Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 1:1-2
Helpful thoughts:
- Saul was a Pharisee, hater of Christ and persecutor of the church of his own will before his conversion. Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.
- The word Apostle means, “one who is sent.” The Apostles were men who were appointed directly by Christ for that specific task at that specific time. There are no more Apostles today.
- Being wished “grace and peace” was derived both from Greek and Jewish culture.
- The Greek word for “hello” is similar to the word for grace. So, Christians began to greet each other with the word for grace.
- The Jews greeted each other with the word for peace.
Questions to consider:
- Knowing the Corinth was a city in Achaia, what could this greeting from all the saints (Christians) in verse 1 of the Christians in the whole region have reminded the church in Corinth of? Were they the only church? Was the kingdom being built outside of their “walls?”
- Why is it so significant to know that Paul was an apostle by the will of God? How does this truth bring about humility in the person? How does it promote praise of the Lord? How is this true for all of us as we consider our own salvation?
- Even when we have disagreements or unsettled issues with others (As Paul will address in this letter) what is our hope for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ (Verse 2)? How does pursuing biblical communication bring about grace and peace in a way that avoiding hard conversations never could?