Exploring Corinthians #1

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:1–17 NKJV

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Paul was Called to be an Apostle

How is someone called to be an Apostle?

What was the roll of an Apostle?

Do Apostles still exist?

Here are some interesting facts about the apostle Paul/Saul Similarities between King Saul and Saul of Tarsus:

Both Benjamites

King Saul ()

Saul of Tarsus ()

Both Transitional Men

King Saul - Transitional man from the judges to the kings

Saul of Tarsus - Transitional man from Jew to Gentile

Both Were the Least

King Saul said that his family was the least and that he didn't feel worthy to be king ()

Saul of Tarsus said he was the least of the apostles and not meet to be called an apostle ()

Both Excelled

King Saul excelled beyond those surrounding him ()

Saul of Tarsus was above many of his equals ()

Both Fell on Their Face Before a Prophet

King Saul fell on his face before a dead prophet ()

King Saul fell on his face before a dead prophet ()

Saul of Tarsus fell on his face before Jesus Christ ()

Saul of Tarsus fell on his face before Jesus Christ ()

Both Asked the Prophet What They Should Do

King Saul asked the prophet what he should do ()

King Saul asked the prophet what he should do ()

Saul of Tarsus asked Jesus, what will you have me to do ()

Saul of Tarsus asked Jesus, what will you have me to do ()

Both Wanted Followers of Their Enemy Dead

King Saul attempted to kill Jonathan because he loved David ()

King Saul attempted to kill Jonathan because he loved David ()

Saul of Tarsus consented to stone Stephen because of his love for Jesus Christ (, )

Saul of Tarsus consented to stone Stephen because of his love for Jesus Christ (, )

Both Persecuted Their Enemy

King Saul persecuted king David ()

King Saul persecuted king David ()

Saul of Tarsus persecuted the Lord Jesus Christ ()

Both Transitional MenKing Saul - Transitional man from the judges to the kingsSaul of Tarsus - Transitional man from Jew to GentileBoth Were the LeastKing Saul said that his family was the least and that he didn't feel worthy to be king ( )Saul of Tarsus said he was the least of the apostles and not meet to be called an apostle ( )Both ExcelledKing Saul excelled beyond those surrounding him ( )Saul of Tarsus was above many of his equals ( )Both Fell on Their Face Before a ProphetKing Saul fell on his face before a dead prophet ( )Saul of Tarsus fell on his face before Jesus Christ ( )Both Asked the Prophet What They Should DoKing Saul asked the prophet what he should do ( )Saul of Tarsus asked Jesus, what will you have me to do ( )Both Wanted Followers of Their Enemy DeadKing Saul attempted to kill Jonathan because he loved David ( )Saul of Tarsus consented to stone Stephen because of his love for Jesus Christ ( , )Both Persecuted Their EnemyKing Saul persecuted king David ( )Saul of Tarsus persecuted the Lord Jesus Christ ( )

Saul of Tarsus persecuted the Lord Jesus Christ ()

Now let’s look at some differences between King Saul of the Old Testament and Apostle Saul (who became Paul) of the New Testament:

Physically, Saul of the Old Testament was exceedingly large, being head and shoulders above any other of the kingdom or of his people. Saul of the New Testament was probably a small, frail, squint-eyed Jew.

Saul also went by Paul which means: Small or Humble

Saul of the Old Testament was called by God to be a king. Saul of the New Testament was called by God to be an apostle, a servant and a prisoner.

Saul of the Old Testament answered the call but was disobedient. Saul of the New Testament answered the call and "was obedient" ().

Saul of the Old Testament was against God's people (David, Jonathan and others) after he was called or chosen. Saul of the New Testament was against God's people (he persecuted the Christians) only before he was called or converted.

Saul of the Old Testament finally said, "Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly" (). Saul of the New Testament finally said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness" (,).

Saul of the Old Testament died, falling upon his own sword, for the sake of upholding his own name, that his name might not be dishonored by the fact that he died by the hand of the enemy. Saul of the New Testament died upholding the name of his Lord and Savior, and caring not for his own name.

So the apostle Paul is with Sosthenes. Remember who Sosthenes is?

He is very probably the same person who condemned Paul in Corinth while he was the ruler of the synagogue there.

He was unsuccessful at getting Gallio who was a government official to condemn Paul for the crime of teaching people contrary to the Jewish law.

The Jews beat Sosthenes either for his inability to have Paul condemned or for his or maybe they beat him because he was trying to stir up trouble among the Jews.

His conversion isn’t recorded and it is unclear if this is the same man we find persecuting Paul in Acts but he is mentioned by Paul in his letter to Corinth which means that people at Corinth was connected to him somehow.

Now he is a Brother…Believer in Christ.

Paul is writing to the Church of God which is at Corinth.

The Church of God was originally named the Christian Union. But changed its name in 1907 to reflect Paul often addressed the church as in Scripture.

Paul calls the Church by this name 8 times throughout scripture.

He is writing to those who are sanctified and called to be saints.

Now the church at Corinth wasn’t perfect but he called them sanctified.

Are you sanctified today?

Paul also said they were called to be saints.

Many people say that saints don’t exist anymore, but here we find Paul addressing a letter to a less then perfect church and he says they’re called to be saints.

Then he says that all people in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ bothe Jews and Gentiles.

Do you realize that you are called to be a Sanctified Saint today?

Read verses 4-9

Read Verses 10-17

We still live with the same struggles as the Corinthian church today when it comes to leaders and people who usher about change in our lives.

Righteous Men and Women can become unrighteous idols if we hold them to highly in our hearts.

Of course the person themselves isn’t made unrighteous but our perception of them can be made unrighteous.

“Lets put God back on the thrones of our hearts by keeping the mind of our resurrected Christ and the Breath of His sweet Holy Spirit on our hands and feet.”