1 Corinthians: Opening

Epistolary Opening

text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Outline:

A. Address, 1:1-2

B. Blessing, 1:3

C. Calling, 1:4-9

Comments: Most of the Christians have a general knowledge of the Epistle. St. Paul didn't waste his breath for polite and extravagant beating around the bush – he will address many challenges, problems, and sins of the congregation in a very straight forward manner. In the light of our background knowledge about the content, it is very noteworthy seeing the positive opening he begins with.

A. The apostle begins with the introduction of the “authors” who reached out the to church.

Four main statements:

a. Paul, called by the will of God... and our brother Sosthenes

b. to the church of God in Corinth

a'. [to those who are] called to be saints

b'. with all those who in every place call upon the name of the LORD.

Please note that Paul uses 1^st person singular pronouns quite often in the letter. At the same time, he relies on the Biblical principles of addressing the issues in the church (Deuteronomy 17:6; Matthew 18:15-20). Later, he will literally remind the Corinthians of his methods – 2 Corinthians 13:1.

Sosthenes was a ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. He was bitten by the Jews for siding with the Apostle while the Roman proconsul Gallio paid no attestation to this (Acts 18:14-17). Dr. Lockwood sides with Lightfoot, thinking that after this incident Sosthenes moved to Ephesus (Lockwood, p. 28). I am also thankful for Lockwood's observation of Sosthenes' possible penmanship of the epistle, while the very final greetings are written by St. Paul himself (1 Corinthians 16:21-24).

The church (Greek – ekklesia) does not belong to St. Paul or Sosthenes or to the members of the congregation. It is the church of God. Church means being called out – out of what? The fallen world into the fellowship with God and with other members. Later in the epistle St. Paul will address the Corinthians with a rhetorical question: Was it from you that the Word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? And the answer is, of course NOT. The Church in St. Paul's mind has at least three levels – congregational, worldwide (universal, the term we dropped from the creeds, substituting it for Christian), and the unity of heaven and earth (cp. Chapter 15). This is the argument for the recognition of the Body [of Christ] in the Lord's Supper (11:29).

The church is called to “a communion of the saint.” The term is derived from idea of holiness in the OT (Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16). As we know, the Corinthians were NOT sinless congregation. Yet, they are called to be saints – their sanctity is revealed and realized in Christ.

B. Blessing. St. Paul uses the similar blessing in a few of his letters (2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Phil. 1:2 etc.). Even thou it can be seen as a rhetorical device used very often in the Greek-Roman world I AD, the apostle coveys a special meaning with these words. Grace is what reconciled us with God (2 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 2:8-10) and Peace as an outcome of this graceful act of God (Romans 5:1).

Also, this peace should constitute the relationship among the church members and with the outsiders (Romans 12:19). This is exactly what the Corinthians were lacking – we'll talk more on this in the section on Church unity. What we see is cross shaped matrix of reality: Grace is the foundation for vertical relationship with God, and peace is the main aspect of relationship with one another.

C. Calling. This passage is interesting on at least three levels: one, the theme of thanksgiving for the Corinthian congregation. Again, we know the challenges he will bring up in the epistle. At the same time, he doesn't start with an accusation – he starts with thanksgiving toward God for their presence in the world, this corrupt world.

Second, it is a great description of our union with Christ. God is faithful, therefore our call to fellowship with His Son is not compromised on His end. His grace is active, and that's what the Corinthians should rely on in handling with messy situation.

Third, in this paragraph St. Paul gives an outline for the rest of his letter:

Unity – comes last

Holiness – v. 5, you were enriched in Him in all speech and knowledge

Freedom – v. 6, testimony of Christ (as the ruler of the WORLD)

Worship – v. 7, you are not lacking any gift (ch. 12-14)

Hope – v. 8, He will sustain (Lockwood confirm) you until the end

Unity – v. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship with His Son.