The Epistle of First Corinthians

Outline of 1 Corinthians SECTION ONE: Dealing with reported problems (1:1—6:20) A. Unity based on God’s wisdom (1:10—4:21) Greeting, thanksgiving, and exhortation to unity (1:1-17) God’s wisdom & power vs. human pride (1:18-31) Paul’s Example – relying on God’s wisdom and power (2:1-16) God’s foundation and building (3:1-23) The quality of Paul’s apostleship (4:1-21) B. Dealing with sin in the church (5-6) Dealing with the immoral (5:1-13) Dealing with those filing lawsuits (6:1-11) Flee Sexual Immorality (6:12-20)

Outline of 1 Corinthians SECTION TWO: Dealing with questions and concerns of the Corinthians (7:1--16:9) C. Their Concerns (7-9) Marriage problems & issues for singles (7:1-16) Live as you are called (7:17-40) Things offered to idols (8:1-13) The rights and responsibilities of preachers (9:1-27) D. Common Concerns (10-11) Old Testament warnings about temptation (10:1-13) Flee idolatry (10:14-33) Respecting headship when praying or prophesying (11:1-16) The Lord’s Supper (11:17-34)

Outline of 1 Corinthians SECTION TWO: Dealing with questions and concerns of the Corinthians (7:1--16:9) E. Spiritual Gifts (12-14) Gifts of Spirit (12:1-31) The superiority of love (13:1-13) Keeping tongues in perspective (14:1-22) Order and decorum in the assembly (14:23-40) F. The Gospel of the Resurrection (15) The Gospel and the FACT of the resurrection (15:1-20) The Character of Resurrection (15:21-58) G. Closing Words (16) Concerning the collection and Paul’s future plans (16:1-24)

Marriage Problems & Issues (7:1-16) Marital Relations: Sanctity & Surrender (7:1-7) This chapter begins a new section of the epistle in which Paul deals with concerns the Corinthians sent to him in writing (7:1; 7:25; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1) “It is good for a man not to touch a woman” (7:1) Marriage is honorable! It is not a “lesser good” than celibacy (Gen. 2:18-24; Heb. 13:4; Eph. 5:22-23) Paul’s reasoning for making (or consenting to) the statement can be found in the context (7:6, 26, 32-33) Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Ephesians 5:22-23  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  23  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

Marriage Problems & Issues (7:1-16) Marital Relations: Sanctity & Surrender (7:1-7) Marriage is a defense against fornication (7:2; 6:18-20) Husbands and wives mutually surrender themselves (7:3-4) Depriving one another is forbidden, unless there is mutual consent for the purpose of prayer & fasting (7:5) Yet even in this case, Paul is merely allowing a brief period of abstinence, not commanding it (7:6) Paul wishes that all people had his “gift” to live celibate without excessive stress or temptation, but he recognizes that all do not (7:7; Matt. 19:11-12) Matthew 19:11-12  But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:  12  For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."

Marriage Problems & Issues (7:1-16) Instructions for the Widowed & Unmarried (7:8-9) It is “good” for widows and the unmarried to remain unmarried (7:8) Compare this to 1 Timothy 5:14 Why the difference? Consider verses 8, 26, and 32-33. 1 Timothy 5:14  Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Marriage Problems & Issues (7:1-16) Instructions for the Married (7:10-16) As Christ commanded, one who is married is not to leave or send away his or her spouse (7:10; Matthew 5:32; 19:6, 9) If she departs she is to remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband This does not condone the separation that Paul just prohibited!! (cf. Galatians 5:14-15; James 3:13-14) Matthew 5:32  But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. Matthew 19:6  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.“ NOTE: Separate in Matthew 19:6 is the same word χωρίζω (chōrizō) translated “depart” in 1 Cor. 7:10-11. Matthew 19:9  And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.“ Galatians 5:14-15  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."  15  But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! James 3:13-14  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.  14  But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

Marriage Problems & Issues (7:1-16) Instructions for the Married (7:10-16) Paul addresses a situation that Christ did not -- a believer who is married to an unbeliever The believer is not to end the relationship if the unbeliever is willing to dwell together (7:12-14) In a marriage between a believer and an unbeliever, both partners were joined by God in “holy matrimony.” With respect to the marriage, both are “holy” participants (cf. Hebrews 13:4). If this were not the case the children would be considered “unholy” (illegitimate?) Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Marriage Problems & Issues (7:1-16) Instructions for the Married (7:10-16) Paul addresses a situation that Christ did not -- a believer who is married to an unbeliever If the unbeliever is unwilling to dwell, the believer is not under bondage to fulfill spousal duties (7:15) NOTE: “Bondage” is the obligation of duty; IT IS NOT the same concept as the marriage bond (where 2 become 1) These are two entirely different words and concepts: δουλόω (douloō) = to make a slave, be in bondage δέω (deō, 7:27) = to tie or fasten together By staying married, the believer might save the unbeliever (7:16; 1 Peter 3:1-2) 1 Peter 3:1-2  Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,  2  when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

Lesson Schedule for our study of First Corinthians Eastside Auditorium Fall Quarter 2017