Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes … - 1 Corinthians 1:1

Today's Scripture Reading (February 9, 2021): 1 Corinthians 1

Inspirational author Shannon Alder says that "a best friend is the only one that walks into your life when the world has walked out." It is the kind of friend that we all need. When everyone is against us, we all need someone who is willing to walk into the fight and simply stand with us, someone who will be our sounding board when the rest of the world has discarded on its trash heap. I am not sure that the person Adler describes is a best friend, but they certainly are the friends we need.

Paul had a long relationship with the Church in Corinth, but it was not always a positive relationship. When Paul had first come to the city, a man named Crispus was in charge of the synagogue. Paul struck up a positive relationship with Crispus, and as a result, Crispus joined Paul in the faith.

It appears that after becoming a Christian, Crispus left his position at the synagogue and was replaced by a man named Sosthenes. But Sosthenes seemed to have followed in the footsteps of Crispus. And as the city turned on Paul, wanting to punish the Apostle, Sosthenes got caught in the middle and received a beating from the crowd (Acts 18:19). Although by no means sure, this may be the same Sosthenes that Paul mentions as he opens his letter to the Corinthians. And now he is traveling with Paul; he stepped into the world at Corinth when the people wanted nothing more than to toss Paul on the city's trash heap. Now Sosthenes traveled with the Apostle, likely acting as his secretary or, more appropriately, his amanuensis.

Paul opens his letter by stressing that he is an apostle of Christ Jesus, and the reason that he is an apostle is because God called him. It is important to note that some in Corinth questioned the assertion. But Paul was sure, and for Paul, that was all that mattered. Archibald Robertson argued, "Paul knows that he is not one of the twelve apostles, but he is on par with them because, like them, he is chosen by God."

While the church in Corinth might have questioned Paul's authority and apostleship, he was supported by his friend Sosthenes, who had taken a beating from the crowd at Corinth in his stead.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 2