1 Corinthians 1:9 kjv

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:9 nkjv

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:9 niv

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:9 esv

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:9 nlt

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.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 9 Meaning

1 Corinthians 1:9 asserts God's unwavering character as the source and sustainer of the believer's salvation. It reveals that the faithful God is the one who initiates the divine calling, drawing individuals into a profound and intimate sharing—a partnership and communion—with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. This fellowship implies participation in Christ's life, identity, and mission, serving as the unbreakable foundation for the believers in Corinth amidst their divisions and challenges.

1 Corinthians 1 9 Context

First Corinthians is a letter from the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, a prominent Greco-Roman city known for its strategic location, wealth, intellectualism, and moral laxity. The church itself was struggling with various issues: divisions based on allegiance to different leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas), immorality, lawsuits among believers, misuse of spiritual gifts, and doctrinal confusion regarding resurrection. Paul's introductory remarks in Chapter 1, leading up to verse 9, begin with a thanksgiving for their spiritual gifts and calling, serving to establish a positive affirmation before he addresses their profound problems. Verse 9 specifically grounds the Corinthian believers' identity and existence in God's unchangeable character and His sovereign action. It serves as a foundational theological statement, redirecting their focus from human leaders, worldly wisdom, or self-achievements back to the faithful God who initiated their salvation and brought them into union with Christ. This profound truth about God's faithfulness and their shared fellowship in Christ forms the ultimate basis for the unity Paul will urge throughout the letter, countering the spirit of division rife among them.

1 Corinthians 1 9 Word analysis

• God (Θεὸς, Theos): This refers to the One True God, the Father. His singular identity is crucial, particularly in the multi-deity context of Corinth. It emphasizes divine agency, not human initiative.
• is faithful (πιστὸς, pistos): Pistos means trustworthy, reliable, dependable, steadfast, true to His word and nature. This is a core attribute of God, underpinning all His promises and actions. It signifies that God is consistent and does not change His mind or purpose. This directly counters the wavering human condition prevalent in Corinth.
• through whom (δι’ οὗ, di' hou): This phrase indicates God as the instrument, means, or agent. It clearly points to God as the active force and source behind the calling and the fellowship, eliminating any possibility of human merit or self-effort as the cause.
• you were called (ἐκλήθητε, eklēthēte): This is in the passive voice, emphasizing that the calling is from outside and above—it's a divine summons, not a human choice in its origin. This "calling" is not merely an invitation but an effectual, powerful summons that leads to a real spiritual outcome. It implies election and divine purpose for salvation and service.
• into the fellowship (εἰς κοινωνίαν, eis koinōnian):
  • fellowship (κοινωνία, koinōnia): This word is rich in meaning, implying deep sharing, communion, participation, partnership, and commonality. It's more than just being together; it means participating in a common life, sharing blessings, responsibilities, and sufferings. It denotes intimacy and identification. In this context, it speaks of a shared life with Christ Himself.
• of His Son (τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, tou Huiou autou): Identifies the specific object and content of the fellowship. It points to the divine relationship between God the Father and God the Son, into which believers are incorporated.
• Jesus Christ our Lord (Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Iēsou Christou tou Kyriou hēmōn):
  • Jesus (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsoús): His human name, signifying salvation.
  • Christ (Χριστός, Christós): His title, meaning "Anointed One," the Messiah, signifying His role as God's chosen deliverer and king.
  • our Lord (τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, tou Kyriou hēmōn): Kyrios means supreme authority, master, ruler. The addition of "our" personalizes His Lordship, emphasizing His sovereignty over believers' lives and the collective ownership of His Lordship by the Christian community.

• "God is faithful": This phrase serves as the unwavering anchor for all that follows. It highlights God's integrity and reliability, ensuring that His saving purposes are firm and unchanging. This foundation is especially crucial for a church rife with instability and doubt.
• "through whom you were called": This clearly attributes the initiation and accomplishment of their spiritual state to God's sovereign act. It reminds the Corinthians that their spiritual standing is not due to their own wisdom, eloquence, or human leaders, but entirely to divine grace.
• "into the fellowship of His Son": This emphasizes the purpose of the calling: not merely to salvation in general, but specifically to an intimate, active relationship and partnership with Jesus Christ. This "fellowship" means participating in everything Christ is and has, including His divine life, mission, sufferings, and future glory. It undercuts any basis for human boasting or division, as all share equally in this divine fellowship.

1 Corinthians 1 9 Bonus section

The order of the titles "Jesus Christ our Lord" is significant. "Jesus" speaks to His humanity and historical person. "Christ" emphasizes His Messianic identity as God's anointed one, fulfilling prophecy. "Our Lord" denotes His divine authority and sovereignty over all creation and, more specifically, over the lives of those who believe. This progression underscores both the accessibility of a human savior and the submission due to a divine sovereign, all within the context of a personal relationship (our Lord). This verse implies the active involvement of the Trinity; the Father calls, into fellowship with the Son, and this fellowship is enabled and sustained by the Holy Spirit (as seen elsewhere in Paul's writings on koinonia with the Spirit). It highlights that the gospel is not primarily a system of rules, but an invitation to an eternal, intimate relationship, initiated and sustained by the steadfast character of God Himself.

1 Corinthians 1 9 Commentary

1 Corinthians 1:9 stands as a profound declaration of God's character and the divine origin of the believer's union with Christ. Paul begins by stating a fundamental truth: God is absolutely trustworthy and dependable. This unshakeable attribute of faithfulness guarantees the stability and permanence of the divine calling. It underscores that our salvation and standing before God are not predicated on our performance, fleeting emotions, or the competence of human leaders, but solely on God's unwavering reliability. The act of "calling" emphasizes God's sovereign initiative; humanity is not seeking God in this context, but God is actively summoning His chosen people. The destination of this call is "fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." This "fellowship" (koinonia) is not merely superficial association, but a deep, shared life—a spiritual communion and partnership with the Son of God. It implies sharing in His nature, His purposes, His suffering, and His glory. This union with Christ provides the ultimate solution to the disunity and divisions that plagued the Corinthian church. If they truly shared such an intimate fellowship with the Lord, then their petty quarrels and allegiances to human leaders became incongruous. The verse thus sets a powerful theological framework, reminding believers that their ultimate loyalty and identity reside not in worldly wisdom or human figures, but in their indissoluble, divinely established communion with Jesus Christ, the sovereign Lord.

Examples:

• Trustworthiness in adversity: When faced with severe challenges, like financial loss or health crises, believers can anchor their hope in "God is faithful," knowing He will never abandon His own.
• Foundation for unity: Despite diverse personalities or opinions within a local church, recalling "fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" provides the supreme reason for unity and loving collaboration.
• Motivation for service: Recognizing that one has been "called" by God into fellowship with Christ inspires commitment and courage in carrying out divine mandates, knowing the source of strength is infinite.