Meet the Apostle Paul—Part Nineteen
D.A. Carson and Douglas Moo place 1 Corinthians in context for us:
Paul first preached the gospel in Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18). Supporting himself with his trade as a tentmaker or leatherworker, he lived with Aquila and Priscilla, who had recently moved to Corinth from Rome (Acts 18:1–3). As usual, Paul began his ministry by trying to convince all who attended the synagogue, Jews and Gentiles alike, that Jesus was the promised Messiah (v. 4). Once Timothy and Silas rejoined him, Paul’s ministry increased, possibly in part because they brought gifts from the Macedonian churches that freed him to devote more time to preaching (v. 5; cf. 17:14). As his ministry increased, so did the opposition. Paul was forced to move his ministry next door to the house of Titius Justus. So fruitful was his evangelism that not only many pagans but Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire family believed in the Lord Jesus (vv. 7–8).
Only recently delivered from bruising punishment in Philippi (Acts 16), and having just barely escaped similar battering in Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17), Paul approached Corinth “in weakness with great fear and trembling” (1 Cor. 2:3), but was encouraged by a dream in which the exalted Christ assured him of safety and much fruit (Acts 18:9–10). Paul stayed a year and a half, laying the only possible foundation, Jesus Christ himself (1 Cor. 3:10–11). After seeing the church well established, Paul left Corinth by ship (probably in the spring of A.D. 51; see discussion below in the section “Date”), crossing the Aegean Sea with Priscilla and Aquila, whom he left in Ephesus while he headed for Jerusalem—hoping, perhaps (if we follow the Western text of Acts 18:21), to arrive there before the Feast (Passover or Pentecost). He did not remain long in Jerusalem but soon returned to his home church in Antioch and shortly after returned to Ephesus. There he began an enormously fruitful ministry of two and a half years (probably the autumn of 52 to the spring of 55). During that period he wrote 1 Corinthians.[1]
Paul opens his letter by writing,
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an official representative of Savior Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.
I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be His own set apart people. He set you apart by means of Savior Jesus, just as He did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our King Jesus the Savior, their King and ours.
May God our Father and King Jesus the Savior give you divine favor and peace.
I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts He has given you, now that you belong to Savior Jesus. Through Him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. This confirms that what I told you about the Savior is true. Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our King Jesus the Savior. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our King Jesus the Savior returns. God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Savior Jesus our King. (1 Cor 1:1-9 AT).
I have translated ἡγιασμένοις as “set apart” rather than “sanctified,” which is how translations like the ESV render it. If you have ever read 1 Corinthians this may raise eyebrows. How can THAT church be “set apart” or “sanctified”? There is division, attraction to pagan philosophy, sexual immorality, exploitation of the poor and even members getting drunk at communion (and I thought I had seen everything in 25 years of ministry).
Paul’s point is that because they have responded to the Gospel, they have been set apart by God to be His people. They’re immature and Paul’s point in this letter will be to encourage them to grow up and live up to their name. As part of that exhortation, the Apostle will address their issues one-by-one.
For that, be sure to tune in later.
[1] D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 420–421.