Paul has written this letter to address serious problems troubling the church at Corinth, a major commercial city in Greece known for its immorality and religious diversity. After establishing the church during his second missionary journey and spending eighteen months there teaching, Paul departed and continued his ministry elsewhere. While in Ephesus during his third missionary journey, he received disturbing reports from Chloe's household about divisions and moral issues plaguing the Corinthian believers. Additionally, the Corinthians sent him a letter seeking guidance on various matters of Christian conduct and worship. These concerns prompted Paul to write this epistle to correct their errors, answer their questions, and restore unity among the fractured congregation. Paul is addressing the church at Corinth and all believers who call upon Christ's name.
[1] Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
[2] To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
[3] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[4] I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, [5] that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, [6] even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, [7] so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, [8] who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
In the preceding verses, Jesus has just come down from the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, where they witnessed His divine glory alongside Moses and Elijah. At the mountain's base, a desperate father approaches Jesus because the remaining nine disciples failed to heal his demon-possessed son who suffers severe seizures. Jesus expresses frustration with the faithless generation, then immediately casts out the demon and heals the boy completely. When the disciples privately ask why they couldn't perform the exorcism, Jesus explains their lack of faith and teaches that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. As they travel together through Galilee, Jesus again predicts His coming death and resurrection, which deeply grieves the disciples. Upon arriving in Capernaum, tax collectors question Peter about whether Jesus pays the temple tax, leading Jesus to discuss freedom and obligation before miraculously providing the tax money through a coin found in a fish's mouth.
[21] However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
[22] Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, [23] and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
[24] When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
[25] He said, “Yes.”
And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
[26] Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. [27] Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
[1] At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
[2] Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, [3] and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.