1 Corinthians 1:2

Letters to the Faithful - 1 Corinthians 1:2

Berean Standard Bible

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

King James Bible

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Greek Text:

τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Κορίνθῳ, ἡγιασμένοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, κλητοῖς ἁγίοις, σὺν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐπικαλουμένοις τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ, αὐτῶν καὶ ἡμῶν.

Transliteration:

tē ekklēsia tou Theou tē ousē en Korinthō, hēgiasmenois en Christō Iēsou, klētois hagiois, syn pasin tois epikaloumenois to onoma tou Kyriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou en panti topō, autōn kai hēmōn.

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To the church of God in Corinth

Corinth was a major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth, commerce, and moral depravity. The church in Corinth was established by Paul during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1-11). The phrase "church of God" emphasizes that the church belongs to God, not to any human leader. This is significant in a city known for its diverse religious practices and idolatry. The church's location in Corinth highlights the transformative power of the Gospel in a challenging cultural environment.

to those sanctified in Christ Jesus

Sanctification refers to being set apart for God's purposes. In Christ Jesus, believers are made holy, not by their own merit, but through the redemptive work of Christ. This sanctification is both a positional reality and an ongoing process. The Corinthian believers, despite their struggles with sin, are reminded of their identity in Christ. This echoes the Old Testament concept of Israel being set apart as God's holy people (Exodus 19:6).

and called to be holy

The call to holiness is a recurring theme in Scripture, reflecting God's nature and His desire for His people to reflect His character (Leviticus 11:44-45, 1 Peter 1:15-16). In the context of Corinth, a city rife with immorality, this call underscores the countercultural nature of the Christian life. Holiness involves both separation from sin and dedication to God.

together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

This phrase emphasizes the universal nature of the Christian faith. Believers in Corinth are part of a larger body of Christ that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Calling on the name of the Lord is an expression of faith and dependence on Jesus for salvation, echoing Joel 2:32 and Acts 2:21. It signifies a personal relationship with Christ and a shared identity among all believers.

their Lord and ours

This affirms the unity of believers under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Despite diverse backgrounds and locations, all Christians acknowledge Jesus as their Lord. This unity is a central theme in Paul's letters, as seen in Ephesians 4:4-6. It challenges divisions within the church and calls believers to live in harmony, reflecting the oneness of the body of Christ.

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To the called of God, sanctified in Christ Jesus, to those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours,

Grace and peace be multiplied to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful and true witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. I write to you not with the authority of men but with the weight of the eternal calling, compelled by the Spirit, bearing witness to the truth once delivered to the saints, the Gospel which is not of man but of God. I greet you in the name that is above every name—the name of Jesus, whom you love, though you have not seen, and in whom you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

You are the Church of God. Not the invention of man, not the product of culture, not the construction of institutions, but the very possession of the Almighty, purchased with blood, founded upon the Rock, and filled with His Spirit. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. You were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, called out of darkness and into His marvelous light, sanctified by the Word, and set apart by His Spirit. This is not a matter of mere belief, but of divine identity. You are His. You belong to God. You are the work of His hands, the sheep of His pasture, the body of Christ on the earth.

To be the Church of God is to bear both privilege and purpose. You are not gathered in vain. You are not called merely to believe, but to become—to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, from glory to glory. You are saints, not by your own righteousness, but by His grace. You are sanctified in Christ Jesus, not by your striving, but by His sacrifice. Do not forget who you are, nor whose you are. The world would press you into its mold, but you have been called out—called to holiness, called to obedience, called to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked generation.

You are called to be saints. Not as a title of exaltation, but as a life of consecration. The call to be holy is not for a few elite but for all who are in Christ. It is not an optional pursuit, but a necessary fruit of divine life within. You have not only been forgiven—you have been made new. You are no longer citizens of the world, but of the Kingdom. Therefore, walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. Put away every form of malice, every root of bitterness, every appearance of evil. Be holy, for He who called you is holy. Let your conduct reflect the One who dwells within you. Let your mind be renewed. Let your tongue speak truth. Let your hands serve in love. Let your feet carry the Gospel. Let your life be a living epistle, known and read by all.

And you are not alone in this calling. You are part of a people, a body, a communion of saints, who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours. The Church is one. Though scattered across nations and languages, we are united in one Spirit, joined to one Lord, partakers of one baptism, anchored in one hope. We do not labor alone, suffer alone, rejoice alone, or wait alone. The cry that rises from your lips rises also from every corner of the earth, where hearts are surrendered to Christ and voices lift His name.

This name, the name of Jesus, is the banner over us, the confession of our faith, the sword in our warfare, the refuge of our souls. To call upon His name is not mere ritual—it is the cry of dependence, the declaration of faith, the mark of the redeemed. And those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Let us call on Him daily, in worship, in supplication, in intercession, in thanksgiving. Let His name never be far from our mouths or from our hearts.

Do not grow weary, beloved. The Lord is near. He who called you is faithful and will also do it. He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Let there be no divisions among you. Let there be no pride, no boasting in men, no glorying in flesh. Christ is not divided, and neither should His body be. Be of one mind, strive together for the faith of the Gospel, and walk in love, bearing with one another in humility. The world will know that you are His disciples by your love for one another.

And take heed, Church of God, not to trade your sacred identity for worldly approval. You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a city set on a hill. Do not hide your light. Do not dilute your salt. Do not compromise with darkness. Be distinct. Be bold. Be faithful. Be holy. And do all in the name of Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The days are short, and the time is urgent. Let us redeem the time. Let us labor while it is day. Let us carry the Gospel with urgency, with clarity, and with power. Let us prepare a bride without spot or wrinkle, ready for the return of the Bridegroom. For the Lord will come suddenly, as lightning from the east to the west, and His reward is with Him. Let Him find faith in the earth. Let Him find a people prepared.

And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, may His peace guard your hearts, and may His Spirit fill you with boldness, purity, and joy. Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for your labor in Him is not in vain.

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O Most High God,

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Eternal and Immortal, holy in all Your ways,

We lift our voices before You with trembling joy and sacred awe, for You alone are worthy. You are the God who calls, the God who sanctifies, the God who gathers a people for Your name from every nation, tongue, and tribe. You are the Ancient of Days, who sits enthroned in unshakable majesty, and yet You have stooped low to raise up those who were dead in sin, to make them saints by grace, and to call them the Church of the living God.

O Lord, we bless You for the miracle of Your calling—that You have not only saved us from wrath, but called us unto holiness, unto purpose, unto sonship. You did not leave us as we were, but in Christ Jesus, You have sanctified us. You have made us holy, not by our own strength or wisdom, but by the power of the cross and the work of Your Spirit. We once were not a people, but now we are the people of God; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy.

And so we come to You, O God of mercy, as those who are called saints—not boasting in ourselves, but glorying in the grace that has made us Your own. Sanctify us again and again, Lord. Cleanse our minds. Purify our hearts. Consecrate our hands and feet. Let every thought, every word, every action be offered as a holy sacrifice. Let our lives reflect the holiness of the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We thank You for the unity of Your Church—one body, many members, yet all joined together by one Spirit, under one Lord, and confessing one faith. We praise You that the Church is not confined to one city, or one people, or one age, but that in every place, throughout the whole earth, there are those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours. You have gathered a people from the east and from the west, from the heights and from the depths, from palaces and prisons, from scholars and shepherds, from the poor and from princes—all brought near by the same precious blood.

Let the sound of that holy name—Jesus—be heard on every tongue. Let every soul that calls upon His name be strengthened and kept. Let the flame of faith be rekindled in those who are weary. Let boldness rise in those who are afraid. Let purity reign in the hearts of those tempted by the world. Let the saints walk worthy of their calling. Let the Church shine like a city on a hill, radiant with the glory of Christ.

We pray for the sanctified in every land: for the persecuted Church, that they may be steadfast in trial; for the wandering, that they may return to the Shepherd of their souls; for the weak, that they may be upheld by Your strength; for the faithful, that they may abound more and more in love and truth. Let not one member of Your body be forgotten, O God. Let not one part of the temple lie in ruin. Build us together into a dwelling place for Your glory.

And we pray, Lord, for the grace to walk in humility, knowing that it is not by works that we stand, but by grace. Let us not be puffed up, but let us be clothed with compassion, with patience, with the mind of Christ. Let us consider others more significant than ourselves. Let our unity be more than words—let it be lived out in forgiveness, in generosity, in service, in mutual honor.

We ask, O Lord, that Your Spirit would move mightily upon Your Church again. Call forth laborers into the harvest. Awaken gifts that have been buried. Stir up the fire that has been quenched. Let prophecy, wisdom, healing, and discernment operate in holy order and in love. Let Your Word run swiftly and be glorified. Let the name of Jesus be lifted high above every other name, until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And now, O Lord, as we call upon Your name in this place, with one voice and one heart, we join with the multitude of saints in every place—known and unknown, seen and unseen, near and far—and we say, Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Let it be so.

In the holy name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.