1 Corinthains 1:1,2 - To those sanctified

1:1

The introduction to the letter follows the standard format of the time with Paul adding the “Christian” bits. However, there are important things here. Paul states at the outset that he is an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. Paul has godly authority. In the West the only sin seems to be intolerance, treating all views, behaviours and opinions as equally valid. We find no such notion in the Bible. We need to understand that we are in a battle, and in battles there are conflicts, and there are times when we need to exercise authority. However, we should also note that Paul’s authority was not an assumed authority, not one taken upon himself. Rather, it was one given to him by God. He did not assume he had a God-given authority, but God gave him authority. One of the major failings of the church is not to use the authority it has. We too easily react to misuse of authority by no-use of authority.

Sosthenes may have been the synagogue ruler mentioned in Acts 18:17. If this is so he would have to have been later converted. Also, Sosthenes was a fairly common name, so we really have no idea who he was.

1:2

The normal introduction to a letter in those days was to name the senders, and then the recipients. The letter is addressed to the whole church in Corinth, and Paul reminds them of who they are. As the church it does no harm for us to remind ourselves who we are in Christ. First, we are the church of God. We owe our existence entirely to God, and without God the church has no meaning whatsoever. We have been sanctified by Christ, we have been set apart. We are in the world but not of the world. Oh what fools we are when we try to become like the world. The Old Testament is full or warnings of what happened to Israel whenever she sought to be just like the nations around her. We are called to be His holy people, called to be saints. See the two way approach here. We were sanctified in Christ by God, He set us apart for special service. We are to be saints, we are to live as those who belong to God, not to the world. God is completely sovereign, and our salvation is entirely dependent upon Him. But His will, His creation and His salvation is such that when He executes it it actually makes us active participants in its execution. And we are not saints alone, but are together with Christians all over the world. We should pray for our brothers and sisters all over the world, especially for those who are being persecuted.