”)

    [v. 26–31 omitted due to the appointed reading]

    Useful Applications

    III. DOCTRINE: That generally, those who are foolish, weak, ignoble, despised, and nothing before the people of this world are chosen and called by God by faith to eternal life; but on the other hand, many among the wise, powerful, and noble (for the sake of their unbelief) are rejected to condemnation, v. 26–28. DOCTRINE: The grace of God is still to be recognized and praised in a congregation, wherein the chief work, His pure Word, goes rightly, even though many deficiencies are otherwise found therein, v. 4–30.