1 Corinthians 1:1

Berean Standard Bible

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

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The opening verse of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is more than a mere salutation—it is a theological declaration, an apostolic affirmation, and a foundational statement that sets the tone for all that follows. Though brief, this verse invites us into deep reflection on calling, authority, partnership, and divine initiative in Christian ministry.

Paul introduces himself simply by name, but immediately qualifies his identity: he is “called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.” This is not a self-appointed role, nor the result of personal ambition or human commendation. Paul is emphatic—his apostleship is a divine calling. The word “called” (klētos) carries the weight of a summons, an authoritative claim laid upon him by God Himself. It denotes not only an invitation but a commissioning. This is not general Christian calling, as all believers are called to belong to Christ (cf. Romans 1:6), but a specific and authoritative appointment to the apostolic office. Paul asserts from the outset that his message and ministry derive their legitimacy from God’s initiative, not from man's approval.

He strengthens this claim by grounding it explicitly in “the will of God.” This phrase is no theological ornament; it is a confession of divine sovereignty. Paul’s entire ministry exists within the framework of God’s determined purpose. He sees himself not as a spiritual entrepreneur, but as a man apprehended by grace and directed by divine will (cf. Acts 9:15–16; Galatians 1:15–16). In a church like Corinth, where various voices were vying for influence and where factions had arisen (1 Cor 1:12), it is essential that Paul anchors his authority not in charisma or intellect, but in the eternal counsel of God. This framing is not to elevate Paul personally, but to emphasize the divine origin of the message he carries—a message the Corinthian believers were beginning to disregard in favor of worldly wisdom and rhetorical flair.

Paul describes himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus.” The order of the name—Christ Jesus—is deliberate and theological. “Christ” (Greek Christos) is not a surname but a title: the Anointed One, the promised Messiah. “Jesus” grounds the Christ in historical humanity—the One who walked the dusty roads of Galilee, suffered, died, and rose again. Thus, Paul represents not a vague spiritual ideal, but the crucified and risen Messiah, the Lord of the Church. The title “apostle” (Greek apostolos) literally means “one who is sent.” Paul is a sent one—commissioned by the risen Christ (cf. Acts 9, Galatians 1:1). His apostleship includes authority, but it is not authoritarian. It is servant-leadership under the Lordship of Jesus, entrusted with the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the Church.

This identity is crucial to understanding the rest of the letter, for Paul will soon bring strong correction to the Corinthian believers. He will challenge their divisions, rebuke their pride, and address moral failure in their midst. Yet he does so not as a distant judge, but as one divinely called and deeply invested in their spiritual welfare. His authority is not self-serving but shepherding—anchored in Christ’s commission and exercised in the power of the Spirit.

Paul adds, “and our brother Sosthenes.” This brief mention is both personal and pastoral. Sosthenes is referred to as “our brother,” a term of familial affection and shared identity in Christ. He is likely the same Sosthenes mentioned in Acts 18:17, the synagogue ruler in Corinth who was beaten before the proconsul Gallio. If this is indeed the same man, it would suggest a dramatic conversion and an ongoing commitment to the Church at Corinth. Including Sosthenes not only lends support to Paul’s message but connects Paul’s ministry to the local context and people whom the Corinthians would have known personally.

Moreover, the inclusion of Sosthenes underscores a principle that runs throughout Paul’s letters: ministry is never a solo endeavor. Even an apostle writes with others. The Church is a body, and leadership is shared. Paul’s mention of co-laborers—whether Timothy, Silvanus, or here, Sosthenes—reminds us that gospel work is collaborative. No one, not even an apostle, functions in isolation. This serves as a quiet rebuke to the factionalism growing in Corinth, where loyalty to personalities—“I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas”—was fracturing the unity of the Church. By beginning with partnership and brotherhood, Paul subtly models the very unity he will later exhort them to embrace.

Finally, this introductory verse reveals the theological tone of the entire epistle. Everything in this letter—its exhortations, rebukes, doctrinal clarifications, and pastoral appeals—flows from the conviction that the Church belongs to God, is established by His will, and is built upon the message of Christ crucified. Paul is not offering religious advice or mere human wisdom; he is writing as one under divine orders, urging the Church to live in accordance with the calling they have received.

In sum, 1 Corinthians 1:1 is a doorway into the apostolic mind and the heart of Christian ministry. It testifies to the primacy of God’s will, the authority of Christ, the necessity of calling, and the beauty of shared labor in the gospel. It reminds us that the Church is not a social club nor a human project, but a divine community founded upon the Word of God and sustained by those whom He calls, sends, and empowers.

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Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, whose mercies are new every morning and whose purposes shall not fail. Let us draw near to the Word of God with reverence, not rushing past its introductions or dismissing its greetings as mere formalities. For in the very first line of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we hear the thunder of heaven’s calling, we see the contours of divine purpose, and we are summoned ourselves to the same life of holy surrender.

“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.” These words are not casual self-identification. They are a confession, a declaration, a testimony to the power and sovereignty of God. Paul does not say, “I chose this life,” or “I studied for this role,” or “I made myself an apostle.” No, he says he was called by the will of God. This calling was not Paul’s idea; it was God’s. This mission did not originate in the mind of man, but in the eternal counsel of the Most High. And let that truth settle in our bones: the life of the believer, the calling of the servant, the mission of the Church—it is not our doing. It is not our invention. It is the will of God that makes men apostles, that raises up messengers, that calls the lost, and sends the redeemed.

Paul’s very name bears witness to transformation. He who once was Saul, breathing threats against the Church, is now Paul, a servant of the Church, a slave of Christ. What changed him? Not a seminar, not a strategy, not self-improvement. He was undone by the voice of the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He was unmade and remade by sovereign grace. And so are we, beloved. We are not Christians because we were clever enough to choose God. We are Christians because God, in mercy, chose us. Because the Son of God revealed Himself to us. Because the Spirit of God called our dead hearts to life. Paul’s story is not an exception—it is a pattern. It is a mirror of the gospel’s power. We were running, and God arrested us. We were blind, and Christ opened our eyes. We were proud, and the Spirit humbled us. We were enemies, and the Father called us sons and daughters.

And what does it mean to be called “by the will of God”? It means the origin of our identity is not the shifting sands of emotion, not the applause of men, not the approval of culture. It means we are anchored in something eternal, immovable, sovereign. The will of God is not a suggestion—it is a decree. It is not a passing whim—it is the eternal purpose of Him who works all things according to His counsel. So when Paul says he was called by the will of God, he is resting his identity, his authority, his life itself, in the unshakable foundation of divine election. And we must learn to do the same. For the storms will come. The accusations will rise. The enemy will whisper, “You are not enough. You are not worthy.” But we answer not with our résumé, not with our reputation, but with this: “I am what I am by the grace of God. I am where I am because of the will of God.”

He was called to be an apostle—not a volunteer, not an activist, not a philosopher. An apostle. A sent one. One commissioned by the risen Christ, authorized to speak on behalf of the King, entrusted with the mysteries of God, and burdened with the care of the Church. Paul does not carry his own message. He carries the message of Christ crucified and risen. He does not operate on his own terms. He walks under orders. And while we today are not apostles in the foundational sense—there are no more Pauls or Peters—yet we are all sent. We are all under orders. We are all ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. Our message is not our opinion. Our lives are not our own. Our mission is not self-expression. We are men and women under the banner of the gospel, bearing witness to the One who called us from darkness into light.

And let us not miss this: Paul begins this letter with authority, yes—but also with humility. He does not exalt himself. He does not lead with credentials. He begins with calling. And then, in the same breath, he includes “our brother Sosthenes.” What a tender phrase. Our brother. Not “my subordinate,” not “my assistant,” not “my scribe”—but “our brother.” And who is this Sosthenes? Likely the same Sosthenes once beaten before Gallio in Corinth, perhaps once a synagogue leader opposed to Paul, now a partner in the gospel. Look at the grace of God! The one who may have once stood against the Church now stands beside the apostle as a brother. This is the power of reconciliation. This is the fruit of the gospel. The gospel does not just save souls—it knits them together. It builds a family from the ruins of division. It makes enemies into brothers. And in naming Sosthenes, Paul is doing more than offering a footnote. He is modeling partnership. He is showing that apostolic ministry is not solitary, but communal. That ministry is not built on celebrity, but on fellowship.

And what shall we take from this holy introduction? We must hear the summons for ourselves. You, brother. You, sister. You are not in Christ by accident. You are called. Not because you are worthy, but because He is merciful. Not because you were seeking, but because He was pursuing. You are not aimless—you are sent. You are not forgotten—you are known. You are not isolated—you are joined to a people, to a Church, to a mission. Your identity is not in what you do, but in who called you. Your purpose is not to impress the world, but to serve the will of God. Your confidence is not in your success, but in your obedience to the One who sent you.

So live, then, as one called. Walk as one sent. Love as one who knows the mercy of God. Let the words of Paul shape your prayers, your perspective, your posture. Whether you preach to thousands or serve in secret, whether you feel strong or weak, whether your name is known or forgotten by men—it is known to God. And that is enough.

Let us therefore live not for applause, but for faithfulness. Let us labor not for fame, but for fruit. Let us speak not our own thoughts, but the truth of Christ. Let us call others to the same gospel that called us. Let us welcome the Sostheneses of our lives—those who once opposed, but are now being drawn. And above all, let us rest secure in this truth: that we, like Paul, have been called by the will of God.

And if God has called us, who shall stand against us?

Amen.

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O Sovereign Lord, eternal and unchanging, the God who was and is and is to come, we bow before You in holy reverence and deep gratitude, for You are the One who calls, who sends, who establishes, and who sustains. Before You laid the foundations of the earth, You purposed in Yourself a people, chosen in Christ, called by grace, drawn not by merit but by mercy, that we might be to the praise of Your glorious name.

We bless You, Father, for the witness of Your servant Paul, called not by the will of man nor appointed by earthly institutions, but summoned by Your divine decree, set apart by Your eternal counsel, and commissioned by Your Son, Jesus Christ, who reigns in power and intercedes for His Church. What is this calling but the evidence of Your sovereign grace—that You should take a man who once raged against the name of Jesus and turn him into a vessel of honor, a voice for the gospel, and an apostle to the nations?

And yet, O Lord, we confess that we, too, are like Paul—unworthy in ourselves, yet called by Your will. Not one of us stands in righteousness of our own. We are not gathered here today because of our wisdom, strength, or bloodline. We are here because You spoke our names. You called us from death to life, from rebellion to repentance, from striving to rest. Your will prevailed when our will resisted. Your mercy triumphed when our sin abounded. Your love pursued us even when we fled. And now we bear the name of Christ, not as a label, but as a seal upon our hearts.

Grant us, O Lord, the grace to live as those who are called—not casually, not conditionally, but with holy urgency. Let our days not be spent in vain pursuits or in the shadow of our past selves, but in the light of Your purpose. Teach us, like Paul, to count all things loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Let our callings not be buried in fear, or diluted by distraction, but stirred up into flame by Your Spirit who dwells within us.

O Christ Jesus, You who called Paul by name on the Damascus road, You who called the fishermen from their nets and the tax collector from his booth, call to us again. Speak with that voice that calms the storm and raises the dead. Let us not forget that we are Yours. Let us not live as orphans when we are sons and daughters. Let us not drift through this world as if our lives are our own, but awaken in us the holy awe of being Your possession, Your workmanship, Your ambassadors.

You have made us Your Church, O Lord—not the work of architects, but of the Spirit. And as Paul included Sosthenes, so teach us to include one another—to walk not as lone pilgrims, but as the household of God. Knit us together in love. Let no pride divide us, no bitterness infect us, no rivalry consume us. Make us brothers and sisters in truth, servants in humility, fellow laborers in the harvest field. May we honor those whom You have joined to us, even those who were once our enemies, for such is the power of the gospel—that it makes brothers of the broken and a body from the scattered.

Lord, let us take our place not in self-promotion, but in self-denial. Let us not covet titles or chase platforms, but bend our knees in secret and serve with joy where none but You see. May we live not to build monuments to our name, but to proclaim the name that is above every name—Jesus Christ, crucified for sinners, risen in glory, reigning in power, and coming again to judge the living and the dead.

And when the world mocks our calling or doubts our purpose, remind us again that we are called by the will of God. When we falter and question our own worth, remind us that You do not call the qualified, but qualify the called. When our hands grow weary and our hearts grow faint, strengthen us with the same grace that called us in the first place. And if we must suffer for this calling, if we are misunderstood, rejected, or forgotten, let us rejoice to be counted worthy of suffering for the name.

So now, Lord of glory, we yield ourselves anew. Our hearts, our voices, our time, our strength—receive them all. Let Your will be done in us, just as it was in Paul. Let Your gospel run swiftly through our lives. Let the name of Jesus be magnified in our words and our works, until the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

We pray all this in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord, the One who called us, the One who keeps us, and the One to whom all glory belongs, forever and ever.

Amen.