God’s Word for You

1 Corinthians 1:1 The letter begins

by Pastor Timothy Smith on Monday, October 17, 2022

Today we begin a new series on 1 Corinthians. The translation is my own.

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

What makes someone an apostle? An apostle (Greek apostolos, ἀπόστολος) is someone sent out with a specific assignment, and with all of the authority necessary to carry it out. Jesus is described as God’s apostle in Hebrews 3:1, “the apostle and high priest whom we confess” (EHV). Jesus was qualified and merited the high office given to him. We do not. It is only by the grace of God the he calls us into his service.

Paul establishes his credentials because he is going to say things that will be difficult for the Corinthians to hear. In a letter like 1 Thessalonians, a simple “Paul…to the church” is all that was required (1 Thessalonians 1:1). But here in 1 Corinthians, Paul defends his office. He was a called minister of the gospel, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. Ministers to this day can make the same confident claim, when they are called by the church and do not take up the position on their own.

The doctrine of the office of apostle is shown here to be a divinely instituted office, just as that of priest was instituted by God in the days of Moses, consecrated according to a sacred rite (Leviticus 8:1-38). Just as God filled the hands of the priests with the correct sacrifices (Leviticus 8:27), so also God filled the mouths of his apostles with the words they were to proclaim to mankind. “‘The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the word of faith you are proclaiming” (Romans 10:8). The institution of the office of minister of the gospel (the successors to the prophets and apostles) is ascribed to all three persons of the Godhead:

• Father (Hebrews 1:1; Galatians 1:15-16)
• Son (Mark 10:1; Luke 9:1; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 4:1-2)
• Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

God, therefore, is the author of the ministry:

1, By promising teachers to the church (Jeremiah 3:15, 23:4; Joel 2:23)
2, By giving what he promised (1 Corinthians 12:28; 2 Corinthians 5:18)
3, By preserving the ministry to the end of the world (Ephesians 4:11)
4, By performing the office of teaching itself (Hebrews 1:1-2)
5, By equipping the teachers of the church with the necessary gifts (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Only a man with an external, legitimate call may be a minister of the gospel (pastor, or the other forms of ministry that occur, such as missionary, professor, superintendent, etc.). The preaching office of pastor is essentially the same as that of apostle. The Scriptures teach this when they describe the pastor’s position: Apostles are servants and stewards (1 Corinthians 4:1) and so are preachers (1 Corinthians 4:6). Scripture consistently places preachers on the same level as the apostles (1 Timothy 4:6; Colossians 4:7; Philippians 2:25; 1 Peter 5:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1; James 1:1). Their task is the same: The apostles’ task is feeding the flock and administering the sacraments (John 21:15-17; Matthew 28:18-20), and the preacher’s task is the same (Acts 20:28; 2 Timothy 1:13; 4:5). Also, the positions are the same as to their authority: The apostles were to govern the church, supervise, exercise discipline, etc. (2 Timothy 1:6), and preachers have the authority to supervise (1 Timothy 1:3), to command (1 Timothy 4:11), to ordain (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 2:2); to govern the church (1 Timothy 3:5; Titus 1:5-9), and to demand obedience (Hebrews 13:17). Still more, the preaching office has the same purpose as that of apostles: to save souls (1 Corinthians 3:5).

Paul mentions another man, Sosthenes, who is not equally the author, but whose name is known to the Corinthians and who is included here as a man agreeing with what Paul will say. We meet a man named Sosthenes in Acts 18:17. He was a Corinthian synagogue ruler (ἀρχισυνάγωγον) who had led worship in Corinth. The Jews beat Sosthenes when Gallio threw out their charges against Paul. The chief reason for taking this as the same man is that Paul doesn’t identify him any more than he does, with nothing but his name. It’s most likely that the Corinthians would understand that this was the man that they knew. Since there are some wise students of the Scriptures who are cautious about this point, I think it would be wise if we were cautious too. But if perchance it was the same man, then it would seem as if Paul took Sosthenes along with him when he left Corinth, either for Sosthenes’ protection from the hostility of the Jews, to instruct him, or because he proved to be a valuable companion—or all three.

This letter is about the Christian life. It’s about our fellowship with other Christians, our behavior as Christians, our worship of Christ, and about looking after one another. Paul has begun by reminding us that the things we have, from the word of God and the ministers of the gospel down to the very food we eat and the sacraments we share in, are all gifts given by the grace and will of God. Praise him for those gifts: “Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” (1 Chronicles 16:8). Give him thanks with your words and give him thanks with your life.

In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith

 

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