Paul is addressing the assembly of believers at Corinth—those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints.
Paul opens 1 Corinthians by addressing "the church of God which is at Corinth" and describes the readers as "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." He opens 2 Corinthians the same way, writing "unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia." Les Feldick stresses that Paul is writing only to believers, not to the nation of Israel or to unbelievers.
1 Corinthians 1:2 — This verse directly names the original recipients: the church of God at Corinth, sanctified in Christ Jesus and called saints.
2 Corinthians 1:1 — This verse confirms the same audience in Paul's second letter and includes all the saints in Achaia.
The opening verse of First Corinthians identifies the recipients: "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours" (1 Corinthians 1:2). Second Corinthians opens with a similar address: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia" (2 Corinthians 1:1). These verses describe a local assembly of believers. They are not addressed as outsiders or enemies; they are called saints and are identified as people who belong to Christ.
Les Feldick explains that Paul is not writing to the nation of Israel as Isaiah, Daniel, or the Twelve did; he is writing to the assembly at Corinth. Les prefers "assembly" over "church" because the Greek word ekklesia means a "called out assembly." Paul names the recipients as those "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (Clip 3). Les also notes that the Corinthian believers had written to Paul with a series of questions, and Paul's letter answers them one by one. The congregation had recently come out of a pagan background and was still carnal, but Paul is writing only to believers (Clips 1, 2, 5, 6, 7). Every true child of God becomes a member of the Body of Christ, even though the Corinthians were the most carnal and least spiritual of the churches Paul dealt with (Clips 4, 6).
Paul was responding to a letter the Corinthians had written to him. They asked how they were supposed to deal with certain matters, and by Holy Spirit inspiration Paul answered them one by one. Their questions all rested on problems, and the congregation had recently come out of a pagan background, so they had many issues to work through.
Yes. Scripture addresses them as "the church of God which is at Corinth," "sanctified in Christ Jesus," and "called to be saints" (1 Corinthians 1:2). Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul is writing only to the believers. He also explains that every true child of God becomes a member of the Body of Christ, even though the Corinthian church was the most carnal church Paul dealt with.
Les likes the word "assembly" because the Greek word ekklesia means a "called out assembly." He says "church" is more of a coin term and is not really in the original Greek. Paul's opening address describes the readers as those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints.
Why Unbelievers Can't Understand the Bible — 1 Corinthians 2 Explained
They are like trees whose fruit withereth, and I�m sure the implication is, before it was ready to eat. It looked so good coming along, and then all of a sudden, it�s not worth eating. Read on. Ephesians 2, verse 13, "...and twice dead, plucked up by the roots, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame.
Paul Responds to a Letter
This clip shows that the letter is an inspired answer to questions the Corinthians had asked Paul about conduct.
A Congregation Just Out of Paganism
Paul's audience had recently come out of a pagan background and wrote back with a series of questions; they were not spiritual giants yet.
Addressed to the Assembly
Paul is not writing to Israel but to the called-out assembly at Corinth—those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called saints.
Members of the Body of Christ
Paul's revelation of the Body of Christ includes every true believer, but the Corinthian church itself was still carnal.
Writing Only to Believers
In 2 Corinthians, Paul again writes directly to the congregation and is writing only to believers, along with all the saints in Achaia.
The Most Carnal Church
Les compares Corinth to Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae to show how carnal the Corinthian church was, yet Paul still addresses it.
A Letter Full of Corrections
Everything Paul deals with in 1 Corinthians is in response to the Corinthians' letter and touches predominantly church problems, not commendations.
1 Corinthians 1:2: Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Names the original readers and their identity as saints in Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
Shows Paul is again addressing the same Corinthian congregation and all saints in the region.
Paul writes to believers. He addresses them as "the church of God which is at Corinth," "sanctified in Christ Jesus," and "called to be saints" (1 Corinthians 1:2). Les Feldick also stresses that Paul is writing only to the believers. Their problems do not change the fact that they are members of the Body of Christ.
Les explains that the Greek word ekklesia means a called-out assembly. He thinks "assembly" is more explanatory than "church," which he calls more of a coin term and not really in the original Greek. Paul's letter is addressed to this assembly of believers.
No. Les describes the Corinthian church as the most carnal and least spiritual of all the churches Paul dealt with. They had recently come out of a pagan background and had many problems. Even so, Paul still writes to them as believers in the Body of Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Why Unbelievers Can't Understand the Bible — 1 Corinthians 2 Explained