1 Corinthians January 5, 2003.

1 Corinthians January 5, 2003

Corinth 1 Corinthians written from Ephesus in 54 or 55 AD
Mediterranean Sea Paul visited 50 or 51 A.D. Acts 18:1-17

Paul’s Visit to Corinth 1/3
50-51 A.D. Met fellow tentmakers Aquila & Priscilla Started with the synagogue but was rejected by the Jews Turned to the Gentiles

Started house church next door in the home of Titius Justus (Gentile) Crispus, the synagogue ruler believes (Jew) Paul stays 1 ½ years teaching them the Word Receives vision to keep speaking & told that “I have many people in this city.”

Brought by the Jews before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia Delphi inscription tells us that Gallio was proconcul of Achaia in A.D Gallio rejects the case and the Jews beat Sosthenes (second synagogue ruler mentioned in 1 Cor)

Corinth Importance exceeded only by Rome, Alexandria, and Ephesus
Population: 250,000 Significant commercial location Only land route between Northern & Southern Greece Connected two harbors Saronic Gulf Gulf of Corinth

Religious Center of Greece
Temple of Apollo God of the sun, fertility, prophecy and oracles, light, healing, music, and poetry.

Religious Center of Greece
Temple of Asclepius God of healing All over the Greek world the sick and ailing flocked to Asclepian centers to seek healing When Asclepius appeared to the sick, they were healed. Photo used by permission © Felix Just

Greek goddess of love & sexuality
Temple of Aphrodite Greek goddess of love & sexuality Temple sat on the summit of the Acrocorinth 1000 cult prostitutes Allan R. Brockway Abrock.com

Other Deities worshipped in Corinth
Athena Dionysus Demeter Kore Poseidon & Zeus Egyptian deities: Isis and Sarapis The Asia minor goddess: Great Mother

“Corinthianize” Corinth was known for its moral depravity
“Corinthianize” meant “to live an immoral life. Its many taverns and easy access to prostitutes gave rise to a seafaring proverb: “Not for every man is the voyage to Corinth.”

1 Corinthians Introduction (1:1-9) Factions in the Church (1:10-4:21)
Moral Problems (5:1-6:20) Questions about Marriage (7) Limits of Liberty (8:1-11:1) Women in Worship (11:2-16) Lord’s Supper (11:17-34) Spiritual Gifts (12:1-14:40) The Resurrection (15:1-58) The Collection for the Saints (16:1-9) Conclusion (16:10-24)

1 Corinthians Introduction 1:1-9

1 Cor 1, 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Christ—the anointed one, the promised Messiah
Lord Jesus Christ Lord—divinity Jesus—humanity Christ—the anointed one, the promised Messiah

1 Cor 1, 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

V2, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours:

V3, Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace—Greek greeting chaire—greetings Charis--grace Peace—Hebrew greeting

1 4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

5 For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

1 Cor 1, 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours:

And yet… The Church @ Corinth Relationally messed up Morally messed up
Ethically messed up Arrogantly messed up Spiritually messed up And yet… V4, “I always thank God for you” V10, “I appeal to you, brothers,”

1 Corinthians Factions in the Church 1:10-4:21

Destroying the Temple (tearing down the Church)
3: Don't you know that you (plural—indicates speaking to the church) yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?17 If anyone destroys God's temple (the church), God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. One of severist statements Paul ever made.

1:10-17, by following leaders rather than Christ. 1:18-2:16, by following worldly wisdom rather than the wisdom of God. 3:1-23, by not growing up!

Divisions in the Church
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Divisions in the Church
11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. Paul identifies his source of information. Probably to help control gossip and further division.

1 Cor 1:10-f Divisions in the Church
V12, “What I mean is this: one of you says, I follow Paul I follow Apollos I follow Cephas I follow Christ The lines of division were drawn clearly.

1 Cor 1:10-f Divisions in the Church
Greek culture emphasized following particular teacher’s message and authority. Plato & Aristotle Paul wanted to stop the practice of following individual teachers.

1 Cor 1:10-f Divisions in the Church 3 Rhetorical Questions
NO Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:18-f Wisdom of the World Wisdom of God The Cross
Foolishness (18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, Philosophy (1:20) Jews—signs Greeks—wisdom Eloquence (2:1) Superior wisdom (2:1) Jesus Christ

How did Paul reach out to a cosmopolitan, sex saturated, immoral, materially rich, educated society?

skandalon V18, For the message of the cross is foolishness
V23, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…

skandalon Deut 21: 22 If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, 23 you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse.

skandalon 1:25, For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

WHY? 1:28-30, He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

The Gospel is not just for the:
Wiseman (20) Scholar (20 Philosopher (20) Influential (26) Noble birth (26) God made His message accessible for all people!

Boasting? 1:30-31, It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Jesus Christ and Him crucified
2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Paul’s Ministry in Corinth
Manner of Ministry (2:1) “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. I was with you in weakness and in fear (3) And in much trembling (3) Not with wise & persuasive words

Manner of Ministry (2:1) Message of Ministry (2) For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (2)

Manner of Ministry (2:1) Message of Ministry (2) Motivation of Ministry (5) So that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

Manner of Ministry (2:1) Message of Ministry (2) Motivation of Ministry (5) Muscle of Ministry (4 & 5) But with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (4) But on God’s power (5)

1 Cor 2:6-9 God’s Secret Wisdom
7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--

V10, But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
Revelation

Spiritual Man 2:10-16 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Three Types of People 1 Cor 2:10-16 thru 3:1-4
Carnal Believer 3:1-4 Spiritual Man 2:10-16 Natural Man 2:14

The Spiritual man is controlled by the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

50% knew who preached the “sermon on the mount”
Gallop Poll 80% of Americans consider themselves Christians 50% knew who preached the “sermon on the mount” Less than 50% could recall five of the 10 commandments 20% said they would be willing to suffer for their faith

Natural Man 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? Carnal Believer 3:1-4

? Which are you? The Natural Man The Spiritual Man The Carnal Believer

Whose Church Is It? 3:5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Rewarded? 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

Foundation 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ

3:12, If any man builds on this foundation using…
Wood Hay Straw Gold Silver Costly stones

13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Must I go and empty handed Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give him, Lay no trophies at his feet?

3: Don't you know that you (plural—indicates speaking to the church) yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?17 If anyone destroys God's temple (the church), God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. One of severist statements Paul ever made.

1 Cor 3:21-23 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. Unfortunately, they did not stop their boasting. Writing in 95 A.D. Clement of Rome identifies the same divisions in Corinth.

PRIDE 1 Corinthians 4 And Christian Leadership ‘Who’s most important”
"Who are you, one of the big shots here?"

Is the root problem of many church difficulties.
PRIDE Is the root problem of many church difficulties.

“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ
1 Cor 4:1 “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ “Under rowers”

1 Cor 4:1-2 “And as those entrusted…” “Steward”

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Servants of Christ Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Servants of Christ Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,

V3, judgment of others on us V4, judgment of one’s own conscience.
1 Cor 4:3-5 Three Judgments V3, judgment of others on us V4, judgment of one’s own conscience. V4-5, the Lord’s judgment

1 Corinthians 4 Greek & Roman Philosophers (Plato & Seneca)
regarded conscience as passing final judgment on a man. Paul disagreed: Only God can pass final judgment on man.

1. Conscience: Written on our hearts.
Romans 2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

2. A Clear Conscience Acts 24: 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Romans 9:1, I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit--

3. A Weak Conscience 1 Cor 8:7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

4. Wounding another’s Conscience
1 Cor 8:12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

5. A Seared Conscience 1 Timothy 4:2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

6. A Corrupted Conscience
Titus 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

7a. A Cleansed Conscience
Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

7b. A Cleansed Conscience
Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

8. The Lord is the Only Accurate Judge
4b, “It is the Lord who judges me. Paul doesn’t care how others judge him; he is moderately concerned about his own judgment of himself. But he knows the Lord is the only accurate judge.

God’s Accurate Judgment
V5, Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.

God’s Accurate Judgment
5c, “At that time each will receive his praise from God.” “Well done, good, and faithful servant.”

The haunting story of fourteen-year-old Rod Matthews serves as a warning to a culture gone adrift. Rod was not interested in the things that normally interest teenagers. Neither sports nor books were enough to quench his insatiable boredom. Only one thing excited him: death. He spent hours watching the video Faces of Death, a collection of film clips of people dying violently. Rod’s curiosity about death led him to want to see death personally, not just on the television or movie screen. Eventually, he found a way to satisfy his curiosity. One winter afternoon he lured a friend out into the woods and proceeded to beat him to death with a baseball bat. During his trial for murder, the most telling remark was made by a child psychiatrist who was asked to give a clinical evaluation of Rod’s condition. The doctor’s assessment was that Rod was not insane in the conventional sense but that he simply didn’t “know right from wrong. … He [was] morally handicapped” (emphasis mine)” Mark DeVries, Family-Based Youth Ministry, (Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, 1994, p. 53

One of the first cases that came to the public’s attention was that of 14-year-old Rod Matthews of Canton, Massachusetts, a high school freshman. Matthews lured classmate Shaun Ouillette, also 14, into the woods on a November afternoon in 1986 on the pretext of building a fort. Matthews carried a baseball bat, which he said he needed to return to someone. Encouraging the larger boy to walk in front of him down the wooded path, Matthews waited for his opportunity and then smashed Ouillette on the head with the bat. He continued to strike his soon helpless victim, bludgeoning him to death. While Matthews informed police and his parents that he thought Ouillette had run away from home, he brought two friends, Robbie Peterson and Jonathan Cash, on separate occasions to view the body of the boy the police were searching for in vain. Cash eventually reported the murder to police by means of an unsigned letter. The next morning, three weeks after the murder, police found Ouillette’s body and arrested Matthews. Matthews, a bright youth with an IQ of 132,

What are “these things”
1 Cor 4:6 4:6, “Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit… What are “these things” Being a servant (1) & a faithful steward (1)

…v6… “learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Rabbinical saying

…v6 V6, Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.
Pride--phusioo “puff up, inflate, blow up” Only 7 times in NT Paul uses 6 times in 1 Cor

1 Cor 4:7 Two arguments against pride:
V7, “For who makes you different from anyone else? V7, “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

This word describes the guy who can strut sitting down.
Servants of Christ Jack McGorman This word describes the guy who can strut sitting down.

General George McClellan “Young Napoleon”
Abraham Lincoln "This is not the time to be making points of etiquette and personal dignity, I would hold McClellan's horse if he will only bring us success."

Civil War General George McClellan was put in charge of the great Army of the Potomac, primarily because public opinion was on his side. He enjoyed being told he was a "Young Napoleon." However, history records that his efforts were less than sensational and he was not a great military leader. One evening President Abraham Lincoln and two of his staff members went to visit McClellan at his home. McClellan was at a wedding. One hour later McClellan appeared and did not even pay attention to the three men awaiting his return. Later, a servant reported back to the waiting party that McClellan had gone to bed! The President's associates were enraged, but Lincoln merely got up and led the way home. "This is not the time to be making points of etiquette and personal dignity," the President explained. "I would hold McClellan's horse if he will only bring us success."

Deflation by Satire V8, Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! V9, For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe

Paul uses especially tough language through the rest of the chapter
Deflation by Satire Paul uses especially tough language through the rest of the chapter Verse 14 tells us why: “I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you…”

This isn’t about who gets to decide the color of the pew cushions
Deflation by Satire This isn’t about who gets to decide the color of the pew cushions THIS IS ABOUT SPIRITUAL ARROGANCE & THE REJECTION OF GOD’S ESTABLISHED AUTHORITY

(Paul is commonly believed to be the writer of Hebrews)
Deflation by Satire Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Paul is commonly believed to be the writer of Hebrews) The Corinthians had rejected Paul’s authority so he could not simply make a statement; he had to show them how foolish elevate themselves over God’s chosen apostles.

1 Sam 26:9-11 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him
1 Sam 26:9-11 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? {10} As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. {11} But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed… The Corinthians had rejected Paul’s authority so he could not simply make a statement; he had to show them how foolish elevate themselves over God’s chosen apostles.

Deflation by Satire Corinthians Kings
Apostles Condemned to die ‘a spectacle’

V10, you are so wise in Christ! V10, we are fools for Christ
Deflation by Satire Corinthians V10, you are so wise in Christ! Apostles V10, we are fools for Christ

Apostles V10, we are weak Deflation by Satire Corinthians
V10, you are strong Apostles V10, we are weak

Deflation by Satire Corinthians V10, you are honored Apostles V10, we are dishonored

Deflation by Satire 1 Cor 4:11-13, To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. {12} We work hard with our own hands.

Deflation by Satire 1 Cor 4:12b, When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; {13} when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Deflation by Satire Abuse V12 when cursed V12 when persecuted
V13, when slandered Response V12 we bless V12, we endure it V13, we answer kindly

Deflation by Satire V13, Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Guardians/Fathers 1 Cor 4:14-16, I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. {15} Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. {16} Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

Paul calls the Corinthians
Guardians/Fathers 1 Cor 4:14-16, I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 24 times in 1 Corinthians Paul calls the Corinthians “brothers”

The one God used to birth them into the kingdom
Guardians/Fathers Guardians Slave Charged with teaching instructing-tutoring-- the children of the wealthy Fathers The one God used to birth them into the kingdom

(16) “Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”
A Consistent Example (16) “Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”

(17) As I live in Christ Jesus
Mentoring (16) Imitate me (17) Imitate Timothy (17) Who imitates me (17) As I live in Christ Jesus

Mentoring Moses/Joshua Elijah/Elisha Jesus/Disciples Barnabas/Paul
Paul/Timothy

One evening, while waiting for a bus, he was standing with a crowd of people looking in the window of a taxidermist shop. In the center of the window was a large owl that attracted the attention of all who passed by. The self-appointed expert began to criticize the job done on it. "If I couldn't do better than that," he said pompously, "I'd find another business. Just look at it. The head is out of proportion, the pose of the body is unnatural, and the feet are pointed in the wrong direction." Just then the owl turned his head and gave the fellow a broad wink. The crowd laughed as the critic slicked away.

Have you ever seen a church grow with weak pastoral leadership?

Weak Leadership? 1 Cor 4:18-21 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. {19} But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. {20} For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. {21} What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

“Some of you are full of hot air”
Weak Leadership? 1 Cor 4:18-21 “Some of you have become arrogant,” “Arrogant” (blowing; to inflate) make proud (haughty):--puff up.) “Some of you are full of hot air”

What was Paul threatening to do?
Weak Leadership? 1 Cor 4:18-21 What was Paul threatening to do?

But clear he planned to challenge these leaders
Weak Leadership? 1 Cor 4:18-21 Unclear… But clear he planned to challenge these leaders

Weak Leadership? 1 Cor 4:18-21 {21} What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit? Paul assumes that he has the authority to deal with these arrogant Corinthians.

1 Corinthians Moral Problems (5:1-6:20)

How acceptable do you find couples having premarital sex? Dateline NBC
Acceptable for all 65% Acceptable for others but not me 9% Not acceptable 18% No response 8%

In the past five years, which of the following do you think has had the most impact on how Americans today feel about sex: Family 9% Religion 3% Internet 19% AIDS 48% Sex Education in Schools 4% Other 16%

PK Survey 1994 51% reported a struggle with masturbation
51% also fantasize about having sex with women other than their wives. 15% reported they were sexually unfaithful to their spouse. 33% reported enjoyment in looking regularly at sexually- oriented material, including videos and magazines. Survey of 1500 Men on Sex, New Man November/December, 1994, p. 8

Sexually Charged Society?
“Corinthianize” Meant to indulge in any kind of sexually illicit activity.

1 Cor 5:1 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. Leviticus 18:8 "'Do not have sexual relations with your father's wife; that would dishonor your father.

Church Discipline Institutes of Gaius
“does not occur even among pagans” Roman law prohibited such a union, even after the death of the father. Institutes of Gaius

1 Cor 5:2 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?

How Should the Church Respond to Blatant Immorality in the Church?
There’s nothing wrong with that! Not our business! Let’s punish those sinners!

“a man has his father’s wife. And you are proud!”
Church Discipline “a man has his father’s wife. And you are proud!” “we accept all people” Churches & Denominations that are seriously fighting over ordaining practicing homosexuals And they’re proud of it!

They should be “put out of” your fellowship
Church Discipline “Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?” They should be “put out of” your fellowship

Church Discipline is always redemptive– never punitive!

The Synagogue practiced this principle prior to the Church
Church Discipline The Synagogue practiced this principle prior to the Church John 9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. This is the blind man (from birth) that Jesus healed.

“I have passed judgment?”
Church Discipline (5:3) Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. “I have passed judgment?” How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

“Judge not lest ye be judged?”
Church Discipline How dare the church pass judgment on anyone! “Judge not lest ye be judged?” How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

Church Discipline “Judge not”
(Mat 7:1) "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. CONTEXT: Hypocritical Judging Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

Church Discipline “How?”
1 Cor 5:4-5a When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, {5} hand this man over to Satan, How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

Church Discipline 3 Conditions (4)
Assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus I am with you in spirit The power of our Lord Jesus is present How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone. One Action (5a) “hand this man over to Satan”

Church Discipline One Reason (5b)
So that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

Yeast—symbol of influence Rebellion/Sin is contagious
Boasting 1 Cor 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Yeast—symbol of influence Rebellion/Sin is contagious How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

One Bad Apple? 1 Cor 5:7, Get rid of the old yeast (this wicked person) that you may be a new batch without yeast (without such sinful influence)--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

One Bad Apple? 1 Cor 5:8 Therefore let us keep the Festival (the Passover), not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

Church Discipline Not over trivialities 2. In a spirit of grief
3. Through exclusion of fellowship 4. Exercised with extreme spiritual sensitivity 5. Redemptive in purpose 6. Recognizing that sin is contagious How dare Paul pass judgment on anyone.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- {10} not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. {11} But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 V9, “I have written you in my letter…”
Notice there must have been a previous letter to the church of Corinth

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 V9, “…not to associate…” Compound word
Don’t mix together with Like dough with yeast and dough without yeast You’ll become like them

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— pornos Pornos Pornography

Flee Sexual Immorality
1 Cor 6:18, Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 5:11 Greedy Idolater Slanderer Drunkard Swindlers
I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother…

Makes it clear we’re not talking about unbelievers but believers
1 Corinthians 5:9-11 {10} not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. Makes it clear we’re not talking about unbelievers but believers

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 V11, With such a man do not even eat.
Extent to which we should avoid flagrantly disobedient believers

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

We are to lovingly correct each other so that the Body of Christ might not be compromised.

? In a sexually saturated society like Corinth, what would the sexual morality of that church look like had this not been confronted?

Printed on the Bottom A three-year-old boy went with his dad to see a new litter of kittens. On returning home, he breathlessly informed his mother, “There were two boy kittens and two girl kittens.”“How did you know that?” his mother asked. “Daddy picked them up and looked underneath,” he replied. “I think it’s printed on the bottom.” Pearl Scully in The Saturday Evening Post

Lawsuits Among Believers (6:1-8)
Two Arguments Against Eschatological (1-3) Discredit to the gospel (4-6) Two Alternatives Arbitration in the church (5-6) Enduring the wrong (7-8)

The wicked will not inherit the Kingdom:
“quit being deceived” Sexually immoral Idolaters Adulterers Male prostitutes—passive partner in homosexual relationship Homosexual offenders—a male who has sexual relations with a male

“quit being deceived” Male prostitutes—passive partner in homosexual relationship Homosexual offenders—a male who has sexual relations with a male Corinth was also a center of homosexual practice. Nude statues of Apollo in various poses of virility fired his male worshippers to physical displays of devotion with the god’s beautiful boys. (Prior, BST)

Thieves Greedy—one who has insatiable desire for things Drunkards Slanders—one who uses abusive language Swindlers—one who uses force or violence to steal

V11, And that is what some of your were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

you were washed “complete cleansing decisive” you were sanctified “made holy” you were justified “declared righteous”

1 Cor 6:18, Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

Sins against his own body Violates his body Disease? RAPE Victims often feel ‘dirty’ like they can’t get clean

Questions About Marriage
1 Corinthians Questions About Marriage 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7 MARRIAGE Unmarried--agamos (8-9)
Perhaps previously married Married--gameo (10-24) Virgins--parthenos (25-35) Not yet married Widows (39-40)

1 Corinthians 7 MARRIAGE Advice to All (1-7)
Advice for Unmarried (8-9) Advice for Married (10-24) Advice for Virgins (25-35) Advice for Parents (36-38) Advice for Widows (39-40)

Marriage: Advice to All (1-7)
Not obligatory but is the norm (1-2) To be with one person (2) Involves physical obligations binding on husband & wife (3-6) A decision in light of one’s spiritual gift (7)

Marriage: Advice for the Unmarried (8-9)
“It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. (8) But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (9)

Marriage: Advice for the Married (10-24)

Marriage: Advice for the Unmarried (25-35)
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Marriage: Advice to Parents (36-38)
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Marriage: Advice to Widows (39-40)
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1 Corinthians Limits to Liberty 8:1 –11:1

Practical Suggestions Regarding Christian Liberty
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 Practical Suggestions Regarding Christian Liberty The principle of concern for others (10:23-30) The principle of God’s glory (10:31) The example of Christ (10:32-11:1)

1 Corinthians Women in Worship 11:2-16

1 Corinthians Lord’s Supper 11:17-34

1 Corinthians Spiritual Gifts 12:1-14:40

Spiritual Gifts Test of the gifts (12:1-3)
Unity of the gifts (12:4-11) Diversity of gifts (12:12-31) Necessity of exercising gifts in love (12:31b-13:13) Superiority of prophecy over tongues (14:1-25) Rules governing worship (14:26-40) NIV Study Bible

Ecstatic Utterance? 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Ecstatic Utterance? Context of Paul’s words
Mystery cults Commonly experienced ecstatic outbursts where the initiate or devotee appeared to be possessed by a supernatural power. Might cry out, “Serapis is Lord.”

Ecstatic Utterance? Context of Paul’s words
Thus ecstatic utterance is not the most reliable criterion of what it meant to be filled with or possessed by the Spirit. Paul suggests that a more accurate proof would be the simple statement: Jesus is Lord!

Carismata Charismata “grace gifts”

Spiritual Gifts God is the source of all gifts (4-6)
There is no one exclusive gift Every believer is given a gift Gifts are bestowed; none is earned or merited. Gifts are given to build up the entire congregation Gifts can be abused

A Rabbit on the Swim Team

Romans 12:6-8 Ephesians 4:4-16 1 Cor 12:28 1 Peter 4:10-11 1 Cor 12
Wisdom Knowledge Faith Gifts of healing Miraculous powers Prophecy Distinguishing between spirits Tongues Interpretation of tongues Prophesying Serving Teaching Encouraging Giving Leadership Mercy 54 AD 57 AD Ephesians 4:4-16 1 Cor 12:28 Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers 60 AD Helps Administration 1 Peter 4:10-11 62 AD Speaking & Serving

1 Corinthians 13 The Practice of Love
The necessity of love (1-3) The excellence of love (4-7) The perpetuity of love (8-13)

1 Corinthians 15 The Resurrection
The Resurrection of Christ (1-28) Essential part of the gospel (1-5) Attested by witnesses (5-10) Believed by apostles (11) Fundamental to salvation (12-19 Pledge & pattern of the believers resurrection (20-23) First stage in Christ’s complete triumph over evil (24-28)

Tongues—1 Cor 14 1. Addressed to God rather than men.
v2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Dr. J.W. MacGorman The Gifts of the Spirit

Acts 2--Tongues Acts 2:6, “Because each one heard them speaking in his own language (dialektos) Language of a nation or region Acts 2:11, “we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! (glossa) Organ of speech Language Broken speech of religious ecstasy

Tongues—1 Cor 14 2. Are not understood by the speaker.
13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.

Tongues—1 Cor 14 3. The speaker’s mind and utterance are not coordinated as in ordinary speech. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

Tongues—1 Cor 14 4. Expresses praise or thanksgiving to God.
16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

Tongues—1 Cor 14 4. The speaker is able to control the exercise of his gift. 28, If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

The Priority of Prophesy
Prophesy edifies the whole Church (14:1-12) Prophesy can be understood by all (14:13-19) Prophecy inspires conviction, confession, and worship (14:20-25)

1 Corinthians The Resurrection 15:1-58

The Resurrection of Christ (1-28) The Resurrection of Believers (29-58) Practical importance (29-34) Nature of the resurrected body (35-49)

5 Consequences if the resurrection is not true
The Gospel is abolished (14) Apostles are false witnesses (15) Your faith is futile (17) Those who have fallen asleep are lost (18) Believers are to be pitied above all men (18)

The Resurrected Body 1 Cor 15:35-58
(33-38) Agricultural Analogy (39) Animal Analogy (40-21) Astronomical Analogy (42-49) Contrast: Natural/Spiritual (50-54a) Contrast: Perishable vs. Imperishable (54b-58) The Defeat of Death

Concluding Summary Necessity for the life to come (50-53) The defeat of death (54-57) An incentive to service (58)

Baptism for the Dead Vicarious Baptism
New converts were being baptized to fill the ranks of Christians who had died. Bereaved persons were turning to Christ in hope of reunion with their Christian loved ones. Christians were being baptized in anticipation of the resurrection of the dead.

Baptism for the Dead Paul was not necessarily affirming the practice, he simply used their practice to substantiate his belief in the resurrection of the dead. The teaching of this passage is obscure. The teaching on salvation throughout the Scripture is clear.

The Collection for the Saints (16:1-9)
1 Corinthians The Collection for the Saints (16:1-9)

Giving: 1 Cor 16:1-4 Inclusive—each one
Systematic—first day of each week Proportionate—in keeping with his income Voluntary—”each one of you should…” Administered wisely (3-4)

SPIRITUAL GIFTS Chuck Swindoll in Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life shares a parable entitled “A Rabbit on the Swim Team.” Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school. They adopted a curriculum of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects. The duck was excellent in swimming; in fact, better than than his instructor. He made only passing grades in flying, however, and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his web feet to be badly worn, so that he was only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, so nobody worried about that—except the duck. The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming. The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed “Charlie horses” from overexertion and only got a C in climbing and a D in running.

1 Corinthians Conclusion 16:10-24

1 Corinthians January 5, 2003.

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1 Corinthians January 5, 2003.

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