The Jews considered Paul an apostate. He had been despised and persecuted among the Gentiles. He had been driven from city to city and had been regarded as “the filth of the world” and “the offscouring of all things” (1 Cor. 4:13). He was well aware that the preaching of the cross was “foolishness” to the Greeks and a “stumblingblock” to the Jews (1 Cor. 1:23). But because Paul was so thoroughly convinced of the truth of the gospel, and because he himself had so fully experienced its blessing and power, he not only was not ashamed of any part of it but even gloried in that which was most offensive to many, the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14).

Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the omission of these words. However, the omission does not change the meaning of the passage.

 The gospel is the way in which God exerts His power for the salvation of men. Wherever the gospel finds believing hearts it is a divine power by which all the obstacles to man’s redemption are removed. Paul is stating a fact that he knows to be true from his own experience. He has felt this “power of God” in his own life and has witnessed its effect upon others (1 Cor. 1:18, 24; 2:1-5).

 The gospel is for all men (1 Tim. 2:4), but it is “the power of God unto salvation” only to those who willingly accept it. That willing acceptance is faith (see John 3:16, 17).

 Paul always puts the Jews first, in privilege and in responsibility (ch. 2:9, 10). To them had been committed the oracles of God (ch. 3:1, 2). They had had the law and the typical services of the Temple. The Messiah had come through them (ch. 9:5). It was only natural that the gospel should be preached to them first. In fact, this was the order in which the gospel actually was proclaimed to the world (Acts 13:46; cf. Matt. 10:5, 6; 21:43; Luke 24:47; Acts 18:6). Paul, in his ministry, customarily began his work in the synagogues (Acts 17:1, 2; 18:4, 6; 19:8). One of his first acts after his imprisonment in Rome was to present the gospel to the Jewish leaders there (Acts 28:17, 23).

 Gr. Hellēn, here equivalent to “Gentile,” as in Rom. 2:9, 10; 3:9; see on John 7:35. “Jew and Greek” was the Jewish designation of all mankind according to religion (see Acts 14:1; 1 Cor. 10:32). “Greek and barbarian” was the Greek division according to nationality and culture (see on Rom. 1:14).