The church of God at Corinth is blessed with the preaching of the gospel by the Apostle Paul. It was the will of God that he was sent to preach the gospel in Corinth. God caused souls to be saved. Their lives made holy. Jesus stilled the heart of the Apostle Paul to tarry in the city to confirm the faith of the new converts. He stayed for a year and a half. The systematic teaching of God’s Word sanctifies the hearts of the hearers to conform to the image of Christ. What a blessing to see the believers’ growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; — neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labor, and bereave — my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up — his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

The Apostle Paul has Timothy to assist him in the work of the gospel. Timotheus or Timothy was first mentioned in Acts 16:1 during the 2nd Missionary journey, one with a good testimony among the brethren.

Acts 16:1-4 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

Hebrews 1:1-4 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Who Is Jesus Christ?

The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of Man. The name Jesus, announced by the angel, signifies – “The Lord is Salvation” or “Saviour”. The word “Christ” (The Anointed One) is essentially an official title borne by Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.

The Son of God took man’s nature and was born of the virgin Mary. Hence, there are two natures, the divine and human, joined in one Person, who is Christ Jesus. He is the mediator between God and men.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

By His suffering, crucifixion, and death, Jesus who is sinless, became a sacrifice for all the sins of men.

After His death, Jesus rose again on the third day and ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of God the Father. He shall forever reign and have dominion over all creatures.

The Apostle Paul urges the believers in Rome to be mindful of false teachers that will with their “smooth” talk and flattery deceive the unguarded and inexperienced ones. These false teachers serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own selfish interest. The term “their own belly”, Barnes observed, “Their own lusts; their own private interests; they do this to obtain support. The authors of parties and divisions, in church and state, have this usually in view.”

The peace and harmony of the church are disrupted by such who “crept in unawares” (Jude 3) into the congregation of God’s people. There the beloved Apostle’s counsel is that they are to “mark them” these. The word means “to spy out, look towards an object, to contemplate, give attention to”. God’s people are to be on the look out for such trouble-makers that can destabilise the faith of God’s people.