1 Corinthians 1:5 kjv

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

1 Corinthians 1:5 nkjv

that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,

1 Corinthians 1:5 niv

For in him you have been enriched in every way?with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge?

1 Corinthians 1:5 esv

that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge ?

1 Corinthians 1:5 nlt

Through him, God has enriched your church in every way ? with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 5 Meaning

First Corinthians 1:5 signifies that through their relationship with Christ, the believers in Corinth had been abundantly enriched by God. This divine enrichment was manifested specifically in "all utterance" (skill in speaking, teaching, or declaring divine truths) and "all knowledge" (deep spiritual understanding and insight into God's revealed truth). It underscores that these capabilities were not inherent to them but were gifts freely bestowed by the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1 5 Context

First Corinthians 1:5 is part of Paul's opening thanksgiving in his letter to the Corinthian church (1 Cor 1:4-9). This introductory section serves as a strategic and loving affirmation of God's work in their midst before Paul addresses the serious moral and doctrinal issues prevalent among them. He acknowledges the genuine spiritual gifts and grace bestowed upon them by Christ, despite their various failings. This particular verse highlights the specific spiritual endowments of articulate speech and spiritual insight that characterized the Corinthians. While these were genuine gifts, they were also precisely the areas where the Corinthians often boasted or created divisions, prioritizing flashiness over humble service and love (as seen later in chapters 12-14 regarding spiritual gifts and 8 regarding knowledge). Paul begins by giving thanks for what God had done, establishing a foundation of divine favor before moving to correction.

1 Corinthians 1 5 Word analysis

• That: Greek hina (ἵνα). Introduces the purpose or result of the preceding statement (Paul's thanksgiving). Their enrichment is the direct outcome and object of his gratitude.
• in every thing: Greek en panti (ἐν παντὶ). "In everything," "in all points," or "in every respect." It conveys a sense of comprehensive, full, or abundant enrichment. This is not limited but expansive.
• ye are enriched: Greek eploutisthete (ἐπλουτίσθητε). This is an aorist passive indicative verb from ploutizō (πλουτίζω), meaning "to make rich, enrich."
  • Passive voice: Emphasizes that the Corinthians did not enrich themselves; they were enriched. The agent of this enrichment is God, through Christ, not their own merit or effort.
  • Aorist tense: Points to a past, completed action. God has already performed this enriching work among them. It is a divine accomplishment.
• by him: Greek en autō (ἐν αὐτῷ). Literally "in him," but contextually indicating the sphere, instrument, or source. This explicitly names Christ as the channel and context for this divine enrichment. Union with Christ is fundamental to receiving these spiritual blessings.
• in all utterance: Greek en panti logō (ἐν παντὶ λόγῳ).
  • Panti: "all" or "every kind of," emphasizing comprehensiveness.
  • Logō: from logos (λόγος). While logos can mean a simple word, here it refers to speech, expression, discourse, or the message/word itself, particularly in a spiritual or divinely inspired sense. This can encompass prophetic utterance, teaching, preaching the Gospel, eloquent testimony, or wisdom in speaking God's truth.
• and in all knowledge: Greek kai pasē gnōsei (καὶ πάσῃ γνώσει).
  • Pasē: "all" or "every kind of," again emphasizing the full scope.
  • Gnōsei: from gnōsis (γνῶσις). This refers to spiritual knowledge, insight, understanding, and discernment of divine truths. It's not merely intellectual accumulation but a grasp of spiritual realities and God's will.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• in every thing ye are enriched by him: This phrase sets the broad scope and the divine source. It signifies a comprehensive spiritual prosperity that comes from Christ. The passivity of "are enriched" fundamentally points to God's gracious initiation and execution of this endowment upon the believers.
• in all utterance, and in all knowledge: These two phrases specify the forms of the spiritual enrichment. They represent significant spiritual gifts related to verbal expression and intellectual understanding of divine things. They indicate not just partial ability, but a generous, extensive gifting in these areas, demonstrating God's equipping of His people.

1 Corinthians 1 5 Bonus section

The enrichment mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:5 is specifically spiritual, pertaining to the gifts and graces necessary for understanding and communicating divine truth. This contrasts sharply with material or worldly wealth, redirecting focus to the true treasures found in Christ. While this verse highlights what God has given the Corinthians, the very gifts mentioned (utterance and knowledge) were ironically points of contention and division among them. Paul's opening commendation acknowledges the genuine spiritual power and equipping they possessed, which makes their later behavioral and theological failures all the more poignant and necessitates Paul's extensive correction. The implication is clear: having great spiritual gifts does not automatically equate to spiritual maturity or unity if not properly stewarded in love.

1 Corinthians 1 5 Commentary

First Corinthians 1:5 serves as a crucial bridge between Paul's warm thanksgiving for the Corinthians and his subsequent strong rebukes. By declaring their comprehensive enrichment "in every thing...by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge," Paul grounds their spiritual standing not in their own merit or wisdom, but in God's grace through Christ. This sets a significant theological precedent: all true spiritual giftedness originates divinely, not from human effort or natural talent. "Enriched by him" directly attributes the source to Christ, highlighting the believers' union with Him as the conduit of divine blessings. The specific mention of "utterance" (logos) and "knowledge" (gnōsis) is significant. These were areas where the Corinthians likely excelled, yet also where they often fell into pride, contention, and misused their gifts. Paul acknowledges the genuine divine origin of these endowments, affirming their spiritual reality. However, this verse also subtly foreshadows Paul's later qualification of these very gifts, particularly regarding knowledge which, without love, puffs up (1 Cor 8:1) and the use of utterance that must be for edification (1 Cor 14). Thus, the verse praises God's generosity while establishing the true framework for understanding and rightly employing spiritual endowments. It's a reminder that true spiritual wealth comes from Him, for His purposes.