Necessary Truth 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Apostle; Paul; Sosthenes; Reminder; Possession; Failure; Purpose; Church: Fellowship and Unity 8/9/20; Grace Church of Lockeford; 520; #5

Introduction v. 1 “Paul observes the customary etiquette and convention. He does not consciously project the Christian gospel and lifestyle as a counterculture within the Graeco-Roman world at every opportunity. It assumes countercultural patterns only when theological or ethical values run counter to some prevailing assumption or practice.”1

“Paul always gave his name at the beginning of his letters and frequently named other church leaders who, in some degree or other, joined him in writing.”2

“This is the most extensive elaboration of an address that we have in Paul’s letters.”3

“The name of Christ occurs nine times in the first nine verses of this epistle.”4

Called – κλητός (klētos) called. summoned adj. — denoting someone whose participation or presence has been officially requested (for something); especially a request to which refusal is not an option. Attributive adjective, nominative, singular, masculine.

“His being called to be an apostle provides a parallel with the addressees’ being called to be a holy people (see v. 2). Paul is not the only one “set apart, consecrated, and holy.” All Christian believers have a divine vocation.”5

“Paul doesn’t need the affirmation of the Corinthians because God chose him.”6

Apostle – ἀπόστολος (apostolos) apostle. apostle n. — an envoy of Jesus Christ commissioned directly by Him or by other apostles; normally someone who has been taught directly by Jesus and who is invested with the authority to speak on His behalf. Appositive noun, nominative, singular, masculine.

“Paul also generally referred to himself as an apostle, not for the purpose of identity—that is to distinguish himself from other Pauls in the church or simply to inform his readers of his office—but to indicate at the very beginning that he was writing first of all as an emissary of the Lord. His apostleship established his authority.”7

“To his own name, as the sender of the letter, he adds the designation apostle to indicate that he writes as one specially commissioned by God to perform an apostolic ministry.”8

“The refusal of the Judaizers to recognize Paul as equal to the twelve made him the more careful to claim his position.”9

1 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 62. 2 John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 1. 3 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ro 16:27. 4 Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 3 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 186. 5 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 64. 6 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 1 Co 1:1. 7 John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 1–2. 8 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 54–55. 9 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), 1 Co 1:1. “This conviction produced in Paul a rare combination of genuine humility and supreme confidence, a profound sense of both privilege and obligation. Paul’s reference to his own apostleship, if understated here, is more fully developed later in the letter.”10

One must consider the qualifications of an apostle listed in Acts 1:21-22.

“not because of my own merit. Thus Paul’s call as “an apostle by the will of God,” while constituting the ground of the authority he claims in the Corinthian Church (compare Ga 1:1), is a reason for humility on his own part (1 Co 15:8, 10) [BENGEL].”11

“In the first words in 1 Corinthians Paul affirmed his appointment to this position by the will of God to represent not his own interests but those of Christ.”12

“The inclusion of a co-sender (here, Sosthenes) in the protocol of the opening letter form remains extremely rare in Greek letters apart from Paul’s. It is all the more remarkable, therefore, that Paul makes a recurring feature out of mentioning the names of co-senders”13

“Sosthenes could have been Paul’s amanuensis for this letter, but there is no proof of it.”14

“Paul probably at this time had showed sympathy for an adversary in distress, which issued in the conversion of the latter. So Crispus also, the previous chief ruler of the synagogue had been converted. Saul the persecutor turned into Paul the apostle, and Sosthenes the leader in persecution against that apostle, were two trophies of divine grace that, side by side, would appeal with double power to the Church at Corinth.”15

“Though Luke did not record his conversion in the Book of Acts, Sosthenes quite clearly became a believer, assuming this was the same man. Probably he was the same man, and Paul referred to him because the Corinthians knew him well.”16

1. You Belong To God v. 2a Church – ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) church; assembly. church n. — an orderly congregation specifically of those who trust in Jesus as the Messiah (or those who compose it). Noun, dative of recipient, singular, feminine.

“The usage reflects their deep conviction that the church is not merely one religious group among many. It is unique. Ordinary religious words will not do. And it is not any ‘assembly’: it is the ekklēsia of God.”17

“The church does not “belong” to any of its in-groups or leaders, but to God.”18

10 Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 54. 11 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 262. 12 David K. Lowery, “1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 507. 13 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 69. 14 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), 1 Co 1:1. 15 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 262. 16 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 1 Co 1:1. 17 Leon Morris, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 7, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 41–42. 18 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 74. “It is a dangerous temptation to think there is no church where there is not apparent perfect purity. He who thinks so, must at last separate from all others and think himself the only holy man in the world, or establish a peculiar sect with a few hypocrites. It was enough for Paul in recognizing the Corinthians as a church, that he saw among them evangelical doctrine, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.”19

“However to the Corinthian church, where party spirit was a problem, this reminder focused on the church’s true Lord.”20

“They belong to God, not to any of their teachers or leaders (cf. 3:21–23).”21

2. Failure Doesn’t Change Your Position v. 2b Sanctified – ἁγιάζω (hagiazo) sanctify; make holy. to be sanctified v. — to be or become as dedicated to God; either in distinction, in devotion, or in moral purity. Verb, perfect, passive, substantival participle, plural, dative, masculine.

“The Corinthian believers were holy in God’s sight, regardless of their sinful living and distorted doctrine. They were saints because they had been sanctified (from hagiazō), set apart from sin, made holy in Christ Jesus. According to Scripture, every true believer in Jesus Christ—whether faithful or unfaithful, well known or unknown, leader or follower—is a set apart person, a holy person, a saint. In the biblical sense, the most obscure believer today is just as much a saint as the apostle Paul. This is the believer’s position in Christ.”22

“The church is made up of saints, that is, people who have been “sanctified” or “set apart” by God. A saint is not a dead person who has been honored by men because of his or her holy life. No, Paul wrote to living saints, people who, through faith in Jesus Christ, had been set apart for God’s special enjoyment and use.”23

“Paul wishes to draw the readers’ attention away from themselves and even away from the writer to Christ.”24

“The participle word sanctified (hēgiasmenois) is in the perfect tense in Greek (and here the focus is on the resultant state) and designates what is often called ‘positional’ or ‘definitive’ sanctification. In other words, the Corinthians are sanctified by virtue of their union with Christ (in Christ Jesus), not because of their inherent holiness.”25

3. Failure Doesn’t Change Your Purpose v. 2c Called – κλητός (klētos) called. summoned adj. — denoting someone whose participation or presence has been officially requested (for something); especially a request to which refusal is not an option. Attributive adjective, dative, plural, masculine.

“Just as Paul is called to apostolic witness, so every Christian believer is called to be holy.”26

19 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 262–263. 20 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 1 Co 1:2. 21 Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 55. 22 John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 5. 23 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 568. 24 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 73. 25 Thomas R. Schreiner, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. Eckhard J. Schnabel, vol. 7, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (London: Inter-Varsity Press, 2018), 52–53. 26 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 77.

“They were saints by divine calling. The Corinthians were not saintly in their conduct, as this letter makes clear. Perhaps Paul mentioned their saintly calling to inspire them to be more saintly in their conduct.”27

Saints – ἅγιος (hagios) holy; holy one. holy one (person) n. — a person who is morally pure; though possibly not to the exclusion of ritual purity. Adjective, dative of manner, plural, masculine.

“Not only are all saints saved, but all the saved are saints. Every believer has the right to call himself a saint. None of us is worthy of the title, but God has declared us to be saints because of our trust in His Son. Our practice, our behavior in our humanness, needs to be conformed to our “saintly” new divine nature.”28

“As “sanctified in Christ” implies the fountain sources of holiness, the believer’s original sanctification in Christ (1 Co 6:11; Heb 10:10, 14; 1 Pe 1:2) in the purposes of God’s grace, so “called saints” refers to their actual call (Ro 8:30), and the end of that call that they should be holy (1 Pe 1:15).”29

“Believers, whether pastors, officers, or ordinary members in the church, together compose Christ’s earthly Body and all are called to be stewards of it (Eph. 4:11–13). We are not our own, individually or collectively, but have all been bought with the price of Christ’s blood (1 Cor. 6:20).”30

“The burden of Paul’s letter was that the Corinthians’ practice might more nearly approximate their position. Christ Jesus as Lord was to be obeyed. Herein was unity for Christians not only in Corinth but everywhere.”31

“What we are in Jesus Christ positionally ought to be what we practice in daily life, but often we fail.”32

“They are set apart for God’s special purpose and use, just as the utensils in the Temple, the priests, and so on. They are holy, that is, a peculiar and distinctive group in Corinth. Sanctified here is a perfect passive participle, which, according to recent studies of verbal aspect, stresses the present state of affairs. Thanks to Christ’s work on the cross, believers find themselves in a state of sanctification (are now sanctified), made acceptable to God (Rom. 15:16) and able to enter into and enjoy his presence.”33

“‘Saints’ then, are not a faithful few but include even the troubled and sinning believers at Corinth—and therefore at any other place. (Note the parallel between saints and believers in 2 Thess 1:10).”34

4. Unity Is About Jesus v. 2d Call – ἐπικαλέω (epikaleo) call upon; call. to invoke v. — to call on a deity for assistance or protection; especially as a recognition of submission and deference to a specific deity. Verb, present, middle attributive participle, plural, dative, masculine.

27 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 1 Co 1:2. 28 John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 6. 29 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 263. 30 John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 5. 31 David K. Lowery, “1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 507. 32 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 568. 33 Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 55. 34 Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), 1 Co 1:1–3. “The Corinthians are called to be holy, not as an isolated unit, but along with other people.”35

“Calling on the name of Lord is the way believers in Christ openly identify themselves with Jesus Christ.”36

Name – ὄνομα (onoma) name; person. person ⇔ name n. — any rational entity (human being, God) understood by their name; perhaps understood according to the reputation and character of the person. Noun (direct object), accusative, singular, neuter.

“All believers have one and the same Lord (1 Co 8:6; Eph 4:5); a virtual reproof of the divisions of the Corinthians, as if Christ were divided (1 Co 1:13).”37

“A defiled and unfaithful believer not only sins against the Lord, but he also sins against his fellow Christians.”38

“Paul evidently wanted his readers to remember that they were part of a large body of believers (cf. 12:12); they were not the only church. They needed to fit into the family of God harmoniously rather than being a rebel congregation.”39

Conclusion v. 3 Grace – χάρις (charis) grace. grace n. — goodwill freely disseminated (by God); especially to the benefit of the recipient regardless of the benefit accrued to the disseminator. Noun (subject), nominative, singular, feminine.

“The emphasis here on grace (χάρις) is especially appropriate in the context of a church plagued by issues of competitive status seeking and “rights” (cf. 6:12; 10:23, Introduction and throughout).”40

“Grace refers to God’s mercy granted to all who trust in Jesus Christ. Grace in Paul is not limited to unmerited favour, but also refers to God’s transforming power.”41

Peace – εἰρήνη (eirēnē) peace. peace n. — harmonious relations and freedom from disputes; especially during the absence of war. Noun (subject), nominative, singular, feminine.

“peculiarly needed in the Corinthian church, on account of its dissensions.”42

“Grace is the Greek salutation, peace the Jewish. Both in the spiritual sense.”43

“Grace is favor, and peace is one of its fruits. Peace (Greek eirēnē) was used as the equivalent of the Hebrew shālôm, still the most common Jewish greeting today. The peace of which Paul speaks here is “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” (Phil. 4:7). It is the peace that only Christians can have, for only

35 Leon Morris, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 7, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 42. 36 Dwight L. Hunt, “The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, ed. Robert N. Wilkin (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2010), 712. 37 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 263. 38 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 568. 39 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 1 Co 1:2. 40 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 81. 41 Thomas R. Schreiner, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. Eckhard J. Schnabel, vol. 7, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (London: Inter-Varsity Press, 2018), 53. 42 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 263. 43 Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 3 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 186. Christ can give it (John 14:27). The world does not have and cannot give that kind of peace. The greeting “grace and peace” is appropriate only for believer to believer, because it speaks of blessings that only they possess.”44

“By pairing Jesus with the Father as the source of grace and peace in a wish-prayer (wish-prayers for the hearers were common in letter openings), Paul declares Jesus’ divinity.”45

“This greeting is characteristically Christian (cf. Rom. 1:7; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3). It sums up Paul’s whole theological outlook.”46

“Grace (unmerited favor) points to the activity of God that will meet their needs, and peace conveys the interpersonal and person-to-God wholeness.”47

“The two words sum up beautifully Paul’s gospel, drawing attention to God’s beneficence and bounty, grace, the cause of salvation, and the well-being and welfare of those who are saved, peace, the outcome of salvation.”48

Lord – κύριος (kyrios) Lord. Owner; lord, master. Ruler. One who commands. Noun (prepositional object), genitive, singular, masculine.

“A. Eriksson rightly criticizes the unfortunate polarization between scholars too narrowly concerned with “epistolary form” and scholars concerned with rhetoric. Paul’s letters embody both, and both illuminate exegesis.”49

“Both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ cooperate in securing salvation and making it effective. Christ and the Father are thus both accorded divine functions. The centrality of Jesus Christ in these opening verses is difficult to miss. In this salutation he is mentioned four times, and in the following thanksgiving he appears in every verse.”50

“It is important for every Christian to keep in mind the great difference between his position and his practice, his standing and his state. God sees us as righteous, because He sees us through His righteous Son, who has taken our place, and because He has planted in us a righteous new nature. Without keeping this important and encouraging truth in mind, it is impossible to clearly understand 1 Corinthians or any other part of the New Testament.”51

“Paul’s description of the Corinthians in v. 2 mirrors elements of his self-description in v. 1. He is an apostle by calling; they are holy people by calling. He is an apostle of Christ Jesus; they are sanctified in Christ Jesus. He is an apostle by the will of God; they are the church of God. If Paul claims for himself a high station in v. 1, v. 2 accords with the Corinthians’ considerable dignity and confirms his generally high opinion of them in spite of their many failings.”52

44 John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 7. 45 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 1 Co 1:3. 46 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 1 Co 1:3. 47 Dwight L. Hunt, “The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, ed. Robert N. Wilkin (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2010), 712. 48 Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 59. 49 Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 64. 50 Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 60. 51 John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 6. 52 Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 56–57.