FEED 260/262 Mentoring Through the New Testament The Gospel of John and the Birth of the Church (John to II Corinthians) Session 4B I Corinthians Andrew B. Spurgeon, Ph.D.

1 Corinthians

Has Three Major Sections Opening Greetings (1:1–9) The Body (1:10—16:18) The Conclusion (16:19–24)

1 Corinthians The Body has two major divisions: Paul’s Responses to Chloe’s Report (1:10—6:20) Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18)

1 Corinthians The Body has two major divisions: Paul’s Responses to Chloe’s Report (1:10—6:20) In the first section Paul advices the Corinthians concerning four problems that Chloe’s family reported to him. The problems were: disputes over the spiritual leaders, immorality, lawsuits, and Christians visiting temple prostitutes. Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18) In the second section Paul advices the Corinthians concerning questions that the Corinthians had asked Paul in a letter. The issued were related to married people, unmarried people, freedom and worship, Spirit-indwelt people, collection of offering, and Apollos.

1 Corinthians Paul’s Responses to Chloe’s Report (1:10—6:20): In the first six chapters, Paul answers the concerns that he had as he heard Chloe’s report of the Corinthians: 1. Concerning Spiritual Leaders (1:10—4:20) 2. Concerning Immorality (5:1–13) 3. Concerning Lawsuits (6:1–8) 4. Concerning Visits to Prostitutes (6:9–20)

1 Corinthians Paul’s Responses to Chloe’s Report (1:10—6:20): 1. Concerning Spiritual Leaders (1:10—4:20) The Corinthians were debating over which one of the ministers were their favorite. Some were saying, “I am of Apollos”; others were saying, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Cephas [who is Peter]” or “I am of Christ.” Paul explained to them that all the servants in the church were either gardeners or builders. The gardeners (those who planted and those who watered) and the builders (those who laid foundation and those who build upon the foundation) were of less significance than the field and the builder—the Corinthians. The Corinthians were God’s building, the temple of God, since Holy Spirit lived in them. As such, the Corinthians shouldn’t boast of fight over spiritual leaders.

1 Corinthians Paul’s Responses to Chloe’s Report (1:10—6:20): 2. Concerning Immorality (5:1–13) Someone in the Corinthian congregation had fallen into a sin that even the non-Christians in Corinth didn’t practice, i.e., a man was living (sexually cohabitating) with his step-mother. Paul was shocked that the Corinthian Christians tolerated such open rebellion and even boasted over that person (possibly he was a church leader). Paul wanted them to take immediate action against such sinning brother because a little leaven can leaven a whole dough of bread. His sinfulness and their toleration could corrupt the whole church. Therefore, they needed to excommunicate him for the purification of the church. They ought to be “holy” (i.e., unleavened) since the Passover lamb, Jesus Christ, has been crucified for them.

1 Corinthians Paul’s Responses to Chloe’s Report (1:10—6:20): 3. Concerning Lawsuits (6:1–8) Somehow there were lawsuits among the church members in the small community of Corinthian Christians. Instead of appointing their own Christian leaders to examine the cases, the Corinthian Christians were going to non-Christian judges. Paul argues that in small “life-situations,” where there are disputes in the church, the Christian leaders were to appoint their own “oppressed” community to judge the cases. Christians will judge the world and angels; as such, they shouldn’t subject themselves to other non- Christian judges. Instead, they should examine their own cases. And in a few circumstances, they should be willing to be “wronged” instead of causing wrong to someone else.

1 Corinthians Paul’s Responses to Chloe’s Report (1:10—6:20): 4. Concerning Visits to Prostitutes (6:9–20) Following the pattern of their previous life and habits, some of the Christians in Corinthian church were visiting temple prostitutes. Paul explained that they shouldn’t live in such immoral lifestyle. They are one with Christ and therefore they shouldn’t become one with a prostitute. They were participating in the Table of the Lord Jesus (a reference to the Lord’s Supper) and as such they shouldn’t participate in the temple of idolatry, that is, get involved with temple prostitution. God had called them to holiness and they should live holy lives.

1 Corinthians The Body has two major divisions: Paul’s Responses to Chloe’s Report (1:10—6:20) Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18)

1 Corinthians Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18): 1. Concerning Married (7:1–24) 2. Concerning Never-Been-Married (7:25–40) 3. Concerning Freedom and Worship (8:1—11:34) 4. Concerning Spirit-Indwelt People (12:1—15:58) 5. Concerning the Collections for the Poor (16:1–11) 6. Concerning Apollos and Others (16:12–18)

1 Corinthians Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18): 1. Concerning Married (7:1–24) Paul addressed four groups of married people. First, he explained that a married couple should learn to give each other to their spouse and not withhold in sexual love. Second, Paul explained a married person, when he/she looses a spouse, may remain single and serve the Lord. But if the passion to marry is great, there is no sin in remarriage. Third, Paul argued that married people shouldn’t seek divorce. If they needed to be separated for a time, that was fine, but then, they should get together. Fourth, Paul explained that if a Christian is married to a non-Christian and the non-Christian spouse wants to leave the Christian, the Christian should allow because such act of kindness might draw that spouse back to Christ.

1 Corinthians Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18): 2. Concerning Never-Been-Married (7:25–40) Paul then answered questions about those who were engaged but not married. He argued that it was prudent to stay unmarried and serve the Lord since there were calamities in the world, since an unmarried could devote more time to God’s ministry, and since there are lesser hardship when a person wasn’t married. But if an engaged person wishes to get married, he/she is of age, and he/she has full passion, then he/she should get married. There was no sin in getting married, although staying single is prudent and effective for ministry.

1 Corinthians Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18): 3. Concerning Freedom and Worship (8:1—11:34) The Corinthians wondered if they could enter a temple and eat food offered to other gods, since they were free in Christ to do anything. Paul argued that Christian freedom didn’t mean freedom to sin. Instead, Christian freedom was to curtail one’s desires for the sake of another. He gave his own life as an example—although he could have lived off the people that he served, he worked for his own living. The same way, the Corinthians should think of other people and curtail their own freedom. He gave the examples of the Israelites who didn’t curtail their freedom in the wilderness and as a result perished. In summary, Christians shouldn’t enter the temple of foreign gods and eat food offered to those gods. After explaining what’s improper in worship, he explained what is proper in worship: orderliness and reverence. Within this section he explained that the church shouldn’t allow external beauty (such as head covering or uncovering) to be a hindrance to someone’s salvation; instead, focus on one’s inner beauty. He also explained that the Lord’s supper is to be done in reverence.

1 Corinthians Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18): 4. Concerning Spirit-Indwelt People (12:1—15:58) Receiving the Holy Spirit and his gifts caused unexpected struggles in the Corinthian church. Paul explained that a true Spirit-indwelt person is one who acknowledges Jesus Christ as Lord and he/she is gifted with the Holy Spirit’s gifts (chap 12). Those gifts were meant for the common good of the church (chaps 12–14). The Corinthians were to exercise them in love and in orderly fashion—take time to speak and to be quiet (chaps. 13–14). Likewise, the Spirit-filled people understand the certainty of resurrection and the nature of resurrection (chap. 15).

1 Corinthians Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18): 1. Concerning Married (7:1–24) 2. Concerning Never-Been-Married (7:25–40) 3. Concerning Freedom and Worship (8:1—11:34) 4. Concerning Spirit-Indwelt People (12:1—15:58) 5. Concerning the Collections for the Poor (16:1–11) 6. Concerning Apollos and Others (16:12–18)

1 Corinthians Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18): 5. Concerning the Collections for the Poor (16:1–11) The collection for the poor must be done faithfully, regularly, and in order. That way, a person can examine and set aside what he/she treasures as God’s gift to him/her and give that to God’s work. It must be done orderly so that they would be accountability.

1 Corinthians Paul’s Answers to Corinthians’ Questions (7:1—16:18): 6. Concerning Apollos and Others (16:12–18) Paul had asked Apollos to visit the Corinthians but he himself chose to wait until the proper time to visit the Corinthians. When Apollos visited them, they should honor him.

Miscellaneous Writers: Paul and Sosthenes Written from Ephesus, AD 54–55 Sent through Timothy, whom Paul sent as his ambassador (1 Cor 4:17) Addressed to the Jewish/Gentile Corinthian Christians in Corinth, mostly Roman citizens or slaves Written to address problems in the church that Chloe reported or to answer questions that the Corinthians themselves had Theme: “Whatever you do, do for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31)

Discussion Questions What are the sins prevalent in our churches and what would Paul say in such circumstances? How does God view the church versus how do we view the servants in the church? How do we discern and use the Spirit’s gifts? FOR GROUP: Are we sure of our resurrection? Discuss.