1 Corinthians

Chapter 1

1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV

To the church          of God

that is            in Corinth,

to those                   sanctified      in Christ Jesus,

called            to be saints

together with all those who           in every place

call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

both their                           Lord and ours:

Paul addresses his letter to the ecclesia that was in Corinth.  More specifically he writes to those who presented themselves as the people of God. This, by definition, was not an ordinary group of people.  They claimed a direct connection to the God of the universe.  They, in fact, claimed God, through the presence of his Holy Spirit, resided within them. 

Ephesians 1:13 ESV
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

God marked them as his because they Jesus had declared them to be holy, sacred.  They received such a gracious designation solely as a result of Jesus’ action. 

Ephesians 5:25-26 ESV
…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

The word of the gospel proclaimed by the Apostle Paul coupled with their baptism into the Kingdom of God made them qualified to be sanctified by Jesus.

Further, it is Jesus, not Paul or any other person, that has the power and the authority to sanctify and declare a person holy.  

As those who claimed a connection with the God of the universe and who consequently were made holy by risen Son of God, they were called upon to be saints: holy ones.

The word “called” is the same one Paul used when he said that God had called him  to be an apostle.  We, as those who claim a special relationship with God and who have been declared pure, holy by Jesus, are commissioned to be saints. 

The term “saint” comes from the same word elsewhere translated “holy” or sanctified. We have been commissioned, indeed impelled, by Jesus to live lives reflective of our sanctification. In other words, those who claim a special connection with God through Jesus are to live pure lives representative of God’s holiness.

1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the “ecclesia” at Corinth but they were part of a larger whole.  Paul reminds the Corinthian ecclesia they are part of a greater whole.   Insipient denominationalism could be seen in Corinth and Paul will address this issue more directly very shortly.  The greater ecclesia is composed of all those people everywhere who call upon the name of Jesus as their Lord.  Together with the Corinthian Christians, they call Jesus Lord and together with the Corinthian Christians they have been sanctified by Jesus. Along with the Corinthian Christians they too are called to reflect Jesus’ purity.

We should probably note also there is no special category titled “saints”.  All who are sanctified by Jesus are holy.  We are saints. To set apart certain individuals as “saints” divides God’s holiness into classes.  Holiness is holiness.  God is holy and we are to be like him.

We are all sanctified in the same way by the same person: Jesus.  We each have different gifts granted to us by the Holy Spirit and some are more spiritually mature than others, but we all are saints, holy, the temple of God himself.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Paul twice reminds the Corinthian Christians of something else. Twice he reminds them that they along with all others of the faith call Jesus “Lord” and respond to him as the Lord of the universe.

We are told that if :

Romans 10:9 ESV
…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The Christian community and Christian theologians have argued over the concept of Lordship from the very beginning. Some say that all you need do is proclaim that you believe in Jesus and you are saved.  Others say you must follow certain Christian precepts or live a certain lifestyle and then you are saved.

A mere proclamation of belief in Jesus would not seem to be enough, however.

Many believe that a profession in belief in Jesus as messiah or savior or even Son of God is adequate to reserve a place in heaven for eternity.  A mere proclamation of belief in Jesus would not seem to be enough, however.

James 2:19 ESV
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

If simple belief in Jesus as Savior or Messiah or Son of God is not enough, what is?  The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthian Christians that Christians, the true ecclesia of God are those who proclaim Jesus as Lord.  The Greek word translated as “lord” is one which means ssupreme in authority, controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title): - God, Lord, master, Sir. 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines lord as: one having power and authority over others: a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due

Declaring Jesus as Lord is one thing, living as if he is Lord is quite another.  The early Christians like those in Corinth, quickly found this out.  Living as if Jesus is the Lord of all quickly brought them into conflict with those around them.  They encountered religious conflict because they did not worship at the temples dedicated to idols. They did not eat the food sold there or participate in cult prostitution.  They had to change their sexual practices and rethink marriage. Their social practices were altered. 

When they entered the waters of baptism, they in effect were leaving the old life and the old lifestyle and entering a new way of thinking, talking, acting, living.  Every facet of their lives was changed and the change brought conflict.

In an effort to apply Christian principles to their lives and reduce the level of conflict they were experiencing they began to compromise.  The Apostle Paul writes to confront that spirit of compromise and outline correct Christian thinking and behavior.