BIBLICAL PASTORAL FORMATION VERBUM DEI FAMILY-MANILA 1

2 St Paul’s 1 st Letter to the Corinthians

Corinth 3 Important city in the Roman empire Seaport 300,000 inhabitants

Where is Corinth? 4

Why letters?

6 Canal built 1893

“Not for everyone is the voyage to Corinth” 7

Isthmian games 8 “Do you not realize that, though all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, only one of them gets the prize? Run like that -- to win. 25 Every athlete concentrates completely on training, and this is to win a wreath that will wither, whereas ours will never wither. 26 So that is how I run, not without a clear goal; and how I box, not wasting blows on air. 27 I punish my body and bring it under control, to avoid any risk that, having acted as herald for others, I myself may be disqualified.”

Religious milieu Jews Cult of Roman emperor Greek gods Egyptian deities 9

Paul and the Corinthians AD 51/52 Paul first visited Corinth during his 2 nd missionary journey Stayed there 1½ years (See Acts 18,1-11) AD 54 On 3rd missionary journey in Ephesus, Turkey he heard news from Corinth. Wrote 1 st letter to Corinthians ( with 2 nd letter written in AD 55-57) 10

Other letters N.B. Other letters were written but are lost (See 1 Cor 5, 9) Take care of our talks! 11

Context of 1 st Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by Chloe's people, that there are rivalries among you. 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is widely reported that there is immorality among you… 1 Corinthians 7:1 Now in regard to the matters about which you wrote: 12

Structure of 1 Cor 1,1-9 Address 1,10-6,20 Disorders in the Corinthian community 7,1-11,1 Answers to their questions 11,2-14,40 Problems in liturgical assemblies 15,1-58 The Resurrection 16, 1-24 Conclusion 13

Structure of 1 Cor 1,1-9 Address 1,10-6,20 Disorders in the Corinthian community 7,1-11,1 Answers to their questions 11,2-14,40 Problems in liturgical assemblies 15,1-58 The Resurrection 16, 1-24 Conclusion 14

Disorders in the Corinthian community - Division and rivalry I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. 1 Cor. 1:10 15

The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body… 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take Christ's members and make them the members of a prostitute? Of course not! 16 Or do you not know that anyone who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For "the two," it says, "will become one flesh.“ 17 But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. 1Cor6: Moral Disorders

Structure of 1 Cor 1,1-9 Address 1,10-6,20 Disorders in the Corinthian community 7,1-11,1 Answers to their questions 11,2-14,40 Problems in liturgical assemblies 15,1-58 The Resurrection 16, 1-24 Conclusion 17

Answers to their questions Marriage and sexual relations Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do, 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire. 1 Cor. 7:8-9 Eating food that had been sacrificed to idols 18

Structure of 1 Cor 1,1-9 Address 1,10-6,20 Disorders in the Corinthian community 7,1-11,1 Answers to their questions 11,2-14,40 Problems in liturgical assemblies 15,1-58 The Resurrection 16, 1-24 Conclusion 19

Problems in the Eucharist Factions Drinking too much Not having proper intention “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26) 20

21 Earliest written account of the institution of the Lord's Supper in the New Testament (1 Cor 11, 23-25)

Spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ) 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 5 there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6 there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit…. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes. Wisdom Knowledge Faith Healing Mighty deeds Prophecy Discernment of spirits Varieties of tongues Interpretation of tongues 22

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Now for a scary topic… The resurrection from the dead 24

Resurrection of the dead Some of the Corinthians are denying the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor 15:12) "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come back?“ 1 Corinthians 15:35 25

Paul’s response 26 A recall of the basic kerygma about Jesus' resurrection (1 Cor 15:1-11) An assertion of the logical inconsistencies involved in denial of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:12-34) An attempt to perceive theologically what the properties of the resurrected body must be (1 Cor 15:35- 58)

Special features of 1 Cor Hymn of love Earliest account of institution of Last Supper Earliest account of Apparition of Jesus Profound reflection on Resurrection Early Catechism (1 Cor 15, 3-7) For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; 4 that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; 5 that he appeared to Kephas, then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 27

Conclusions Not perfect community – it does not exist How to confront and address problems The TOF enlightens us. Accompanying the people. Doctrine is responding to pastoral realities! E.g. Division – MBC, sexual morality – dwelling place, life after death – eternal life and resurrection 28

SALAMAT! 29