The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 1:5 Explained

1 Corinthians 1:5

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

YLT: that in every thing ye were enriched in him, in all discourse and all knowledge,

Darby: that in everything ye have been enriched in him, in all word of doctrine, and all knowledge,

ASV: that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 1 Corinthians 1:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

By "speech" (NASB) or "speaking" (NIV Gr. logos) the apostle meant eloquence, the ability to express their "knowledge" (Gr. gnosis) fluently and effectively. As we shall see, knowledge and eloquence were two things the Corinthians valued very highly. These characteristics appear by their usage in this letter and in2Corinthians to have been common buzzwords in Corinth. Logos occurs26 times in1,2Corinthians compared to58 times in Paul"s other epistles, and gnosis appears16 times in these two epistles but only seven times in all of Paul"s other writings. Paul had to put these gifts in their proper place among the other gifts. Nevertheless they were great gifts, and Paul was thankful that God had given them to the Corinthians.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 1:1-11 - Enriched And United In Christ
It was pleasant to the church at Corinth to realize that one of their own number was associated with the Apostle in his great ministry. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:1 with Acts 18:17. We have been sanctified in Christ in the purpose of God, but we must make our calling sure by living as saints. Note Paul's liberality-it was enough for him if men called on Jesus as their Lord. Such he could receive as brothers. There was no strain of narrow sectarianism in his nature.
If we would live a true life, we must draw on Jesus Christ. Our riches are in Him, awaiting our claiming and use. The unsearchable riches of Christ are at our disposal, but we must appropriate and use them. Let us begin to live as God's heirs. Utterance and knowledge are ours through the Holy Spirit. We have looked into ourselves for them. That is the mistake! We must look up and reach down. God has called us into partnership with His Son. We share His sorrows, sufferings, and labors for a world's conversion; He bids us share in His grace. The perfecting of 1 Corinthians 1:10 is the weaving together of a rent. Paul's object in this Epistle was the ending of the strife that had divided the Corinthian church. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 1

1  After his salutation and thanksgiving for the Corinthians,
10  Paul exhorts them to unity,
12  and reproves their dissensions
18  God destroys the wisdom of the wise,
21  by the foolishness of preaching;
26  and calls not the wise, mighty, and noble,
28  but the foolish, weak, and men of no account

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 1:5

That [οτι]
Explicit specification of this grace of God given to the Corinthians. Paul points out in detail the unusual spiritual gifts which were their glory and became their peril (chapters 1 Corinthians 12-14). [source]
Ye were enriched in him [επλουτιστητε εν αυτωι]
First aorist passive indicative of πλουτιζω — ploutizō old causative verb from πλουτος — ploutos wealth, common in Attic writers, dropped out for centuries, reappeared in lxx. In N.T. only three times and alone in Paul (1 Corinthians 1:5; 2 Corinthians 6:10, 2 Corinthians 6:11). The Christian finds his real riches in Christ, one of Paul‘s pregnant phrases full of the truest mysticism. In all utterance and all knowledge (εν παντι λογωι και πασηι γνωσει — en panti logōi kai pasēi gnōsei). One detail in explanation of the riches in Christ. The outward expression (λογωι — logōi) here is put before the inward knowledge (γνωσει — gnōsei) which should precede all speech. But we get at one‘s knowledge by means of his speech. Chapters 1 Corinthians 12-14 throw much light on this element in the spiritual gifts of the Corinthians (the gift of tongues, interpreting tongues, discernment) as summed up in 1 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Corinthians 13:2, the greater gifts of 1 Corinthians 12:31. It was a marvellously endowed church in spite of their perversions. [source]
In all utterance and all knowledge [εν παντι λογωι και πασηι γνωσει]
One detail in explanation of the riches in Christ. The outward expression (λογωι — logōi) here is put before the inward knowledge (γνωσει — gnōsei) which should precede all speech. But we get at one‘s knowledge by means of his speech. Chapters 1 Corinthians 12-14 throw much light on this element in the spiritual gifts of the Corinthians (the gift of tongues, interpreting tongues, discernment) as summed up in 1 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Corinthians 13:2, the greater gifts of 1 Corinthians 12:31. It was a marvellously endowed church in spite of their perversions. [source]
Ye are enriched [ἐπλουτίσθητε]
Rev. more literally, “were enriched.” Compare Colossians 3:16; and see on Romans 2:4. [source]
Utterance - knowledge [λόγῳ - γνώσει]
The two words are found together, 1 Corinthians 12:8; 2 Corinthians 11:6; 2 Corinthians 8:7. For knowledge, see on Romans 11:33. Utterance, aptitude in speech. Paul gives thanks for speech as a means of testifying for Christ. “The saints have never been silent” (Pascal). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 1:5

1 Corinthians 1:5 Ye were enriched in him [επλουτιστητε εν αυτωι]
First aorist passive indicative of πλουτιζω — ploutizō old causative verb from πλουτος — ploutos wealth, common in Attic writers, dropped out for centuries, reappeared in lxx. In N.T. only three times and alone in Paul (1 Corinthians 1:5; 2 Corinthians 6:10, 2 Corinthians 6:11). The Christian finds his real riches in Christ, one of Paul‘s pregnant phrases full of the truest mysticism. In all utterance and all knowledge (εν παντι λογωι και πασηι γνωσει — en panti logōi kai pasēi gnōsei). One detail in explanation of the riches in Christ. The outward expression (λογωι — logōi) here is put before the inward knowledge (γνωσει — gnōsei) which should precede all speech. But we get at one‘s knowledge by means of his speech. Chapters 1 Corinthians 12-14 throw much light on this element in the spiritual gifts of the Corinthians (the gift of tongues, interpreting tongues, discernment) as summed up in 1 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Corinthians 13:2, the greater gifts of 1 Corinthians 12:31. It was a marvellously endowed church in spite of their perversions. [source]
1 Corinthians 2:9 Whatsoever [οσα]
A climax to the preceding relative clause (Findlay). Prepared (ητοιμασεν — hētoimasen). First aorist active indicative of ετοιμαζω — hetoimazō The only instance where Paul uses this verb of God, though it occurs of final glory (Luke 2:31; Matthew 20:23; Matthew 25:34; Mark 10:40; Hebrews 11:16) and of final misery (Matthew 25:41). But here undoubtedly the dominant idea is the present blessing to these who love God (1 Corinthians 1:5-7). Heart (καρδιαν — kardian) here as in Romans 1:21 is more than emotion. The Gnostics used this passage to support their teaching of esoteric doctrine as Hegesippus shows. Lightfoot thinks that probably the apocryphal Ascension of Isaiah and Apocalypse of Elias were Gnostic and so quoted this passage of Paul to support their position. But the next verse shows that Paul uses it of what is now revealed and made plain, not of mysteries still unknown. [source]
1 Corinthians 2:9 Prepared [ητοιμασεν]
First aorist active indicative of ετοιμαζω — hetoimazō The only instance where Paul uses this verb of God, though it occurs of final glory (Luke 2:31; Matthew 20:23; Matthew 25:34; Mark 10:40; Hebrews 11:16) and of final misery (Matthew 25:41). But here undoubtedly the dominant idea is the present blessing to these who love God (1 Corinthians 1:5-7). [source]
2 Corinthians 6:10 Yet making many rich [πολλους δε πλουτιζοντες]
Old word from πλουτος — ploutos (wealth), to enrich. Spiritual riches Paul has in mind as in 1 Corinthians 1:5 (cf. Matthew 5:37). As having nothing and yet possessing all things (ως μηδεν εχοντες και παντα κατεχοντες — hōs mēden echontes kai panta katechontes). Contrast between μηδεν — mēden (nothing) and παντα — panta (all things, cf. 1 Corinthians 3:22) and εχω — echō (to have) and κατεχω — katechō (to hold down, to hold fast). Play on words (simple and compound) as in 2 Corinthians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 4:8. Climax of Paul‘s panegyric on the Christian ministry. He now resumes the thread of the story broken off in 2 Corinthians 2:14. [source]
2 Corinthians 9:11 Enriched [πλουτιζομενοι]
Present passive participle of πλουτιζω — ploutizō for which see note on 1 Corinthians 1:5; note on 2 Corinthians 6:10; only other N.T. examples. [source]
James 3:13 Who [Τις]
Rhetorical interrogative like Luke 11:11. Common in Paul and characteristic of the diatribe. James here returns to the standpoint of James 3:1 about many teachers. Speech and wisdom are both liable to abuse (1 Corinthians 1:5, 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:1-3:20). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 1:5 mean?

that in everything you have been enriched Him all speech and all knowledge
ὅτι ἐν παντὶ ἐπλουτίσθητε αὐτῷ παντὶ λόγῳ καὶ πάσῃ γνώσει

ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
παντὶ  everything 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
ἐπλουτίσθητε  you  have  been  enriched 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πλουτίζω  
Sense: to make rich, enrich.
λόγῳ  speech 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
γνώσει  knowledge 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: γνῶσις  
Sense: knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding.