1:1 apostle. Someone commissioned directly by Christ as His authoritative messenger (2 Cor. 1:1 note). Paul stresses the significance of this office elsewhere (ch. 9; 15:1–11; 2 Cor. 10–12; Gal. 1). Some of the problems in the Corinthian church involved challenges to Paul’s authority.

Sosthenes. Perhaps the same person mentioned in Acts 18:17, ruler of the synagogue in Corinth at the time of Paul’s first visit to the city.