1 Cor 1:1 (NIV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
NOTE: It seems a remarkable coincidence that Paul should be writing a letter with Sosthenes to Corinth, when the name Sosthenes is the same as the synagogue ruler who took Paul to court, and then was later beaten by his own brethen for the failure to get Gallio to act on any of the charges, at Corinth. Maybe the beating convinced Sosthenes that he really had no true friends, and the Christians lived much different loving lives. It may be coincidence, but when it comes to the gospel, it really is not unusual at all to find those who fought so hard against it to turn to it in the end. Paul is the proto-typical example. A man determined to snuff it out, becoming the man God used to spread it over the known world.
It really is amazing that God uses imperfect and dirty lumps of clay to accomplish his glorious and majestic work. How unworthy are we to the task that we are called! But our unworthiness is no excuse to not respond to the grace that was showered upon us. Yes, we are sinners, but when God calls us to a task, we must respond. He deserves nothing less than our full attention.
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