1 ST Corinthians 492

Structure – Bird’s Eye View Chloe’s information– division (1 Cor 1-4) Report Immorality (ch. 5) Law suit (ch. 6) Concerning Male and female (ch. 7) Freedom (ch. 8) Spiritual gifts (ch. 12) Offering of money (ch. 16)

Chapter 1: Greetings (v.1-3) When was Paul called by Jesus? Why did Paul address himself as an apostle? What is an apostle? When did Paul become an apostle? What is the concept of a “saint” in the bible? Where is the church of Corinth?

Chapter 1: Thanksgiving (v.4-9) Enriched by God (grace from God) In speech In all knowledge Not behind in every gift

Chapter 1: Division of the Church (v.10-17) Information from Chloe: There was division Belonging to Paul Belonging to Apollos Belonging to Peter Belonging to Christ Questions: What causes people to have divisions? Questions: How do you solve the problem of division? (1 Cor 3:21-23; 4:6ff)

Chapter 1: The Salvation of the Cross (1:18-25) The cross is the power of God (1:18) Win over death. (1 Cor 15:55) Man can be justified by faith. (Rm3:25) The cross is the wisdom of God (1:21) To destroy the wisdom of man. (1:19) Through death to destroy Satan who controls death. (Heb 2:14) The cross cannot be accepted by man (1:22f) The Jews wanted miracles, yet Christ was a stumbling rock. The Greeks wanted wisdom, yet the cross was a fool. The cross will be accepted by the chosen one (1:24)

Spiritual Wisdom How surpassing is spiritual wisdom? (2:6-8) Differs from earthly wisdom (2:6) Spiritual man can understand (2:6) Earthly man cannot understand (2:8a) One cannot see with their eyes, hear with their ears (2:9) How to obtain spiritual wisdom? (2:10-12) The Holy Spirit will reveal to us (2:10) The Holy Spirit lets us know the things that are freely given to us (2:12)

Chapter 5: The Church Shall Not Allow Sexual Immorality Rebuking the church (5:1f) Some one had his father’s wife. The church was puffed up for her “great love” Telling the church what to do (5:3-5) Call the congregation meeting. In the name of Jesus cast the evil one to Satan. Telling the church why (5:5-8) The spiritual can be saved, the flesh can be destroyed. Get rid of yeast. Telling the church the principles to deal with the evil one (5:9-13) How to deal with the sinners (inside church vs. outside church)

Chapter 6: No Lawsuits Between Brothers and Sisters Members shall not seek judgment outside the church It shames the church - strife among members (6:5) Demotes the noble status of members (6:2f) It is a fault to sue brothers among you (6:7) Would you rather suffer yourself for your brother? (Ps 15:2f) The unrighteousness cannot inherit the kingdom of God (6:9)

Chapter 6: Be Careful About Your Body All things are permissible, but… (6:12; 10:23f) Make sure your body can glorify God. Make sure your body can edify man. Make sure your body is not controlled by anything. Food, sex, and body (6:13) Food is for body and body for food, but both perish. Body is not for fornication, but for the Lord. Resurrection and body (6:14) God resurrected Jesus and will resurrect us. Christ and body (6:15) Our bodies are members of Christ. Do not defile body by sexual immorality. Glorify God with your body (6:18-20)

Chapter 7: Concerning Male and Female General rules: It is better for a man not to touch a woman (7:1) Men and women shall have their own spouse (7:2) Offering sex to your spouse is a duty (7:3) Praying hard for a short time could be the only reason of no sex with spouse (7:5)

Chapter 7: Concerning Male and Female Singlehood (7:7) Paul enjoyed his single life. He hoped others could be like him.(7:7) Paul did not order people to be single (7:6) One needs to have the gift to remain single. If no gift, better get married (7:8f; Mt 19:11)

Chapter 7: Concerning Male and Female Divorce One shall not have divorce (7:10f) unless it has to do with adultery (Mt 19:9) One shall not divorce the unbelieving spouse (7:12) One can save their spouse’s spirituality (7:14) One can have legal intimacy, so the children have legal parents. If one spouse insists to depart, let it be (7:15)

Chapter 7: Concerning Male and Female Virgins: I had no command of the Lord, but now I give my judgment (Paul’s view) The time is distressing, do not get married. It is easier to be single to serve the Lord. Virgins: I had no command of the Lord, but now I give my judgment (Steve’s view) Strictly abstinent prior to marriage: keep your virginity. (Heb 13:4) It is better to remain single than marrying a Gentile. (2 Cor 6:14ff) You shall marry for the Lord. (Rom 14:8) Entrust your marriage into the hands of God. Be brave. ( Gen 24:56- 58) Build a God-centered family, not a child-centered family.

Chapter 8: Concerning Food Offered to Idols: Free to Eat in the Wrong Place? Principle of action: knowledge + love (8:1-3) Knowledge: puffs up Love: builds up Do not use your freedom, due to your knowledge, to cause your brother to fall (8:4-13) The brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. (8:11) When you sin against your brethren and wound their weak consciences, you sin against Jesus Christ. (8;12) If food is cause of my brothers’ falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. (10:13)

Chapter 9: Concerning Food Offered to Idols: Free to Eat in the Wrong Place? Paul’s example. He was a apostle, yet... (9:1) Paul gave up his freedom/right to eat and drink for preaching the gospel. (9:1-4) Paul gave up his freedom/right to marry in the Lord and bring his wife around. (9:5) “I have made no use of my rights…” (9:12,15,18) “Though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more.” (9:19)

Chapter 10: Concerning Food Offered to Idols: Free to Eat in the Wrong Place? Wilderness example: Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (10:1-13) Lord’s supper example: What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that when pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. (10:19-20) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. (10:21)

Chapter 12: Concerning Spiritual Gifts The original source of the spiritual gifts? It was given by the same Holy Spirit. (12:11) The benefits of spiritual gifts Spiritual gifts are for the common good. (12:7) Different gifts from the same Spirit (12:8-11) words of wisdom words of knowledge faith healing working of miracles prophecies discernment of spirits speaking in tongues interpretation of tongues

Chapter 12: Concerning Spiritual Gifts Different services from the same Lord (12:11-26) You are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (12:27) Different workings/operations from the same God (12:28ff) apostle prophet teacher worker of miracles healing help government speaking in tongues and interpreting of tongues

Chapter 12: Concerning Spiritual Gifts 1 Corinthians 12:28ff apostle prophet teacher worker of miracles healing help government speaking in tongue and interpreting of tongues Eph 4:11 apostle prophet evangelist pastor teacher Now preacher/pastor sermon speaker/ prophet RE teacher council/government help (GA employee) Comparing with:

Chapter 13: Concerning Spiritual Gifts – The Greatest Gift is Love Value of love shown by its absence (13:1-3) Characteristics of love shown by its presence (13:4-7) Abiding nature of love shown by comparison (13:8-13) Love never fails/ceases. Gifts will cease. (13:8) Love is limitless. Gifts are limited. (13:9) Love exists in heaven. Gifts remain on earth. (13:13)

Chapter 14: Concerning Spiritual Gifts – Desire Especially the Gift of Prophecy Prophecy is for edification, exhortation, and comfort (14:3) Prophecy is to edify the church (14:4)

Chapter 16: Concerning Offering Money One shall offer according to his income (16:2) To approve someone to deliver the offering to Jerusalem (16:3) If I shall also go, please send someone to go with me (16:4)

Homework How to prevent the church from division? What is the difference between separation and division? (Paul and Barnabas separated later on)