Building Community

To truly understand the book of 1 Corinthians, it is important that you know a few facts about the city of Corinth during the first century.

• It was a large city. During the time that the apostle Paul lived in Corinth it is estimated that there were between 100,000 to 300,000 people living in the city.
• It was a prosperous city. Due to its location on a major trade route and because it was a port city there was a lot of cash flowing in the city.
• It was a diverse city. Again, because of its location and because of its great wealth, people from all over the world gathered in Corinth.
• It was a religious city. Among the temples that you would find in Corinth would be temples to Aphrodite, Poseidon, Apollo, Hermes, and Isis. The Pantheon a temple that was built to "all the gods" was also in Corinth.
• It was a cultured city. Corinth boasted a theater that would seat over 14,000 people and it was the host for the Isthmian Games. The Isthmian Games were held every other year and they rivaled the Olympic Games. The most outstanding athletes of the ancient world would compete in these games.
• It was a sinful city. Because of its wealth the city had become very materialistic. It was also known for its drunkenness and its sexual immorality. There were over 1,000 temple prostitutes from the temple of Aphrodite working the streets each night.

To be honest the first century city of Corinth looks a lot like America in the twenty-first century.

It was to this city, that the apostle Paul was called by God to preach the gospel. For a year and a half, the apostle lived and taught here and many were added to the Kingdom of God. The sad thing is that three years later this once growing church was now filled with problems. It is for this reason that First and Second Corinthians were written. 

In First Corinthians 1:1-3, the apostle Paul introduces his letter by reminding them of the authority by which he wrote and also who they are in Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 1:1 (ESV), the apostle writes, "Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes." There is much that could be said about this verse, but the thing that I want to point out is that Paul was called by God to be an apostle. He wasn't called by his momma, the church, or even his own desire. He was called by God, and it was by God's authority that he gives these instructions to the church.

In 1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV), Paul continues, "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours."

We are told in verse 2 that the audience for this letter is the church. The question for us is what is the church? The Greek word "church" literally means "called out ones or the ones gathered together with a purpose." So a church can simply be defined as a community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are committed to carrying out His will one earth. 

In verse 2 we find a four-part description of the church:

1. The church is a divine community. Paul wrote this letter to "the church of God." In a day where there is so much confusion about who runs the church, let this verse settle the issue once and for all. The church belongs to God! 
2. The church is a local community. Paul continues, "To the church of God that is in Corinth." When the church gathers it is a physical reflection of God's presence on earth. There are many in our day, who believe that there is no need to attend church. They are a part of the universal church and the church is all around them. The problem with this understanding is that God created us to live in relationship with Him and with one another. To just be a part of the universal church requires no commitment, no accountability and no real sacrifice. 
3. The church is a unique community. He goes on to say, "To those sanctified in Christ Jesus." The fact that we are "sanctified" means that we are set apart and we belong to God. It is this relationship with God that impacts how we live and what we live for. We are to live godly lives and we are to be busy carrying out His purposes!
4. The church is a universal community. "To those . . . called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours." Although the church is local, it's also universal. To be universal means that it includes all believers. In those times that we begin to think that the universe revolves around our church, this is a reminder that we are just one small piece of God's Kingdom. In those times that we feel overwhelmed by the culture around us, this is a reminder that we are not alone. 

In verse 3, the apostle Paul concludes introduction with these words, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the common greeting that Paul uses in his letters (Romans 1:7; Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2), and it summarizes the gospel. Grace is God's work in us through Christ where He gives us what we don't deserve, (i.e. salvation, sanctification, a right standing before Him, etc.). And peace is the fruit of God's grace. It is God's grace that brings us into a harmonious relationship with God and with one another. 

As we continue our journey through First Corinthians these basic principles will impact all of the apostle Paul's instructions to the church.