Introduction: Although labeled “First Corinthians”, this may not be the first letter Paul had sent to the church in Corinth. In verse 5:9, he refers to a letter sent earlier.
Chap. 1 Outline
1 From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother,
2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord 8Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! (NET)
V. 1 - “From Paul,... and Sosthenes” - Paul announces who is writing the letter, and based on other letters in the NT, this seems to be way letters were written in the 1st century A.D. (See Note 1)
The identity of Sosthenes is a little cloudy. There is a man with this name mentioned in Acts 18. Paul was in Corinth about a year and a half. The Jews there were upset that he spoke of Jesus Christ in the synagogue. They took Paul up to the Roman governor (proconsul) of Corinth to complain about Paul teaching in the synagogue. The governor kicked them out since their complaint was a religious disagreement, not civil or criminal. He just didn’t care!
I don’t know if there was more than one synagogue in Corinth, because two men, Crispus and Sosthenes, were identified as ‘ruler’ or ‘president’ of the synagogue. Crispus (Acts 18:8) was the leader when Paul started preaching in Corinth, and became a believer after listening to Paul. Sosthenes (Acts 18:17) was leader during the kerfuffle before Gallio, the proconsul appointed by Rome for Corinth. (Maybe a year-and-one-half later) The Jews were furious and beat Sosthenes after Gallio would not listen to their complaint (Acts 18:11-17). Perhaps the Jews were upset that Sosthenes did not force Paul to leave or quit preaching in the synagogue.
It is not clear, maybe the Sosthenes who was beat up by the Jews is the same man mentioned here in the letter to the Corinthian church. This would mean he accepted Christ as Lord and Savior through Paul’s ministry and remained with Paul when he left Corinth. (See: Acts 18:1-18.)
“Called to be an apostle” - An ‘apostle’ is one sent, a messenger, specifically called by the Lord Jesus Christ. There is, or was, a limited number of apostles - no more than 13 to 15. The original twelve disciples called to walk and learn with Jesus, and Paul. The twelve was reduced to eleven soon after Jesus was crucified. It is a unique office of the church.
Paul was accosted by Jesus on the road to Damascus. This is amazing, since it was several days, maybe months after the resurrection of Jesus. See Acts 9:3-7 and following. Paul is struck to the ground by the brilliance of Jesus' presence (No one else in the group saw anything). Paul knew it was God, the Lord, speaking to him. Then Paul was taught by the Lord Jesus, and was 'called' to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. 'Called' is one of those particularly Christian words, or concepts. Pastors are 'called', missionaries are 'called'; but what does it entail? I think it is one of those things that cannot be described, but you know it when you get it. There are people who are singers, musicians and they are not satisfied unless they are singing and making music. People who are 'called' to the ministry know that they need to serve the Lord, wherever that may be.
V. 2 - “to the church of God” - Here are four phrases used to identify the group of believers in Jesus Christ.
- Church of God
- Sanctified in Christ Jesus
- Called to be saints
- Who Call on the Name of Jesus
While these are synonym phrases, each emphasizes something slightly different. Paul here draws our attention to holiness of the church - believers of Jesus Christ who is God. (This is the ‘first identifying characteristic’.)
The culture then was saturated with gods. The Jews have a God. The Greeks and Romans had gods - a plethora of gods. In Corinth, one of the major cities in Greece, there were temples to Aphrodite and Apollo, and others. We would not identify some of the religious practices as ‘holy’, but as ‘immoral’, considering the proliferation of temple prostitutes.
There is no doubt the followers of God were expected to be ‘holy’, abstaining from immoral practices. God is holy, and His believes are also holy, so the church of God is a holy gathering.
“Sanctified in Christ Jesus” - Basic definition: ‘sanctification’ is separation from the secular and sinful, and setting apart for a sacred purpose. In the Old Testament - things, places, times, people were sanctified, i.e., consecrated to holy purposes - usually only in a ceremonial and legal sense, to remind the Jews of the need for spiritual cleansing and the grace of God. In the New Testament, people are called to consecrate themselves to God, that is the inward cleansing work of God and Holy Spirit. (Second identifying characteristic)
So, sanctified in Christ Jesus means the church, and the people who make up the church, have been spiritually cleansed and set apart in Christ Jesus from the world. The church of God has been made holy to God by the sacrificial death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5) (ESV)
I think there are no “reluctant saints” - saints against their will. Jesus calls us to follow Him. Compare the reluctant man: “Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” (Luke 9:61), to the man who responded positively to Jesus’s call: “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ ” (John 1:43-49)
“Called to be saints” - They are saints, not because of what they have done, but because of who they are in Christ Jesus. This not about character, or behavior, but about being claimed by God as His own, about being consecrated (sanctified) by Him for Him. He calls you to be His. He sacrificed Himself for you. It is a special and individual relationship. At the same time, saints are the collection of believers, all of whom are God’s own. We do not earn our way into ‘sainthood’ - which seems to be a very Catholic Church view. It is none of our own doing, but Christ’s. (Third identifying characteristic)
“with all those in every place” - Primarily addressed to the believers in Corinth, this letter is intended to a wider audience. All those - i.e., everyone who is a Christian.
“Who call of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” - Those who say, “Jesus, I am yours,” those who submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. “Call on the name” does not mean speaking His name in order to get His attention. I am Jesus’ own possession. He is my master, my Lord, and my God. (Fourth identifying characteristic)
V. 3 - “Grace and peace to you” - Paul includes this combined blessing in every letter he wrote, and almost every letter in the New Testament has this greeting. It is almost unknown in the Old Testament. The closest we see is : "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is the way you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and protect you; The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."' (Num. 6:23-26).
Two thoughts: (1) not the grace of salvation, but grace upon grace - the Holy Spirit living in control of the life, living by faith. (2) the peace of Christ - John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.”
Note 1: "NET" = New English Translation
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