Utumishi Blog

In Galatia, Colossae, Philippi and Ephesus there were outright attacks on the gospel. But in Corinth something more subtle was going on. Something that, like almost every verse of 1 Corinthians, feels bitingly contemporary.

In his commentary on 1 Corinthians, Calvin notices that, despite it being a long letter,

there is not a single word about corrupt teaching. I am therefore quite sure that they did not openly detract from the substance of the gospel in any respect; but since they were burning with a misguided and passionate desire for prominence, I think they devised a new method of teaching, that was not consistent with the simplicity of Christ; and they hoped that it would make them the objects of people’s admiration.

Since the Corinthians had a liking for teaching that was clever rather than beneficial, they had no relish for the gospel. Since they were eager for new things, Christ was already out of date for them.

…the teaching of Christ [was] painted a different colour [to put it] on a level with world philosophy… In order to suit the Corinthians’ taste, they added seasoning to their teaching, with the result that the true flavour of the gospel was ruined.