2017, December 3 ~ Isaiah 64:1-9; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Isaiah 64:1-9

The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel’s history. Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and were written in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to 55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and, for the most part, gives encouragement to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.

Although today’s reading is from the chapters called “Third Isaiah,” these verses were composed soon after Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians and the Babylonian Exile began in 587 BCE. This is clearly shown by the two verses immediately preceding today’s reading (63:18-19) and the two verses following it (vv. 10-11), all of which refer to the recent destruction of Jerusalem.

The reading itself is a lament and prayer to the LORD/YHWH (vv. 8-9) that confessed the sinfulness of the Judeans (vv. 5b-7) and their perception of YHWH’s hiddenness (v.7) from them. The concluding verses appealed to YHWH as a father and as a potter who molded the people (v.8). Jeremiah also used the image of a potter to describe YHWH who molded the people (Jer. 18:6).

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was Hellenistic and the Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. In addition to Paul, other Jesus Followers also taught in Corinth, sometimes in ways inconsistent with Paul’s understandings of what it means to be a Jesus Follower. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on several issues.

Today’s reading from the opening chapter of the letter is a salutation customary in ancient Greek letters (vv. 1-3) followed by a thanksgiving for the grace of God given to the Jesus Followers in Corinth through Christ Jesus (vv.4-7). Paul acknowledged the importance of rhetoric and reason in Corinth by noting that the Corinthians have been “enriched” in “speech and knowledge” (v.5). He tells them that the Lord Jesus Christ will strengthen them so they will be blameless at the time of judgment and fulfillment, the “day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 8). Paul reminded them that they were called into “the fellowship of the Son” (v.9).

Having praised the Corinthians and reminded them of the gifts they received from God, in the verses that follow today’s reading, Paul launched into his arguments and appealed that “there be no divisions among you” (v.10).