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I. THE RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL BY THE CORINTHIANS, AND THE USE WHICH THEY MADE OF IT (vers. 1, 2).

1. Paul brought glad tidings with him to Corinth, and proclaimed them everywhere — in the synagogue, in the workshop, in the market-place.

2. Nor did he preach without effect. Many might listen incredulously, and others resist, but many "received" his glad tidings.

3. In that gospel these Corinthians were now "standing." Their ancient superstitions had passed away, and they "stood" upon the rock — "Jesus Christ," and the hope of a resurrection. That reception of his apostolic message was not only the pledge of blessedness in the great hereafter, it indicated their present security. Now they were safe. The strong swimmer, battling with the waves of a stormy sea, may be living, and not without hope; but not until his feet touch the beach may he whisper to himself, "Now I am safe!" So these Corinthians had been "saved," but their Christian work was not then over. The saved Christian is not to stand still and think of doing nothing more. "Keep in memory" might rather be translated "firmly maintain." Without this they had "believed in vain."

4. Here, then, we are presented with the apostle's ideas of evangelical conversion. It was a process of preaching on his part followed by these steps on theirs — reception, belief, steadfast adherence. "What Paul taught, that must ministers teach still. What the Corinthian Christians "received," etc., that must we receive, stand upon, and adhere to, or risk the salvation of our souls.

II. THE THE TRUTH WITH WHICH HE DESIRED THAT THEIR MINDS SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY OCCUPIED (vers. 3, 4). In these words we have plainly an epitome of the gospel. He himself had "received" this gospel, and felt it to be the power of God unto his own personal salvation; and now he declared that he had "delivered" it to them as equally available for theirs. Nay, he did so "first of all," i.e., as the chiefest and most important statement in the gospel message. What was the all-important truth?

1. It was that "Christ had died for our sins." There was something in that death which possessed an atoning virtue, and this was "according to the Scriptures "(Isaiah 53).

2. In token of the reality of Christ's death Paul affirms that He was "buried."

3. In token also that His atoning work was completely effectual, "He rose from the dead the third day."

(J. Cochrane, A.M.)

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KJV: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

WEB: Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,