1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,… I. IT IS GOD'S — but to distinguish it from the heathen ἐκκλησίαι — a name never used in profane Greek to denote a religious assembly — but to distinguish it from the κόσμος, which is the antagonist of the kingdom and out of which the Church is called. Though the name ecclesia was borrowed from the clubs or associations of the time, the apostle discovers in it a Christian idea — that of separation from the world. To say that the Church is an ecclesia is to say it is God's. II. As a result of its being an ecclesia, the Church is SANCTIFIED (cf. John 17:16-19). The primary meaning is consecration. The Christian enters into the place hitherto occupied by the Jewish Church. But consecration in its Christian form resolves itself into holiness. Christ takes possession of every morality and raises it into spirituality. All goodness becomes a religion, binding the soul to God. "In" means that believers are not only sanctified "through the offering of Christ" (Hebrews 10:10), but also continue holy in virtue of union with Christ (cf. Romans 15:16). III. It consists of men "CALLED TO BE SAINTS." They are saints by reason of a Divine call from without as well as of a Divine operation from within (cf. Romans 1:6; Leviticus 23:2). The notion of saintship is in Scripture inseparable from that of being reckoned, of being allotted a place by God. (Principal Edwards.) Parallel Verses KJV: Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,WEB: Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, |
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