1 Corinthians 1:20-25  Christians in Corinth were struggling with their environment  Surrounded by corruption and every conceivable sin  They felt the pressure to adapt  They knew they were free in Christ, but what did this freedom mean?  Christians in Corinth were struggling with their environment  Surrounded by corruption and every conceivable sin  They felt the pressure to adapt  They knew they were free in Christ, but what did this freedom mean?

What Should they do about:  Marriage  Women in the Church  Gifts of the Holy Spirit  To top it all, the church was being undermined by: Immorality and spiritual immaturity  Marriage  Women in the Church  Gifts of the Holy Spirit  To top it all, the church was being undermined by: Immorality and spiritual immaturity

Paul heard of their struggles:  Wrote a letter to address their problems  Paul had a very difficult relationship with the Corinthian church  But they were not really impressed by Paul  The church is experiencing division  Wrote a letter to address their problems  Paul had a very difficult relationship with the Corinthian church  But they were not really impressed by Paul  The church is experiencing division

3 Kinds of Worshippers:  The Jews  The Greeks  The Christians  The Jews  The Greeks  The Christians

The Jews:  Demands miraculous signs  Believe in resurrection  Good News is foolish  Messiah is the one conquering king  Accompanied by signs and miracles  Demands miraculous signs  Believe in resurrection  Good News is foolish  Messiah is the one conquering king  Accompanied by signs and miracles

The Greeks:  Looks for wisdom  Did not believe in bodily resurrection  They did not seen Jesus in Jesus the characteristics of a their mythological gods  They thought that no reputable person would be crucified  Death is a defeat not a victory  Looks for wisdom  Did not believe in bodily resurrection  They did not seen Jesus in Jesus the characteristics of a their mythological gods  They thought that no reputable person would be crucified  Death is a defeat not a victory

The Christians:  Christ Crucified a stumbling block to both Jews and Greeks  Jesus came as a humble, poor servant  Offers his kingdom those who have faith  Knowing Christ is the greatest wisdom anyone could have  Jesus died and resurrected  Christ Crucified a stumbling block to both Jews and Greeks  Jesus came as a humble, poor servant  Offers his kingdom those who have faith  Knowing Christ is the greatest wisdom anyone could have  Jesus died and resurrected

THE CROSS Paul’s simple message:

The Cross, Crucifixion (Holman Bible Dictionary)  The method the Romans used to execute Jesus Christ. The most painful and degrading form of capital punishment in the ancient world, the cross became also the means by which Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. It also became a symbol for the sacrifice of self in discipleship (Rom. 12:1) and for the death of self to the world (Mark 8:34)

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary)  Assyrians and Persians – Used to display the heads of captured foes or of particularly heinous criminals on the palisades above the gateway into a city. – Later crucifixion developed into a form of capital punishment, as enemies of the state were impaled on the stake itself.  Assyrians and Persians – Used to display the heads of captured foes or of particularly heinous criminals on the palisades above the gateway into a city. – Later crucifixion developed into a form of capital punishment, as enemies of the state were impaled on the stake itself.

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary)  Greeks and Romans – At first reserved the punishment only for slaves, saying it was too barbaric for freeborn or citizens. – By the first century, however, it was used for any enemy of the state, though citizens could only be crucified by direct edict of Caesar. – As time went on, the Romans began to use crucifixion more and more as a deterrent to criminal activity, so that by Jesus’ time it was a common sight.  Greeks and Romans – At first reserved the punishment only for slaves, saying it was too barbaric for freeborn or citizens. – By the first century, however, it was used for any enemy of the state, though citizens could only be crucified by direct edict of Caesar. – As time went on, the Romans began to use crucifixion more and more as a deterrent to criminal activity, so that by Jesus’ time it was a common sight.

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary)  The eastern form of crucifixion was practiced in the Old Testament – Saul was decapitated and his body displayed on a wall by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:9-10) – And the “hanging” of Esther 2:23; 5:14 may mean impalement (compare Ezra 6:11)  The eastern form of crucifixion was practiced in the Old Testament – Saul was decapitated and his body displayed on a wall by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:9-10) – And the “hanging” of Esther 2:23; 5:14 may mean impalement (compare Ezra 6:11)

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary) According to Jewish law (Deut. 21:22-23) the offenders were “hung on a tree,” which meant they were “accursed of God” and outside the covenant people. Such criminals were to be removed from the cross before nightfall lest they “defile the land.” According to Jewish law (Deut. 21:22-23) the offenders were “hung on a tree,” which meant they were “accursed of God” and outside the covenant people. Such criminals were to be removed from the cross before nightfall lest they “defile the land.”

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary) During the intertestamental period the western form was borrowed when Alexander Janneus crucified 800 Pharisees (76 B.C.), but on the whole the Jews condemned and seldom used the method. Even Herod the Great refused to crucify his enemies. The practice was abolished after the “conversion” of the emperor of Constantine to Christianity. During the intertestamental period the western form was borrowed when Alexander Janneus crucified 800 Pharisees (76 B.C.), but on the whole the Jews condemned and seldom used the method. Even Herod the Great refused to crucify his enemies. The practice was abolished after the “conversion” of the emperor of Constantine to Christianity.

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary)  A person crucified in Jesus’ day was first of all scourged (beaten with a whip consisting of thongs with pieces of metal or bone attached to the end) or at least flogged until the blood flowed.

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary) This was not just done out of cruelty but was designed to hasten death and lessen the terrible ordeal After the beating, the victim was forced to bear the crossbeam to the execution site in order to signify that life was already over and to break the will to live A tablet detailing the crime(s) was often placed around the criminal’s neck and then fastened to the cross This was not just done out of cruelty but was designed to hasten death and lessen the terrible ordeal After the beating, the victim was forced to bear the crossbeam to the execution site in order to signify that life was already over and to break the will to live A tablet detailing the crime(s) was often placed around the criminal’s neck and then fastened to the cross

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary) At the site the prisoner was often tied (the normal method) or nailed (if a quicker death was desired) to the crossbeam. The nail would be driven through the wrist rather than the palm, since the smaller bones of the hand could not support the weight of the body. The beam with the body was then lifted and tied to the already affixed upright pole. At the site the prisoner was often tied (the normal method) or nailed (if a quicker death was desired) to the crossbeam. The nail would be driven through the wrist rather than the palm, since the smaller bones of the hand could not support the weight of the body. The beam with the body was then lifted and tied to the already affixed upright pole.

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary) Pins or a small wooden block were placed halfway up to provide a seat for the body lest the nails tear open the wounds or the ropes force the arms from their sockets. Finally the feet were tied or nailed to the post. Death was caused by the loss of blood circulation and coronary failure. Pins or a small wooden block were placed halfway up to provide a seat for the body lest the nails tear open the wounds or the ropes force the arms from their sockets. Finally the feet were tied or nailed to the post. Death was caused by the loss of blood circulation and coronary failure.

Historical Development (Holman Bible Dictionary) Especially if the victims were tied, it could take days of hideous pain as the extremities turned slowly gangrenous; so often the soldiers would break the victims legs with a club, causing massive shock and a quick death. Such deaths were usually done in public places, and the body was left to rot for days, with carrion birds allowed to degrade the corpse further. Especially if the victims were tied, it could take days of hideous pain as the extremities turned slowly gangrenous; so often the soldiers would break the victims legs with a club, causing massive shock and a quick death. Such deaths were usually done in public places, and the body was left to rot for days, with carrion birds allowed to degrade the corpse further.

Four types of crosses were used: (Holman Bible Dictionary)  The Latin cross has the crossbeam about two-thirds of the way up the upright pole;  St. Anthony’s cross (probably due to its similarity to his famous crutch) had the beam at the top of the upright pole like a T.  St. Andrew’s cross (supposedly the form used to crucify Andrew) had the shape of the letter X.  The Greek cross has both beams equal in the shape of a plus sign.  The Latin cross has the crossbeam about two-thirds of the way up the upright pole;  St. Anthony’s cross (probably due to its similarity to his famous crutch) had the beam at the top of the upright pole like a T.  St. Andrew’s cross (supposedly the form used to crucify Andrew) had the shape of the letter X.  The Greek cross has both beams equal in the shape of a plus sign.

Louis Evely  If the cross suited us, it would no longer be a cross, and if we refuse those that hurt us, we will refuse all crosses. The cross that God sends us must of necessity always be humiliating, painful, paralyzing, difficult. The cross is precisely what hurts us in that place where we are most disarmed and vulnerable.

Madame Jeane Marie dela Mothe Guyon  God gives us the cross, and then the cross gives us God.

Thomas Kempis  Carry the cross patiently and with perfect submission and in the end it will carry you.