I Corinthians

This book opens with a greeting from Paul and Sosthenes.  

Paul first gives thanks to God for providing for the Corinthians and giving them all that they need to grow in Him. 

Then he addresses some division that is taking place in their ranks where some were adhering to various leaders amongst the believers at the time (e.g. Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Jesus Himself).  He notes that there should not be divisions like that.  

He points out that message of the Gospel is simple and sounds foolish to those that do not believe.  He notes that God has used the simple, lowly and despised aspects of life to confound the things that the world holds important.  In this way, we boast in in the Lord, not in what we have, think, or do. 

Principles: Division should not be a part of the body of Christ. Keep things simple and straightforward.  

This chapter continues Paul’s thought about keep the message straightforward and focused on the message of Jesus Christ.  It also points out that Paul uses wisdom but not the wisdom of the world.  Instead, it is the mystery of God that Paul shares that non-believers don’t understand.  This mystery is revealed to use through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.  What sounds like foolishness to non-believers are the wonderful aspects of God revealed to us through the Spirit through the mind of Christ.  

Principles:  The Holy Spirit reveals to us God’s plan.  God’s plan sounds like foolishness to non-believers.  Only those with the mind of Christ can understand God’s plan when revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.  

Paul is telling them that when he first came to them he couldn’t talk to them as if they were mature believers.  He had to give them spiritual “baby food” because they were not ready for “solid food” that a mature believer would be able to handle.  Then he tells them that they are still not ready for solid food pointing out the quarrels they have going on in their midst.  

The quarrel they seem to be having is that the people are latching on to specific ministers (Paul, Apollos, Peter, Jesus Himself) as a kind of clique in their body.  He lets them know that all of those ministering are doing the work God has them doing.  It is God that should be central to their faith, not any of the ministers that He uses. 

He also talks about the world’s wisdom versus the “foolishness” of Christ.  He tells them that to be truly wise, you need to become a fool in Christ.   

Principles:  We should be growing in our faith and not staying a spiritual infant.  The minister God sends should not be the focus of our walk.  

Paul continues his discussion of how the Corinthians have forms of hero worship with Paul, Apollos, and others.  

He points out that it doesn’t matter to him how he is evaluated by others or even himself.  While he works to have a clean conscience, he knows that ultimately God is the only one that matters when it comes to evaluating his work.  

He notes that he sometimes feels like a fool and the worlds garbage based on the way he is treated.  He says he’s not telling them this to shame them but to warn them as his children in the faith.   

He also warns them of becoming arrogant as some have.  He notes that should the Lord allow him to come back for a visit, their arrogance may cause Paul to need to be rough with them to point them back to God.  

Principles:  Leaders in the world are not to be worshipped but recognized (when they are doing good) as being faithful managers.  Don’t be arrogant about your position.  God is the only evaluator that matters…Let God manage your reputation.  

Paul deals with several aspects of sin that have been reported to take place within the Corinthian church. He discusses sexual sin taking place in the church . He also talks about them boasting about/proud of themselves for accepting the sin. Paul tells them that they need to get together and throw the man out of their group, handing him over to Satan so that he can be saved in the long run. As it is now, there is no reason for him to change.  

Paul also talks about addressing sin in general and not associating with it inside their church. He says it is the job of the body to judge those within their members that are living sinful lives.

Principles: Pride goes before a fall. Pride’s relationship to sexual sin is not new. Address sin within the body of Christ.

This chapter starts with Paul correcting them on having lawsuits carried out between believers in the public courts. Paul notes that we as believers will be responsible for judging the angels and should be able to judge matters here and now. He notes, worst of all, we could just accept that we have been wronged instead of carrying out a lawsuit in front of non-believers. 

Paul transitions into the topic of avoiding sexual sin.  He notes no other sin so directly affects the body and that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Since we were bought with the high price (of Jesus’ death on the cross), our bodies are not our own to sin.    

Principles:  Learn to settle your disputes within the body of believers and without a public spectacle.  If you must, be willing to be wronged instead of going to the courts. Flee sexual sin.  Treat your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.  

Paul covers a perspective on marriage and being married as well as a person’s general state of being in light of serving the Lord. He notes that if you can remain single and not burn in lust, then you should do it as it frees you to serve the Lord. He notes that it is not a sin to be married though. Paul also shares that when married, the body of the husband belongs to the wife and the body of the wife belongs to the husband and each should fulfill the needs of the other. He notes that each should not leave each other but if they do, they should remain single.  

Paul shares that a person should not necessarily change their current state of being when they come to follow Jesus. If they are married, stay married. If they are a slave, you can still serve the Lord as a slave. However, he does say if you can gain your freedom to do so.*  If they are single, stay single, if possible.  

Principles: Serve the Lord regardless of how you find yourself.  Husbands and wives submit themselves to each other.  (*Slavery in the context of this scripture text is a bit different than slavery in America. It is more an indentured servant.)

Paul addresses an issue the Corinthians were dealing with where some believers felt the freedom to eat meat that had been sacrificed to false gods where others felt it was wrong. Paul notes that our freedom in Jesus should not cause another believer without the strong foundation we have to stumble. Knowledge, Paul notes, makes us feel important.  However, it is love for others that should be the strength of the body of Christ.   

Principles: If something you do in the freedom of Christ causes others to fall because they don’t have the understanding or foundation you have, consider their faith foundation from a perspective of love.  

Paul goes a step further from the last chapter where he had talked about not doing things that would cause others to fall.  In this chapter, he talks about not being supported by them.  He notes how much he would have that right just like other apostles have used that right.  However, because he didn’t want it to cause them hardship or that he was not ministering free of charge. 

Instead, he treats himself as a slave to Christ and to preaching Christ to others.  In doing so, he lived under the rules and customs of those he was preaching to in order to win them over to Christ.  He maintained the mindset of an athlete in training not letting himself live a lavish lifestyle.  

Principles: While ministers are certainly deserving of pay for what they do, Paul chose not to put the weight of his expenses on those to whom he preached. Ministry should not be about getting worldly riches.  

Paul points out the experiences of the Jews wandering in the wilderness.  He points out that they were lead and protected by God but some died in the wilderness because they were not submitted to God and worshipped idols.  He warns us against putting Christ to the test in what we do.  That would include worshipping our own idols and grumbling about our circumstances.  He notes that the temptations we face are not too much because God doesn’t allow more than we can handle.  

He wraps up the chapter noting that whatever we do, we should do to honor God and glorify Him.  

Principles:  Don’t complain about your circumstances.  Rely on God.  Don’t let things in your life become idols.  Rely on God.  Let your life be a ministry, glorifying God.  

This chapter has two primary sections.  

The first talks about some customs in the church at that time and a general authority structure.  The custom was that women should have covering on their head as they worship.  Men were not to have covering.  Women were to have longer hair and men were to have shorter hair.  The point that Paul brings out is that we submit to Christ and to our spouses.  

In the other section, Paul talks about communion and abuses of it that were happening in the Corinthian groups.  The issue is that some would eat and drink so much of the communion that 1) they were getting drunk on the wine and 2) others weren’t even able to participate in communion.  Paul gives them the outline of the communion process and chides them for the abuses.    

Principles:  Live in submission to Christ and to your spouse.  Communion should be a reminder of Jesus’ work and sacrifice for us, not a chance for us to sin.  We should confess our sins before having communion and worship God.

Paul covers the concepts of spiritual gifts and the parts of the unified body of Christ.  In both, he notes that not everyone fits every category/has every gift.  However, he notes that we each have a place in the body of Christ and that the Holy Spirit gives the gifts He deems best for the person according to God’s plan and purpose.  

Principles:  Each of us has a place in the body of Christ to accomplish God’s purpose in the world.  Each of us has gifts according to that purpose.

Often called the “Love chapter” in the Bible, Paul points out the attributes of love while comparing them to other accomplishments. He notes that if you have the other great accomplishments but don’t love, you have nothing.  He also notes that three things will live forever (faith, hope, and love) and that love is the greatest of these.

Principles: Let love rule in you. Be known for love

This chapter talks about edification of the believers through tongues and prophecy as well as keeping meetings orderly. Paul notes that we should seek the abilities that the Holy Spirit gives such as prophesy. He also recognizes the importance of speaking in tongues but points out that it isn’t helpful if no one understands what is being said in tongues. He points out that prophecy is much more beneficial to those in attendance because they can hear and understand. 

This chapter is often a controversial one in that is says women should be silent and submissive in church.  The context there is that services were becoming unorderly because wives were asking their husbands to explain what was being said during the service.  Instead, Paul tells them to wait to ask questions at home so that the meeting is not disorderly.  He notes that God is not a God of disorder but of peace.     

Principles:  Interpretation of tongues is of value personally but without interpretation it doesn’t edify the body of Christ.  Desire the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives.  Keep meetings orderly.  

In this chapter Paul confirms first the Good News that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and was witnessed by many that were still alive at the time that Paul was writing this book.  He confirms that there is resurrection of the dead because if there weren’t, Jesus wouldn’t have been raised and everything in the Good News would be false.  But He did rise from the dead and the Good News is true!

Paul also discusses our resurrection bodies.  He notes that the bodies we have now are corruptible and will decay but our bodies will be transformed in the resurrection into an incorruptible body.  Then death will be gone forever.    

Principles:  The Good News is true and Jesus was raised from the dead with witnesses.  Though the bodies we have now will die, there is life after death in a resurrected/transformed body.

This chapter wraps up I Corinthians. It gives some practical instructions about giving that the Corinthians were doing. Paul also tells them how to act with some of his compatriots (Timothy and Apollos). He tells them that he hopes to come visit them for an extended time. He tells them to remain strong in their faith and act in love towards others. Paul urges the Corinthians to cooperate and help in the responsibility that Stephanas carries of supporting God’s people.  He ends the chapter and book with a greeting in his own handwriting.  

Principles: The Bible provides practical instruction. Treat others with love and respect.   Help those who are carrying out God’s purpose.