The book is a letter from Paul to the church of God in Corinth, a Roman provincial capital in Achaia, the Peloponnese peninsular at the bottom of Greece. At the time, it was a large vibrant commercial and seagoing centre, infamous for its temple to Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Paul had left Athens, just across the water, and armed with his tent-making kit had set up business with Priscilla and Aquila who worked at the same trade (Acts 18v3). The community in Corinth had a large contingent of freed slaves, some were Jews, and it was in their synagogue that he started his ministry. Paul went on to found a church among the Gentiles and we know from Acts that he spent a year and a half there.
The Corinthians had been very open to God’s grace and were “not lacking in any spiritual gift” (v7) and this letter gives us an interesting insight into what church life was like at the time. They had some very serious problems, but Paul’s heart was to help get them sorted. God has brought good out of bad because no other book in the Bible gives us such practical guidance on what a church fellowship should be like.
UNITED IN THE SAME MIND AND PURPOSE
The Corinthians had been quarreling about the relative importance of their favourite leaders and teachers but Paul appealed to them to put aside their divisions and be united in the same mind and purpose (v10). He encouraged them to focus on Christ and the message of the cross (v18). Some liked the teaching of Apollos who came from Alexandria and was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures (Acts 18v24). Alexandria, we know, had been a great Greek learning centre, based around a very famous library. Apollos had an effective teaching ministry in Corinth, alongside Paul, and perhaps some were in awe of his great wisdom, perhaps too much so. Paul had to remind them that God had destroyed worldly wisdom (v19) and chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise (1v27). It was the “foolishness” of their gospel about the crucified Christ that would save those who believe (v21).
HEAVENLY WISDOM
Our words should be more than wise words, they should be accompanied by a demonstration of the Spirit and power of God (2v4). There is a wisdom, God’s secret and hidden wisdom (2v7), which was then being revealed through the Holy Spirit (v10). It is important to receive the Spirit that is from God to understand the gifts He has given us (v12). Spiritual people will be receptive to those things taught by the Spirit (v13), as they receive the mind of Christ (v16).
GOD’S TEMPLE DWELLING PLACE
As God’s people, we can be too concerned with things of the flesh. The Corinthians were quarrelling over their favourite leaders but should have seen that we are all part of the same body, we just have different gifts and roles. All of us are servants who labour in God’s field, planting and watering (3v5-9), and we should never forget that it is God who gives the growth. We are all responsible for, carefully, building on the foundation of Jesus Christ (v10, 11) and how well we have done will be seen when Christ comes again. Remember how special each one of us is for we are the dwelling place for his presence (v16, 17). Do not judge other people (4v5) but leave that to God who will, one day, disclose the purposes of everyone’s heart. Any gift we have is gifted from God so (v7) how can we boast about it? Besides, it is nothing to do with our reputation and glory as we should be willing to be fools, weak and disreputable for Christ’s sake (4v10).
CHURCH DISCIPLINE
A difficult issue had arisen in Corinth (Chapter 5) for a man was living with his father’s wife and Paul encouraged the fellowship to challenge the person who was doing it. When they were together and in the power of the Lord Jesus, this person was to be handed over to Satan for the “destruction of the flesh” (v5), but what does this mean? The person should be “driven” from among them (v13) for the damage he was causing to God’s kingdom people. The hope was that he might be saved on the day of the Lord but, notice, there were two purposes, to help the wrongdoer, by bringing him to repentance, but also to cleanse the whole fellowship. It was only for a church brother or sister and not those outside the church. So what kind of person should we break fellowship with (v11)? not only the sexually immoral but also the greedy, the idolater, reviler, drunkard and robber. Sadly, the Corinthians (chapter 6) had even started court cases against each other and God’s people, with God’s wisdom, should sort out the problems themselves or even stay wronged. From verse 13 onwards, Paul gives his teaching on fornication (sex when you are unmarried). In a spiritual sense you become united with the other person (v16) just like, in a marriage relationship, you become one flesh with your partner (Genesis 2v24). We are united to the Lord and should not be united with, for example, a prostitute (v17). –
MARRIAGE
In chapter 7, Paul outlines his views on marriage which are that staying single (v8, 9) can be the best because you can devote yourself to the Lord. On the other hand, it is better to marry than be aflame with passion. It is not right to separate if you are already married (v10) but if you do separate then don’t marry again (v11). The married person is anxious how to please their partner but it is better to be anxious about pleasing the Lord.
SOCIAL STATUS
There is an interesting passage on social position, encouraging us to focus on our relationship with God so that even slaves (v24) should not be worried about getting their personal freedom.
DON’T DAMAGE OTHER PEOPLES CONSCIENCES
Chapter 8 gives us similar teaching about food for idols to that found in in Romans. They should stop eating if it causes a stumbling block to others. Unity and love is all-important.
PAID GOSPEL WORKERS
Paul sets forward the principle that those who proclaim the Gospel should get their living by the Gospel (9v14). As for himself, he preferred to work with his hands, tent-making, so he could offer the Gospel free of charge (v18). Our focus should not be on the rewards of this life but on doing everything to save some (v22) and our reward will be an imperishable one in heaven (v25).
LEARN THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSONS
Old testament history is there as an example for us not to desire evil like Israel did (chapter 10v6). There are always consequences for idolatry, sexual immorality and complaints (v10) against God. We need to be careful in case we fall and, even though there are situations to test us, God will always give us a way of escape (v13). Have nothing to do with pagan worship because their sacrifice is to demons (v20), and not God, so there is no room for compromise.
MALE-FEMALE ROLES
Chapter 11 can be very confusing to those of us influenced by modern times and thinking. Paul’s view in verse 3 will be labeled sexist because he talks about spiritual headship. Christ being the head of man and man being the head of woman. In prayer and prophesy a man should not wear a hat and a woman should. Paul relates his teaching to creation when Adam was made in the image of God whilst Eve, from one of Adam’s ribs, was made in the image of her husband. The head covering is a symbol that both man and woman are under Godly authority. Paul believed that male and female were equal but had different roles.
LORD’S SUPPER
We also have some very helpful advice on the Lord’s supper (v23) which we do in remembrance of his death. This was instituted at the last supper with His disciples when Jesus talked about the new covenant in his blood (v25). We must take care not to eat and drink in an unworthy manner and should examine ourselves before we eat (v28). Some had become ill or died because they hadn’t done so.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Chapters 12 and 14 give very helpful guidance about spiritual gifts in the life of a church. One test of whether we are speaking by the Spirit is whether we can say “Jesus is Lord” (v3)? Each person is given a manifestation of the Holy Spirit and there are a variety of gifts. Paul lists the important ways in which we can contribute in the Spirit (listed in verses 8- 11); words of wisdom and knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues and interpretation. We are one body, to care for each other (v25), and we suffer and rejoice together (v26). At the end of the chapter we see God’s appointed ministries within the church (v28); namely, apostles, prophets, teachers, ministers of miracles and healing, helpers, leaders, those who speak in tongues and those who interpret. We should strive for the greater gifts (v31) but without love they are nothing (chapter 13); love should be the heart of every church. Chapter 14 gives some practical advice on how to balance our use of tongues and prophesy. When we meet together each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation (v26). The objective is to build up one another in peace and love and the meeting should never be disorderly.
RESURRECTION
Some were saying there was no resurrection of the dead but Paul, in a powerful passage in chapter 15, states that our faith has been in vain if there is no resurrection (v17). At his second coming those who belong to Christ will be made alive (v22). Jesus will hand over the kingdom to his Father after he has destroyed every ruler, authority and power (v24). The last enemy to be destroyed is death. We will be very different after resurrection from the dead (42-49) for, whereas we bore the image of the man of dust (v49), we will then have the image of the man of heaven. We will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye (v52) and the mortal body will put on immortality.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It is interesting to gather from the final chapter the kind of contact Christians had with each other in the early days of the church. For example, PauI was collecting money to take to the poor Christians of Jerusalem. It appears that he was writing the letter while based at another church in Ephesus and had plans to go and visit the Corinthians. Timothy, maybe Apollos, and also the household of Stephanas were also set to visit Corinth. Paul concluded with greetings sent from the churches of Asia, and also Aquila and Priscilla who had a house church. It seems that Christians went out of their way to, lovingly, support each other, the body of Christ.