Sermon Tone Analysis

*1 Corinthians 1:1-3…* 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 upon 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.

*Commentary*

            Writers of antiquity /began/ their epistles by stating their identity.

“Paul” is the Apostle Paul – a Jew who was converted to Christ after he spent years trying to kill Christians.

He stood by giving full approval during the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-8:1).

He came to know Jesus for who he really is, however, and his testimony is that of the greatest single missionary who ever lived.

His words today, at least 13 NT books, continue to change the lives of those who read.

Paul says that he was “/called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God/.”

The word “called” is used in the Bible to refer to “selection of a task, to be chosen.”

It is used in the NT most often to refer to living saints (Christians) who were chosen by God for salvation.

In this context it refers to Paul’s selection to be an apostle, and this selection was not the will of any man, it was the will of God.

Now an “apostle” is simply a messenger.

In the NT it refers to the 12 disciples, but it also included others.

An apostle was one who actually saw the risen Lord Jesus Christ and took the message of salvation (messenger) to the world.

The office of apostle died out in the first century with the death of the apostles, but the message still goes forth.

It was by God’s calling alone that Paul held the office; it was not an office given to him by man.

His companion Sosthenes* *is mentioned in Acts 18:17.

Acting as Paul’s secretary here, he was the former ruler of the synagogue who was publicly beaten by the Jews for his faith in Christ.

Verse 2 identifies the recipients of Paul’s letter.

He specifically writes to the church of God in Corinth, and the church of God are “/those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus/…” “Church” is literally “those called out,” and “sanctified” comes from the very same Greek word that “holy” is translated.

Notice that these people /have been made/ this way in the past, and they are made holy only in Christ Jesus.

Paul uses “Christ” as a title for Jesus here.

“Christ” means “anointed one, Messiah.”

The fact that they have been made holy means that Paul is writing not to unsaved people but to people who have heard the good news of Jesus Christ and placed their faith in him.

They are literally “/holy ones/” as a result.

Paul also calls them “/saints by calling/” which is a reference to their having been set apart (sanctified).

Now even though Paul’s letter is specifically addressed to the people of Corinth, the latter part of verse 2 says that it is also addressed to “/all who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ/…” In other words, this letter is for all Christian churches, both then and now.

Its truths are timeless.

Verse 3, “/Grace to you and peace from God…/” is a testimony of God’s mercy being shed upon this once unsaved people.

Corinth is a town in ancient Greece, and it was so wicked one Greek philosopher coined the verb “/corinthianized/” to refer to those who fell into the gross sexual sin of Corinth.

Female prostitutes in Corinth were known as “Corinthian women.”

What a testimony of God’s grace that He would call out and save such debauched sinners.

*Food for Thought*

            Christians are literally /saints/ – holy ones.

They don’t have to be dead to be called such.

They’re saints because God chose them as such.

The fact that we can do nothing to be saved on our own testifies to God’s grace.

In the same way that His grace marked the salvation of those degenerate Corinthians then, His grace and peace continue to work even today.

Praise Him for it!

*1 Corinthians 1:4-9…* I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

*Commentary*

            Paul wrote the Corinthian letter in response to their having written to him regarding certain questions.

Though he later lashes out at this church for their immature behavior, he begins by telling them how thankful he is for them.

In verse 4 the Apostle is overjoyed in having seen such vile sinners come to know Christ through God’s grace.

His thankfulness is “always,” in that it has no end.

The verb concerning God’s grace given to the church in Corinth is literally “/was given/.”

This past tense verb denotes that God was the one who shed the grace on this church, and He did it in the past as a once and for all deal.

It can’t be undone, and for Paul this is a source of great joy.

His reflection on God’s grace brings him continual thankfulness.

In verse 5 Paul reminds the saints that “/in every-thing you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge/.”

The word “enriched” (literally “to make wealthy”) was a gift from God.

They received this enrichment at the moment of their conversion to Christ.

These riches are a gift from God, and though “enriched” can signify material wealth, here it signifies the spiritual wealth that comes only from knowing Christ.

Paul expounds on what he means by qualifying what these riches are: “/in all speech and all knowledge/.”

John Calvin says that these gifts include not only the light of the gospel “but also with all those graces that may be of service to the saints for helping them forward in the way of salvation.”

The Corinthian church was truly a wealthy church; all of God’s spiritual gifts were represented there (faith, wisdom, helps, encouragement, tongues, teaching, etc.).

They were, unfortunately, very immature and in need of Paul’s rebuke.

Verse 6, in speaking of these spiritual gifts (literally /charismata/), says that they were given specifically as evidence of their conversion to Christ.

These gifts /confirmed/ (“established, secured”) their standing in Christ.

We know that the church in Corinth was replete with the gift of tongues (speaking in unlearned languages), knowledge, and wisdom.

And verse 7 attests to the fact that this church lacked /none/ of the spiritual gifts.

They were truly a group of saints, and there was no doubt about their conversion to Christ in Paul’s mind.

This truth is important in light of the remainder of the letter when Paul corrects their behavior.

It shows that even Christians can fall into sin and error even in light of their many spiritual gifts.

This is a church who “eagerly” awaits the second coming of Jesus Christ (7b).

In verse 8 Paul reassures them also that Christ will again confirm their conversion when he does indeed come back, and they will be “blameless” on that day – a day foretold in Revelation 19-20.

Paul sums up his accolades in verse 9 by reminding them of God’s faithfulness – the One who selected (called) the Corinthians to come to the knowledge of Christ and have “fellowship” with him.

*Food for Thought*

            We are truly wealthy people who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

We have knowledge and speech that can change the lives of others too as a result.

Our spiritual gifts sometimes take years to figure out, but that’s not because God is hiding them; it’s usually because we are running from them.

Those who truly love the Lord “eagerly await” his return.

Our waiting isn’t idle or passive, but it involves working and waiting for the ultimate future joy.

*1 Corinthians 1:10…* Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

* *

*Commentary*

            The word “exhort” literally means “to encourage.”

It comes from the same Greek root as “Helper, Comforter, Advocate” in reference to the Holy Spirit who literally “comes alongside” to “help” us, to “comfort” us, and to be an “advocate” for us.

Paul exhorts Christians to agree with one another.

He encourages this seeming impossibility “/by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ/.”

In other words, Paul is not asking for peaceful relations within the church because it’s his opinion of how things should be; he’s speaking /by the will of Jesus/ that there be no factions.

Though saved by the blood of Christ and given every spiritual gift by which to function properly as Christ’s church, the Corinthians were divided.

The word “divisions” comes from the Greek word /schismata/ from which we get “schism.”

Literally it means “to tear.”

Metaphorically it means “to have a difference of opinion.”

The people of the church in Corinth had many differences of opinion, but this simply cannot be, for God is not a God of confusion.

His Word (the Bible) never disagrees with itself and neither should His people who follow that Word.

Paul’s remedy to the division that existed in Corinth was that they “/be made complete…/”/ /The Greek word signifies being /made perfect/.

It is also used in the Gospels to refer to the mending of nets.

Paul encourages these Christians to solve their problems like a torn fishing net being put back together.

The verb tense signifies a once and for all mending.

In other words, Paul says,  “Solve your differences today, and get over them!”

When he tells them to be of the “/same mind and in the same judgment/” he is ruling out any hypocritical unity to agree to disagree.

To have the same mind is to agree on the same things, and since God is undivided so must His people be.

How can they not when they read the same Word that God composed through the pen of man, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, totally infallible and completely without error (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16)?

Paul says no to divisions within the /local/ church.

They must not exist.

*Food for Thought*

            Romans 16:17 says, “/Now I urge you brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissentions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them/.”

Those who teach anything contrary to scripture oppose God.