Paul stayed in Corinth about a year and a half in about 52-53 AD and founded one of his greatest churches there. This letter was written about 3 years later while he was in Ephesus, about 200 miles east and across the Aegean Sea from Corinth. Leaders of the Corinthian church had been sent to Ephesus to consult with Paul about some serious problems that had arisen in the church. This letter was written about 57 AD in answer to their visit. We know he wrote it before Pentecost (because of verse 16:8) and that he was planning a visit to Corinth (16:5-8), which he did visit according to Acts 20:2-3.
When Paul wrote this letter, there were no churches or buildings for Christians to meet together. Other than the temple in Jerusalem, the building of churches did not begin until 200 years later. Christians met in homes, halls, or wherever they could. There were a large number of Christians in Corinth—not one great congregation, but rather many small groups, each with its own leadership. The Greeks had a fondness for intellectual speculation and enjoyed interjecting their philosophic interpretations of Christianity. Rather than cooperating with each other for the good of Christ, they began separating into factions of different ideas and beliefs.
When Paul heard about the divisions within the church groups, as well as other problems such as jealousy, sexual immorality, and failure to discipline members, this letter was his way of addressing the situation.
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
Paul begins by introducing himself and Sosthenes, who was well known by those in Corinth. Paul may have felt his letter would carry more weight if he included Sosthenes in the introduction, or Sosthenes may have been writing the letter as Paul dictated it. Sosthenes may have been one of the church leaders sent to consult with Paul.
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
Paul addresses the letter to the Christians in Corinth, those sanctified in Christ Jesus. Sanctified means chosen or set apart by Christ for His service. Then Paul adds that this letter is intended for everyone who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, making it clear this is not a private letter. He recognizes other congregations may have the same issues as the Corinthian ones.
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul includes in his greeting a reminder of God’s gift of grace which brings peace to those who accept it.
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.
Paul was gentle when admonishing people. He knew how to ease into his purpose for writing by starting with a positive note. When we must correct others, it helps if we affirm what has already been accomplished in them. Paul affirms their strengths as Christians by reminding them of the spiritual gifts of knowledge and understanding God has bestowed on them.
7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Although the Corinthian church members had all the spiritual gifts necessary to live a Christian life, witness for Christ, and stand against the paganism and immorality in the bustling city of Corinth, they were instead using what God had given them to argue over which of their gifts was most important. Paul addresses this problem later in this letter.
Paul guarantees the believers they will be considered “blameless” when Christ returns, not because of their great gifts or their shining performance, but because Christ is faithful to His promise that all who accept Him will be saved from condemnation.
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family. Believers share a unity that runs even deeper than that of blood brothers and sisters. Paul realizes not everyone can be in complete agreement on everything all the time. Any group of people will not agree on every issue, but there’s a difference between having opposing viewpoints and being divisive. Harmony can exist if everyone focuses on the truly important matters—Jesus Christ is Lord. Petty differences should never divide Christians.
Because there was not yet a New Testament, Christian churches relied heavily on preaching and teaching for spiritual insight and meaning of the Old Testament. Some followed Paul, others followed Peter (Cephas), and still others followed Apollos, who was a popular preacher with a dynamic ministry in Corinth. Although all three of these men were united in their message, they had different personalities and ways of preaching and leading. By mentioning Jesus Christ ten times within the first ten verses, Paul makes it clear where the emphasis should be. God’s message is more important than any human message.
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul asks a series of questions to make them consider their purpose. Who are they following? Christ or Paul? Christ is not divided, and His true followers should not allow themselves to become divided either. Appreciation for a particular teacher or preacher should never deter you from your allegiance to Christ and the unity He desires.
14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Paul is not diminishing the importance of baptism, but is stressing that his gift is preaching. He wanted his listeners to be impressed with his message, not his style. You don’t have to be a great orator to share the gospel effectively. The power is in the story, not the storyteller. There is no place for pride or a know-it-all attitude within the church.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Paul quotes from the Old Testament scripture found in Isaiah 29:14 to emphasize a point Jesus made many times; God’s way of thinking is not the same as normal human wisdom. We can spend a lifetime accumulating human wisdom, but yet never learn how to have a personal relationship with God.
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Jews expected the Messiah to come as a conquering king who would restore the throne of David, accompanied by signs and miracles. Society, then and now, worships power, influence, and wealth. Jesus came as a poor and humble servant and offers His kingdom to those who have faith, not to those who do good deeds to earn His gifts. This looks foolish to the world. Many Jews considered the Good News of Jesus Christ to be foolishness, especially since he was crucified as a criminal. How could a criminal be a savior? Many Greeks also considered the gospel as foolish. To them, no reputable person would be crucified because death was defeat, not victory. But Christ did not stay dead. His resurrection demonstrated His power over death.
Christ is our power, the only way to salvation. Knowing Christ personally is the greatest wisdom anyone can have. Paul, being a bit facetious, says the “foolish” people who simply accept Christ’s offer of eternal life are actually the wisest of all, for they alone will live eternally with God.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
Paul explains no amount of human knowledge can gain us salvation. If that were the case, only the intellectually gifted and well educated could have access to Christ, not ordinary people or children. Skill and wisdom do not get a person into God’s kingdom. Simple faith does.
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Salvation comes only through God’s grace and the gift of His Son. Christ came to earth to show us righteousness and holiness, and to redeem us. When He ascended into heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us. In this way, we have received God’s wisdom. The way to salvation is so simple that any person who wants to can understand it, but the world tries to make it complicated. Salvation is totally from God through Jesus Christ. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn our way into heaven. That is why Paul quotes scripture from Jeremiah 9:24 (maybe not a word for word quote, but the general gist of the verse).
No one should be boastful about his or her salvation, but give God the glory for His precious gift.
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