What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 1:1? Paul Paul steps into view with a single word, and that name carries a rich testimony. • Acts 9:1-6 shows him meeting the risen Christ, shifting from persecutor to preacher. • In 1 Timothy 1:13-16 he remembers, “I was shown mercy,” underscoring God’s grace. • Galatians 1:1 reminds readers that his authority is “not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ.” These references anchor his credibility and let the Corinthians know that the letter comes from someone whose life proves the gospel’s power. called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus “Called” is more than a career choice; it is a divine summons. • Romans 1:1 uses the same language—“a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle”—linking Paul’s calling with his total devotion. • In Acts 26:15-18 Jesus states Paul’s mission “to open their eyes,” illustrating that apostleship is service, not status. • 1 Corinthians 9:1-2 further validates his apostleship by pointing to the Corinthian believers themselves: “Are you not my workmanship in the Lord?” Every mention underscores that apostleship is about representing Christ faithfully. by the will of God Paul’s commission rests on divine initiative. • Ephesians 1:1 and Colossians 1:1 echo the phrase, emphasizing continuity across his letters: God, not human committees, appoints His messengers. • Acts 13:2 records the Spirit’s directive, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul,” illustrating God’s active governance. • Jeremiah 1:5 offers a broader biblical pattern: God chooses servants before they choose Him. Knowing Paul writes “by the will of God” assures readers that his words carry heaven’s authority. and our brother Sosthenes Paul adds a familiar name, turning a formal greeting into a family introduction. • Acts 18:17 mentions a Sosthenes, the synagogue ruler in Corinth who faced persecution; many link him with the co-author here, highlighting God’s redemptive reach. • The phrase “our brother” mirrors 2 Corinthians 1:1 (“Timothy our brother”) and Philippians 1:1 (“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus”), showing Paul’s habit of serving in team ministry. • Including Sosthenes signals unity: leadership in the church is shared, accountable, and relational, reinforcing the communal fabric that the rest of the letter will call the Corinthians to preserve. summary 1 Corinthians 1:1 does more than introduce writers; it paints a theological portrait. Paul, once hostile to Christ, now serves Him because God willed it, not human scheming. His apostleship stands on a divine call, and he writes alongside Sosthenes to model gospel partnership. From the opening line, the Corinthians—and we—are reminded that the church’s life, leadership, and letters all flow from God’s sovereign, gracious initiative. |
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