Who is Paul describing himself as in this greeting?

In this opening, Paul describes himself as someone who has been called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God. He is not saying he took this job on his own or earned it by his own worth. He wants the Corinthians to remember that his role and authority come from God’s choice and purpose. This matters because some people in Corinth were doubting or belittling him, and he needs to remind them that his message and ministry are rooted in God’s call, not human opinion.

Who is Sosthenes our brother mentioned alongside Paul?

Sosthenes is mentioned as “our brother,” meaning he is a fellow believer, likely a minister who works with Paul. He was probably well known to the Corinthian church, which is why Paul includes his name in the greeting. Paul is not putting Sosthenes on the same level as an apostle, but he shows respect and affection for him as a coworker in Christ. Including Sosthenes also underlines that the teaching and concerns in this letter are shared by others who care for the church, not just by Paul alone.

What does it mean that the church at Corinth is sanctified in Christ Jesus?

When Paul says the church at Corinth is “sanctified in Christ Jesus,” he means they have been set apart for God in connection with Jesus. They belong to God now. This started with God choosing and claiming them in Christ and is shown as they trust him and are changed by his Spirit. It does not mean they are perfect, and this letter will show many problems among them. But their true identity is as people dedicated to God in Christ, under a clear call to live holy lives that match what God has already done for them.

What does called to be saints mean in this passage?

“Called to be saints” means these believers have been called by God out of their old way of life to belong to him and to live as his holy people. They were not born saints or made saints by their own effort. God called them by his grace, gave them new desires, and set them on a path of holy living. The word “saints” here is not a special class of super-holy people. It is the normal name for all Christians who are set apart in Christ and are to grow in holiness in their daily lives.

Who are those who call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord?

Those who “call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” are all people, in every place, who pray to him and worship him. Calling on his name includes trusting him, asking for his help, and honoring him in worship. This shows that Christians are marked by prayer and that Jesus is not only their teacher but the Lord they depend on and address in worship. It also shows that Jesus is shared by all believers everywhere. He is “both theirs and ours,” the common Lord of every church and every Christian who looks to him.

Why does Paul greet them with grace and peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ?

Paul’s words “grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” are not small talk. He is praying that they would know God’s favor and the peace that comes from being reconciled to him. Grace comes first, then peace. People cannot have true peace with God without his grace reaching them through Christ. By naming both the Father and the Lord Jesus together as the source of grace and peace, Paul shows the close unity between them and reminds believers that all spiritual blessing comes through God and his Son.

Who is this greeting written to besides the church in Corinth?

Paul writes first “to the church of God which is at Corinth,” but he quickly widens the circle to include “all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.” So this greeting is not just for one local group. It reaches all believers who pray to and worship Jesus, wherever they live. This shows that Christians across different cities and lands share one Lord and one faith. It hints that what Paul will say in the letter, though addressed to Corinth, has meaning and value for all who belong to Christ.

What does this passage teach about the true identity of Christians?

This short greeting teaches several things about Christian identity. Believers are called “the church of God,” which shows they belong to him, not to any human leader. They are “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and “called to be saints,” which means they are set apart in Christ and called to live holy lives. They are people who “call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,” so prayer and worship shape who they are. And they share one Lord with all other Christians everywhere, reminding them that they are part of a much larger family in Christ.

1Cor.1.1

1 Corinthians 1:1

KJV

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

Greetings from Paul and Sosthenes

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s:

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.