1 Corinthians 1
These are the words of the Holy Spirit to the believers not the words of Paul to the Corinthians
1:1- 3
1 PAUL, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Paul declares himself to be a divinely appointed messenger of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1). As such he addresses the Corinthian church as those who were sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints. He includes in his greeting all the worshippers of Christ in that vicinity (1 Corinthians 1:2), and invokes upon them the blessings of grace and peace (1 Corinthians 1:3).
Author:
Called Saul (Acts 7:58; 8:1-3; 9:1-2; 13:9).
A Benjamite born in Tarsus, Asia Minor (Rom. 11:1; Php. 3:5; Acts 9:11; 21:39; 22:3).
A Pharisee educated at Jerusalem (Acts 22:3; 23:6; 26:4-5).
A Roman citizen (Acts 16:37; 22:25-28).
Persecutor of Christians (Acts 7:58; 8:1; 9:1; 22:4; Gal. 1:13; Php. 3:6; 1Tim. 1:13).
Converted to Christ (Acts 9:1-17), becoming a preacher and writer of the gospel and giving us our clearest concept of Christianity (Acts 9:19,29; Gal. 1:11 -- Gal. 2:1; 2Pet. 3:15).
For his history see Acts 8-28 and his epistles.
He wrote 14 epistles (Romans to Hebrews)
Paul's conversion:
Acts 9:3-9 (KJV)
Salvation:
O.T. - 2 views regarding OT salvation
A. Everyone before Calvary looked forward to the cross
Everyone since Calvary looked back to the cross
The Prophets wrote but they didn't know what they were writing about :
1 Peter 1:10-12 (KJV) 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Gospel of John written about 90 AD -- so all they had was OT scriptures - which made reference to Christ :
John 5:39 (KJV) 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Referring to O.T. Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV) 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV) 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
So we must reject the old theory that men before Calvary were saved by looking forward to the cross, simply because we cannot find any example of such in the Word of God.
B. To counter this idea, some have said that people in the Old Testament were saved by keeping the law.
If this teaching is true then two additional points would also be true.
1. No one had a chance of being saved for at least 1500 years of human history, for the law wasn't given until Moses.
2. No one but a few had a chance of being saved for at least 4000 years of human history, for the law was not given to the Gentiles.
The law was strictly a national covenant between God and the Hebrew Nation;
Deuteronomy 4:6-8
Romans 9:3--5
These undeniable truths should at once stop any rationally thinking person from setting forth the teaching that salvation prior to the cross came by keeping the law.
a. The law "could not" justify from sin:
Romans 3:20-28
Acts 13:38,39
b. The law could not make anyone perfect, because it could not take away sin:
Hebrews 7:11-19
" 10:1-4
c. The law kept in part or whole could not give righteousness:
Galatians 2:16-21
d. Since the law could not take away sins
justify a person
give righteousness
James 2:10 (KJV) 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he guilty of all
Acts 15:10-11 (KJV) 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Then it lacks the power to give life
Galatians 3:21 (KJV) 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life,
verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Now let's look at some examples:
Abraham: (Before the law)
Romans 4:1-5 (KJV) 1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Imputed righteousness given to a man who did nothing other than take God at his word
David: (during the law)
Psalm 51: David is asking for the imputed righteousness that God gave once to Abraham
He is not asking God to make him righteous
He is asking for the righteousness of God.
So both Old Testament and New Testament declare that salvation before the cross was a matter of imputed righteousness freely given to those who put their faith in the Lord and that such a gift was freely given without works.
So the conclusion of the matter:
1. Men were saved for centuries before the law was given:
These men were not saved by their good works, but by putting their faith in what the God had revealed to them
2. Men were saved after the law by putting their faith in what God revealed to them.
3. Those who died in faith prior to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary did not go to hell but could not go to heaven.
They were waiting for the blood of Christ to clear them for entrance into the presence of the Lord.
Exodus 34:7 (KJV) 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Numbers 14:18-19 (KJV) 18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this
people, from Egypt even until now.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
1 Corinthians CHAPTER 1:
A. The Corinthian Church was plagued with problems:
Chapter 5. - Immorality
" 6 - Lawsuits
" 7 - Single men & women not behaving properly
" 8 - Diets and Idolatry
" 9 - Keeping money from God
" 10 - People with money not fellowshipping with people who didn't have money
" 11 - Men and women's apparel
" 12, 13, 14 - The whole tongues problem
B. The Problem with the People:
The problem at Corinth was laid out in the first five chapters.
1. The people weren't repentant
2. They defended themselves at the expense of righteousness
3. Each person was waiting for the next person to straighten up and do right
4. Nobody was willing to be the first one to do right
C. Paul addressed the real problem:
Paul did not address the problems the Corinthian church thought it had until chapter 7
Paul wrote 6 chapters and then said your problem is not what you are doing
Your problem is - that it is your heart that produces your actions…
D. What makes a Great Church?
1. Not the building
2. Not the amount of work that gets done
3. Not the outreach ministries
It is the people who year after year are willing to resolve differences and to mend their lives and bring them in line with Scripture
And being willing to tolerate those who have not resolved things and brought them in line with
Scripture.
Dwight L. Moody said:
The Christian life is like riding a bicycle
You continue riding or you fall off.
You cannot sit still on a bicycle - you have to keep moving
If you are not moving - you will fall off…
These are the words of the Holy Spirit to the believers not the words of Paul to the Corinthians
1:1- 3
1 PAUL, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Paul declares himself to be a divinely appointed messenger of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1). As such he addresses the Corinthian church as those who were sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints. He includes in his greeting all the worshipers of Christ in that vicinity (1 Corinthians 1:2), and invokes upon them the blessings of grace and peace (1 Corinthians 1:3).
Author:
Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15; Romans 11:13. 15:16- 19; Galatians 2:7-9; Ephesians 3:8; 2 Timothy 1:11).
Converted to Christ (Acts 9:1-17), becoming a preacher and writer of the gospel and giving us our clearest concept of Christianity (Acts 9:19,29; Gal. 1:11 -- Gal. 2:1; 2Pet. 3:15).
For his history see Acts 8-28 and his epistles.
He wrote 14 epistles (Romans to Hebrews)
Paul's conversion:
Acts 9:3-9 (KJV)
Salvation:
O.T. - 2 views regarding OT salvation
A. Everyone before Calvary looked forward to the cross
Everyone since Calvary looked back to the cross
The Prophets wrote but they didn't know what they were writing about :
1 Peter 1:10-12 (KJV) 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Gospel of John written about 90 AD -- so all they had was OT scriptures - which made reference to Christ :
John 5:39 (KJV) 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Referring to O.T. Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV) 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV) 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
So we must reject the old theory that men before Calvary were saved by looking forward to the cross, simply because we cannot find any example of such in the Word of God.
B. To counter this idea, some have said that people in the Old Testament were saved by keeping the law.
If this teaching is true then two additional points would also be true.
1. No one had a chance of being saved for at least 1500 years of human history, for the law wasn't given until Moses.
2. No one but a few had a chance of being saved for at least 4000 years of human history, for the law was not given to the Gentiles.
The law was strictly a national covenant between God and the Hebrew Nation;
Deuteronomy 4:6-8
Romans 9:3--5
These undeniable truths should at once stop any rationally thinking person from setting forth the teaching that salvation prior to the cross came by keeping the law.
a. The law "could not" justify from sin:
Romans 3:20-28
Revelation 5:12
Acts 13:38,39
b. The law could not make anyone perfect, because it could not take away sin:
Hebrews 7:11-19
" 10:1-4
c. The law kept in part or whole could not give righteousness:
Galatians 2:16-21
d. Since the law could not take away sins
justify a person
give righteousness
James 2:10 (KJV) 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he guilty of all
Acts 15:10-11 (KJV) 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Then it lacks the power to give life
Galatians 3:21 (KJV) 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Abraham: (Before the law)
Romans 4:1-5 (KJV) 1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Imputed righteousness given to a man who did nothing other than take God at his word
David: (during the law)
Psalm 51: David is asking for the imputed righteousness that God gave once to Abraham
He is not asking God to make him righteous
He is asking for the righteousness of God.
So both Old Testament and New Testament declare that salvation before the cross was a matter of imputed righteousness freely given to those who put their faith in the Lord and that such a gift was freely given without works.
So the conclusion of the matter:
1. Men were saved for centuries before the law was given:
These men were not saved by their good works, but by putting their faith in what the God had revealed to them
2. Men were saved after the law by putting their faith in what God revealed to them.
3. Those who died in faith prior to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary did not go to hell but could not go to heaven.
They were waiting for the blood of Christ to clear them for entrance into the presence of the Lord.
Exodus 34:7 (KJV) 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Numbers 14:18-19 (KJV) 18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. 19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
Tribulation Salvation:
The only way for anyone to get into heaven when one dies is by grace through faith without works.
The only way to enjoy kingdom life in this physical body on earth is to mix your faith with good works
Questions to be answered:
From what is the person being saved?
Unto what is the person being saved?
Today we are being saved from sin unto righteousness
So that we pass from eternal damnation in hell to eternal joy in heaven.
This takes place by the grace of God when we believe the Gospel without works.
These passages that deal with salvation in the Tribulation have to do with
being saved from physical death.
being saved from yielding to the flesh
from yielding to temptation
and not taking the mark of the beast so that they can survive and enter into the millennial kingdom alive.
Two entirely different matters.
Qualifications to be an Apostle:
Acts 1:20-22 (KJV) 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. 21 Wherefore of the men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Paul studied three years
Galatians 1:11-18 (KJV) 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Sosthenes
Acts 18:17 (KJV) 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
1 Corinthians 1:1 (KJV) 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
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:
1:2. To the church of God. The word 'church' is used in Scripture as a collective term for the people of God, considered as called out from the world. Sometimes it means all of God's people, as when it is said that 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Ephesians 5:25). Sometimes it means the people of God as a class, as when Paul said that he 'was perse- cuting the church of God' (Galatians 1:13). Sometimes it means the professing Christians of any one place, as when mention is made of the church in Jerusalem, Antioch, or Corinth. Any number, however small, of professing Christians, considered collectively, may be called a church. Hence we hear of the church in the house of Philemon, and in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:5). It is called the church of God because it belongs to him. He selects and calls its members, and, according to Acts 20:28, it is his, because he has bought it with his blood.
Who are sanctified in Christ Jesus. This explains the preceding clauses, and teaches us the nature of the church. It consists of the sanctified. The Greek word translated 'to sanctify' means 'to cleanse.'
Called to be saints. That is, made holy by the effectual call of the Holy Spirit. `The called' always means those effectually called, as distinguished from those who are merely invited externally. In the New Testament, the word commonly expresses inner purity, or consecration of the soul to God. Believers are saints in both senses of the word; they are inwardly renewed, and outwardly consecrated.
Together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. To call on someone's name is to invoke his aid. It is properly used for religious invocation. Compare Acts 9:14, 21; Acts 22:16; Romans 10:12–13; 2 Timothy 2:22. To call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is to invoke his aid as Christ, the Messiah predicted by the prophets, and as our almighty and sovereign possessor and ruler.
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
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.
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.
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.
7 Resurrections
1. ENOCH - Genesis 5:21-23 and Hebrews 11:5-6
2. ELIJAH - 2 Kings 2:1-11
3. JESUS – Matthew 28:6-7 and Acts 1:9-11
4. CHURCH – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, Revelation 4:1-4
5. MID TRIBULATION SAINTS - Revelation 7:9-17
6. 144,000 JEWS – Revelation 14:1-5
7. TWO WITNESSES – Revelation 11:1-12
Corinth, an ancient and a modern city of the Pel-o-pon-ne-sus, in south-central Greece
In Paul's day, Corinth was the chief city of the Roman province of Achaia.
The place was notable for its commerce, having a harbor on each side of it.
Its location was ideal, with an abundant water supply, only 1.5 miles south of the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow land bridge (only 3.9 miles or 6.3 kilometers wide), which connects the Pel-o-pon-ne-sian peninsula to the Greek mainland. Thus Corinth became prosperous from trade – both the trade moving by sea from east and west, but also north and south between Greece and the Pel-o-pon-nesus. The port of Cenchreae connected the city to the Aegean Sea to the east, while the port of Lec-h-ae-um (Lyceum) was on the I-on-an Sea.
Corinth was situated on the Isthmus of Greece (called Achaia) between the Io-ni-an Sea and the Ae-ge-an Sea, above the Mediterranean Sea. About 50 miles to the east was the city of Athens.
The Corinth of Paul's day was relatively new. The remains of the ancient city lie about 50 miles (80 km) west of Athens, at the eastern end of the Gulf of Corinth, on a terrace some 300 feet (90 metres) above sea level.
Corinth had great strategic and commercial importance in ancient times.
The old Corinth (which was famous and powerful in the days of the Pel-o-pon-ne-sian War) was burned in 146 B.C. by the Roman proconsul, L. Mum-mi-us. Because it was a city devoted to the gods, a hundred years were required to pass before the city could be rebuilt. In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar rebuilt the city, populated it with a colony of veterans and freedmen, and named it Julia Corinthus. It soon became a very important commercial center.
With a population of 400,000 and being a prominent center of commerce in the Mediterranean world, it was a place for all sorts of vice. An example of its immorality was found in the temple of Venus (Aphrodite), which hosted 1000 priestesses dedicated to prostitution in the name of religion. The city's close proximity to the city of Athens probably added the problem of intellectualism. As noticed in the epistle, such an environment had its effect upon the church in Corinth. It is amazing that a church existed at all in such a city.
The site was occupied from before 3000 bc, but its history is obscure until the early 8th century bc, when the city-state of Corinth began to develop as a commercial centre. Corinth’s political influence was increased through territorial expansion in the vicinity, and by the late 8th century it had secured control of the isthmus. The Corinthians established colonies at Cor-cy-ra and Syracuse, which would later assure them a dominant position in trade with the western Mediterranean.
After the Greco-Persian Wars (c. 546–c. 448 bc), Corinth joined Sparta against Athens during the Pel-o-pon-nes-ian War (431–404 bc), but, though that conflict brought about the military defeat of Athens, it did little to revive the power of Corinth, which joined with some of its former allies to defeat Sparta in the Corinthian War (395–387 bc).
Corinth was subsequently involved in most of the political conflicts of Greece, but chiefly as a pawn in the struggles of more powerful city-states because of the strategic value of its citadel. Corinth’s independence finally ended in 338 bc when Philip of Macedon garrisoned the Acro-corinthus and made the city the centre of the League of Corinth. The city remained the puppet of Macedonia and subsequently of the A-cha-ean League until the latter involved it in a fatal conflict with Rome, and in 146 bc Corinth was destroyed by the Roman general Lucius Mum-mi-us.
In 44 bc Julius Caesar reestablished Corinth as a Roman colony. The new Corinth flourished and became the administrative capital of the Roman province of Achaea. The city is known to readers of the New Testament for the letters addressed to its Christian community by the apostle Paul. It enjoyed some prosperity under Byzantine rule but declined in the later European Middle Ages. After the Turkish conquest in 1458, it was reduced to a country town.
The remains of the ancient city of Corinth lie just north of the Acro-corin-th-us, with which it was joined by a circuit wall about 6 miles (10 km) in circumference.
Modern Corinth, three miles northeast of the site of ancient Corinth, was founded in 1858 after an earthquake leveled the latter. It is primarily a hub of communications between northern and southern Greece and is the primary point of export for local fruit, raisins, and tobacco.
SUMMARY OF 1 CORINTHIANS
Date and place: Written about 56 to 59 A.D. at the close of the apostle's three year residence at Ephesus (Acts 20:31; 1Cor. 16:5-8). Paul's relationship to the Corinthian Church is recorded in Acts 18:1-18.
Author: Written under the inspiration of God by Paul and Sosthenes (1Cor. 1:1).
Paul signed this letter in his own hand (16:21)
It is a common thing for some men to teach that Paul was inspired and as he spoke, certain men took down his words. This makes inspiration appear identical to the so called channeling of the occultic New Age Movement.
What the Bible actually says is that all of SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God (2Timothy 3:16). The writers were not inspired - the writings are.
Some of the epistles were possibly written by more than one writer but Paul introduced them and often signed them in order to place the seal of apostolic authority upon them. This does not make them the words of Paul.
One thing we need to be careful of is saying: In this verse Paul says - It is better to say "In this verse God says" or "Here the Bible says" or "the Word of God says"
By doing this we safeguard the doctrine of divine inspiration.
Theme: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (KJV) 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christian life and conduct. Even all the doctrinal sections are built around this theme.
The occasion for writing this Epistle was a letter of inquiry from Corinth about certain doctrines, concerning marriage, and the use of meats offered to idols (1Cor. 7:1; 8:1-13), and the visit of some brethren from Corinth, reporting on the condition and different problems of the church (1Cor. 1:11; 5:1; 11:18; 15:12). but the apostle was concerned by reports of the deepening divisions and increasing contentions in the church, and of a case of incest which had not been judged (1:10-12;
5: 1). Paul had many matters to deal with.
The subjects treated are various, but may all be classified under the general theme. Christian conduct.
Even the tremendous revelation of the truth concerning resurrection is made to bear upon that theme (1 Cor. 15. 58).
The factions were not due to heresies, but to the carnality of the Corinthians, and to their Greek admiration of "wisdom" and eloquence.
The abomination of human leadership in the things of God is here rebuked. Minor disorders were due to vanity, yielding to a childish delight in tongue, and the sign gifts, rather than to sober instruction (1 Cor. 14. 1 28).
Paul defends his apostleship because it involved the authority of the doctrine revealed through him.
The Epistle is not a treatise, but came from the Spirit through the apostle's grief, solicitude, and holy indignation.
Statistics:
46th book of the Bible; This is the longest New Testament epistle containing -
16 chapters; 437 verses; 9,489 words; 113 questions; 5 Old Testament prophecies; 13 new prophecies; 377 verses of history; 55 verses of unfulfilled and 5 verses of fulfilled prophecy.
BACKGROUND OF THE CHURCH AT CORINTH:
The establishment of the church occurred during Paul's second missionary journey. It is recorded by Luke in Act 18:1-18, which can be divided into three sections:
1) Abiding with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers; reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath (Act 18:1-6).
2) In the house of Justus, abiding there and teaching for a year and six months (Act 18:7-11)
3) An incident before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia (Act 18:12-18)
It appears from reading the epistle that the church was adversely affected by the immoral environment found in the city. Pride caused division in the church and disruption in the services (1Cr 1-4; 1Cr 11). Immorality and immodesty found its way into the church, which gave it a bad reputation (1Cr 5). The brethren were taking their personal problems with each other before the heathen courts instead of working them out among themselves (1Cr 6). Other issues affecting the church included questions about marriage (1Cr 7), meats sacrificed to idols (1Cr 8-10), women praying and prophesying with heads uncovered (1Cr 11), the use of spiritual gifts (1Cr 12-14), the resurrection from the dead (1Cr 15), and the collection for the saints in Jerusalem (1Cr 16). Thus the church was one beset with problems and questions that needed to be answered.
PURPOSE OF WRITING: The bad news concerning the problems at Corinth had reached Paul in Ephesus. It seems that this news came from at least two sources: 1) the household of Chloe (1Cr 1:11); and 2) a letter sent to him (1Cr 7:1), possibly by the hands of Step-ha-nas, For-tu-natus, and A-chaicus (1Cr 16:17).
Of the seven churches to which Paul wrote, this church was the most carnal.
The "love" chapter (13) doesn't occur until twelve chapters of blasting, rooting, and stumping.
Notice that the most carnal church in the New Testament was the one that bragged the most about the "gifts of the Holy Ghost" and speaking in tongues (chapters 12 & 14).
The negative material is obvious.
First of all, Paul attacks the humanists in the church who are operating by personalities instead of Scripture.
Then he attacks the philosophers and intellectuals in Corinth who don’t know what they're talking about half the time. He writes a whole chapter to correct their abusive misuse of tongues,
half a chapter correcting their abuse of the Lord's Supper, half a chapter about haircuts, and a whole chapter and a half about immorality in the church.
Chapter fifteen is the greatest discourse on the resurrection that you can find in the entire Bible.
In the Bible, the Holy Spirit revealed the resurrection "from the dead" not just "of the dead".
The resurrection "from the dead" takes place at two raptures (a pre - Tribulation Rapture of the church and a post - Tribulation Rapture of Tribulation saints) long before the White Throne Judgment
When we get to chapter 15 - we will cover the 7 resurrections that are found in the Bible.
Almost everyone addresses these problems, and yet the problem at Corinth is laid out in the first five chapters.
The problem is that the people in that church were not repentant about those things.
They were willing to defend themselves at the expense of righteousness, and the church at Corinth was being ruined and being destroyed.
Its testimony was a wreck, because the people were sitting there waiting for the other guy to straighten up and then they would. They were waiting for the other person to straighten up and then they would.
They were waiting for the other person to do right and then they would do right.
And nobody was willing to say to God ---- If there is any trouble in this church let me be the first one to correct it - and the only trouble I can correct is mine.
INTRODUCTION (1Cr 1:1-9)
I. Problems reported by the house of Chole (1Cr 1:10 to 6:20)
A. Factions in the church (1Cr 1:1 to 4:21)
B. Sexual Immorality (1Cr 5)
C. Lawsuits among the brethren (1Cr 6:1-11)
D. Moral Defilements (1Cr 6:12-20)
II. PROBLEMS MENTIONED IN THE LETTER FROM CORINTH (1Cr 7 to 16:9)
A. Marriage & Celibacy - Single men & women weren't behaving themselves properly toward one another (1Cr 7)
B. Diets & Idolatry - Eating meats sacrificed to idols (1Cr 8)
C. A problem with people holding out their money from God (chapter 9)
D. Problems with people in the church who had money not fellowshipping with people who didn't have money (chapter 10)
E. Women praying and prophesying with heads uncovered (1Cr 11:2-16)
F. The Lord's Supper (1Cr 11:17-34)
G. Spiritual Gifts (1Cr 12, 13, 14)
H. Resurrection from the dead (1Cr 15)
I. Collection for the saints (1Cr 16:1-4)
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