1 Corinthians 1:1-9

(1 Corinthians 1:1-9)

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord

 

The Corinthian Church was founded by Paul while staying for about a year and a half during his second evangelistic trip. At that time, Corinth was the capital of a Roman administrative district called Agaya among Roman provinces, and was the residence of the governor of the region. In Paul's time, Corinth was the fourth-largest city of the Roman Empire, which was larger than Athens, and was actually the center of Greece, as well as a large commercial-centered city with a population of about 600,000. Corinth, like the large commercial cities, was open to a variety of external cultures, and it was also moral, so Corinth had serious moral problems that were also very promiscuous sexually.

 

At the time of writing the book of Corinthians, Paul had already begun the third evangelistic journey and was nearing the end of his ministry in Ephesus. There Paul was hearing the situation of the Corinthian church through various channels, which was that there were many serious problems with the Corinthian church. The Corinthian Church was a church with abundant knowledge and no lack of spiritual gifts, but nonetheless, there were various difficulties. Paul is writing a letter so that he can cope with the circumstances of the Corinthian church.

 

At the beginning of the letter, Paul introduces himself: ``Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,'' There were several sects within the church in Corinth at that time, trying to deny Paul's apostolic power. Since the tendency was not so small, Paul first made it clear that his apostolic power was given by the very will of God and not by anyone. It means that an apostle is someone who is sent. In the past, Paul took the lead in arresting and killing Christians and had a history of openly persecuting the church. After meeting the risen Jesus on the Damascus road, he experienced dramatic conversion and was called as an apostle.

 

Paul's introduction of himself in this way was not to boast of his apostleship. It was to emphasize that he should not doubt or undermine the faithfulness of the Lord's words conveyed through this letter by revealing that he is not only called as an apostle, but also writes in the capacity of an apostle. Paul identifies the recipient of the letter as “The Church of God in Corinth,” and says that he is writing to them. The mention of the name Church of God alongside the place name of Corinth is not very meaningful. Corinth, a synonym for idolatry and joy, and the church of God, a gathering of holy people called by God, were used in succession to say that the church of God exists in a fallen secular city. Furthermore, it was revealed that Christians must overcome this and transform the world into the Gospel.

 

In 1 Corinthians, Paul's appreciation for the positive aspects of the members of the Corinthian church is recorded. Paul was convinced of the members of the Corinthian church, "Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." Considering the ethical and spiritual situation of the Corinthian church at that time, it is a very bold declaration. This is because the Corinthian church had already divided and quarreled over many problems, and had serious ethical problems. Moreover, even the city of Corinth, where the church was located, was already a city called as synonymous with corruption and corruption at that time. Nevertheless, it was because of God's faithfu that Paul was able to declare this way. 『God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 』

 

Paul praises God's faithfulness in bringing the Corinthians who lived in the fallen culture in the fallen city to fellowship with Christ Jesus. The word “aithful” means “to be faithful and reliable”. Paul's praise and proclamation did not report on the status of the Corinthian church now. He was able to declare and praise so boldly because he looked at the faithfulness of God who called them as saints.