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1Co 1:17. Ἀπέστειλε, sent) A man should attend wholly to that, for which he is sent.-βαπτίζειν, to baptize) [even] in His own name, much less in mine. The labour of baptism, frequently undertaken, would have been a hinderance to the preaching of the Gospel; on other occasions [where not a hinderance to preaching] the apostles baptized; Mat 28:19; especially [they administered that sacrament to] the first disciples.-εὐαγγελίζεσθαι, to preach the Gospel) This word, in respect of what goes before, is an accessory statement:[6] in respect of what follows, a Proposition. Paul uses this very [word as a] mode of transition, which is such that I know not, whether the rules of Corinthian eloquence would be in accordance with it. [Therefore the Apostle in this very passage furnishes a specimen, so to speak, of apostolic folly; and yet there has been no want of the greatest wisdom throughout his whole arrangement.-V. g.]-σοφία λόγου, wisdom of words) [On account of which some individuals of you make me of greater or less importance than they do the rest.-V. g.]-The nouns wisdom and power are frequently used here. In the opinion of the world, a discourse is considered wise, which treats of every topic rather than the cross; whereas a discourse on the cross admits of nothing heterogeneous being mixed up with it.-ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ, the cross of Christ) 1Co 1:24. Ignorance of the mystery of the cross is the foundation, for example, of the whole Koran. [The sum and substance of the Gospel, as to its commencements, is implied, 1Co 1:18; 1Co 1:23; 1Co 2:2. He, who rejects the cross, continues in ignorance also of the rest of revealed truth; he, who receives it, becomes afterwards acquainted with its power (or, virtue, 2Pe 1:5) and glory.-V. g.]
[6] The Latin, or rather the Greek word, is syncategorema. In logic categorematic words are those capable of being employed by themselves as the terms of a proposition. Syncategorematic words are merely accessory to the terms, such as adverbs, prepositions, nouns not in the nominative case, etc.-See Whateley’s Logic, B. II., Ch. i. § 3.-T.