Have you ever published something? Perhaps a magazine or newspaper article, or a book? Was it self-published or had the writings gone through a publishing house? Some people do self-publish books.
But as we begin to read 1 Corinthians chapter 1, (and other of Pauls' opening lines of letters he wrote) we see he didn't exactly "self- publish" his letter. His authority came from God. He greeted them,
"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God and Sosthenes our brother ..." (1 Corinthians 1:1 KJV).
He establishes his right and authority to "speak" to his Corinthian audience by telling them, #1, he was called to be an apostle by Jesus Christ Himself, and #2, through the will of God. It's important to note this especially. You'll see why as we move through the letter.
God and Jesus Christ were his witnesses, so to speak, and the One who ordained him. Therefore, he writes in confidence and expectation that the Corinthians will heed his words of wisdom. He is not just spouting off offhand.
There forever being enmity between God and Satan, Satan can't leave well enough alone. The Corinthian church had been happily established but now division came. Satan was using the 'divide and conquer' method.
Paul had to pull them back, reminding them of their need to all agree in the name of their Lord Jesus Christ (vs 10). They should not have divisions among them and that they should be united in the same mind and the same judgment (vs 10).
The leader among them to follow, was and should be, their same mind, Christ, not Paul, not Apollos and not Cephas.
Very likely these three were stalwart and godly men of God. But they were human beings, not God. They needed to make and maintain Christ as central to their service and worship. Otherwise, Paul stated his fear that,
"...the cross of Christ be emptied of its power" (vs 17 ESV).
Not that the cross and the work Jesus had done upon it would in and of itself be diminished but rather that the people would tarnish His name and word and so bring dishonor upon Jesus' work upon the cross and upon Jesus Himself and even upon the followers of Jesus Christ, for that matter, who were not showing too much brotherly love and had marred the unity of the Spirit.
Self-centeredness leads to inflated ego and boasting in self. But Christ-centeredness leads to boasting in Jesus Christ and all He has done for us. It leads to living for Him and being the light and salt in the world. It leads to bringing others to Christ. And it leads to unity in Christ and His Holy Spirit thereby resisting the devil so he would flee from them. Then we'd have something to write about, and even publish.
~ ERC May 2026 ~
Based on 1 Corinthians 1:1 KJV and vs 10 & 17 ESV especially.
Sing, All My Boast Is In Jesus, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.
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