1 Corinthians- How to respond to todays changing World.

Introduction:

Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Corinthians Church in between approx. AD 53-55. This was near the end of his 3 year ministry in Ephesus (during his 3rd Missionary journey). Paul reached Corinth in his 2nd missionary journey (AD 51) alone - Acts 18:1-8 after one of his best gospel presentation in Athens but with no much effect as there were no or very less people turning to gospel. Paul laboured in Corinth with a Jewish- Christian couple Aquila & Priscilla, who was recently expelled from Rome by the Emperor Claudius because they were Jews. Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Corinth. They ministered there for 18 months and a Church was formed consists of believers from pagan background mostly (1 Corinthians 12:2).

Ap. Paul wrote 4 letter and probably 3 visits to Corinth- 1st letter - 1 Corinthians 5:9 “I wrote to you in the letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.” Paul received word about immorality in the young Church at Corinth. And he wrote a letter (letter is lost) that apparently failed to achieve the purpose. Some time latter he came to know that the same problem remained and there were other problems, so he wrote 2nd letter - 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:11; 16:17); But this letter also failed to correct the abuses in Corinth. So Paul then apparently made a visit to Corinth, during which he was rebuffed(2 Corinthians 2:1). From Ephesus Paul then wrote 3rd letter- the tearful severe letter - 2 Corinthians 2:3–4 “And I wrote this very thing in order that when I came, I would not experience sorrow from those who ought to have made me glad, because I have confidence about you all, that my joy belongs to all of you. For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you.” This letter he sent by TItus has also been lost. Many believe that this letter is attached with 2 Corinthians as CHapter 10-13. In anxiety over the possible effect of this drastic letter and impatient over TItus’ delay in returining. Paul traveled north from Ephesus to Macedonia. There Titus met him and to Paul’s relief and joy, reported that the Corinthians had punished the ringleader of the opposition and repented(2 Corinthians 2:5-11). So he wrote 4th letter - 2 Corinthians, recounting his anxiety and expressing his joy over the reform in the Church.

Corinth City: Corinth was the most considerable city of Greece but during Paul’s time the city was part of the Roman Empire. Its commercial importance had always been great. Corinth was situated on a narrow neck of land between two seas- the fare-famed Isthmus. The command of the Isthmus was no doubt important in a military point of view; but at a time when navigation was difficult and dangerous, the commercial advantages of the position were enormous. Merchants arriving either from the East or from west, from Italy or Asia Minor, could sabe themselves the risk of a hazardous voyage round the Peloponnesus, and found at Corinth both a ready market for their wares, and a convenient means of transport. Therefore , Corinth held a high position among the cities of Greece; the Military genius of Sparta and the intellectual and political eminence of Athens; were the important cities in the history of Greece. Corinth was famous in Greece for Luxury, most sumptuous theatres, Palaces, temples and also manufactured a peculiar kind of fine bronze known as Corinthian brass. It was regarded as the “eye”; the “capital and grace” of Greece. But when Romans defeated the city, it was destroyed and was not allowed to rebuilt for a century. Its ruins became quarry from which proud patricians who dwelt on the Esquiline or at Baiae, adorned their villas with Marbles, paintings and statues.

The Colony (Julia Corinthus) founded here by Julius Caesar in BC 46 soon restored the city to its former glory. The city rose rapidly from its ruins. The Roman proconsul of Achaia fixed his seat there (Acts 18:12). Merchants once again found the convenience of the spot for the transport as old and soon became the bye-word for luxury and vice. Corinth soon became as a wonder of the world and a place no man dares to visit without ample command of money. The worship of goddess Aphrodite made Corinth once again hot bed of impurity. Corinth became the 3rd largest city of Roman empire and was known for commercial center, important port, sexual permissiveness and cosmopolitan city.

Body:

Overview of 1 Corinthains:

Many of the problems Paul addresses come from the Corinthian Christians’ tendency to reflect the values of their city rather than those of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15).

Chapter 1-6 : Answers to things Paul came to know about the Corinthian Church from Chole’s Family 1 Corinthians 1:11 “For it has been made clear to me concerning you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.”

Chapter 7-16: Answers to questions that Corinthian Church asked Pauls through letter sent to him through - 1 Corinthians 16:17 “Now I rejoice over the arrival of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because these make up for your absence,”

In Chapter 1-6: there are major 2 sections

Chapter 1-4:

Problems: Immaturity: Divisions/ disunity/quarrels

Causes:

1 Corinthians 1:10-17: Following human leaders instead of Christ. Division in following man but Christ is not divided. 1 Corinthians 1:13 - is “reductio ad absurdum”- reducing the opponent’s position to its natural but absurd conclusion. there is always tenancy to emotionally get attached with spiritual leader as you follow his teaching and when he has led you into a service like baptism. Many leaders claimed their authority over the believers based on the services he gave to them. In Judaism baptism is the final act of conversion for gentiles and many early Christians followed this pattern. but Paul refuses to emphasise the act itself, but he emphasise the baptism is merely bears witness to the message they received. People choose their leaders according to their liking- Apollos- an Wise orator - which Greek minds were able accepting, Paul- doctrinally sound and so on…

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:13: Favouring earthly wisdom instead of wisdom of Gospel. Associating power with a crucified man- the epitope of weakness, made no sense to people. We are saved by Cross not by rhetorics 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

1 Corinthians 2:14-3:7: Struggling in Flesh (immaturity) rather than growing in Gospel & Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:8-23 : Forgetting to whom we belong: not to men but to Christ 1 Corinthians 3:20-23.

1 Corinthians 4:1-21: Flattering themselves rather than committing to Christ’s ways (1 Corinthians 4:17): Relying on man’s words or wisdom - not understanding Spiritual things

Consequences:

Lack of Spiritual growth:

The Corpse: 1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” They are helpless to understand God’s Word (Acts 8:31). so they conclude that Word of God is senseless (Acts17:18,32; 26:24). They are dead and must be resurrected, he cannot be revived (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1)

The Carnal man 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 “And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to fleshly people, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to eat it. But now you are still not able, for you are still fleshly. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and do you not live like unregenerate people?” They are helpless, infant, new born- weakness without power of speech, immature and inexperienced (Ephesians 4:14). They cannot recieve anything but milk. they walk and talk like an unsaved man. they compare leaders instead of spiritual truths

The Spiritual Man: 1 Corinthians 2:15 “Now the spiritual person discerns all things, but he himself is judged by no one.” They are controlled and motivated by the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:16,25; Philippians 2:5.

ii. Loss of reward at judgement seat of Christ: 1 Corinthians 3:13–15 “the work of each one will become evident. For the day will reveal it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the work of each one, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work that he has built upon it remains, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.”

iii. Gospel furtherance is hindered: 1 Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not with talk, but with power.”

Cure:

Know that you are the Temple of God’s Spirit 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy this one. For God’s temple is holy, which you are.” Thus the people who make up the Church should work in unity by building up each other

Remember the ways of Christ/Gospel: 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2:2,16;

Community of believers are to centred around Jesus Christ

Chapter 5-6

Problems: Immorality/Lawsuits

Causes:

Tolerating things that even pagan don’t. Being too inclusive 1 Corinthians 5:1 “It is reported everywhere that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind which does not even exist among the Gentiles, so that someone has the wife of his father.”

Associating with sexually immoral people 1 Corinthians 5:9.

Failing to discipline

False understanding form Gnosticism- they believed and thought that Jesus saved our Spirit and whatever we do in our body has nothing to do with the Spirit. So sexual immorality being on body will not effect the spirit of the man.

Unforgiving character towards member in Church 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.

Consequences

Little leaven leavens entire dough 1 Corinthians 5:6-9.

Body of Christ was turned into member of prostitute. 1 Corinthians 6:15.

unable to become believable witnesses of Christ 1 Corinthians 6:5-7.

Fragmenting the Body of Christ

Cure

Remove the leaven/evil doer among you. 1 Corinthians 5:13.

Discipline with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Right Understanding of the Gospel— 1 Corinthians 6: 12-19. Jesus raised from death and so your bodies will be! so how you live in your body is as important as in your spirit. “You are the Temple of Holy Spirit.”

Sexual relations form a union between man and woman as deep as the union of the believer with Christ. Therefore sexual activity should be confined to marriage (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 6:12-20;7:5,9,36). Sexual Integrity is important part of Christian life!

Suffer small losses for bigger gains for kingdom of Christ.

Understand the final judgement plans as promised by the Gospel.

Chapter 7-16 Counsel for specific questions asked

Chapter 7: Marriage

Issue:

Response:

Chapter 8-10 Debatable Issues

Chapter 11-14 The Gathering

Chapter 15 Resurrection

Chapter 16 Giving

Theme:

ESV Global Study Bible Key Themes

2. Christians should build up the church in four practical ways:

a. they should be sensitive to those with fragile faith (8:1–9:18; 10:28, 33).

b. they should win unbelievers to the faith (9:19–23; 10:27, 32–33).

c. they should conduct worship services in such a way that unbelievers might come to faith (14:16, 23–25).

d. their corporate worship should use spiritual gifts not out of personal pride, or for evaluating who has the better gift, but to build up the church (11:2–16; 12:12–30; 14:1–35).

3.

4. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are important. Yet both are less important than personal trust in the gospel and living in the way God commands (1:14–17; 10:1–5; 11:17–34; 15:29–34).

5. The bodily resurrection of Jesus (and of his followers) from the dead is a key truth of the Christian faith (6:14; 15:1–58).