Wednesday, January 21, 2026 — 1 Corinthians 1:1–9
The Short of It
God walks through the challenges of life by our side. His grace empowers us to live well.
The Long of It
Paul speaks into a divided church full of new believers. He can’t be with them in person, so he writes to encourage and instruct them. His opening message is a powerful and timely reminder as they grapple with a host of issues within and without: They have all that they need to overcome these challenges.
While these new Christians wrestle with the changes that their faith has brought and navigate new relationships, sudden hostility, and the complications of a new family, Paul wants to encourage them with how far they have come. He opens with a reminder that he thanks God for them. They are a blessing to Paul. They are doing Jesus’ work in a way that assures Paul that his work among them wasn’t wasted.
Now he wants them to know what he sees. They might feel like they are struggling. They might feel like they can’t handle their problems. They might think that this whole thing was a bad idea and its time to call it quits. Paul sees it differently. From his perspective, God has given them grace upon grace. He has gifted them uniquely to handle the challenges they face. So he gives them a big encouragement: Stay strong, stay the course.
If you are feeling overburdened today, remember that God is with you. So stay strong and stay the course.
Setting the Scene
Historical Context
Corinth was a wealthy, competitive city shaped by Greek philosophy and Roman status culture. Public reputation, eloquence, and strength mattered deeply. The church was absorbing those values and applying them to faith—creating division and pride. Paul pushes back hard against that mindset.
Literary Context
This passage comes early in Paul’s letter, setting the tone for everything that follows. The opening of a letter typically includes the name of the writer, the name of the recipient(s), and a blessing on the readers. Here Paul blends his blessing into an encouragement for his readers to prepare them for the hard words he will challenge them with later in his letter.
Theological Context
We do not go through life alone. Christ himself is the living proof that God enters our world – enters our mess – and gives us grace to overcome. Paul’s reminder that we are called to stay strong through hardship, enduring until Christ’s return, is a word that every generation of believers has to lean upon.
Bible Text (NLT)
1 Corinthians 1:1–9 (NLT) — 1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes. 2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Key Insights
- God’s grace is with us through all of life.
- Jesus will return.
- We aren’t called to simply sit and wait for his coming.
- God calls us to a big work and empowers us to do that work.
Jesus Questions
- What am I going through right now that needs Jesus’ grace to overcome it?
- Where am I tempted to give up when God has called me to stay strong?
- What spiritual gift has God given me to face my challenges, and how can I lean into that gift?
A Small Practice for Today
Trust him.
Think of what challenges feel overwhelming today. Give them to God and pray:
“Jesus, thank you for walking through this with me. Give me grace to trust you when I feel like giving up.”
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