Chapter 1
Context
The apostle Paul wrote this letter to deal with the worldliness that had entered the church in Corinth. It was full of divisions, as well as gross immorality that was tolerated and even approved by the church.
Paul addressed a variety of topics in his letter. He explained the importance and purpose of marriage. He wanted the Corinthians to understand the principle of spiritual freedom because some of them were holding fellow believers hostage to rules that no longer apply in the church age. Paul addressed the Lord’s Supper, which the church was abusing. He was also concerned about the people’s excitement over spiritual gifts alongside their lack of love for one another and their misunderstanding of the resurrection.
Paul had first visited the Corinthians several years prior; therefore, they should have been more spiritually mature than reports suggested. Sadly, the people were carnal, at times living like unbelievers rather than as servants of Jesus Christ. They needed to allow the Holy Spirit to bring them to maturity so that they could have a godly influence on their world and advance God’s kingdom agenda.
Issue of division
1:10–12 The first problem Paul addresses is the discord that was widespread in the Corinthian church. He exhorts them to reject divisions among them and to pursue unity (1:10). They had set up illegitimate criteria for separating themselves from one another. Reports had reached Paul that rivalries existed among the church members based on allegiance to a favorite ministry leader (1:11).
Unity does not equate with sameness or uniformity. Paul wasn’t urging the Corinthian believers to disregard their differences. Rather, he wanted this group of believers—consisting of Jews and Gentiles, men and women, and young and old from different walks of life—to be united in their understanding and conviction about Jesus (1:10). They had been called by God to a oneness of purpose in the midst of their diversity. Unity is critical because of God’s unified Trinitarian nature. While there is a legitimate form of disunity—that is, we are not to be unified in the endorsement of sin, illegitimate disunity can negate the active presence of God in our midst.
A football team is unified—not because everyone plays the same position—but because everyone is straining for the same goal line. An orchestra is unified—not because everyone performs on the same instrument—but because everyone harmoniously plays the same song under the direction of one conductor. Likewise, the church is to be unified—not because every Christian is exactly alike—but because we all pledge allegiance to the same Lord
Paul had been sent to preach the gospel—a message about Christ, not about himself (1:14–17). The apostle didn’t seek to impress people with his eloquent wisdom; rather, he wanted them to be overwhelmed by the cross of Christ (1:17). For Paul, gospel ministry wasn’t about winning a following for anyone but for Jesus.
Power of the Gospel
Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied, appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. The sensual, the covetous, the proud, and ambitious, alike see that the gospel opposes their favourite pursuits. But those who receive the gospel, and are enlightened by the Spirit of God, see more of God’s wisdom and power in the doctrine of Christ crucified, than in all his other works
God uses the foolish things
God brought his saving message of the cross of Christ to ordinary sinners. He chose insignificant and despised people like fishermen and tax collectors to do his kingdom work so that those from the upper crust of society would be put to shame (1:27–28). That way, no one—no matter how esteemed in the world’s eyes—gets to boast in his presence (1:29).
If you have low self-esteem, come from humble beginnings, have experienced significant struggles, or are despised by the in crowd, then you’re a choice candidate to be used by God for his kingdom program. If you are a child of God through Jesus Christ, it’s not because of who you are but in spite of it.
1:30–31 As a believer, everything you need comes from Jesus Christ; he is your sufficiency. Aligning yourself with notable people will get you rivalries, divisions, and disappointment. But aligning yourself with King Jesus and his agenda will get you righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1:30). Therefore, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (1:31). Only one person deserves any credit—and all of it. Worldly wisdom gets you nothing in the end. But the so-called foolishness of God gives you access to all you need and more.
