November 7, 2026 - 1 Corinthians 1-3

In my Letters book, I wrote:  “Regularly, in his letters, whether to congregations or to individuals, Paul offered thanksgiving for those to whom he wrote, prayed for grace and peace to be experienced by his readers, and referred to his readers as ‘beloved’ and as ‘brothers.’  Paul wrote to those whom he loved.  He wrote to encourage them and direct them in the ways of God.  Other apostles wrote similarly.  For example, see how intimately John addressed his readers:  ‘My little children’ or ‘children’ (18 times in his three letters) and ‘Beloved’ (10 times in his three letters).  A letter, particularly one written to someone on an intimate basis, is very special.  Pastors in the early church continued the practice.  Clement wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth around AD 96.  Over and over, Clement refers to the Corinthian believers as ‘brothers’ and calls them ‘beloved,’ though he had some pointedly hard things to write to them.”

So, here, like Clement, Paul has some hard things to write to the Corinthian church.  But he tenderly begins his letter:  “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus” (1:3-4).  Paul was thankful for the Corinthian believers, he loved them, he wished the best for them, and he labored on their behalf and for their good.  Sort of a reflection, isn’t it, of God’s love toward us even with our many flaws.  Consider:  “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9) & “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) & “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).  And so, we plead:

Guide me, O my great Redeemer,

pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but you are mighty;

hold me with your powerful hand.

Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,

feed me now and evermore,

feed me now and evermore.  -- Percy Dearmer (1925)