“1 Corinthians 1”

Wednesday, March 01, 2017

The letter begins by addressing the congregation as “the church of God which is at Corinth.” The Christians who comprised the local church were “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and “called to be saints.”

The author of the inspired epistle was Paul (1 Corinthians 1:1), a bondservant and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

He had several more faithful Christians with him when he penned the letter and they sent their love and greetings to these disciples also (1 Corinthians 16:21, 23). One of them, named Tertius, was the scribe who actually literally did the writing, as instructed by Paul (1 Corinthians 16:22).

The church in Corinth has often been referred to as a dysfunctional church. They certainly had a number of problems which the apostle deals with in the letter.

Some of these problems had been described to Paul by members of the congregation, in the hope that these struggles could be corrected (1 Corinthians 1:11; 5:1; 11:18, for example).

Other problems had been mentioned to Paul in a letter which he received, in the form of questions that some of the disciples there had asked him to clarify for them (see 1 Corinthians 7:1).

The first problem dealt with is the issue of division. Various disciples were claiming to be of Paul, of Apollos, of Cephas, or of Christ. And beyond the idea of having favorite preachers, they were dividing into groups that would only listen to certain messengers, while rejecting the teaching of any others.

What could reunite the Christians in Corinth and all believers today is the message of the cross of Christ. To the Jews, it was a stumbling block and to the Gentiles it was foolishness. But to the faithful, it contains the power of God to salvation.

It is unimportant whether one is wise, mighty and noble or foolish, weak and despised. In Christ, anyone can have righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

Therefore, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” We must follow Jesus, not a human teacher.

--Roger Hillis

Share