1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Memory Verse

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NKJV)

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

BACKGROUND + INTRODUCTION

This epistle or letter was written by Paul to the church in Corinth. It most likely written in the first half of a.d. 55 from Ephesus while Paul was on his third missionary journey. The apostle intended to remain on at Ephesus to complete his 3 year stay (Acts 20:31) until Pentecost (May/June) a.d. 55 (16:8). Then he hoped to winter (a.d. 55–56) at Corinth (16:6; Acts 20:2). His departure for Corinth was anticipated even as he wrote (4:19; 11:34; 16:8).

The city of Corinth was located in southern Greece, in what was the Roman province of Achaia, ca. 45 mi. W from Athens.

The church in Corinth was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1ff). As usual, his ministry began in the synagogue, where he was assisted by two Jewish believers, Priscilla and Aquila, with whom he lived for a while and who were fellow tradesmen. Soon after, Silas and Timothy joined them and Paul began preaching even more intensely in the synagogue. When most of the Jews resisted the gospel, he left the synagogue, but not before Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, his family, and many other Corinthians were converted (Acts 18:5–8).

The most serious problem of the Corinthian church was worldliness, an unwillingness to divorce the culture around them. Most of the believers could not consistently separate themselves from their old, selfish, immoral, and pagan ways. The Isthmian games, one of the two most famous athletic events of that day (the other being the Olympian games), was hosted by Corinth, Corinth became so morally corrupt that its very name became synonymous with debauchery and moral depravity. To “corinthianize” came to represent gross immorality and drunken debaucher.

It became necessary for Paul to write to correct this, as well as to command the faithful Christians not only to break fellowship with the disobedient and unrepentant members, but to put those members out of the church (5:9–13).

Read vs 1-9 and ask, “What do you see here?”

PEOPLE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH

1 Corinthians 1:1–3 (NKJV)

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

Paul always gave his name at the beginning of his letters and frequently named other church leaders who, in some degree or other, joined him in writing, such as Sosthenes.

Called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God. Paul is given his credentials before addressing the church and their needs.

Why would Paul need to give these credentials?

He was not one of the twelve, false teachers, relationship to Christ and God.

Next he gave the addresse the church of God which was at Corinth.

Then five characteristics of the church at Corinth.

church - a body of believers belonging to God.

sanctified - set apart from sin.

saints - “set apart one,” or “holy one”

called

They are intercessors - Paul is reminding them that they are linked in spiritual life with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

PRAYER OF PAUL

Paul used a common form of Christian greeting. Grace being favor, and peace, one of its fruits. Shalom (peace) is still a common greeting in Jewish culture today.

GRACE:

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

PEACE:

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

PRAISE FOR THE CHURCH

1 Corinthians 1:4–7 (NKJV)

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Grace (Paul’s Prayer) - Salvation given by Jesus Christ

Romans 1:8 (NKJV)

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Enriched in speech - by God and through God

Ephesians 6:19 (NKJV)

and for me, (pray) that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Enriched in Knowledge - Also by God and through God

Colossians 1:9–10 (NKJV)

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you so that you come short in no gift

Gifted - A Christian is never lacking in any gift that he needs to live a full and faithful life.

Eagerly waiting, future benefits of Christ which comes with patience - for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, looking for Jesus to come and we are confident in His coming.

I read something the other day which said, “Next time Jesus comes, He won’t be a baby in a manger.”

THE PROMISE OF PAUL

1 Corinthians 1:8–9 (NKJV)

who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Confirmed to the end - established

Blameless at His return

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

2 Corinthians 11:2 (NKJV)

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Called through God into fellowship with Jesus

Romans 8:30 (NKJV)

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Confident of God’s faithfulness

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV)

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

NEXT WEEK

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

MV: 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)

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.