1 Corinthians 1:3 - Greetings from Paul

Grace and peace to you
The greeting "Grace and peace" is a common apostolic salutation found in many of Paul's letters. "Grace" (Greek: charis) refers to the unmerited favor and kindness of God, a central theme in Christian theology emphasizing salvation as a gift from God. "Peace" (Greek: eirene) reflects the Hebrew concept of "shalom," which means wholeness and well-being. This greeting encapsulates the essence of the Gospel message, which brings reconciliation with God and inner tranquility. The combination of grace and peace signifies the transformation that believers experience through faith in Christ.

from God our Father
The phrase "from God our Father" highlights the intimate relationship believers have with God, who is not only the Creator but also a loving Father. This familial language underscores the adoption of believers into God's family, as seen in passages like Romans 8:15, where Paul speaks of receiving the Spirit of sonship. The use of "our" indicates a communal relationship, emphasizing the unity of the church as the family of God. This reflects the Jewish understanding of God as Father, a concept that Jesus frequently taught, as seen in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9).

and the Lord Jesus Christ
The title "Lord Jesus Christ" affirms the divinity and authority of Jesus. "Lord" (Greek: Kyrios) was a term used for God in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, and its application to Jesus signifies His divine status. "Jesus" is the human name given at His birth, meaning "Yahweh saves," and "Christ" (Greek: Christos) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah," meaning "Anointed One." This title encapsulates the belief in Jesus as both Savior and King, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. The acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord was a radical declaration in the Roman world, where Caesar was often hailed as lord, thus affirming the early Christians' allegiance to Christ above all earthly powers.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Paul
The apostle who authored the letter to the Corinthians, addressing issues within the church and providing guidance.

2. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and moral challenges, where the early Christian church faced various issues.

3. God the Father
The first person of the Trinity, the source of grace and peace.

4. Lord Jesus Christ
The second person of the Trinity, through whom believers receive grace and peace.

5. The Corinthian Church
The recipients of the letter, a diverse group of believers facing internal divisions and moral challenges.

Teaching Points

Understanding Grace and Peace
Grace ("charis" in Greek) is the unmerited favor of God, a foundational concept in Christian theology. It is through grace that believers are saved and sustained.

Peace ("eirene" in Greek) refers to the tranquility and wholeness that comes from a right relationship with God. It is both a present reality and a future promise for believers.

Source of Grace and Peace
Both grace and peace originate from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This underscores the divine nature of these gifts and the unity of the Father and the Son in the work of salvation.

Living in Grace and Peace
Believers are called to live in the grace and peace provided by God. This involves trusting in God's provision, resting in His promises, and extending grace and peace to others.

The Role of the Trinity
The greeting highlights the roles of the Father and the Son in the believer's life, encouraging a deeper understanding of the Trinity and its implications for daily living.

Application in Community
The greeting serves as a reminder to the church community to embody grace and peace in their interactions, promoting unity and love within the body of Christ.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from 1 Corinthians 1What defines the true gospel?What is the significance of 'Father of Mercies'?How can we return to God's wisdom and righteousness?What does the Greek word "charis" mean in English?

(3) Grace be unto you, and peace.--This is the usual style of apostolic greeting (Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2), and with these words the address and greeting which open the Epistle conclude.

Verse 3. - Grace to you and peace. This is St. Paul's greeting in all the Epistles except the pastoral Epistles, in which he beautifully adds the word "mercy." It is a remarkable blending of the Greek and Jewish salutations. The Greeks said Ξαίρειν, and to them the word "grace" involved the notions of joy and brightness and prosperity. The calmer and more solemn greeting of the East was, "Peace be to thee." The Church unites both forms of greeting - "grace," the beginning of every blessing; "peace," the end of all blessings; and into both she infuses a deeper meaning, that of a "joy" which defied all tribulations, and a" peace which passeth all understanding." From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Source of "every good gift and every perfect gift." God is our Father as our Creator, and as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we become, in a higher sense, his children. Christ, in his mediatorial kingdom, is specially and immediately "our Lord," though that phrase, now so universal, only occurs (in its isolated form) in Hebrews 7:14. Jesus Christ. One of St. Paul's peculiarities of style is the constant reiteration of one dominant word. In the first nine verses of this Epistle, the Name "Jesus Christ" is repeated no less than nine times. "Observe," says St. Chrysostom, "how he nails them down to the Name of Christ, not mentioning any man, either apostle or teacher, but continually mentioning him for whom they yearn, as men preparing to awaken those who are drowsy after a debauch. For nowhere in any other Epistle is the Name of Christ so continually introduced By means of it he weaves together almost his whole exordium." Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Grace
Χάρις (Charis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5485: From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

peace
εἰρήνη (eirēnē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1515: Probably from a primary verb eiro; peace; by implication, prosperity.

to you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

Father
Πατρὸς (Patros)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[the] Lord
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

Christ.
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

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