Lessons from 1 Corinthians – Part 2

This transcript was generated automatically. Its accuracy may vary

Short Summary
The discourse revisits the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, focusing on key issues such as division within the church, the handling of sexual immorality, and the resolution of disputes among believers. Paul emphasizes the importance of unity, advises against relying on secular courts, and discusses the implications of participating in pagan practices, particularly regarding food offered to idols. Additionally, he underscores the significance of love as the greatest virtue that should guide all actions and interactions within the Christian community.

Long Summary
### Summary of Apostle Paul’s Discourse on 1 Corinthians

Background of the Letter:
– Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians addressing issues of division and immorality after founding the church there and leaving after 18 months.
– After his departure, various teachers led to factions, undermining the unity of the congregation.

Main Issues Addressed:
Divisions and Factions:
– Paul emphasizes the need for unity among believers despite differences.
– He highlights that personal allegiances to different teachers (including himself) create jealousy and carnality.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you…”

Sexual Immorality:
– Paul addresses a serious case of sexual immorality within the church, specifically a man living with his father’s wife.
– He advises expulsion of the offender to maintain church morality.
Analogy: Compares the church to unleavened bread, stating that tolerating sin is like leaven that affects the whole batch.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 5:6 – “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”

Lawsuits Among Believers:
– Paul expresses concern over members suing each other in secular courts, illustrating a failure to resolve disputes internally.
– He reminds them of their future role in judgment as saints.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:2 – “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”

Questions on Marriage and Celibacy:
– Responding to Corinthians’ queries, Paul acknowledges the advantages of celibacy but also recognizes the practical need for marriage during times of sexual immorality.
– He discusses the implications of mixed marriages and emphasizes spiritual priorities over earthly concerns.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 7:1 – “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

The Resurrection:
– In Chapter 15, Paul affirms the resurrection of Christ, which is central to Christian faith, offering hope for believers.
– He describes different resurrections, including that of Christ and believers, culminating in Christ’s reign and the eventual return of God’s dominion.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:20 – “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Food Offered to Idols:
– Paul addresses the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols, asserting that idols are meaningless but stressing the importance of not causing others to stumble in faith.
– He encourages sensitivity to the beliefs of others and prioritizing their spiritual well-being over personal freedoms.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 8:9 – “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”

Spiritual Gifts:
– He discusses the diversity of spiritual gifts within the church, emphasizing that they should be used for the common good.
– Paul contrasts the temporary nature of some gifts with the enduring nature of love.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

The Primacy of Love:
– In Chapter 13, Paul emphasizes love as the highest virtue, stating that without it, spiritual gifts are meaningless.
– He describes the characteristics of love and its eternal significance compared to other gifts that will cease.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Conclusion:
– Throughout his letter, Paul addresses various concerns with practical wisdom, urging the Corinthians to maintain unity, uphold moral integrity, and prioritize love in their community.
– He reminds them that their actions should reflect the teachings of Christ, fostering a supportive and loving environment within the church.

This discourse encapsulates Apostle Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians, highlighting the importance of unity, morality, and love in the Christian community.

Transcript

A few weeks ago we considered the first few chapters of the first letter to Corinthians and concluded with the 15th chapter in which Apostle Paul recorded the first written version of very brief gospel. As we noted, it contained prophetic information about the future kingdom of God following the completed reign of Christ, leading to removal of death on earth. Today I would like to return to remaining chapters of this letter, but before that I would like to remind you of the main issues and teachings addressed by Apostle in the chapters that we previously examined. The Apostle Paul founded the class in Corinth, but after about a year and a half he left the city, and for several years other missionary work prevented him from returning. During this time other teachers visited the class and after some time fraction emerged, supporting some teachers while rejecting others.

This seemed to be the most significant problem potentially threatening the unity of the class. After brief introduction, the apostle begins his letter by addressing this issue. In several subsequent chapters he highlights carnality and jealousy and advises brothers in the class to take a broader view of Lord’s work and follow his example. He himself does not seek any honor or recognition. His desire is for as many people as possible to hear and accept the truth of salvation through Christ.

For this one goal he sacrifices all other material aspirations, and his work allowed him to see the Christian community from much broader perspective, recognizing differences among believers, yet emphasizing that these differences should not lead to divisions. To the apostle, these differences are not that significant, and he has learned to conduct his ministry in various environments. From his perspective, the divisions in the Corinthian class are not as great as they appear and arise mainly because brothers from carnal reasons tend to magnify them. He advises, be like me view, become unity more broadly and find ways to work together despite emerging differences.

Next he addresses the second issue in this class, sexual immorality. There is one exceptional case where a man lives with his father’s wife. The apostle advises that the class should expel this man from their fellowship, otherwise his presence could negatively influence the morality of the entire class.

Current society was known for its immorality, and these external influences affected the class, leading not only to this particular case but likely to other instances as well, such as marginal infidelity or prostitution, which may not have been as widely known within the class. The apostle warns against all forms of immorality. He compares the class to unleavened Passover bread, which is baked without yeast. He writes that the class should be like unleavened dough, and any tolerated immorality would be like leaven, which can ferment the entire batch, making it impossible to bake proper, proper unleavened bread from it. He further adds that Christ was sacrificed for our Passover.

His death cleanse us from our sins. Therefore we should appreciate gift of cleansing and avoid anything that could contaminate us again with sin in the context of immorality, the apostle addresses another issue.

Some brothers in the class are suing each other in secular courts. From discussion about that, we learn about the future judicial role of the glorified church. Or do you not know that saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels?

How much more matters of this life? The apostle rebukes the brothers for relying on secure courts and writes that all disputes among believers should be resolved internally within the class. One of the tasks of the glorified church will be to judge the whole world and even angels. Therefore here on earth we should learn to judge earthly disputes. After discussing these issues, the apostle moves on to answering specific questions that Corinthians had sent in their letter.

The first question probably concerns celibacy. From the opening sentence of his response in First Corinthians 7:1, it appears that the apostle answers, yes, you are right, it is good to remain unmarried. However, because there are so many issues related to sexual morality, practical life shows that sometimes it is better to live in marriage. The apostle expands on the topic of marriage, addressing mixed marriages between pagans and Christians and the issue of divorce. He discusses these matters from the spiritual perspective.

According to him, the coming of the kingdom is not far off and all Christians should focus on their spiritual growth. Marriage, however, brings many earthly concerns. Therefore, if someone can remain unmarried, it is better for them from the spiritual point of view.

At the end of our last Talk, we consider 15th chapter that contains short version of the Gospel that Apostle Paul preached. Corinthians had probably heard this several times before. In extended version we would like to hear this version that was delivered to Corinthians, which likely contained much more information than the one recorded in his letter. However, even from this shortened version we learn many important things.

The apostle emphasizes that the resurrection of Christ is a key doctrine of Christianity. The act of Christ’s resurrection gives hope to all believers for a similar resurrection to a spiritual state and for all of humanity. It offers the hope of resurrection to eternal life on earth. It is in this letter that Apostle writes about different resurrections and their orders. The first resurrection is the resurrection of Christ, which is a resurrection to a spiritual state.

The second is the resurrection of believers, which is to occur at the second coming of Christ, and in similar way will be a resurrection to a spiritual state. The letter mentions the raising of all people, but does not specifically point to order of this resurrection. Perhaps this is because this chapter mainly speaks about resurrection to incorruptibility, which only faithful Christian can attain. After the resurrection of the faithful, the reign of Christ will begin, which will lead to the destruction of sin and death. Once this is accomplished, dominion over the earth will return to God himself.

After this brief summary of what we discussed earlier, let us move on to remaining chapters of this letter, starting with chapter eight.

The first verse of this chapter introduces the topic, but also suggests that this is a response to another question from Corinthians. What was the question? Of course we can only guess, but it was probably a request for clarification on the issue of meat offered in pagan worship. The question likely arose from the easy availability of such meat and its good price, and also doubts whether it was appropriate for Christian treated The short answer to this question is it is complicated. However, the apostle provides the Corinthians with a long version of the answer which extends over three chapters.

What makes this issue complicated? It is not the myth itself, as the apostle resolves this aspect in just few verses.

First Corinthians 8 verses from 4 to 6 which are on the screen. Therefore, concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idol, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God Father. The apostle writes that all available meat was created by God himself, and since there is no other gods, the act of sacrificing an animal to an idol does not change anything regarding the quality of that meat, meaning it can be bought and eaten by Christian he writes about that directly in 1st Corinthians 10, 25 and 26. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking question for conscience sake, for the earth is Lord’s and all it contains.

However, there are certain restrictions, not because of the meat itself, but because of the understanding and awareness of others. One group of those others consists of those who have converted from paganism to Christianity, but still struggle to fully accept the idea that other gods have no significance and that their worship is meaningless if such a person were to see a brother eating meat from animals sacrificed to idol, especially if this brother Were eating this brother or eating near a pagan temple, this person might conclude that the one eating still secretly worship that idol. This could lead to his departure from the faith. Therefore, if someone is among people that are sensitive to this issue, it is better to avoid eating such meat to prevent even unintentional stumble of that person.

In another case, a brother might be invited to a feast at pagan’s house, and the host, knowing that this guest has accepted Christianity, might inform him that the meat served comes from sacrifices. In such a case, we must consider the conscience of the host. If he warns us because he thinks it would be inappropriate for us to eat such meat, then for the sake of his conscience, we should not eat it. Like we read in 8:10. There is also third case.

Being so convinced that we can eat the meat and the eyeballs are meaningless that we start.

I’m sorry, something I missed. One slide. I have. Yes. So the third case being so convinced that we can eat the meat and the idols are meaningless that we begin associating too closely with places of worship and the people making those sacrifices and described in verse 8, 10.

Okay, sorry, not this verse. I should. Okay, yeah, let’s go. Here. Here the apostle warns in verses chapter 10 and verses 19 and 20.

What do I mean then? That the things sacrificed to idol is anything, or that idol is anything? No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. Idols in pagan temple temples are nothing more than the material from which they are made.

But pagan worship may in some way be connected with demonic powers. Therefore, the apostle warns, stay away, for I do not want you to have anything in common with those demonic powers. What then is the final conclusion? Can this meat be eaten or not? The answer is.

Well, it depends on the community you are in and what impact your behavior may have on others. When you are alone, you can freely eat this meat, but when there are people around you who observe you and may draw the wrong conclusion, it is better not to eat it. Therefore, apostle writes in 8:13. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. In verse 1024, the apostle repeats this recommendation, but in a more universal form that can be applied to other life situations, not only those related to eating meat.

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. We cannot use this example of meat in today’s time in our country because such meat is not available. However, we can find many situations in which we can apply verse 24, though with a degree of caution.

The context indicates the types of such situations. If it happens that our benefit, which may even be a simple physical convenience, is connected with harm, inconvenience, or special stumbling for another person, we should not do it. However, if someone call us claiming to repair our computer remotely and ask for our credit card number, we should refuse, even knowing that our benefit avoiding expense on our credit card will be disadvantage to the person calling us. The apostle advises us to follow this principle in special matters, but not necessarily in all aspects of our material life.

Within this chapters discussing eating meat, sacrifice to idol, there are other recommendations and lessons only partially connected with the main topic.

The ninth chapter begins with several questions about Apostle himself. Am I not free? Am I not Apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

We do not know what prompted these questions. Perhaps the apostle took a break from dictating this letter and upon returning began with completely new thoughts unrelated to previous verses. Or maybe this is a development of the preceding verse where he says that to win others to Christ he is willing to limit his own freedom. However, this connection is rather weak and it is likely that a question arose among Corinthians about his apostleship, to which he now decided to respond. This could be indicated by verses 3 and 4.

My defense to those who examine me is this, do we not have right to eat and drink? These verses suggest that some brothers accused him of certain things. Perhaps one accusation was that he had not been formally recognized as apostle by other apostles. Maybe it was claimed that he did not observe all purity regulation when he was among pagans. Perhaps it was also the accusation of receiving material benefits from the classes he visited.

The apostle responds that the Corinthians themselves are proof of his apostleships. If the apostles mission is to preach the gospel to the whole world, then their class founded by him proves that he is carrying out apostolic work. Then he explains the principle of Lord’s work in Corinthians. In 9:14 he writes, so also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. He states that just as Lord received material support from those to whom he preached the gospel, so too all other apostles and church ministers have the right to do the same.

In verses 11 and 12 he writes, if we sow spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you. If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we can cause no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ.

He himself had the right to receive material support from Corinthians. However, as he writes, unlike other apostles and probably also elders, he does not do that. He explains this in verses from 15 to 18. The apostle argues that he has every right to live from the Gospel, yet he renounces this right and gains no material benefits from it. He supports himself with his own labor so as not to be a burden to anyone.

This is not explicitly explained his words, but we can infer that he does this to have complete freedom of action. He can treat everyone equally because he is not indebted to anyone.

In the following verses, verses 19 to 23, the apostle writes about his method of work. His mission is to win others to the gospel, and to achieve this he must earn their trust so that they would be willing to listen to him on that subject. To gain trust, the apostle must present himself as someone who is not entirely foreign, someone who knows the custom and language of the people he speaks to to the extent that he understands expression fully, comprehensible only to those ethnic groups. However, as he emphasizes further, he does not cross certain boundaries. In First Corinthians 9, 26, 27 he writes, Therefore I run in such a way as not without aim I box in such way as not beating the air, but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I preach to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

The apostle disciplines and controls his body so as not to fall to temptation and commit a sin that would lead to his rejection.

This defense and final conclusion likely stems from the fact that not everyone everyone accepted his way of working, especially those who still had strong ties to Jewish traditions probably claim that Paul strayed too far from the customs that remained important to them. Let us imagine their answer to the question of whether one can eat meat sacrifices to an idol. It would be definitely no. Perhaps the apostle provides such a lengthy response and references his own work to dispel any doubts of Corinthians. Even if they were to discuss this issue with someone holding a different opinion in the 10th chapter, the apostle wants to emphasize that in our Christian life we must be careful not to let spiritual matters become so ordinary to us that we lose proper respect for them and allow other things to become more attractive.

He gives the example of Israelites wandering in the wilderness. They witnessed many miracles, but they weren’t faithful and died at the wilderness.

In the following verses he provides example of four sinful desires of the Israelites. These are listed in verses 7 to 10 and include idolatry, fornication, testing the Lord, and murmuring. We are to ensure that we do none of those things. We must also pay attention to the state of our Spirit as stated in verse 12.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. Anyone who believes that they are spiritually strong and experienced just as a Jew in the wilderness thought of themselves should be careful, for they might not be as strong as they assume.

Verse 13 assures us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength. No temptation has overtaken you, but such as in common to man, as God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape also so that you will be able to endure it.

However, if we overly trust in our own strength, we might fall even to minor temptation. Now the apostle returns to the topic of eating meat as he decides to expand on the issue of idolatry which he previously mentioned. I won’t read this passage, but will try to explain starting from the end. Idolatrous cults may be associated with demonic forces. In Israel, priests who ate this sacrificial meat became participant in the altar.

They became part of the process of reconciliation previously by drinking from the cup and eating the bread. During the memorial, believers declared that they belong to the body of Christ. If they become too close to pagan worship, first by eating meat sacrificed to idols and then by forming friendship with people who might be under demonic influence, they themselves could become too close to these demonic influences. In doing so, they would become participant in the table of altar or altar of demons. If that happens, they would be removed from the lord’s table.

Verses 16 and 17 are often studied separately because they define the symbols used during our memorial. But we must remember that this is not the apostles main topic in this passage. Let’s read those verses. Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake in the one bread. The apostle explains that the cup of wine represents communion in the blood of Christ, the fellowship of those who believe that Christ’s shed blood provides salvation. Likewise, when we eat bread together, it represents the community of those who believe that the bread symbolizes the body of Christ which was hung on the cross, providing redemption from death for all believers.

What kind of bread is discussed in verse 17? Is it exactly the same bread described in verse 16? I think it is the same physical bread which, however, may represent two different things. In verse 16, it is bread representing the material body of our Lord, a lifeless body. When each person individually consumes this bread at that moment during the memorial, he declares acceptance of that salvation gift given him by the savior.

In verse 17, however, the bread does not represent the broken body of Christ, but the resurrected spiritual body of the complete Christ, the head and body. By eating this bread as a community, we declare that together we are part of this new spiritual body. Maybe we should look at this bread as an individual symbol and group symbol. Then we could see that the same bread can symbolize two different things.

Moving to 11th chapter, the apostle addresses another issue that may have been contentious in Corinth. The matter of women covering their heads during the worship. The apostle argues that women should cover her head because a woman is reflection of man’s glory. Therefore, she should wear a head covering as a sign of submission, and this should be done because of the angels. Ultimately, from God’s perspective, a woman has equal standing with man.

But as a final argument, he asks Corinthians, and in verse 1113, he writes, Judge for yourself. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her hat uncovered? It seems that argument is rooted in tradition and the apostle does not have a strong command from the Lord on that matter. He sees benefits in this tradition and ask for it to be continued. Maybe especially important for Corinthians, though his reasoning may not be as clear, as clear to us today as it was for the Corinthians.

I’m not sure we can today understand what it means that this covering should be a sign for angels. Maybe this could be a subject of one of our studies.

Then, from verse 18, the apostle moves on to the next issue, which is the improper observance of the memorial. From the description, we can conclude that aside from the divisions described in the earlier chapters of this letter, there were additional divisions during the observance of the memorial. We can think that many groups formed that celebrated their own private memorials. The memorial at that time was likely similar to observance of Jewish Passover, hence the mention of the feast and even the abuse of alcohol. The two main problems that apostle points out are the lack of maintaining the solemn character of the memorial and not paying attention to others.

After describing the problem, the apostle explains how the Lord himself established this memorial we read in verses 25 to 23 to 25 for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, this is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way he took the cup also after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. He then speaks about how unworthy observance of the memorial without proper respect for order and other brothers can result in punishment from Lord himself.

The effect of such punishment is described in verse 13. For that reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. In this context the apostle writes the often repeated words verse 31.

But if we judge ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. We quite often use this verse to different subject to different things in this letter. In this chapter, Apostle Paul writes about judging ourselves if we we observe the memorial with proper respect and in proper way. The final recommendation regarding the memorial is contained in verses 33 and 34. So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. In contemporary language we could say, do not treat the memorial as a feast. You should not organize any meals at that time. Begin when everybody has gathered and keep the evening solemn. We have no other recommendations about the memorial, and we can conclude from this that classes have freedom to organize the memorial in the way that suits them, as long as the conditions mentioned by the apostle aren’t fulfilled.

Chapter 12 introduces a new topic which is probably a response to another question from the Corinthians. This question concerns spiritual gifts. We can guess that there were brothers having those gifts, and perhaps others did not experience them at all. Some situations could lead to confusion when, for example, many brothers having the gift of speaking in tongues began speaking at the same time.

The apostle lists all possible spiritual gifts and gives advice on how to use these gifts in the best possible way. The most important thing is that those having these gifts act for the benefit of the whole class. This refers to the analogy of the human body. The human body represents the whole church, but in this specific case the ecclesia incorren. Just as the human body has many parts, each brother and sister are members of one body of the ecclesiastical just as the human body is sensitive to pain, and when one part feels pain, the hands usually try to elevate it.

So brothers in the church should be sensitive to the needs of others, and everyone should help each other. Spiritual gifts had their application but were meant to eventually disappear.

In 1 Corinthians 13:8, we read, Love 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. From the perspective of time we see that indeed these gifts have disappeared, and the advice the apostle gifts in chapters 12 and 14 concerning specific gifts do not apply anymore today. There are, however, certain things that will never pass away, and these are precisely the things we should strive for. The most important of all things is love, and the entire 13th chapter is dedicated to it.

I would like to conclude our reflection with this chapter.

If I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. If I have gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing, and if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and not jealous. Love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away. If there are tongues, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

But when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I also have been fully known.

But now faith, hope, love, by these three. But the greatest of the is love. Thank you, Brad.

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