1. The Epistle of First Corinthians

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. Respecting Headship (11:1-16)
Paul’s Example (11:1)
As an apostle and follower of Christ, Paul set examples that could safely be followed by fellow disciples. (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:7-9)
In this context, that would include his willingness to forego his rights and privileges for the welfare of others (8:13; 9:11-12, 19-22; 10:31-33)
It would also apply to what is about to be discussed with regard to respecting headship.
Philippians 3:17  Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;  8  nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,  9  not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

6. Respecting Headship (11:1-16)
The Order of Headship (11:2-3)
Paul praises the Corinthians for remembering him and keeping the apostolic traditions just as he delivered them. (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6)
With the phrase “but I want you to know,” Paul now hands to the Corinthians additional apostolic tradition
There is an order of “headship”
God
Christ
Man
Woman
2 Thessalonians 2:15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 3:6  But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

7. Respecting Headship (11:1-16)
Honoring & Dishonoring Headship (11:4-6)
Every man praying or prophesying having his head covers dishonors his head – Christ (11:4)
Every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonors her head (11:5)
If the woman prays uncovered, it is as if her head were shaved!
“She may as well shave her head.” (CEV, 11:5b)
“If a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn,” but since it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, she is to be covered when praying or prophesying. (11:6)
2 Thessalonians 2:15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 3:6  But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

8. Respecting Headship (11:1-16)
The Meaning of “Praying or Prophesying”
Praying is communication to God and Prophesying is communication from God.
Are prayer and prophecy spiritual gifts here?
In general, prayer IS NOT a spiritual gift; prophesying IS, but not always (cf. Titus 1:12)
Barnes and others assert that “The word ‘prophesying’ here means, evidently, ‘teaching;’ or publicly speaking to the people on the subject of religion.”
Others assert that both praying and prophesying here refer to actions that involved spiritual gifts (a topic introduced in 12:1).

9. Respecting Headship (11:1-16)
Reasons a man ought not to cover his head, but a woman ought to cover hers (11:7-12)
A man ought not to cover his head since he is in the image and glory of God (7-9)
Man is not from woman, but woman is from man
Man was not created for the woman, but the woman for him (Genesis 2:18, 21-23)
For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol authority on her head (10)
“Because of the angels” may refer to angels “as watchers over the natural order” (TDNT, v. 2, p. 574)
The order of headship does not alter the mutual dependence of man and woman (11-12)
Genesis 2:18  And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.“
Genesis 2:21-23  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.  22  Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.  23  And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."

10. Respecting Headship (11:1-16)
Nature teaches that it is not proper for a woman to pray uncovered (11:13-15)
“Nature” typically refers to how things are ordered by God in the physical creation (Rom. 1:26; 11:21)
It can also refer to the makeup of something established by long habit (Ephesians 2:3)
In either case, it teaches what is “proper” here (Matt. 3:15; Eph. 5:3; 1 Tim. 2:10; Heb. 2:10; 7:26)
Nature teaches that if a man has long hair it is a shame, but if a woman has long hair it is a glory (11:14-15)
The reason for this is that the woman’s “hair is given to her for a covering”
Nature(Gr. Φύσις) is defined by Thayer:
1. the nature of things, the force, laws, order of nature
2. as opposed to what is monstrous, abnormal, perverse
3. as opposed what has been produced by the art of man: the natural branches, i.e. branches by the operation of nature
4. birth, physical origin
5. a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature
6. the sum of innate properties and powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics: the natural strength, ferocity, and intractability of beasts
Romans 1:26  For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
Romans 11:21  For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Ephesians 2:3  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
The word translated “comely” or “proper” is the same word (prepo, πρέπω) refers to that which fitting, right or proper, and it is found in the following passages
Matthew 3:15  But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
Ephesians 5:3  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
1 Timothy 2:10 (women are to adorn themselves in modest apparel) which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
Hebrews 2:10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Hebrews 7:26  For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

11. Respecting Headship (11:1-16)
What is the “custom” not held by the apostles and the churches? (11:16)
“But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.”
What is the “custom” referred to in this verse? Is it women wearing the covering, or is it being contentious over whether women should wear the covering?
“But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God” (NASB)
“If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God” (NIV)
“If any one is disposed to be contentious, we recognize no other practice, nor do the churches of God” (RSV)
“This is how things are done in all of God's churches, and that's why none of you should argue about what I have said.” (CEV)
Nature(Gr. Φύσις) is defined by Thayer:
1. the nature of things, the force, laws, order of nature
2. as opposed to what is monstrous, abnormal, perverse
3. as opposed what has been produced by the art of man: the natural branches, i.e. branches by the operation of nature
4. birth, physical origin
5. a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature
6. the sum of innate properties and powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics: the natural strength, ferocity, and intractability of beasts
Romans 1:26  For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
Romans 11:21  For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Ephesians 2:3  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

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