1 Corinthians 1:2

Contextual Overview

¹Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, ¹ Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, ¹ Hey, fellas. This is Paul, chosen by God to ride for the brand of Jesus Christ. My amigo Sosthenes is with me, too. ¹ Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, ¹Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, ¹ Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the purpose of God, and Sosthenes the brother, ¹ Paul, [a] called apostle of Jesus Christ, by God's will, and Sosthenes the brother, ¹ Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Sosthenes our brother: ¹ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, ¹ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the church: Acts 18:1, Acts 18:8-11, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:15

to them: Jude 1:1

sanctified: 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, John 17:17-19, Acts 15:9, Acts 26:18, Ephesians 5:26, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 13:12

called: Romans 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 1:16

with: Acts 7:59, Acts 7:60, Acts 9:14, Acts 9:21, Acts 22:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 2 Timothy 2:22

call: ןיע וניךבכןץלוםןיע פן ןםןלב [Strong's G3686]. That these words ought not to be rendered passively, is evident from the LXX, who translate the phrase יקרא בשם, "he shall call on the name" which is active, by וניךבכחףופבי ום ןםןלבפי וןץ, or ום ןםןלבפי ץסיןץ. Genesis 4:26, Genesis 12:8, Genesis 13:4-7, Genesis 13:8-13

our Lord: 1 Corinthians 8:6, Psalms 45:11, Acts 10:36, Romans 3:22, Romans 10:12, Romans 14:8, Romans 14:9, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 19:16

Reciprocal: Leviticus 8:23 - Moses took Leviticus 22:32 - hallow you 1 Chronicles 4:10 - called 1 Chronicles 16:8 - call Psalms 72:15 - prayer Psalms 79:6 - not called Psalms 97:5 - the Lord of Psalms 105:1 - call Jeremiah 33:3 - Call Daniel 9:18 - which is called by thy name Joel 2:32 - that Matthew 22:44 - my Lord John 17:19 - I sanctify Acts 2:21 - whosoever Acts 20:28 - the church Acts 20:32 - which are Romans 8:30 - Moreover 1 Corinthians 1:24 - called 1 Corinthians 6:1 - the saints 1 Corinthians 6:11 - but ye are sanctified Ephesians 1:1 - to the saints Ephesians 4:5 - One Lord Ephesians 6:9 - your Master Philippians 1:1 - the saints Philippians 4:21 - saint Colossians 1:2 - the saints 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - sanctify 2 Timothy 2:19 - Let Hebrews 3:1 - the heavenly Hebrews 10:14 - them

Cross-References

Genesis 1:12
The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12
The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12
The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth [both] bud and hearbe apt to seede after his kynde, and tree yeeldyng fruite, whiche hath seede in it selfe, after his kynde.

Genesis 1:12
The earth grew grass and plants that made grain. And it grew trees that made fruit with seeds in it. Every plant made its own kind of seeds. And God saw that this was good.

Genesis 1:12
The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12
And the erthe brouyte forth greene erbe and makynge seed bi his kynde, and a tre makynge fruyt, and ech hauynge seed by his kynde. And God seiy that it was good.

Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought foorth grasse, and herbe yeelding seed after his kinde, and the tree yeelding fruit, whose seed was in it selfe, after his kinde: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth,.... This epistle is inscribed to the saints at Corinth; who are described by their being "the church of God", a particular congregated church; a number of persons gathered out of the world, and joined together in holy fellowship, carrying on the worship of God together, and walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; a very high character this, to be called the church of God, which is the pillar and ground of truth: and it may be observed, that this is here given to a people, among whom were many irregularities, errors, disorders, and divisions; which shows, that a church of God is not to be unchurched for everything that is amiss in them: they are further described by the place of their abode, Corinth, the "metropolis" of Achaia; a very large and opulent city, a place of great trade and commerce, and famous both for its wealth and wisdom; but not so famous for anything as this, that there was a church of Christ in it; of the city of Corinth, :-; and of the church, :-. The members of it in general, for it cannot be thought to hold good of every individual, are said to be

sanctified in Christ Jesus; not by baptism, for they were sanctified before that; but were set apart, or chosen in Christ from all eternity, to grace here, and glory hereafter; justified by the blood and righteousness of Christ, in which sense the word "sanctified" is sometimes used; and to whom Christ was made "sanctification" and righteousness; and in consequence of which they were sanctified by his Spirit in his name, out of that fulness of grace and holiness which is in him: wherefore it follows,

called to be saints; for though they were chosen to holiness in Christ, and through sanctification of the Spirit unto salvation, yet before calling were unholy; though Christ had given himself for them to sanctify and purify them, yet whilst uncalled were impure; they fell in Adam, and became both guilty and filthy through his transgression; and by their first birth were unholy and unclean, and were so in their lives and conversations; nor are any holy by natural descent: these were not born saints, nor made so by their own free will, but were become such through the powerful grace of God in the effectual calling; in which not only desires after holiness, but principles of holiness were wrought in them; and by which they were called to the practice of external holiness, or to live an holy life and conversation. And this epistle is not only inscribed to these saints at Corinth, but to them,

with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord; as in Corinth, so in any part of Achaia, of which Corinth was the chief city. Invocation of the name of Christ not only respects prayer to him, but includes the whole of religious worship: see

Romans 10:13; and this being given to Christ, and perforated in his name, is a very considerable proof of his true and proper deity; and the Ethiopic version here styles him, "God, our Lord Jesus Christ"; for none but God is to be invoked; nor can any but a divine person, one that is truly and properly God, without idolatry, be regarded as the object of religious worship and adoration. The phrase

both theirs and ours, either, as some think, refers to "every place" and so read the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; and the sense is, that the apostle inscribes his epistle to all that call upon the name of Christ, whether in Judea or in the Gentile world, in the place where the apostle was, or the Corinthians were, or any of the other saints in Achaia were; signifying, that invocation of God is not confined to any particular place, but that men may now lift up holy hands prayer to God everywhere; or rather it refers to "our Lord", and shows that Christ is the common Lord of his people, whom they all invoke, and by whom they are called, and therefore ought to love one another.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth - For an account of the time and manner in which the church was established in Corinth, see the introduction, and the notes at Acts 18:1-17. The church is called “the church of God,” because it has been founded by His agency, and was devoted to his service. It is worthy of remark, that although great disorders had been introduced into that church; though there were separations and erroneous doctrines; though there were some who gave evidence that they were not sincere Christians, yet the apostle had no hesitation in applying to them the name of a “church of God.”

To them that are sanctified - To those who are made holy. This does not refer to the profession of holiness, but implies that they were in fact holy. The word means that they were separateD from the mass of pagans around them, and devoted to God and his cause. Though the word used here (ἡγιασμένοις hēgiasmenois) has this idea of separation from the mass around them, yet it is separation on account of their being in fact, and not in profession merely, different from others, and truly devoted to God; see the note at Romans 1:7.

In Christ Jesus - That is, “by” ἐν en the agency of Christ. It was by his authority, his power, and his Spirit, that they had been separated from the mass of pagans around them, and devoted to God; compare John 17:19.

Called to be saints - The word “saints” does not differ materially from the word “sanctified” in the former part of the verse. It means those who are separateD from the world, and set apart to God as holy. The idea which Paul introduces here is, that they became such because they were called to be such. The idea in the former part of the verse is, that this was done “by Christ Jesus;” here he says that it was because they were called to this privilege. He doubtless means to say that it was not by any native tendency in themselves to holiness, but because God had called them to it. And this calling does not refer merely to an external invitation, but it was that which was made effectual in their case, or that on which the fact of their being saints could be predicated; compare 1 Corinthians 1:9; see 2 Timothy 1:9; “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,” etc.; 1 Peter 1:15; the Romans 1:6-7; Romans 8:28 notes; Ephesians 4:1 note; 1 Timothy 6:12 note; 1 Peter 2:9 note.

With all ... - This expression shows:

(1) That Paul had the same feelings of attachment to all Christians in every place; and,

(2) That he expected that this Epistle would be read, not only by the church at Corinth, but also by other churches. That this was the uniform intention of the apostle in regard to his epistles, is apparent from other places; compare 1 Thessalonians 5:27; “I charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto all the holy brethren;” Colossians 4:16; “And when this Epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.” It is evident that Paul expected that his epistles would obtain circulation among the churches; and it was morally certain that they would be soon transcribed, and be extensively read - the ardent feelings of Paul embraced all Christians in every nation. He knew nothing of the narrowness of exclusive attachment to a sect. His heart was full of love, and he loved, as we should, all who bore the Christian name, and who evinced the Christian spirit.

Call upon the name of Jesus Christ - To call upon the name of any person, in Scripture language, is to call on the person himself; compare John 3:18; the note at Acts 4:12. The expression “to call upon the name” ἐπικαλουμένοις epikaloumenois, to invoke the name, implies worship, and prayer; and proves:

(1) That the Lord Jesus is an object of worship; and,

(2) That one characteristic of the early Christians, by which they were known and distinguished, was their calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus, or their offering worship to him. That it implies worship, see the note at Acts 7:59; and that the early Christians called on Christ by prayer, and were distinguished by that, see the note at Acts 7:59, and compare the note at Acts 1:24, also Acts 2:21; Acts 9:13; Acts 22:16; 2 Timothy 2:22.

Both theirs and ours - The Lord of all - both Jews and Gentiles - of all who profess themselves Christians, of whatever country or name they might have originally been. Difference of nation or birth gives no pre-eminence in the kingdom of Christ but all are on a level, having a common Lord and Saviour; compare Ephesians 4:5.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 1:2. The Church of God which is at Corinth — This Church was planted by the apostle himself about A. D. 52, as we learn from Acts 18:1, c., where see the notes.

Sanctified in Christ Jesus — ηγιασμενοις, Separated from the corruptions of their place and age.

Called to be saints — κλητοις αγιοις, Constituted saints, or invited to become such this was the design of the Gospel, for Jesus Christ came to save men from their sins.

With all that in every place, c.] All who profess Christianity, both in Corinth, Ephesus, and other parts of Greece or Asia Minor and by this we see that the apostle intended that this epistle should be a general property of the universal Church of Christ; though there are several matters in it that are suited to the state of the Corinthians only.

Both theirs and ours — That is, Jesus Christ is the common Lord and Saviour of all. He is the exclusive property of no one Church, or people, or nation. Calling on or invoking the name of the Lord Jesus, was the proper distinguishing mark of a Christian. In those times of apostolic light and purity no man attempted to invoke God but in the name of Jesus Christ; this is what genuine Christians still mean when they ask any thing from God for Christ's SAKE.