Pauls opening to this letter is structured like most ancient Greek letters: naming

the author and the recipient and offering a blessing. This is a pattern he follows in
all his letters. His openings stand out by expanding these common features, as he
does here. Whether consciously intended or not, these extras often tip off primary
concerns elaborated in the course of the letter.

Pauls mention of himself as the author of the letter is expanded in two distinct
ways. First, he emphasizes his divine calling to be an apostle. This was not unusual
for him. He mentions being an apostle at the opening of most of his letters (except
Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon). This often signals that his
credibility as an apostle was under attack among the people to whom he wrote,
as in Galatians or Colossians, but this is not always the case, as with Romans or
1 Timothy. However, since we do know that his apostolic status suffered a major
attack by Corinthian believers within the context of 2 Corinthians and the severe
letter and painful visit mentioned there, it is not overly presumptuous to think
that preliminary problems along this line began to appear among the Corinthians
previous to the writing of 1 Corinthians. Though not as obvious as in 2 Corinthians,
a strong case can be made that subversion of Pauls apostleship was a major issue
for 1 Corinthians, rising to the surface in 4:1-5 and 9:1-23.