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Category: 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:4 – Give Him Your Best

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Will

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,

Truth to Learn

We should give our best to any ministry we are involved in.

Behind the Words

“I thank” is translated from the Greek verb eucharisteō, which means “to be thankful,” “to show oneself grateful,” or “to give thanks.” It is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and charidzomai, meaning “to grant as a favor.” This word is also used as giving thanks before eating a meal as in Acts 27:35.

The word translated “always” is pantote, which is made up of a form of pas, which carries the idea of “oneness and a totality of the whole” and tote, meaning “at which time.” Put together, this word expresses the idea of “all the time” or “always.”

“Given” is from a form of the verb didōmi, which means “to give.” It is expressed here as an aorist passive participle. Thus, it indicates something given to the subject (you) in the past.

The Greek word translated “by” is en. Although by implication this word can show instrumentality (by), its basic meaning is positional (in). Therefore, this indicates that the grace that we were given is “in Christ Jesus.”

Meaning Explained

Paul knew that he was about to give the Christians in Corinth some very heavy criticism, so he starts out with a very positive message. He starts with a description of some of the things that happened at the time of salvation. The thing foremost in his mind is the grace of God. This is a constant theme in all of Paul’s letters because it is something incredibly wonderful. The salvation we have from God is freely given, not because we deserve it, but because He chose to give it to us. This is without a doubt the greatest gift we could ever hope to receive. It is by God’s grace that we are part of His family and it is for that gift of grace that Paul is continually thankful.

Once again, notice that Paul regularly prays about his ministry and for the people to whom he ministers. All of us who are actively serving God in the church should follow Paul’s example. Not only should we be praying that God will use us for His glory in the work we do for Him, we should be thanking Him for whatever fruit we see. This should also serve as a reminder to us that whatever fruit we might see is not a result of our own brilliance, talent, or hard work. The bringing forth of fruit is God’s doing. Later in this letter to the Corinthians Paul says,

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

Some of you may respond with, “Well, if God produces the fruit, why should I work so hard? He’ll bring forth fruit whether I work hard or not.” First of all, that’s a very selfish viewpoint with regard to our service for God. Secondly, we work hard for Him because He deserves our best. As a result of the grace He has shown to us, we should give our best and serve Him in a manner befitting a King.

Application

Are you currently working in a ministry in your local church? Are you working hard, giving it your best, or are you just “getting by.” Remember that you’re not just working for your pastor or for your church, you’re working for your Lord and Master Jesus Christ. Give Him your best!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 1:3 – Grace and Peace

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Will

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

Paul prays for God to show His grace to us and grant us peace.

Behind the Words

The word translated “Grace” is charis, which is derived from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice.” Charis refers to “favor, good will, or kindness, especially that which causes joy and gratification.”

“Peace” is translated from eirēnē, which means “peace or tranquility.” It is a state in which there is no perceived threat or cause for worry present.

“Lord” is from the Greek word kurios, which is derived from the noun kuros, meaning “might” or “power.” Thus, kurios refers to the one possessing might or power; that is, it refers to “one who is supreme in authority” or “one’s owner.”

Meaning Explained

This verse, which expresses the Apostle Paul’s natural tenderness toward those whom he loves, is sort of like the calm before the storm. Whereas the first few verses in this letter seem like drinking from a peaceful babbling brook, what comes, beginning in verse ten, may seem like trying to drink from a fire hose.

Although it is part of the salutation of the letter, this verse actually expresses a prayer from the apostle. Since Paul spent more than a year and a half with the Christians in Corinth, he developed a close relationship with, and fondness for, them. His first expression of fondness is that he prays for grace for them. Christians often think of grace as “unmerited favor,” which it surely is when used in reference to the grace that God has shown to us in granting us the righteousness of Christ and eternal life through Him. But, since Paul is addressing this letter to Christians who already know the grace of God with regard to salvation, this is a different flavor of grace. This is living grace, the favor and good will from God that brings gratification and joy to the everyday lives of Christians.

In addition to grace, Paul prays for peace to be bestowed on all who read this letter. Throughout the years, from the first century until now, faithful Christians have enjoyed periods of peace as well as periods of persecution. Paul is well aware of the trials and troubles that we will encounter throughout our journey on this earth and expresses this prayer for peace even when we are in the midst of such troubles.

He recognizes and tells us not only the source of grace and peace, but the mediator through whom these are passed on to us. Though there are three persons in the Godhead who are each one completely God, there is a hierarchy that the three persons have agreed on. The Father is the first person of the three. The Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) is the second person of the three and is voluntarily submitted to the authority of the Father. And the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead who is voluntarily submitted to the authority of both the Father and the Son. Paul tells us here that grace and peace are from our Father and from (or through) our Lord Jesus Christ.

Application

Do you know the peace of God that surpasses all our understanding (Philippians 4:7)? Are you experiencing His grace in your life? Are you fully submitted to His will?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 1:2 – A Letter to You

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Will

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Truth to Learn

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to all Christians of all ages.

Behind the Words

Ekklēsia is the Greek word translated “church.” This word is made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of the verb kaleō, meaning “to call.” It literally refers to “the called out ones.” Originally, this word referred to an assembly of citizens who were called out by civil authorities. It is used throughout the New Testament, however, to refer to the church, either a local assembly or the world-wide church.

“Sanctified” is translated from the Greek verb hagiadzō, which is based on hagos, meaning “that which inspires awe.” The basic meaning of hagiodzō is “to set apart from common use as something without blemish to be used in the service of God.”

The word “saints” is from the same root as hagiadzō. It refers to someone whom God has declared to be without sin.

“All” is translated from the Greek word pas, which carries the idea of “oneness and a totality of the whole.”

Meaning Explained

Paul wrote this letter to the ekklēsia in Corinth. Ekklēsia is roughly equivalent to the word sunagōgē (synagogue), which specifically refers to “those who have been gathered together.” However, sunagōgē is used in the New Testament to refer to a gathering of people of the Jewish faith. Early in the life of the New Testament church, the gathering of Christian believers was referred to as an episunagōgē to distinguish it from a gathering of Jews only. The term ekklēsia was first used by Christ as recorded in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 16:18, 18:17) and is used by all of the other New Testament writers with the exception of Mark.

Paul says that we are “called saints.” This does not simply mean that we are referred to as saints, but that we are saints who have been “called” or “appointed” as saints by God. In the New Testament, Christians are often referred to as saints. It means that God has set us apart from the rest of humanity because He has declared us to be righteous, or without sin. In the third chapter of Romans, Paul goes to great lengths to explain that although we are all sinners, the price of that sin has been paid by the blood of Christ and, as a result, we who believe have the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. As part of granting us that righteousness, God set us apart for His use; therefore, all believers are saints. It is not an act of the church or a pronouncement from the Pope that makes us saints; it is a pronouncement of God.

Paul specifically wrote this letter to the saints in Corinth, but he makes it very clear in today’s verse that the teaching in this letter is to all Christians. In his address he says, “with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.” This means that if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then this letter was also written to you.

Application

As we take our daily walk through this letter from the Apostle Paul, keep in mind that he wrote it to you!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 1:1 – Commissioned Preacher

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Will

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

Truth to Learn

We have a commission from our Lord to make disciples.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “called” is the noun klētos. It means “one who is called, invited, welcomed, or appointed.” It is not a verb, that is, Paul is not saying that he is “referred to as an apostle,” but that he is an “appointed apostle.”

“Apostle” is transliterated (a word of one language spelled with the letters of another language) from the Greek word apostolos. It is made up of apo, meaning “away from” and a form of the verb stellō, meaning “to send.” Thus, literally apostolos means “one who is sent away.” It refers to those disciples of Christ who saw Him personally and were sent away to preach the gospel message.

Thelēma is the Greek word translated “will.” When used of God it expresses “what God Himself does of His own good pleasure.”

“Sosthenes” is a proper name which means “of sound strength.” He was a ruler of the synagogue in Corinth.

Meaning Explained

This letter is identified in our Bible as the first one sent to the Corinthians. It appears, however, that there was a previous letter sent to them from Paul (1 Corinthians 5:9), though it has never been found. The writer immediately identifies himself as the Apostle Paul. As pointed out in the introduction, there is little doubt that this letter was sent by him, and a number of the early church fathers have attributed this letter to him in their own writings.

Paul refers to himself as “a called apostle.” Throughout the ages there have been many who have identified themselves as apostles, but in Scripture only those who have been sent in person by our Lord are identified as apostles. In fact, Paul makes it very clear that he did not simply give himself the title of an apostle, nor was he given that title by other members in the church. He was appointed as an apostle by the determined will of God Himself. His commission from God was to preach the gospel, and he tells us later in this letter:

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)

A careful reading of the eighteenth chapter of Acts will reveal that Sosthenes was the second ruler of the Jewish synagogue who was converted by Paul’s preaching. Crispus was converted first (Acts 18:8). Later, after Paul’s trial before the proconsul Gallio, Sosthenes (also called the ruler of the synagogue) was taken and beaten by the Jews. This man is now identified by Paul as his companion in writing this letter to the believers in Corinth, and he is identified as a brother in the Lord (a Christian).

Application

We are not all apostles, but we have all been given a commission from our Lord to make disciples, to baptize those who believe, and to teach all things concerning our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:19, 20). This commission binds us to our duty just as much as Paul was bound to his. Woe to us if we do not make disciples and teach God’s truth!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians – Introduction

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Will

Before we begin our study of 1 Corinthians, here is some background information on the city and the letter we are about to study.

The City of Corinth

The city of Corinth was located approximately 45 miles southwest of Athens on the narrow isthmus which connects Achaia (Southern Greece) with the Peloponnesus, where the city of Sparta was located. At its narrowest point, this isthmus is only four miles wide, and it separates the Saronic Gulf on the west from the Gulf of Corinth on the east. The city of Corinth is near the middle of this narrow strip of land, where it was built at the foot of a high plateau. This plateau, some 2,000 feet above the surrounding area, provided a defensive fortress against enemies. For centuries, anyone traveling north or south in that area had to pass through or near this ancient city. Since travel by sea around the Peloponnesus involved a 250-mile voyage that was dangerous and time-consuming, ships were often carried on skids or rollers across the isthmus directly past Corinth. Because of its location, Corinth became a major trade city, not only for most of Greece, but for much of the Mediterranean area, including North Africa, Italy, and Asia Minor. In Paul’s time, Corinth was the capital of the province Achaia and the seat of the Roman proconsul.

Because of its strategic and commanding location, the high plateau above the city became a prime location for the Temple of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love (known as Venus by the Romans). It is believed that at one time there were as many as 1,000 priestesses (religious prostitutes) who “served” in the temple and in the town. Because of the depraved pagan religious beliefs of the people, Corinth soon became the center for the grossest forms of immorality. Even by the secular standards of the day, Corinth was considered one of the most morally corrupt cities of its time. It was so well known for its wickedness, that its name became synonymous with moral depravity, wickedness, and drunkenness. There is even a Greek verb, korinthiadzomai, which means “to lead a life of depravity and drunkenness.”

Who Wrote This Letter?

It is nearly universally agreed that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter. There is plenty of external evidence from early Church fathers, this letter being specifically referred to by Clement of Rome (around A.D. 95) as “the Epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul.” Other early church writers quoting the book include Polycarp (around A.D. 135), Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Irenaeus, Ignatius (around A.D. 110), Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian (around A.D. 200).

The internal evidence for Paul’s authorship is very strong as well. Paul refers to himself in 1 Corinthians 1:1 and 1 Corinthians 16:21. The arguments in 1 Corinthians 1:12-17; 1 Corinthians 3:4, 1 Corinthians 3:6, and 1 Corinthians 3:22 also support Pauline authorship. Corroborating facts between Acts and other letters of Paul, plus the strong flavor of genuine apostolic concern, rule out a forgery and make the arguments for authenticity overwhelming.

From Where Was This Letter Written?

After being in Corinth for about a year and a half, Paul went to Ephesus, taking Aquila and Priscilla with him. But, leaving them there, he continued on to Jerusalem. Then he travelled back over the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, eventually returning to Ephesus where he remained for more than two years. It is reasonably clear that Paul wrote this letter while he was in Ephesus this second time (see 1 Corinthians 16:8).

When Was This Letter Written?

As certain as we are about the author of this letter, we are much less certain of the date this letter was written. Although each Biblical scholar who determines the exact date is convinced he is correct, their dates vary from A.D. 53 to A.D. 59. It seems most reasonable to place the time of writing of this letter at around A.D. 55. Chronologically, it was the fifth book of the New Testament to be written.

Historical Background

On his second missionary journey, after leaving the city of Thessalonica, Paul travelled to Athens, where he ministered for a short while before moving on to Corinth. There he met up with a man named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Because they were tentmakers like Paul, he stayed with them while he began his ministry in Corinth. Then, after Silas (Sylvanus) and Timothy rejoined him, he began reasoning with the Jews in the local synagogue. When the Jews refused to listen to his claims that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Paul made his famous statement, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6).

He then started preaching and teaching in the house of a man named Justus, next door to the synagogue. As a result of Paul’s tireless preaching, the ruler of the synagogue and many other Corinthians believed and were baptized. But because of jealousy over his success, the Jews rose up and took Paul before the proconsul Gallio, accusing him of teaching people to worship God contrary to the law. But, when Gallio realized that it was a religious matter, not a civil matter, he sent them away.

After ministering in Corinth for a year and a half, Paul left Corinth and headed to Ephesus, taking Aquila and Priscilla with him. Then, leaving this husband and wife team at Ephesus, Paul journeyed back to Jerusalem. Sometime after Paul left Ephesus, a gifted and eloquent man by the name of Apollos came to Ephesus. He was very knowledgeable in the Jewish Scriptures, but not well taught in the ways of Christianity. Aquila and Priscilla took him under their wing and taught him Christian doctrine. Apollo then headed to Corinth where he was very helpful in the church in Corinth, perhaps even being their pastor for a while.

Why Was This Letter Written?

As noted earlier, the city of Corinth was known for its depravity and debauchery. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul lists some of the specific sins for which the city was known. Therefore, it is not surprising that many of these same sins crept into the church. One of these sins, incest, was so vile that it was even condemned by the pagans who lived there (1 Corinthians 5:1). It’s not surprising that in the midst of such depravity, some of the Gentiles who had become members of the Corinthian Church showed the influence of their old habits. Neither is it surprising that the apostle found it necessary to rebuke such behavior again and again.

What was especially troubling in this church was the propensity of the members to cause divisions within the church. There were several factions within the church which claimed they were the true followers, some claiming to follow Peter, some claiming to follow Paul, some claiming to follow Apollos, and others claiming simply to follow Christ. While Paul was ministering in Ephesus, a letter was brought to him seeking his teaching on such problems as marriage, the wearing of veils by women in the church, the proper conduct with regard to sacrificial feasts, the practice of Christians taking other Christians before the heathen courts, the proper use of spiritual gifts, and even on the nature of the resurrection from the dead. This letter from Paul to the Christians at Corinth was an attempt to address all these issues.

Lest we become overly proud, we must recognize that many of the problems in the church in Corinth exist in one form or another in Christian churches around the world today. As we walk through this letter from the masterful preacher/teacher, let’s learn how we can overcome such problems in our own churches.

In God's service, for His glory,