1 Corinthians 1:7

Authorized King James Version

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So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Original Language Analysis

ὥστε So that G5620
ὥστε So that
Strong's: G5620
Word #: 1 of 15
so too, i.e., thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow)
ὑμᾶς ye G5209
ὑμᾶς ye
Strong's: G5209
Word #: 2 of 15
you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
μὴ no G3361
μὴ no
Strong's: G3361
Word #: 3 of 15
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
ὑστερεῖσθαι come behind G5302
ὑστερεῖσθαι come behind
Strong's: G5302
Word #: 4 of 15
to be later, i.e., (by implication) to be inferior; generally, to fall short (be deficient)
ἐν in G1722
ἐν in
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 5 of 15
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
μηδενὶ G3367
μηδενὶ
Strong's: G3367
Word #: 6 of 15
not even one (man, woman, thing)
χαρίσματι gift G5486
χαρίσματι gift
Strong's: G5486
Word #: 7 of 15
a (divine) gratuity, i.e., deliverance (from danger or passion); (specially), a (spiritual) endowment, i.e., (subjectively) religious qualification, o
ἀπεκδεχομένους waiting for G553
ἀπεκδεχομένους waiting for
Strong's: G553
Word #: 8 of 15
to expect fully
τὴν G3588
τὴν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 9 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀποκάλυψιν the coming G602
ἀποκάλυψιν the coming
Strong's: G602
Word #: 10 of 15
disclosure
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 11 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κυρίου Lord G2962
κυρίου Lord
Strong's: G2962
Word #: 12 of 15
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
ἡμῶν of our G2257
ἡμῶν of our
Strong's: G2257
Word #: 13 of 15
of (or from) us
Ἰησοῦ Jesus G2424
Ἰησοῦ Jesus
Strong's: G2424
Word #: 14 of 15
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Χριστοῦ· Christ G5547
Χριστοῦ· Christ
Strong's: G5547
Word #: 15 of 15
anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus

Analysis & Commentary

So that ye come behind in no gift (hoste hymas me hystereis thai en medeni charismati, ὥστε ὑμᾶς μὴ ὑστερεῖσθαι ἐν μηδενὶ χαρίσματι)—The term charisma (χάρισμα, "grace-gift") is derived from charis (grace), emphasizing that spiritual gifts are undeserved endowments, not earned rewards. The Corinthians lacked nothing in gifts—yet they were spiritually immature, factious, and immoral. This paradox drives the entire letter: gifted but not godly, enriched but not mature.

Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (apekdechomenous ten apokalypsin, ἀπεκδεχομένους τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν)—The verb apekdechomai (ἀπεκδέχομαι) means to eagerly await, implying patient endurance and forward-looking hope. The apokalypsis (ἀποκάλυψις, "revelation, unveiling") of Christ is His second coming. Eschatological expectation should shape present behavior—a theme Paul will apply to marriage (ch. 7), lawsuits (ch. 6), and the resurrection (ch. 15).

Historical Context

First-century Christians lived in fervent expectation of Christ's imminent return (see 1 Thess 4:13-18, written a few years earlier). This eschatological urgency informed ethics, community life, and priorities. However, the Corinthians behaved as if the kingdom had fully arrived—they were "already filled, already rich, already reigning" (4:8)—leading to complacency about sin and disunity. Paul recalibrates their eschatology: the kingdom is inaugurated but not consummated.

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