“Now this I say that everyone of you saith, etc.]” This the apostle affirms not upon his own personal knowledge, but upon the credit of the report the house of Chloe had made unto him; and his meaning is not that every individual member of this church, but that many of them, and the far greater number of them, were in the following factions, some being for one minister, and some for another: one part of them said, “I am of Paul;” He had been instrumental in their conversion: he had baptized some of them, and first laid the foundation of a Gospel church among them; was a solid, brave, and bold preacher of the Gospel, and was set for the defence of it; wherefore…

“For it hath been declared unto me, of you, my brethren, etc.]” Lest the above advice of the apostle should be thought to be impertinent and needless, and to proceed upon groundless suspicions and jealousies of his, he signifies that he not only had some broad hints of their contentions and divisions, but the whole affair was laid open, and made manifest to him: the thing was a clear point to him; he had no reason at all to doubt of the truth of it; nor could they deny it, the proof was so strong, the evidence so full, being given “by them which are of the house of Chloe.” Some take Chloe to be the name of a place; a city so called is…

“Now I beseech you, brethren, etc.]” The apostle having observed the many favours and blessings bestowed on this church, proceeds to take notice of the divisions and contentions which were fomented in it; and in the most kind and tender manner entreats them to take every proper step to prevent schisms among them: he does not use his apostolical power and authority, or lay his injunctions and commands upon them, which he might have done, but most affectionately beseeches them; styling them brethren, as they were in a spiritual relation, being children of the same Father, members of the same body, and partakers of the same grace, and is a reason why they should not fail out by the way: and this obsecration is made…

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called, etc.]” These words contain arguments, assuring the saints of their confirmation in grace, and of their being preserved blameless to the day of Christ, taken from the faithfulness of God, who is always true to his promises: whatever he has said, he will do it; he will never suffer his faithfulness to fail; and since he has made so many promises concerning the establishment of his people, and their perseverance to grace, they may assure themselves of them; and also from his having called them by his grace, for whom he effectually calls by his grace, he glorifies; and particularly from his having called them “unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;” To partake…

“Who shall also confirm you unto the end” Blessing of confirmation is not the Lord Jesus Christ, though he is antecedent to the relative “who” in this, but is not, for this confirmation is saints might be blameless in the day of Christ, and so must design some other person distinct from him, which is God the Father, (1 Corinthians 1:4), to whom the apostle gives thanks, and continues to do so unto this verse; in which he assures the saints of confirmation in grace by God, the author and giver of all grace: and which may be understood of their confirmation in the love and favour of God, from which there can be no separation; and of their establishment in the person of Christ,…

“So that ye come behind in no gift” Ordinary or extraordinary; a detail of the gifts which were bestowed on them is made in (1 Corinthians 12:8-10); by which it appears that they were not inferior in gifts to any of the churches: “waiting for the coming;” Or "the revelation" “of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Who will appear a second time, come in great glory, will raise the dead, and judge both quick and dead; when gifts will cease and be of no more use, and when they must all be accounted for; and therefore, till that time comes, should be diligently made use of, and improved to the interest and service of Christ; who will surely come again, and call his servants and churches…