Berean Standard Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
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This opening verse of 2 Corinthians is rich in theological substance, pastoral concern, and apostolic clarity. Though often read quickly as a customary greeting, it functions as a theological doorway into the deeper themes of the letter—authority, suffering, comfort, reconciliation, and the life of the Church under the sovereignty of God. Paul wastes no words; even in his greeting, the Spirit speaks with intention.
The verse begins, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” Here, Paul again affirms the divine origin of his apostleship, as he does in other letters, but with particular relevance to the Corinthian context. His apostleship had been questioned, his authority undermined, and his ministry mischaracterized by some within the Corinthian church. Therefore, he does not assert his title as a matter of ego or prestige, but as a defense of the divine origin of his calling. The phrase “by the will of God” is crucial—it emphasizes that Paul’s role is not the product of personal ambition or ecclesial politics but of divine purpose. This is not simply a vocational identity; it is a theological reality. He is not writing to defend himself but to remind the Church that the message he brings carries the weight of God’s will behind it. The apostleship is not Paul’s possession—it is his stewardship under Christ.
By using the full title “apostle of Christ Jesus,” Paul reminds his readers of the ultimate source and object of his commission. He is not merely a messenger or teacher; he is one who has been sent by the risen Christ and who acts with Christ's authority. The inclusion of both “Christ” (Messiah) and “Jesus” (His earthly name) is not merely formal but reflects Paul’s consistent theological focus on the incarnate, crucified, risen, and exalted Lord. This Jesus, crucified in weakness yet living by the power of God (2 Cor 13:4), is the one whom Paul serves. That identity will become especially significant later in the letter, where Paul discusses apostolic suffering and the paradox of strength through weakness.
Paul then includes “Timothy our brother,” a designation that underscores the partnership and unity in gospel ministry. Timothy is not named as co-author, as in some other epistles (e.g., Philippians, 1 Thessalonians), but he is honored here as a trusted brother. The title “our brother” is a deeply relational term that speaks of spiritual kinship and shared labor in the gospel. Paul’s ministry is never solitary; it is embedded in the communion of saints. The inclusion of Timothy may also serve to reassure the Corinthians, as they likely knew him from his previous visits (cf. 1 Cor 4:17, 16:10). Mentioning Timothy supports the continuity and legitimacy of Paul’s ministry and helps to establish trust with a church still healing from previous tensions.
The recipients of the letter are addressed next: “to the church of God that is at Corinth.” Paul does not say “your church,” or “my church,” but “the church of God.” This is no small theological distinction. The Corinthian believers did not constitute a private religious association or a local community group—they were the assembly (ekklÄ“sia) belonging to God Himself. They are His possession, His workmanship, His dwelling place. This identity is not earned; it is bestowed. Even with their many issues—divisions, moral failings, doctrinal confusion—Paul still affirms their identity as the church of God. This is not to minimize their sins, which he addresses firmly, but to ground them in the grace that defines them.
“To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia.” Paul’s greeting expands beyond Corinth to include “all the saints” in Achaia, the Roman province in which Corinth was the capital. This broader scope suggests Paul’s concern for the regional church, not merely a single congregation. It may also indicate that the letter was intended to be shared with neighboring communities. The use of “saints” (hagioi) emphasizes the sanctified status of all believers—not as morally perfect people, but as those set apart by God, made holy by union with Christ. Holiness is not the result of personal performance but of divine calling.
This collective address highlights the communal nature of the faith. Christianity is never a private religion; it is always personal, but never merely individual. Believers are saints together. They belong to the one Church of God, whether in Corinth or in the broader region of Achaia. This emphasis on unity will later stand in contrast to the divisions and party spirit that have plagued Corinth. Paul’s address reminds the believers of their shared identity, their mutual calling, and their interconnected witness.
This opening verse, then, is far more than an introduction. It is a theological affirmation of God’s sovereign calling, a pastoral reminder of the Church’s identity, and a subtle challenge to the pride and disunity that had taken root among the Corinthians. It frames the letter with a sense of divine authority and communal responsibility. Paul writes not as a self-made leader, but as one commissioned by Christ. The Corinthians are not a scattered group of spiritual consumers; they are saints, called together by God.
In all of this, we are reminded that the Christian life, and indeed the life of the Church, begins not with our initiative, but with God's. The Church belongs to Him. The ministry is His. The saints are His people, made holy not by striving but by grace. The messengers are sent by His will, not their own. And every word that follows in this epistle—words of correction, comfort, encouragement, and exhortation—flows from this foundation: the will of God, the call of Christ, and the communion of the saints.
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Grace to you and peace, beloved of the Lord. As we turn our hearts to the living and abiding Word of God, we begin with the first line of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. We may be tempted to move quickly past these opening words, as though they are mere formality. But there is no such thing in Scripture. What God has breathed is never filler. Even this greeting—short and simple to the eye—is filled with the weight of heaven, rich with theology, pregnant with grace.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” Here stands a man who has been arrested by the sovereign mercy of God. Paul does not present himself first as a preacher, nor as a teacher, nor as a man of renown, though he was all those things. He identifies himself not by what he has achieved but by what God has decreed. He is an apostle of Christ Jesus—by the will of God. That phrase is everything. It tells us that the foundation of Paul’s authority is not found in his talents, not in his education under Gamaliel, not in his brilliant mind or tireless energy. His apostleship does not rest on human ambition or ecclesiastical politics—it rests entirely upon the sovereign initiative of God.
O Church, let us not rush past that. For here is the same principle that undergirds our salvation. We are not in Christ because we made ourselves worthy. We are not part of the Church because we climbed some ladder of moral excellence. We are here—just as Paul was there—by the will of God. It was the will of God that knocked him off his horse and opened his blind eyes. It was the will of God that turned a persecutor into a pastor, that made a man who once destroyed the Church into one who now builds it up. And it is the same will of God that has called you, saved you, and appointed you to bear fruit.
Paul’s apostleship was unique in its authority, for he saw the risen Christ and was commissioned directly by Him. Yet his experience illustrates a truth common to every believer: that all true Christian identity begins not with our initiative but with God’s. We do not elect ourselves into grace. We are chosen, called, and kept by divine mercy. In a world obsessed with self-made identity, we must return to the gospel truth that we are not our own—we are His. And if we are His, then we are not accidents. We are not wandering. We are sent. Just as Paul was sent as an apostle, so we are sent as ambassadors—different in office, but united in mission.
“And Timothy our brother.” What a humble and beautiful phrase. Timothy is not labeled by his function—he is not called “Timothy the assistant” or “Timothy the pastor.” He is simply “our brother.” This is the vocabulary of the family of God. This is the heartbeat of Christian community. In Christ, we are not competitors, nor isolated spiritual freelancers—we are brothers and sisters. Paul, who holds the highest earthly office in the Church, does not speak down to Timothy. He draws him close. He honors him not with a title, but with affection. And in doing so, he reminds the Corinthians—and us—that ministry is not a one-man show. It is a partnership. It is a family laboring together in the harvest fields of God.
Too often in our time, we see the Church as a place of spectators and professionals, of platform and audience. But Paul’s vision is entirely different. The Church is not a stage—it is a body. It is not about celebrity—it is about communion. “Timothy our brother.” Just as he includes Timothy, so too we must honor and include those God has joined to us. We must not elevate personality over partnership, or charisma over character. We are called to walk side by side, not over one another, but with one another, bearing one another’s burdens and striving together for the faith of the gospel.
“To the church of God that is at Corinth.” Notice, again, whose Church this is. Not Paul’s. Not Peter’s. Not Apollos’s. It is the Church of God. Oh, how this must confront our modern tendency to speak of “my church,” “their church,” “that church.” The Church is not owned by pastors. It is not controlled by boards or funded by donors. It belongs to God. It is His possession, His people, His bride. And if it is God’s Church, then it is to be governed by God’s Word, led by God’s Spirit, and directed toward God’s glory.
The Corinthians had forgotten this. They had begun to divide themselves into camps—“I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas.” But Paul sets the record straight from the very beginning. This Church is not divided by party or personality. It belongs to God. And this is true for every congregation of believers. Whether large or small, rural or urban, ancient or newly planted—the Church is God’s. We must never speak of her lightly. We must never treat her as common. She is precious in His sight, purchased with His blood, and guarded by His Spirit.
And Paul writes not only to Corinth, but “with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia.” He lifts their eyes from their own city to see the wider work of God. The gospel is not confined to one place. The Church is not a local club—it is a global body. Paul reminds them that they are part of something much larger than themselves. They are saints among saints, holy ones among the holy ones, set apart not only for their own sake but for the sake of all whom God is calling.
And this, too, is a word for us. We live in an age of spiritual isolation, where it is tempting to think only of our congregation, our denomination, our stream. But Paul reminds us that the work of God is always bigger than us. We are part of the communion of saints, part of the great Church universal—those who are in Christ from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. We must learn to pray beyond our walls, to rejoice in the victories of others, to suffer in their losses, and to long for the unity that reflects the heart of our Savior.
Beloved, in this single verse we are confronted with the majesty of God’s will, the humility of Christ’s servants, the beauty of Christian community, and the sacredness of the Church. This is not just an introduction—it is a summons. A summons to remember who we are, who we serve, and why we exist. We are not drifting. We are called. We are not alone. We are brothers and sisters. We are not consumers. We are saints. We are not possessors of the Church—we are stewards of what belongs to God.
So let us walk worthy of the calling we have received. Let us labor in the spirit of brotherhood. Let us honor the Church as God’s treasured possession. And let us fix our eyes on Christ Jesus, who calls, equips, and keeps His people—until the day we see Him face to face.
Amen.
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O Ancient of Days, God of all mercy and Father of all glory, we come before You with grateful and trembling hearts, acknowledging that You alone are sovereign, You alone are holy, and You alone are the source of our calling, our identity, and our hope. You have chosen us not because of our worth, not because of our wisdom, and not because of our works, but because of Your sovereign grace, flowing from the deep counsels of Your eternal will. You are the One who calls light out of darkness, who speaks life to the dead, who appoints messengers and raises up a Church for the glory of Your name.
We thank You, Lord, for Your servant Paul, who was not made an apostle by the hand of man, nor by the will of flesh, but by the will of God. You took a man who once breathed threats against Your people and transformed him into a vessel of mercy, a voice for truth, and a shepherd to the sheep. And in him we see the glory of divine initiative—the wonder that You, O God, do not consult man when You act. You call whom You will. You raise up whom You please. You lay claim to lives and redirect them for Your purpose. Let us never forget that our lives are not our own. We are not self-directed pilgrims on a path of our choosing. We are called. Chosen. Sent. Held.
And we praise You, Lord Jesus Christ, for You are the One who calls us not only to salvation but to service. You speak to Your people, as You spoke to Paul, and You commission them with Your authority. You are the Head of the Church, and all who labor in it labor under Your Lordship. We are not volunteers in a religious movement—we are ambassadors in a kingdom, bearing the name of the King. Let us then serve with reverence and with joy, knowing that whatever calling we have—whether public or hidden, whether preaching or praying, whether suffering or singing—it is all from You, and for You, and through You.
We thank You also for Timothy, whom Paul called “our brother.” O Lord, make us brothers and sisters in spirit and in truth. Let there be no hierarchy of worth among Your people. Let no jealousy rise up among those who serve. Let no pride take root in the hearts of those You use. For we are one body, joined by one Spirit, redeemed by one blood, and made to walk together. Just as Paul did not walk alone, let us also embrace the fellowship of the saints. Let us rejoice in one another’s gifts, mourn in one another’s pain, and serve with one heart in one mission.
And now, Lord, we lift up Your Church—the Church of God that is in Corinth, and the Church of God that is across every city and nation and people. This Church is not ours. It was not planted by our hands nor sustained by our strength. It was purchased by the blood of the Lamb. It was gathered by the Spirit. It was called into being by Your decree. Let us never presume to own what belongs to You. Let us never manipulate what You have sanctified. Let us not divide what You have joined. Make us faithful stewards of Your people, for they are Yours.
Forgive us, O God, for how lightly we have regarded Your Church. Forgive us for the pride that exalts human leaders above the Head. Forgive us for the apathy that treats Your body as optional. Forgive us for the disunity that mars the beauty of Christ’s bride. Renew in us a holy fear and a holy love for Your Church—not the idea of her, but the real people she contains: the weak and the strong, the joyful and the wounded, the mature and the stumbling. You have called them saints—not because they are perfect, but because You have set them apart. Let us walk among them as among those for whom Christ died.
And we pray, Lord, for all the saints in the whole of Achaia—in every region, in every town, in every corner of this earth. Let their hearts be strengthened today. Let those who are weary be reminded that they are called by the will of God. Let those who are isolated be reminded that they are not alone. Let those who are persecuted be reminded that they are part of a greater body. Let the unity of the saints be real and tangible—not a concept, but a lived reality. Break down the walls we’ve built. Shatter the idols we’ve made. Unite us in truth. Sanctify us in love.
We pray that You would pour out afresh the grace that called Paul, the courage that strengthened Timothy, the unity that joined Corinth and Achaia, and the holiness that marks all Your saints. Let Your Church rise in this hour—not in the strength of flesh, not in the strategies of men, but in the power of the Spirit. Let her be radiant with holiness, bold in witness, and tender in mercy. Let her speak with clarity, serve with humility, and endure with hope.
And let it all be for the glory of Christ Jesus, our risen and reigning King, to whom belong all authority, all praise, all allegiance—now and forevermore.
Amen.
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