Read & explore together
Thanksgiving
Paul begins this letter by thanking God for the believers. In these verses he points to grace given in Christ Jesus, enrichment in speech and knowledge, no lack in any gift, waiting for Jesus, and God’s faithfulness.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This is the thanksgiving section at the start of a letter. Paul addresses the readers by describing what God has done for them in Christ Jesus. He speaks about grace, enrichment in speech and knowledge, the confirmation of Christ’s testimony among them, their gifts, their waiting, and God’s faithful call.
1 Corinthians 1:4–9Main takeaway
Paul thanks God because these believers have received grace in Christ, have been enriched in him, do not lack any gift as they wait for Jesus, and are sustained by the faithfulness of God.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Paul thanks God for gracePaul says he always thanks God concerning them. His thanksgiving is centred on what God has done, not on human achievement.
Explanation
Paul says he always thanks God concerning them. His thanksgiving is centred on what God has done, not on human achievement. The reason for his thanks is “the grace of God” that was given to them, and this grace was given “in Christ Jesus”.
02Enriched in ChristPaul then explains that they were “enriched in him”. He names “all speech” and “all knowledge” as part of that enrichment.
Explanation
Paul then explains that they were “enriched in him”. He names “all speech” and “all knowledge” as part of that enrichment. The verse does not expand these terms further, but it clearly places their source in Christ. Their abundance is described as something received in him.
03Christ’s testimony confirmed among themVerse 6 links this enrichment to “the testimony of Christ”. Paul says that testimony “was confirmed in you”.
Explanation
Verse 6 links this enrichment to “the testimony of Christ”. Paul says that testimony “was confirmed in you”. This shows that the message about Christ had become established among them. The verse ties their present condition to the settled place of Christ’s testimony in their lives.
04No lack while waitingBecause of this, they “come behind in no gift”. At the same time, they are “waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Explanation
Because of this, they “come behind in no gift”. At the same time, they are “waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul puts present gifts together with future expectation. They have what has been given now, while still looking ahead to Jesus’ revelation.
05Confirmed to the end by God’s faithfulnessPaul says the Lord Jesus Christ “will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Explanation
Paul says the Lord Jesus Christ “will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”. He supports this with a clear statement: “God is faithful”. This faithful God is the one who called them into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reason does Paul give for always thanking God concerning them?
Read verse 4 closely and identify the gift Paul names, including where it was given.
02How does Paul connect their present situation with their future hope?
Notice the two ideas joined in verse 7: not lacking any gift now and waiting for the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
03What makes Paul confident that they will be confirmed until the end?
Put verse 8 and verse 9 together, and pay attention to both Christ’s action and God’s character.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 1:4–9
4I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
5that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge—
6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you—
7so that you come behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.