Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 1:1

"Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother," — 1 Corinthians 1:1 (ASV)

Characteristically, Paul begins by naming himself and by identifying his position as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He stresses his apostleship because his authority has been challenged (cf. 1:12; 9:1–27). He makes it clear that he is an apostle by divine calling through God’s sovereign will (cf. Acts 9:15). The word “apostle” (GK 693) means “a sent one” and connotes a commissioned envoy.

Paul links Sosthenes to himself as a Christian brother; he was evidently one of the apostle’s special helpers and was presumably well known to the Corinthian church. It is possible that he was at one time a leader of the Corinthian synagogue (Acts 18:17). If so, he must have been subsequently converted and gone off to help Paul in his Ephesian ministry.