1 Corinthians 1 ….what do you know?

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

• G4988 Σωσθένης Sosthenes (sōs-the’-nees) n/p. of safe strength. [from the base of G4982 and that of G4599]
• G4982 σώζω sozo (sō’-zō) v. to save, i.e. deliver or protect.
• G4599 σθενόω sthenoo (sthe-no’-ō) v. 1. to invigorate. 2. (figuratively) to confirm (in spiritual knowledge and power).

² 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:

Corinth (/ˈkɒrɪnθ/; Modern Greek: Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, is an ancient city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. The site of Corinth is roughly halfway between Athens and Sparta, historical sources about the city reveal the early 8th century BC was when Corinth began to develop as a commercial center.

The Romans demolished Corinth in 146 BC, built a new city in its place in 44 BC, and later made it the provincial capital of Greece. According to Corinthian myth as reported by Pausanias, the city was founded by Corinthos, a descendant of the god Zeus.

Corinth, in the first century, had a large mixed population of Romans, Greeks, and Jews. The city was an important locus for activities of the imperial cult and housed the Temple of Apollos. In classical times and earlier, Corinth had a temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, employing some thousand hetairas (temple prostitutes).

The city was renowned for these temple prostitutes, who served the wealthy merchants and the powerful officials who frequented the city. The apostle Paul first visited the city in AD 49 or 50, when Gallio, the brother of Seneca, was proconsul of Achaia. Paul resided here for eighteen months (see Acts 18:1–18). Here he first became acquainted with Priscilla and Aquila with whom he later traveled. They worked here together as tentmakers and regularly attended the synagogue.

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;

• Paul is thanking YHVH for the grace HE supplied by sending Yeshua as the atonement/propitiation for the sin debt. Life for life. It is YHVH’s mercy (and divine plan) that allows Yeshua’s sacrifice.

⁵ That in everything ye are enriched* by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

*G4148 πλουτίζω ploutizo (plou-tiy’-zō) v. 1. to make wealthy (figuratively). 2. Abundance.

John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life**, and that they might have it more abundantly.” **G2222 ζωή zoe (zō-ee’) n. epithet of Jesus (John 14:6), the source of life (Col 1:16-17), both of the natural existence and above this mere bodily existence.

⁶ Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed* in you:

• *G950 βεβαιόω bebaioo (ɓe-ɓai-o’-ō) v. confirm, (e-)stablish}

⁷ So that ye come behind* in no gift**; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

*G5302 ὑστερέω hustereo (hï-ste-re’-ō) v. 1. to be later. 2. (by implication) to be inferior. 3. (generally) to fall short (be deficient).

**G5486 χάρισμα charisma (cha’-riyz-ma) n. a kindness, pardon or rescue (from danger or passion).

⁸ Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless* in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

*G410 ἀνέγκλητος anegkletos (a-neng’-klee-tos) adj. 1. unaccused. 2. (by implication) irreproachable, blameless.

⁹ God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

You were called by YHVH to repentance. Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

¹⁰ Now I beseech* you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak** the same thing, and that there be no divisions*** among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together**** in the same mind# and in the same judgment.##

*G3870 παρακαλέω parakaleo (pa-ra-ka-le’-ō) v. to implore, entreat (to urgently ask (for mercy or help)

**G3004 λέγω lego (le’-ğō) v. (properly) to “lay” forth in words (usually of systematic or set discourse).

***G4978 σχίσμα schisma (schiyz’-ma) n. schism, divide.

**** this phrase is one concept… G2675 καταρτίζω katartizo (ka-tar-tiy’-zō) v. to completely form (i.e. completely develop, frame or establish).

# G3563 νοῦς nous (nous’) n. the intellect, mind, thought, will.

##G1106 γνώμη gnome (gnō’-mee) n. cognition, purpose, will, counsel.}

¹¹ For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. {Strife, debate}

¹² Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos*; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

*Acts 18:24-25 “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.”

Here I have to ask a really important question, with a preface. What Scriptures would Apollos (also Paul, Peter and John) have been mighty in? This letter to the Corinthians was NOT considered Scripture by the followers of Yeshua/Jesus when it was written. So… by definition …what are the Scriptures?

¹³ Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

¹⁵ Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

So many people want to label Paul as mighty, tough, and a slew of adjectives that describe their perception of his faith. Here we see the sensitive nature …sensitive to his position and place… prioritizing YHVH over self.

The Pharisees sought to elevate themselves over the people and fleece a fortune from the flock, Paul wants to make certain that people see do not cast him in with the Pharisees, especially after having been one before.

¹⁶ And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

¹⁷ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect*.

Here Paul attests to his place and purpose in the Kingdom. Do you know yours? This isn’t some Rick Warren cheerleading session… it is time for us all to recognize what it is that God has put us here to do. Next, we must prepare for it, and do so in much better fashion than our lame attempts at cramming for a college final. Our true final exam will be just that … no bell curve.

*This phrase means G2758 κενόω kenoo (ke-no-ō’) v. to abase, neutralize, falsify.

¹⁸ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

People generally equate death directly to defeat, or losing, or the lack of power. They say things like “Bill lost the battle with cancer” or “her time was up”…. When we tell them Christ died for them…. It sounds antithetical to victory.

Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.”

It is a little surprising that it takes Paul 14 more chapters to explain this… 1 Corinthians 15:54 “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

¹⁹ For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

• Isaiah 29:14 “Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.”
• Want to talk irony? This is written in the Greek…and addressed to the Greek university culture! Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were all highly revered….and yet fools.

²⁰ Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

²² For the Jews (Pharisees) require a sign, and the Greeks (scholarly/edu system) seek after wisdom:

²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews (Pharisees) a stumblingblock*, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

*This is a compound word. G3303 μέν men (men’) prt. (properly) a fact or affirmation of a fact. & G4625 σκάνδαλον skandalon (skan’-d̮a-lon) n. a cause of displeasure or sin.}

²⁴ But unto them which are called, both Jews (natural born Hebrew) and Greeks (other nations – the Greeks were very prominent), Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

In the same manner as the plagues of Exodus, YHVH will use the things He created to bring low the things man have created to replace YHVH.

Job 40:11-12 “Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.”

Isaiah 26:5 “For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.”

²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence.

³⁰ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

³¹ That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

• Jeremiah 9:24 “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”