1 Corinthians 1:1-3 says,...another start of a new book...
Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, which read,
Before we look at the verses today let us get some background on this book and church.
Paul is the author as stated in verse 1 and he is writing this letter to the church in the city of Corinth. He wrote this letter about 55 A.D. while he was staying in Ephesus. Corinth is located in modern day southern Greece. It was a city of commerce, athletics, and immorality. They had their own form of the Olympic games called the "Isthmian Games." Their name was equated with immorality. To "corinthianize" was a slang term for anything or anyone who was involve in gross immorality. The Temple of Aphrodite, the Greek god of love was in the city along with many other false gods. Paul visited there on his second missionary journey and stayed for a year and a half. He was assisted by some other tent makers named Priscilla and Aquilla and Silas and Timothy joined him later. Of those being converted, the main one was a man named Crispus who was the leader of the synagogue and his family. Enough background, let's get to the verses.
v.1 - Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,...
Paul is the author of this letter and he is also an apostle. The word apostle means "sent one." So Paul is a "sent one" that was called by Jesus Christ and not by his own will but the will of God. Paul then gives us an example of the supernatural call in this first verse.
Paul mentions Sosthenes and names him "our brother," meaning he is a Christian. Sosthenes was thought to be Paul secretary, writing these letters to be sent out to the churches. But Sosthenes was a Corinthian who was one of the leaders of the synagogue in Corinth. He is actually the one who led the charge against Paul before the Greek government. Sosthenes was trying to persecute Paul just as Paul used to persecute the Christians. It was a failed attempt and actually Sosthenes got beaten by the Greek government for bringing up religious charges in a civil court. Now we see this man that was so against Paul and the message of Christ now writing down the words for Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that would be placed in the New Testament that hails Jesus as Lord of all. Here is another example of the supernatural call of God on Paul's life.
v.2 - To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:...
The letter is addressed to the church in Corinth and Paul addresses and describes them as the church of God, to distinguish from all the other gods in the city. To be sanctified in Christ Jesus (a continual growing in His righteous) you first need to be justified in Christ Jesus (a made right before God through the righteous of Jesus), so Paul is writing to believers. Paul calls them "saints by calling." They are Christians because they have responded to the calling of God and their lives are being transformed to His. We sometimes get "saints" wrapped up in our minds with the icons of the Catholic church but Paul is not talking about them, rather he is talking about the justified and sanctified Christian that is sitting in the pew in Corinth. This letter is also going to go out farther than just that church. The last line makes this applicable to us as a church today.
v.3 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Grace" mean favor, so favor to you and "peace" that comes from God is found in the giving of His Son Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Paul starts with a benediction, blessing, or prayer for those who hold that Jesus is Lord of their lives and the Messiah of the world. Believe me, they are going to need grace and peace as they unfold what is in this letter. Matter of fact, we are going to need grace and peace as we unfold this letter. The atmosphere of Corinth is not much different than the atmosphere that we live in today.
"Lord, as we embark on a new letter this morning, may our minds, hearts, eyes, and ears be open to Your instruction through the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul. You are going to unpack some corrections that need to be made in the church of Corinth but also in the churches of the world today. May this not just be an ancient letter but may we see how supernatural You are to make it like it was written yesterday to us. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Before we look at the verses today let us get some background on this book and church.
Paul is the author as stated in verse 1 and he is writing this letter to the church in the city of Corinth. He wrote this letter about 55 A.D. while he was staying in Ephesus. Corinth is located in modern day southern Greece. It was a city of commerce, athletics, and immorality. They had their own form of the Olympic games called the "Isthmian Games." Their name was equated with immorality. To "corinthianize" was a slang term for anything or anyone who was involve in gross immorality. The Temple of Aphrodite, the Greek god of love was in the city along with many other false gods. Paul visited there on his second missionary journey and stayed for a year and a half. He was assisted by some other tent makers named Priscilla and Aquilla and Silas and Timothy joined him later. Of those being converted, the main one was a man named Crispus who was the leader of the synagogue and his family. Enough background, let's get to the verses.
v.1 - Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,...
Paul is the author of this letter and he is also an apostle. The word apostle means "sent one." So Paul is a "sent one" that was called by Jesus Christ and not by his own will but the will of God. Paul then gives us an example of the supernatural call in this first verse.
Paul mentions Sosthenes and names him "our brother," meaning he is a Christian. Sosthenes was thought to be Paul secretary, writing these letters to be sent out to the churches. But Sosthenes was a Corinthian who was one of the leaders of the synagogue in Corinth. He is actually the one who led the charge against Paul before the Greek government. Sosthenes was trying to persecute Paul just as Paul used to persecute the Christians. It was a failed attempt and actually Sosthenes got beaten by the Greek government for bringing up religious charges in a civil court. Now we see this man that was so against Paul and the message of Christ now writing down the words for Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that would be placed in the New Testament that hails Jesus as Lord of all. Here is another example of the supernatural call of God on Paul's life.
v.2 - To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:...
The letter is addressed to the church in Corinth and Paul addresses and describes them as the church of God, to distinguish from all the other gods in the city. To be sanctified in Christ Jesus (a continual growing in His righteous) you first need to be justified in Christ Jesus (a made right before God through the righteous of Jesus), so Paul is writing to believers. Paul calls them "saints by calling." They are Christians because they have responded to the calling of God and their lives are being transformed to His. We sometimes get "saints" wrapped up in our minds with the icons of the Catholic church but Paul is not talking about them, rather he is talking about the justified and sanctified Christian that is sitting in the pew in Corinth. This letter is also going to go out farther than just that church. The last line makes this applicable to us as a church today.
v.3 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Grace" mean favor, so favor to you and "peace" that comes from God is found in the giving of His Son Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Paul starts with a benediction, blessing, or prayer for those who hold that Jesus is Lord of their lives and the Messiah of the world. Believe me, they are going to need grace and peace as they unfold what is in this letter. Matter of fact, we are going to need grace and peace as we unfold this letter. The atmosphere of Corinth is not much different than the atmosphere that we live in today.
"Lord, as we embark on a new letter this morning, may our minds, hearts, eyes, and ears be open to Your instruction through the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul. You are going to unpack some corrections that need to be made in the church of Corinth but also in the churches of the world today. May this not just be an ancient letter but may we see how supernatural You are to make it like it was written yesterday to us. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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