As we continue to explore these letters of Paul our next stop will be in 1 Corinthians. To refresh our memories a letter is difficult to read because we only really have one side of the conversation. It is like one writer suggested “listening to a phone call…we only can hear one side of the conversation.” We don’t know the situation which he , Paul, is dealing with. In this case let’s try to reconstruct what prompted Paul to write this letter. We know Paul did write this letter about A. D. 55. This was a church which Paul founded and he was receiving some troubling reports about that church. While they were a proud church they had gotten into the habit of excusing sexual immorality, spiritual gifts were being used improperly and there was this increase in the deliberate misunderstanding of key Christian doctrines. Paul wrote this first letter in hopes of restoring this Corinthian church to its intended foundation… Jesus Christ. So…what is happening exactly as to the situation there? Let’s follow the bouncing ball…so to speak. Scripture verses are provided here.

-The people at Corinth were dividing into groups loyal to certain spiritual leaders 1 Corinthians 1:12 

 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

1 Corinthians 3:1-6

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

-Paul shared that they should be united their following of Christ.

-Paul did note that it appeared that their were many in the church who were approving of such immoral relationships. 

1 Corinthians 5:1-2

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.

-The Corinthian believers were seeking redress in the courts

1 Corinthians 6:1-2

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 

– Paul felt that it would be better to be taken advantage of than to damage their Christian testimony …

1 Corinthians 6:3-8

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! 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? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.

-Paul gave the church instructions on many of the problems that were present there…marriage and celibacy, food sacrificed to idols, Christian freedom the veiling of women the Lord’s Supper and  spiritual gifts also my favorite chapter 15 …the resurrection. He took the time to answer their questions about what was the proper behavior for Christians in these situations. Paul continues on with a warning of their lack of self-discipline 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

There are other things in this 1st book of Corinthians. Paul writes of the miracles of God during this time of wandering, the parting of the Red Sea, provision of manna from heaven and water from a rock, noting that they misused their freedom and fell into immorality and idolatry. 

We end this week on the thought that we don’t seem to learn much from our past. Many of the problems of that time are present in this very day among our Churches and God’s people. We need to return to the good way…putting our focus back to where it should be—on Christ. The power of Christian love. The wonder and glory of the resurrection in chapter 15, and our responsibility and accountability to our God and our Faith.

Life is Good

jk 

Sources: gotquestions.com  NLT Holy Bible