1 Corinthians 1:1-3

1 Corinthians 1:1–3 NASB95

1 Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 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: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The place

Corinth

An important city in Ancient Greece.

It’s one of those places that has just been around for forever.

It was defeated by the Romans in 146 B.C., and then they rebuilt it as their principal city in Greece.

Part of why they did this is it is situated in an incredible location for defense and trade.

It sits on an Isthmus.

A land bridge.

Show picture.

So not only is it a land bridge between the Pelopenesian Peninsula and the Greek mainland, but it is touching two large bodies of water, making it an extremely important trade route.

And you know what you get with cities on trade routes?

Money.

Corinth was a very wealthy city.

And like all cities of the ancient world it was also pagan.

And you know what you get when you combine paganism lots of money.

That’s right lots of sin.

This city had a bit of a Las Vegas factor going for it if Las Vegas was also featured on an important trade route and wasn’t in the middle of the desert.

Caesar Cult

“Ancient Corinth’s culture was not short of entertainment. Corinth was the host of the biannual Isthmian Games, one of four important Pan Hellenic festivals and second in status to the Olympian Festival. The Isthmian Games were held from the 6th Century BC to the 4th Century AD. The Olympian (c 776 BC) and Nemean festivals were dedicated to Zeus. The Pythian festival at Delphi, the seat of the most celebrated oracle in the ancient world, was dedicated to Apollo, and the Isthmian festival which was held in the Sanctuary of Poseidon near Ancient Corinth was dedicated to Poseidon.”

“The contests reflected Greece’s long-standing warrior culture and included chariot racing, running, leaping, dart throwing, boxing and wrestling. The Pythian festival emphasised song and dance , in addition to athletics to honour Apollo, the God of poetry and music. A more detailed description of the origin of the Pan Hellenic Festivals, the events, and the role and importance of the festivals in Greek culture is included in the section describing the Delphi Stadium in the post that describes the Sanctuary of Apollo at Ancient Delphi.”

“Greek religion in Ancient Corinth also included the worship of Aphrodite, Venus to the Romans, the Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, passion and procreation. Aphrodite was worshipped in her magnificent sanctuary on the top of the Acrocorinth. The sanctuary included images of an armed Aphrodite, Helius, and Eros equipped with bow. The worship of Aphrodite promoted wantonness and decadence which guaranteed that a steady stream of adherents would make the effort to clamber up the Acrocorinth to participate. According to Strabo, a first century Greek geographer, philosopher and historian, 1,000 courtesans were available to attract visitors, which also ensured the riches of the sanctuary. In this respect, public prostitution was integrated within Corinthian religion and culture to the extent that it was not uncommon to hear public prayers that appealed to the gods for more prostitutes.”

The backstory

Acts 18:1–17 NASB95

1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. 4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; 15 but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.” 16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat. 17 And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

Acts 18:24–19:1 NASB95

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. 1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.

The weeds

Factions

Legal battles

Sexual Sin (disordered sex lives, engaging in prostitution, incest)

Rich vs Poor

Improper use of the Eucharist

Disordered worship

Speaking in tongues

Denial of the resurrection

The greeting

Paul called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:

Who is Paul?

What is an apostle?

Paul is not writing to them in his own strength.

He is not writing to them with his wisdom.

He is writing to them with the wisdom and strength of Christ Jesus.

And therefore this letter bears with it the force of the heavenly office.

It may as well have been sealed with a wax seal and imprinted with a ring from Jesus’ hand.

These words are Jesus’ words. Listen.

And Sosthenes our brother:

That guy that the Jews beat up became a Christian!

Why is he included here?

He must have been beloved by the Corinthian church and maybe even a leader among them.

He’s not actually the author of this letter, and he’s not an apostle, so he’s basically cc’d on the email.

This is like when the CEO emails you and cc’s HR.

This is like when Dad sends you a text with a task he wants you to complete and starts a group chat with you and Mom so that it’s sure it will be completed.

Paul is immediately appealing to someone they like because he is about to tell them a bunch of things they probably won’t enjoy hearing.

1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB95

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:

To God’s church at Corinth:

This is going to become very relevant before we’re even out of chapter one of this letter, but this is not Paul’s church, it’s not Sosthenes church, it’s not Priscilla’s church, it’s not Aquila’s church, it’s not Apollos church, it’s not Peter’s church.

It’s God’s church.

To those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus:

“Called to be saints”

This is the truth of sanctification.

That as we walk with God we are continually called to obey.

With all those who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord — both their Lord and ours.

This is a letter for us.

Listening from the couch.

But the first thing this is communicating to the Corinthian people, is that they are part of something that is bigger than themeselves.

This is the first thing that churches that are going through internal strife need to remember.

It’s not all about you.

Your brothers and sisters around the world need you to be healthy too because you are all part of the same body.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

This has the potential to be a throw-away phrase but consider the magnitude of it in light of everything this church in Corinth is going through.

This is the gospel in a sentence.

Grace comes to us first, which is followed by peace.

The grace of God brings us peace.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume 1 Corinthians 1:1–9

That we are directed how to obtain that peace from God: it is in and by Christ. Sinners can have no peace with God, nor any good from him, but through Christ. 2. We are told what must qualify us for this peace; namely, grace: first grace, then peace. God first reconciles sinners to himself, before he bestows his peace upon them

It is worth it to define grace here.

Grace is undeserved favor.

What will we learn from the Corinthian church?

God’s grace does not run out my friends.

It is a bottomless ocean of love that has it’s source in Jesus’ side.

Grace is a gift to you.

Grace is your salvation.

The back biting, the demon worship, the mistreatment of others, the sexual sin,

God saves people from these things!

And He does it by His grace.

God saved the people of Corinth.

But He wasn’t done saving them.

God saved Corinth.

And Paul is here to say,

Jesus is here to save you again today.

And He will be here to save you again tomorrow.

Notes:

This church has been corresponding with Paul with 7:1 and 1:11, 5:1 being an important clue.

“Called to be saints” A declaration of identity that demands a response.

Questions:

Who is Sosthenes?

Was he the pastor of the church?

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume 1 Corinthians 1:1–9

An apostle of the prince of peace must be a messenger and minister of peace. This blessing the gospel brings with it, and this blessing every preacher of the gospel should heartily wish and pray may be the lot of all among whom he ministers. Grace and peace-the favour of God, and reconciliation to him. It is indeed the summary of all blessings. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, was the form of benediction under the Old Testament (