1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (KJV21)
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
5 that in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance and in all knowledge,
6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
7 so that ye fall behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 He shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Context
What was Paul’s experience in Corinth & why did he write this letter? (Acts 18:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:11, 7:1,16:8,9,19)
Reflection
- How was Corinth such a strategic city? What did it mean to “Corinthianize”? (Romans 1:18-32)
- Why does Paul open with commendation & not rebuke? (Galatians 1:3, Philippians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 3:23, 4:14-16)
- What is a saint? (Romans 1:7, 6:11, 8:1, Galatians 1:6, Ephesians 4:1, 1 Pet 2:9)
- How spiritually wealthy/gifted was the church at Corinth? (1 Corinthians 4:8, 6:2,3, 8:1, 10:1-5,12, 2 Corinthians 8:7, Colossians 1:12)
- What does it mean to “eagerly await” His return? (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 1 Pet 1:7,13, 1 John 2:28, 3:1-3)
Testimony Time
- What kind of wealth do we have in Christ? (Ephesians 1:3-14)
- How are your gifts building up believers and reaching unbelievers? (1 Corinthians 9:22,12:25,26)