What are some of your observations and thoughts regarding this weeks reading?

First Corinthians 1:4-9 Thanksgiving

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eucharisto Occurs forty-six times in the Pauline Corpus. Paul never hesitates to be thankful for and express thanks to God for others

Paul’s thanksgivings generally follow the same pattern: 1.Give thanks, 2.To God, 3.Always, 4.For the recipients, and 5.For certain reasons which are elaborated

What is Paul thanking God for?

Paul is thanking God for their “gifts.” The very thing in the church that, because of the abuses, are also causing grief.

Charisma Often understood in the NT as a “spiritual” endowment, “ in the Greek it denotes “that which is freely given.” Calvin observes the “gifts” of any kind include “spiritual qualities which are, so to speak, means of salvation to believers.” According to Luther and Chysostom, it goes against the grain of Paul’s thanksgiving to limit this to “the charismatic gifts” of 1 Corinthians And here Paul draws attention to the Giver above the gift.

What actions do you see the church today take when troublesome problems present themselves?

Rather than eliminate anything that may be troublesome, Paul, here, recognizes that attitude lies not in their “gifts”, but in their attitude towards these gifts.

In spite of his hardships, Paul never ceases to be thankful: 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. 1 Cor. 4:9-13

What are examples of “gifts” in the church today? Where do problems arise in the church today concerning “gifts?” What do we learn from Paul here on how to resolve such problems?

First Corinthians 1:10-17 (through 4:21) A Church Divided

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 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 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

What was the Corinthian church quarreling over?

Considerations to note in light of divisions and quarreling: 1.Although Paul explicitly indicates the issue of division in chapters 1-4 when dealing with the matters of 5-16 he does not identify parties of thought nor does he mention positions of Apollos or Cephas. 2.Nor does the quarreling indicate whether they were deeply divided on issues.

Why is this?

A careful reading of 1:10-4:21 indicates four issues are involved: 1.There is quarreling and divisiveness with teachers as rallying points 2.Quarreling is being carried in the name of wisdom. 3.Quarreling takes the form of boasting in mere men. 4.Note: In this section, Paul largely defends his past ministry and present relationship.

The greater issue for Paul in these four chapters is not the divisiveness or quarreling themselves, they are merely symptoms, rather the greater issue is the threat posed to the gospel – the exclusion of the cross

Paul’s response – Address the following: 1.Misunderstanding of the gospel, 2.Misguided perception as to the nature of the church and teachers, 3.Reasserting his authority to pronounce judgment and set them on track.

Paul’s remedy: Stop the fascination with worldly wisdom and the resultant boasting and instead set forth the gospel over against “wisdom.”

How does the issue of division ( schismata ) impact the church today? Have you experienced painfully destructive quarrels within church? How should the church deal with division and quarreling?

First Corinthians 5:1-13 Ick!

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

In this situation what is at stake? What is the greater issue for Paul?

For Paul what is at stake is not merely correcting the low view of a particularly heinous sin by the Corinthian church but rather the church itself.

What remains unclear is whether the church is arrogant in spite of the sin or because of it. Are they merely tolerant or are the rallying around their assertion of greater freedom in Christ?

Paul admonishes the church to put off arrogance and put on mourning. What are examples today in which a “church” lauds liberty rather than grieves the grotesque?

What does Paul mean when he writes, “Deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh?”

The answer, I think, lies in its purpose statement, “so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” See also 1 Tim. 1:20

In verse 11 what does Paul mean that the Corinthian church is not to associate (mix indiscriminately) or even eat with a brother guilty of sexually immorality or greed, or is an idolator, reviler, drunkard or swindler?

Why the distinction between those who bear the name of brother and those who do not?

Key Verse Chapter’s 1-8: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

If remaining time discuss issues of chapters 6-8