The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 1:6 Explained

1 Corinthians 1:6

KJV: Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

YLT: according as the testimony of the Christ was confirmed in you,

Darby: (according as the testimony of the Christ has been confirmed in you,)

ASV: even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Even as  the testimony  of Christ  was confirmed  in  you: 

What does 1 Corinthians 1:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Corinthians" reception of these gifts had corroborated the truthfulness of the gospel. Giving these gifts was one of the ways God validated the gospel message in the early history of the church (cf. Galatians 3:2-5; Hebrews 2:3-4).

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 1:6

Even as [κατως]
In proportion as (1 Thessalonians 1:5) and so inasmuch as (Philemon 1:7; Ephesians 1:4). [source]
The testimony of Christ [το μαρτυριον του Χριστου]
Objective genitive, the testimony to or concerning Christ, the witness of Paul‘s preaching. Was confirmed in you (εβεβαιωτη εν υμιν — ebebaiōthē en humin). First aorist passive of βεβαιοω — bebaioō old verb from βεβαιος — bebaios and that from βαινω — bainō to make to stand, to make stable. These special gifts of the Holy Spirit which they had so lavishly received (ch. 1 Corinthians 12) were for that very purpose. [source]
Was confirmed in you [εβεβαιωτη εν υμιν]
First aorist passive of βεβαιοω — bebaioō old verb from βεβαιος — bebaios and that from βαινω — bainō to make to stand, to make stable. These special gifts of the Holy Spirit which they had so lavishly received (ch. 1 Corinthians 12) were for that very purpose. [source]
Witness of Christ [μαρτύριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ]
Testimony concerning Christ. See on John 1:7. Compare Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:8. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 1:6

1 Corinthians 1:8 Confirm []
Compare 1 Corinthians 1:6. [source]
1 Corinthians 1:8 Shall confirm [βεβαιωσει]
Direct reference to the same word in 1 Corinthians 1:6. The relative ος — hos (who) points to Christ. [source]
1 Corinthians 2:1 The mystery of God [το μυστηριον του τεου]
So Aleph A C Copt. like 1 Corinthians 2:7, but B D L P read μαρτυριον — marturion like 1 Corinthians 1:6. Probably mystery is correct. Christ crucified is the mystery of God (Colossians 2:2). Paul did not hesitate to appropriate this word in common use among the mystery religions, but he puts into it his ideas, not those in current use. It is an old word from μυεω — mueō to close, to shut, to initiate (Philemon 4:12). This mystery was once hidden from the ages (Colossians 1:26), but is now made plain in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:7; Romans 16:25.). The papyri give many illustrations of the use of the word for secret doctrines known only to the initiated (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary). [source]
1 Timothy 2:6 To be testified in due time [τὸ μαρτύριον καιροῖς ἰδίοις]
Lit. (gave himself a ransom) the testimony in its own times. That is, the gift of Christ as a ransom was to be the substance or import of the testimony which was to be set forth in its proper seasons. Thus μαρτύριον testimonyis in apposition with the whole preceding sentence, and not with ransom only. Μαρτύριον is used sometimes simply as witness or testimony (Matthew 8:4; Mark 6:11): sometimes specially of the proclamation of the gospel, as Matthew 24:14; Acts 4:33; 1 Thessalonians 1:10. The apostles are said, μαρτυρεῖν tobear witness, as eye or ear witnesses of the sayings, deeds, and sufferings of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:15). In 1 Corinthians 1:6, μαρτύριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ is practically = the gospel. In 2 Thessalonians 1:10, τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφ ' ὑμᾶς ourtestimony among you is our public attestation of the truth of the gospel. The idea of witness is a favorite one with John. See John 1:7. The exact phrase καιροῖς ἰδίοις inits own times, only in the Pastorals, here, 1 Timothy 6:15; Titus 1:3. In Galatians 6:9 καιρῷ ἰδίῳ indue time. Comp. Galatians 4:4. [source]
2 Timothy 1:8 The testimony of our Lord [το μαρτυριον του κυριου]
For the old word μαρτυριον — marturion see note on 1 Corinthians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 2:1. Paul probably has in mind the saying of Jesus preserved in Mark 8:38 (Luke 9:26). See also 2 Timothy 2:12. His prisoner (τον δεσμιον αυτου — ton desmion autou). As in Philemon 1:12; Philemon 1:1, Philemon 1:9; Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1 (the first Roman captivity). Paul is in his last captivity and refers to it again in 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:9. Suffer hardship with First aorist active imperative of the double compound συνκακοπατεω — sunkakopatheō first known use and in N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 2:3 (in eccles. writers). But κακοπατεω — kakopatheō to suffer evil, is old verb (2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5). Paul is fond of compounds of συν — sun Paul challenges Timothy by this verb which he apparently coins for the purpose to a joint According to the power of God (κατα δυναμιν τεου — kata dunamin theou). Given by God (2 Corinthians 6:7). [source]
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape? [πως ημεις εκπευχομετα]
Rhetorical question with future middle indicative of εκπευγω — ekpheugō and conclusion of the condition. If we neglect First aorist active participle of αμελεω — ameleō “having neglected.” So great salvation Ablative case after αμελησαντες — amelēsantes Correlative pronoun of age, but used of size in the N.T. (James 3:4; 2 Corinthians 1:10). Which “Which very salvation,” before described, now summarized. Having at the first been spoken Literally, “having received a beginning to be spoken,” “having begun to be spoken,” a common literary Koiné idiom (Polybius, etc.). Through the Lord The Lord Jesus who is superior to angels. Jesus was God‘s full revelation and he is the source of this new and superior revelation. Was confirmed First aorist passive indicative of βεβαιοω — bebaioō from βεβαιος — bebaios (stable), old verb as in 1 Corinthians 1:6. By them that heard Ablative case with υπο — hupo of the articular first aorist active participle of ακουω — akouō Those who heard the Lord Jesus. Only one generation between Jesus and the writer. Paul (Galatians 1:11) got his message directly from Christ. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 1:6 mean?

as the testimony about Christ was confirmed in you
καθὼς τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐβεβαιώθη ἐν ὑμῖν

μαρτύριον  testimony 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: μαρτύριον  
Sense: testimony.
τοῦ  about 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστοῦ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
ἐβεβαιώθη  was  confirmed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βεβαιόω  
Sense: to make firm, establish, confirm, make sure.