How Do We Study the Bible?
For this lesson, we will turn in our study of the Bible to the book of I Corinthians.
Or is it II Corinthians?
We refer to the two letters to the church at Corinth as 1st and 2nd Corinthians. I think we probably really have 2nd and 3rd Corinthians with 1st Corinthians being lost.
We are a bit ahead of our study, but consider this: “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.” (1 Cor 5:9 NKJV)
The New Century Version makes it even more obvious that we have a book missing: (1 Cor 5:9 NCV) I wrote you in my earlier letter not to associate with those who sin sexually.
A missing book should not affect our faith. We seem to also be missing a letter to the church at Laodicea. “Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” (Col 4:16 NKJV) .
We may be curious as to what was lost, but even the letters of Ephesians and Colossians have much in common. If one were missing, we would not miss very much as far as teaching is concerned, but on with the story:
1st and 2nd Corinthians are written to Christians in Corinth which as a city was:
§ An important sea port.
§ A very ungodly city, given over to idolatry and sexual immorality.
§ The problems of the city affected the church.
§ Paul’s instructions on how to deal with these problems are great lessons for us.
Can we put a caption over each chapter? Or give each chapter a Descriptive Title? Probably not in every case, but how would we start?
How about Sectarianism?
Or
Party Spirit?
Or just,
I’m better than you are!
If you don’t like any of these, try this one:
Divisions
Let our Study begin! Who’s writing the Book?
(1 Cor 1:1 NKJV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
(Phil 1:1 NKJV) Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
What’s the difference in these two descriptions?
called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ
through the will of God,
(Phil 1:1 NKJV) bondservants of Jesus Christ,
It’s a difference in tone and authority!
(1 Cor 4:19-21 NKJV) But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. {20} For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. {21} What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
(1 Cor 1:2 NKJV) 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:
Church
εκκλησία ekklēsia Thayer Definition:
1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating
1b) the assembly of the Israelites . . .
1d) in a Christian sense
1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting . . .
sanctified in Christ Jesus,
ἁγιάζω hagiazō Thayer Definition:
1) to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
2) to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
2a) consecrate things to God
2b) dedicate people to God
3) to purify
3b) to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
3c) to purify internally by renewing of the soul
called to be saints,
άγιος hagios Thayer Definition:
1) most holy thing, a saint
Note the similarity to
sanctified in Christ Jesus,
αγιάζω hagiazō
The stem ἁγι is the same for both words. To sanctify is to make holy, or to make one a saint.
In the midst of all this sin and corruption, Paul refers to these Christians as “saints.”
And then the greeting. A great one!
(1 Cor 1:3 NKJV) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It reminds me of the Jewish expression: Shalom!
(1 Cor 1:4-8 NKJV) I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, {5} that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,
{6} even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, {7} so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation [that is, the second comng] of our Lord Jesus Christ, {8} who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
{7} so that you come short in no gift,” It seems that many of them thought they had come up short. We’ll study further in chapters 12 – 14.
‘eagerly waiting for the revelation [that is, the second comng] of our Lord Jesus Christ,” We need to always be “eagerly waiting,” That’s what helps keep us straight.
“that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What a blessed hope is ours! If the Corinthians can make it, there is hope for everyone!
Our hope: (1 Cor 1:9 NKJV) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Problem of Division!
(1 Cor 1:10 NKJV) Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions1 among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1σχίσμα schisma Thayer Definition:
1) a rent
2) metaphorically a division, dissension
(1 Cor 1:11 NKJV) For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions1 among you.
1έρις eris Thayer Definition:
1) contention, strife, wrangling
(1 Cor 1:12 NKJV) Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."
What is wrong with the "I am of Christ," party?
Probably arrogance!
§ They’re the ones who are right!
§ What’s wrong with the rest of you guys?
§ How come you can’t see things our way?
(1 Cor 1:13-16 NKJV) Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? {14} I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, {15} lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. {16} Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
Clearly, Paul did not want people to follow him!
(1 Cor 1:17 NKJV) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Paul was not interested in impressing people with his skills.
While I was a student at Abilene Christian College, I attended the College Church of Christ the Sunday morning that George Bailey preached a sermon by means of putting together a series of scriptures.
§ There were no added words or explanations
§ The entire sermon was given from memory.
§ I remember those facts to this day.
§ I could not tell you the theme, or any details of the sermon.
§ I can tell you that the sermon and brother Bailey were talked about for weeks.
§ I do not recall anything ever being said about the message.
§ There is great wisdom in what Paul said.
That’s why we sometimes hear the expression, “Let them hide behind the cross of Jesus.”
So the theme continues:
§ Unity is in Christ!
§ Not in men or men’s greatness.
§ Paul knew the secret of unity:
(1 Cor 2:2 NKJV) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
So as we begin the study of Corinthians, we note:
§ Paul begins by asserting his apostleship:
(1 Cor 1:1 NKJV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.
§ Paul begins early with the problem of party spirit:
(1 Cor 1:11 NKJV) For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions1 among you.
It took an humble, authoritative Paul to deal with the problem.
Lessons by Date Order Welcome to my Web site