1 Corinthians 1:1-31
Notes
Transcript
Introduction to the book
Introduction to the book
world history for context:
The Roman empire rules over 3-4% of the land at 1.7 to 2 million square miles at its peak. Maybe 25% of the population at maybe 40 million of 160 million people theorized to live at that time.
For context the United States covers approximately 3.8 million square miles of the Earth's total 57.5 million square miles land area or roughly 6.6% of the Earth’s land area.
The United States has a population of about 334 million of approximately 8 billion or about 4.2% of the global population.
trade between China and Rome is happening along the Silk Road which is controlled by the Parthians, Rome’s neighbor and chief rival at the time.
Emperor Nero has just taken the throne in A.D. 54 at just 16 years old
The Book:
written by Paul
The church is thought to have been historically founded around A.D. 49, when Paul came to Thessalonica from Philippi on his second missionary journey and 1 Thessalonians (and maybe 2 Thess.) is said to be written then
The next book written by Paul was Galatians written between A.D. 52-55 while Paul was in Ephesus and 1 Corinthians seems to be written around or shortly after the same time from Ephesus as well
If the Gospels are written between A.D. 65 and A.D. 100, you can see 1 Corinthians is one of the earliest written books of the New Testament and Paul laid foundational doctrinal groundwork and offered moral guidance to early Christian communities, addressing issues like unity, morality, and the nature of Christ.
Note: An anachronism is an error in chronology, where a person, event, object, or custom is placed in an incorrect historical or chronological time. It’s something that’s out of place in time—like seeing a smartphone in a movie set in ancient Rome. We tend to do that when we read the Bible. We try to judge them based on what we know now. When Paul is writing to the Corinthians Jesus has been crucified and resurrected and the church has been founded less time than we have had the computer and around the same amount of time we have had the internet (ARPANET 1/1/1983). Until Paul writes to them they may have had a copy of one part of the letter to the Thessalonians but most likely they are worshiping with somebody saying from memory parts of it.
We have two letters to Corinth in the Canon in 1 and 2 Corinthians but evidence that he wrote two more. One before 1 Corinthians and a 3rd “lost” letter written by Paul that was more severe in his rebuke of the church in Corinth written between 1 and 2 Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 5:9 “9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:”
2 Corinthians 2:4 “4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.”
2 Corinthians 2:8–9 “8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.”
The context of 1 Corinthians:
Corinth itself is a big city of maybe 100,000 people so all we would say about them now is true then. Corinth was made up mostly of people with a Stoic or Epicurean worldview.
The church in Corinth was founded in the middle of a city that they would have came out of and surrounded by a culture dominated by sexual sin and
Paul is responding to some things he’s heard going on in the church in Corinth:
There were questions sent to him by letter. Evidence for this in 1 Corinthians 5:9 “9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:”
We’s see this morning in Chapter 1 he had also heard from some of Chloe’s family about divisions in the church
He had met with some that had either came to him in Ephesus to ask questions or written to him with moral issues in the church (1 Corinthians 7:1 “1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” 1 Corinthians 5:1 “1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.” ) as well as even questioning Paul’s apostleship 1 Corinthians 9:1 “1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?”
Since he can’t drive and ferry the 12-16 hour 425 mile trip and it would have taken him weeks to get there in person, he sends this letter:
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Paul’s Greeting
Paul’s Greeting
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Paul opens with a subtle jab at those questioning his role
God had sovereignly and divinely appointed him an apostle
Galatians 1:1 “1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)”
apostle is a function as well as that of office or position.
primarily had to do with some who were “sent” by Christ to preach the gospel (cf. 1:17).
But those who were so sent, and especially those who founded churches as a result of their evangelizing, came to be known as apostles (Acts 15:7 “7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” )
Note for modern day: Peter proposed the conditions of apostleship:
needed to be an eyewitness of Jesus’ baptism when the Heavenly Father validated Jesus’ person and work.
He needed to have heard Jesus’ life-changing teachings and been present to see His healings and other miracles.
He needed to have witnessed Jesus sacrifice Himself on the cross and to have seen Jesus walk, talk, and eat among the disciples again after His resurrection.
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Paul reminds the church of their CALLING as well
church: ekklēsia in ordinary greek was just an assembly, the church takes the word and it comes to be know and the assembly called by God
sanctified in Christ: set apart and made Holy, given to God
immediately by Christ and progressively by the Holy Spirit and the Word
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Usual Greek greeting was ‘greeting’ (chairein)
Paul uses ‘grace’ (charis).
In the NT period, “grace” (Gk. cháris) is associated with the institution of patronage and so the NT proclamation of God’s favor would have been heard and interpreted within this social context.
Patrons gave access to goods, entertainment, and advancement. (God the Father)
The client, who received the benefit, accepted the obligation to spread the fame of the giver and declare gratitude for the patron’s gifts (cf. Seneca 2.21.1; 2.24.2). The client also accepted the obligation of loyalty and service to the patron. (Us)
A third figure in this network has been called the “broker” (cf. mesɩ́tēs). This figure was a patron to his or her clients and a client or friend of another potential patron. The broker’s chief benefaction was access to another patron and the resources at his or her disposal. (Jesus as mediator)
cháris has three distinct meanings.
It is first the disposition of a benefactor to aid a suppliant, “not in return for something nor in the interest of him who renders it, but in that of the recipient” (Aristotle Rhetoric 2.7.2).
It also refers to the client’s proper return for a benefit, namely gratitude and loyal service (cf. 2 Cor. 4:15; Heb. 12:28; 13:15–16)
the actual gift or benefit conferred (cf. 2 Cor. 8:6–7, 19).
“grace is the infusion of a new and holy principle into the heart, whereby it is changed from what it was—and is made after God's own heart. Grace does not make a moral change only—but a sacred one; it biases the soul heavenward—and stamps upon it the image and superscription of God.” -Thomas Watson sermon
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:4–5 “4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;”
He gives thanks, not for what the Corinthians have done of themselves, but for what God’s grace given … in Christ Jesus has accomplished in them.
speaking, the telling forth of the truth, and
knowledge, the grasp of the truth
1 Corinthians 1:6 “6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:”
The gospel is the good news of what God has done; all that the preachers do is pass it on, bear their witness to it.
Paul is saying that the changed lives of the Corinthians, specifically their ‘speaking’ and their ‘knowledge’ (v. 5), shows the truth of the message preached to them.
1 Corinthians 1:7 “7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
God has enriched their lives so that they lack no spiritual gift. Believers wait, not in apathy, but in hope
1 Corinthians 1:8 “8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Because it’s His day and because it’s Him who will ‘guarantee’ the Corinthians, they can rest assured that they will be blameless in that day. No charge can be laid against all those Christ guarantees
1 Corinthians 1:9 “9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
They and we can confidently look for the continuance of his blessing, because of who God is and not us and his character is at stake.
Jesus Christ or Christ used 5 times in 9 verses . Paul loves and wants them to love Jesus.
fellowship is the opposite of divisions
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1 Corinthians 1:10 “10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
thesis of the letter and what all the evidence Paul gives will be about
we are to be joined in Christ as one body
1 Corinthians 1:11 “11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.”
letter from Chloe’s family
contentions (strife in Galatians 5:19–21 “19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” ) quarreling
1 Corinthians 1:12 “12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.”
cliques based on who baptised them (leaders)
note: I’m not baptist or methodist, I follow Jesus I don’t need to go to church
1 Corinthians 1:13–17 “13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
Rhetorical question. Don’t follow the leaders, follow Christ and He puts us in bodies (Ephesians)
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
One thing divides those that die forever and those that are saved: The Cross
God decrees by the death of His Son, eternal life is given to them that believe
The Corinthian mind would have thought it stupid that the God Christians followed would die and THAT’S how he would be the supreme deity
The Corinthians had clearly emphasized the importance of wisdom and the Jews were constantly looking for a sign. Paul, in no uncertain terms and with boldness contrasts the wisdom of God, which seems folly to the sophisticated Corinthians, with the worldly wisdom that they so admired and that was so ineffective.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
The contradiction God’s method offers to worldly wisdom is illustrated by the kind of people he has called.
He could have used the famous philosophers like Seneca, or Socrates but he chose fishermen and tax collectors and former sanhedrin like Paul
God gets ALL the glory this way and not the men.
Conclusion
Conclusion
If we are following men and only believe what we believe because they say so we’re not Christians (Christ followers)
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 “30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
