An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

In the next place, we have the Subject to whom this Epistle is directed, and that is either more special, the Church of God, described by its local situation (at Corinth.) Or else more generally, with the place where they live, All the Saints which are in all Achaia.

The Verse divided into these parts, will afford several Observations. And

1. Let us consider the Author instrumental (for the Spirit of God is the principal) described by his name Paul; and in that briefly consider his Name, and his Person ¹what he was. His name is Paul, so constantly in his Epistles, but in the History of his life in the Acts of the Apostles, he was constantly called Saul, till Chap. 13. In the Greek [Greek or Hebrew] and sometimes [Greek or Hebrew]. Now concerning his name, the conjectures of learned men are divers. Beza thinketh Saul and Paul to be the same name with a different dialect. Others say, he had two names, and they are different. Chrysostom thinketh Christ did in an immediate manner give him this name, thereby making Paul his servant in a peculiar manner; Imposition of names being a demonstration of dominion. Thus he altered Abraham's and Jacobs names. Others they say, it was in an humane way he was named Paul, either because of the conversion of Sergius Paulus, mentioned Acts 13. the Proconsul, who out of endeared affection to Paul, would have him called by his name; or as Austin thinketh, Paul assumed it himself, as signifying one that is little, to show his modesty, he calling himself the least of all the Apostles. But Sc•ligers conjecture seemeth most probable, That when the Jews were brought in subjection to the Romans, they had commonly two names, one of their own Nation, and another Roman, to ingratiate themselves, and also for more familiar converse; and therefore Saul is not called Paul, till upon the setting him apart to preach unto the Gentiles. But this is not so great a matter, as the consideration of his person, and his life what he was, and by the history of his life, which he himself also makes often mention of; he was a cruel and bloody persecutor of the Church