This week our epistle reading again starts with another of Paul’s signature greetings, this time to the church at Corinth. The apostle adapts the typical Hellenistic salutation to create an utterly Christocentric greeting. Instead of just “greeting” (“chairein”) Paul offers “grace” (“charis”) along with the Hebrew “shalom” (“peace”). Most importantly Paul emphasizes the source of all the “grace” and “peace” he extends to these Corinthian Christians: it comes “from God our Father,” and has been made tangible in life on earth by “the Lord Jesus Christ.”

As the apostle moves into the formal thanksgiving portion of this letter, he conspicuously “name drops.” In fact, we encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 out loud, which makes audible the theological point Paul is presenting in these te…