From Paul’s Pen – 1 Corinthians

Today 1 Corinthians – one of at least 2 maybe even 4 letters he wrote to them. In addition, they seemed to have written to him as well with a series of questions.

Unlike Rome, Paul had visited Corinth and stayed there for at least 1.5 years

This church had more problems than any other and therefore frustrated Paul more than any other church

Here’s a sample of their issues:

They are dividing over who is the best preacher

They are celebrating their tolerance of sin

They are taking each other to court over matters that should be able to be solved in house

They are abusing the Lord’s Supper turning into a meal dividing the rich and the poor rather than uniting them

They, at least some, are denying the resurrection of Christ

They have allowed spiritual gifts, especially speaking in tongues, to create a kind of religious caste system

Their worship services appear to be a chaotic mess with people speaking out of turn and trying to one-up each other

The church in Corinth is the poster-child for dysfunctional church!

We could spend weeks on each one of these letters and each one of these issues, but I want us to get to the underlying problem and Paul gets to that early on in the letter. The root of the problem is where we turn to for what is wise.

Let’s look at

1 Corinthians 1:18–31 (NIV) — 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

He makes this contrast between wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. “Wise” he uses 4 times. “Wisdom” he uses 8 times. A summary of this would be, “It doesn’t make worldly sense to live like a Christian.” All of these issues go back to relying on worldly wisdom rather than Godly wisdom.

Let’s look at what they think is wise. What they really value.

Worldly wisdom values charisma over truth.

We live in a celebrity culture. We tend to value the good looking, the strong, the eloquent over the ordinary, weak, and less well-spoken. Think about advertising – you don’t have short, bald-headed, overweight men promoting your product. Normally tall, handsome, fit men are in the advertising game. Now, there’s nothing wrong with tall, handsome, fit men but if we simply accept their opinions based on their looks or celebrity we are in danger of being deceived.

Corinth had fallen into this celebrity culture. Some liked Paul. Some liked Apollos. Some like Cephas. These were all church celebrities at the time but Paul warns them not to put their faith in leaders. Put your faith in the message.

1 Corinthians 3:21 (NIV) — 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders!

Worldly wisdom values tolerance over accountability

Tolerance is one of those qualities that can be good or bad. In the case here, it is bad. There’s an immoral situation going on here that is not just being tolerated but applauded and Paul chastises them for it. You can’t let this type of behavior go on inside the church. This is an abuse and misunderstanding of grace.

Actin needs to be taken for two reasons:

This unrepentant, blatant sin is putting these people in danger of judgment. Judgement is another word we don’t find too pleasant these days, but it is real. Some behaviors and the underlying beliefs that drive that behavior that will be judged by God. Any action taken in response is to bring these parties to repentance and life.

This sin when allowed to exist unconfronted in the church could lead others to sin as well. Paul compares it to leaven that spreads to the whole loaf of bread.

Paul does make a very interesting note here – this confrontation of sin is in the context of the church, not to the whole world.

1 Corinthians 5:9–13 (NIV) — 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

There is a standard of behavior we expect of church members.

Worldly wisdom values privilege over sacrifice

We tend to value our rights to do what we have the right to do and if it interferes or hurts you, too bad.

1 Corinthians 6:7 (NIV) — 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

Worldly wisdom values freedom over discipline

1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV) — 12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV) — 23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

Kingdom values I see Paul advocating for in 1 Corinthians:

Truth – Do I really value what is true or am I swayed by what is popular or trendy or what the powerful in this world teach and believe?

Accountability – Do I value criticism? Am I open to correction? Do I really want to become a better person or do I want everyone to just leave me as I am?

Sacrifice – Am I willing to relinquish my rights for the sake of others? Do I demand that I have my own way? Do I insist on my rights?

Discipline – Am I spiritually lazy? Do I do the hard work of self-denial that leads to growth?

1 Corinthians may be best known for its chapter on love.

1 Corinthians 13:1–13 (NIV) — 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This is what they are lacking. The greatest value is love.