1 Corinthians 1:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He calls that day a revelation, expressing that although it is still invisible, it exists, is already present, and will then be revealed. Therefore one must have patience. For this reason you were counted worthy of miracles, that you might remain firm.

"Who will also confirm you to the end, blameless" (v. 8). Here he seems to speak to please them, yet his words are far from all flattery.

He did not refrain from reproving them, as when he says: "Some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you" (1 Cor 4:18). And again: "What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of meekness?" (v. 21). Also: "You seek proof that Christ speaks in me" (2 Cor 13:3).

By the word “confirm,” he shows that they are wavering. By the word “blameless,” he expresses that now they are subject to accusation. In this epistle he mentions the Lord Jesus Christ more often than in others. By this he reminds the Corinthians by whom they were saved and whose name they bear. Christians are named from Christ, and not from the name of any man.

"Who will also confirm you to the end, blameless." The Apostle anticipates the thought of the Corinthians, who might have raised this objection: although we now stand firmly in the faith, who knows whether we can guard ourselves from all the snares of the evil spirit and all the temptations of this world?

Can we resist all temptations of flesh and blood, and remain constantly in piety? Holy Paul answers such objections and strengthens their hope with the following proofs.

First, he reasons from the preceding and previously shown goodness of God. He presents everything in this sense: our Savior Jesus Christ has already abundantly poured out upon you the gifts of His divine grace. Therefore He will not fail to confirm you in this struggle of piety until the end of your life.

The Apostle is firmly convinced of the right hope of those who will remain in righteousness until the coming day of judgment. People who remained unshaken in faith, despite so many disagreements and such disorder, will without any doubt abide in Christ on the day of the Lord. While honoring the former, Paul at the same time calls to repentance others who had sunk into errors, the false apostles.

He wished them both confirmation and blamelessness. By the word “blameless,” he showed that until the proper time they remain blameworthy.

“Blameless” means those who cannot be summoned to judgment because of their innocence. “In the day of the Lord” means the day of the Second Coming and of the Lord’s Judgment.

In the opening words of his epistle, speaking both in his own person and in that of Sosthenes the brother, St. Paul gives to "the Church of God which is in Corinth" the usual "grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

First, he bears witness to his continual thanksgiving to God "for the grace of God given to the members of the Corinthian Church in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor 1:4), so that they "are not lacking in any gift."

Then he expresses the hope that the Lord will so "confirm them to the end, that they may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1:8). For "God is faithful, by Whom they were called into the fellowship of His Son" (1 Cor 1:9).

In giving thanks to God for granting grace to the Corinthians, the Apostle on the one hand praises them as those counted worthy of this greatest divine gift. On the other hand, in this very thing he lays the foundation for his further judgment concerning their condition.

From the great multitude of gracious gifts, the Apostle Paul first points to their enrichment with verbal and intellectual knowledge concerning all the subjects of Christ's teaching.

From this he then concludes that the Lord, having so enriched them, will not leave them without His gracious help in the future. Thus they may calmly await even the dread day of the Lord's judgment. But to deserve this, they must correct themselves.

He said that they are supplied with everything and equipped for the way. Ahead lies only the revelation of Christ. But the interval is great.

The Apostle says: do not think that you have been left alone. The Lord Whom you await will Himself be your helper and guardian on the way. He will confirm you in faith and in life according to faith. He will present you blameless on His day.

Such is my hope concerning you. Such is my good wish for you.

"He will confirm," bebaiosei, means that He will give you moral firmness. He will also assure you that you will not be shaken, but will remain firm to the end. Whether this means to the end of life or to the moment of the Lord's revelation, it is in any case until the moment when your eternal lot must be decided.