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More I Corinthians commentaries
I Corinthians 1:1-9
Greetings and Thanksgiving
I Corinthians 1:10-17
Divisions in the Church
I Corinthians 1:18-25
The Message of the Cross
I Corinthians 1:26-31
Glory Only in the Lord
I Corinthians 2:1-5
Sharing the Gospel
I Corinthians 2:6-9
How to Have Spiritual Wisdom
I Corinthians 2:10-16
Bible Doctrine Steers the Spiritual Ship
I Corinthians 3:1-9
The Diet of a Growing Christian
I Corinthians 3:10-15
The Foundation of a Christian Life
I Corinthians 3:16-23
Avoid Worldly Wisdom
I Corinthians 4:1-5
Whose opinion really matters?
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Greetings and Thanksgiving
I Corinthians 1:1–9
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, “Certainly the preacher won’t think of anything fo … More
Paul wrote this letter to the Church in Corinth, while visiting Ephesus during his third missionary journey (Acts 19:1-20:1). While in Ephesus he had heard about problems in Corinth. He knew the Corinthian Church well because he had spent 18 months in Corinth during his second missionary journey. Paul begins his letter by voicing his authority and explaining that he is truly an apostle (v. 1). Sosthenes may have been Paul’s secretary who wrote this letter as he dictated it. He also may have been the Jewish synagogue leader (Acts 18:17) and thus was well known to the members of the Corinthian Church. Because of this Paul may have used his name in the opening of this letter.
Paul addresses this letter to the “church of God” which is at Corinth but also stresses that it is to “all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (v. 2). In other words he is making it clear this is not a private letter even though it deals with specific issues facing the Church at Corinth. Paul opens his letter by commending the church for its good things. Afterward he will rebuke it for the things that were wrong. He commends it and gives thanks:
- For the grace of God given these people by Jesus Christ (v. 4)
- For the testimony of Christ confirmed in them (v. 6)
- That the ones to whom he is writing are expectantly waiting for the Lord’s coming (v. 7)
Paul guarantees the Corinthian believers that God will consider them “blameless” when Christ returns (vv. 8-9). This guarantee was not because of their great gifts or abilities but because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished for them through His death, burial and resurrection. All who believe in the Lord Jesus will be considered blameless when He returns.Application
Just as Paul begins his letter by sharing positive things, it helps for me to affirm with people what God has already accomplished in them before I am tempted to correct them.
I Corinthians 1:1-9 (English Standard Version)
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge-- even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless 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.
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