1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Corinthians

Introduction

1:1-9

Intro:

Paul wrote this letter around AD 55 from Ephesus (16:5-9; Acts 20:31). Paul founded the church on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1-17). God had to reaffirm that it was His will for Paul to preach the gospel in Corinth (Acts 18:9-10). Apparently opposition had caused Paul to become afraid.

Corinth had a population of about 250,000 freemen and as many as 400,000 slaves. It was not a university town like Athens but its people were interested in Greek philosophy and valued wisdom. Corinth had at least 12 temples in its history. It is unsure whether all were in operation at the time of Paul's writing. There was a temple to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, whose worshipers practiced religious prostitution. A fourth of a mile north of the theater stood a temple to Asclepius, the god of healing. In the middle of the city was the 6^th Century BC temple of Apollo. The Jews also had a synagogue here; the inscribed lintel from the building is in the museum at old Corinth. Since Corinth was a large commercial city it was filled with immoral living. At one time 1,000 prostitutes served at Aphrodite's temple. The immorality that took place in Corinth became so well-known that the Greek verb “to Corinthanize” came to mean “to practice sexual immorality.” In such a place it is not surprising that this new church was plagued by numerous problems.

I) Greetings to the church at Corinth (1-3)

Paul greets the church by providing his credentials. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ (11). The Greek word apostoloV means sent one. Paul was given the office of apostle. He was one of the twelve. Apostles had to be chosen directly by Christ. Sosthenes is a co-sender with Paul. It is likely that this is the same man who was the synagogue ruler at Corinth (Acts 18:17-18). He had been assaulted by the Greeks and apparently converted to Christianity at a subsequent time.

Paul addresses the church in Corinth, the gathering of the body of Christ which lived in that city (2). Paul describes them as having been sanctified in Christ, saints by calling. Paul says that they were set apart by God in Christ. These true believers have become known as being in Christ. They are saved. This is driven home by the following statement that they are saints by calling. God chose them before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) but from a human perspective it came to reality when the individual put his faith in the gospel (Rom. 10:9-11, 13). They were set apart by God in Christ, they were called to be saints, which means holy ones. We are going to learn that their conduct wasn't holy (progressive sanctification) but their standing was holy (positional sanctification) because of salvation through faith in Christ. Paul in his address to the church is pointing out the great standing that they have with God through Christ. Paul also points out that wherever people live, if they have accepted the gospel, they are saints also. Jesus is the Lord of the Corinthian Christians and of all other Christians.

Next, Paul wishes God's blessing upon the Christians in Corinth (3). In the Greek culture individuals would bid someone grace (xariV) in letters or greetings. In Hebrew culture, one would bid someone peace (shalom, or in this case eirenh). Paul combines the two here in his letter to the church in Corinth. He does this in the majority of his letters. Paul desires God's best in the lives of these Christians.

II) Paul's gratitude for God's grace in the Corinthians (4-9)

Paul expresses his gratitude for the Corinthian believers' spiritual giftedness (4). Paul says that the Corinthians were made rich in everything through Christ. Their speech and knowledge refers to spiritual gifts given by God when they were born again (1 Cor. 12:8; 2 Cor. 8:7). Paul thanks God for this grace that He extended to them in Christ. The apostle says that they received these spiritual gifts when they first believed the gospel (6). Salvation by is received by God's grace through faith in the gospel. Paul explains that their salvation was evidenced through the spiritual gifts they received when they believed the gospel (5). As Paul was preaching to them and they believed the gospel, God confirmed the authenticity of their salvation by giving them spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are given by God to each true believer to be used for the spiritual health of the church and for God's glory (Eph. 4:11-16; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 12:4-11).

Paul states that the church in Corinth is not lacking in any way in regard to spiritual gifts (7). The Greek emphasizes that it is a gift of grace. The church has been abundantly blessed by God in this way, yet it has resulted in selfishness and pride. The apostle mentions that they are saved, possessing spiritual gifts, and awaiting Christ's return. This is speaking of the blessed hope of Church-age believers, the rapture (1 Th. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-58). The N.T. repeatedly urges Christians to wait expectantly for the return of Christ (Jn. 14:1-4; Phil. 3:17-21; 2 Th. 2:1-2; 1 Tim. 6:13-16; Heb. 9:27-28; 1 Pet. 1:13; 2 Pet. 3:11-13). Paul prays for the return of Christ (1 Cor. 16:22). Jesus encourages us to pray for His return (Matt. 6:10). It is unknown whether they truly were eagerly awaiting Christ's return. They were living very selfishly and Paul may have been reminding them of how a mature Christian would feel.

Paul tells them that God the Father will confirm them to the end, blameless when Christ returns (8). God is the one who brings spiritual growth (Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Th. 5:23-24). God is supernaturally at work in the life of true believers (Eph. 2:8-10; Phil. 2:12-13; Jn. 3:21; Tit. 2:11-14). God will present every true believer before Himself blameless in Christ (Eph. 1:4; Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Th. 5:23-24). Paul says that they can expect that they will be blameless when they stand before God (9). The reason for this is that God is faithful. A true believer can trust God and His Word. God the Father is the one who called (kalew; elect) all true believers into a relationship with Himself through Christ. God is the one who made the person a believer in Christ, choosing him before the foundation of the world, so a true believer can rely on God to complete what He began (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-8; 2:4-10; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 3:1-4; 1 Th. 5:23-24). Salvation (positional sanctification), spiritual growth (progressive sanctification), and being blameless before God (final sanctification) are all supernatural works of God (Phil. 3:20-21; Gal. 1:15-16; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; Rom. 5:1-2, 8-11).

Conclusion:

Paul begins by mentioning how he thanks God for giving the believers in Corinth spiritual gifts when they believed the gospel and were saved. They received these spiritual gifts as a result of God's grace. Paul concludes his greeting by teaching that God will present them blameless before Himself in Christ. They can expect that as true believers God will do this because He is the one who called them to be saved through faith in Christ. Salvation (positional sanctification), spiritual growth (progressive sanctification), and sinlessness (final sanctification) are all supernatural works of God (Rom. 8:28-30).

All true believers are saints because God has called them to be saved. All true believers receive spiritual gifts to be used to promote the spiritual health of the church and to glorify God. All true believers will stand blameless before God in heaven because God called them to be saved through faith in Christ.